French grocery chains have reported a mixed set of results for the first half of 2009. While the large and outdated hypermarket format continues to underperform, convenience formats are driving growth. Despite the resilience of smaller format stores, most of the large French grocers still rely on hypermarkets for the bulk of their turnover, which is dragging down overall sales performance.
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Food prices have fallen for the second month in a row as grocers offer more savings through promotions

Average change in food prices; month on previous month. Source: Verdict Consulting

London. Food prices in May were, on average, 0.4% cheaper than in April, according to the latest research from Verdict Consulting. This is the second month in a row that prices have fallen and means that, since March 2009, food prices have come down by around 1.5%.
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The new report Retailing in Russia 2009 published this week by retail analysts Verdict Research, part of the Datamonitor Group, finds that despite the damaging impact  of the global financial crisis, the long-term growth potential of the Russian retail market remains huge. Once initial barriers such as poor infrastructure and an uncertain legislative framework are overcome, Russia’s large population and expansive geography spanning 11 time zones will represent a sizeable market in which retailers can grow large-scale operations. As per capita expenditure will catch up with the West eventually, the Russian opportunity is simply too big to be missed.

Russia’s retail market has grown at a tremendous pace, by almost 500% over the last decade, reaching $451 billion in 2008. While the credit crunch and global financial crisis have dampened immediate-term growth prospects, a longer-term view of the market indicates significant growth opportunities for retailers in the country. Verdict Research forecasts that by 2012 the Russian retail market will be approaching $800 billion. Such a sizeable market will be difficult for any retailer to disregard.

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