Retail Newsletter â December 09 to 13, 2013

Top News

Latest Shopping Trends across Asia Pacific: CBRE

Emerging markets are offering interesting investment opportunities in terms of shopping center development, according to the latest Asia Pacific Retail Trends and Retail Hotspots reports released by CBRE. The Asia Pacific market in particular continued to see a steady flow of new retailer openings in 2013, amid steady economic growth and generally positive consumer sentiment.

Southeast Asia, in particular, continued to mature rapidly with the completion of new retail space and increasingly sophisticated consumers, which spurred the arrival of new retailers from overseas.The top five countries of retailer origin, however, remained unchanged over last year. New retailers from the Americas remained the most active, with 71 new entries across Asia Pacific in 2013. Retailers from Italy (47), the United Kingdom (40), France (37) and Japan (24) completed the top five.

While Hanoi recorded the highest number of new entrants (30) of any city in Asia Pacific in 2013, Hong Kong (28) came a close second, followed by Beijing (27), Shanghai (26) and Singapore (25). In India, demand from international retailers in New Delhi (16) remained more-or-less stable over last year, as more groups sought space in prime shopping centers as opposed to high street shops.Despite the prevailing high rentals in the prime shopping locations of many established Asian cities, leasing demand for space in these prime spots remained strong throughout the year.

Not prohibitive rentals, but the limited availability of quality retail space in core locations would seem to have continued to pose a greater barrier to new retailer entry in a number of key emerging Asian marketsincluding New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.Demand from international retailers in Mumbai and New Delhi remained stable during the year, with interest from fast fashion groups in particular remaining firm throughout 2013.Recent quarters also saw a number of well-established international mass market brands enter tier-II locations, partly because of the lack of quality space options in tier-I markets.

Wal-Mart India appoints Krish Iyer as CEO

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc announced that Krish Iyer has been named president and CEO of Walmart India, effective Jan. 20, 2014. Iyer, who will report to Walmart Asia regional president and CEO Scott Price, will replace interim CEO Ramnik Narsey, who is taking a new role as senior vice president, Walmart International. Ramnik will report to David Cheesewright, the incoming President and Chief Executive Officer for Walmart International.

Scott Price, president and CEO of Walmart Asia said: Krish will be responsible for leading the growth and success of our India operations while also continuing to develop our future retail strategy there. His knowledge of our business, combined with his understanding of the Indian market and culture, make him a natural fit for this role. I would like to personally appreciate Ramnik and acknowledge his leadership of our India business as we worked to develop our current business plan.

Originally from Mumbai, India, Iyer joined Walmart International as a senior vice president in 2012. Prior to coming to Walmart, he spent six years with A.S. Watson Group, a leading international health, beauty and lifestyle retailer, serving as managing director in Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines, regional business development director and regional director over store design and development for Asia and Eastern Europe. Before that, Iyer was managing director and CEO at Piramyd Retail Limited. Iyer is a Chartered Accountant, having received his Bachelors degree with honors in Commerce and Economics from the University of Mumbai in India.

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Retail Newsletter â December 09 to 13, 2013