This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23628045
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
China Resources Enterprise in talks with Tesco | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
China Resources Enterprise (CRE) is in exclusive talks with the UK retailer Tesco about merging their hypermarkets and supermarkets in China. | |
The venture would combine Tesco's 131 stores in China with CRE's almost 3,000 stores, called Vanguard, to create what they say would be the leading multi-format retailer in China. | |
CRE would control 80% of the new chain while Tesco would have 20%. | |
Tesco and CRE both confirmed the talks in stock market statements. | |
CRE said that the venture would bring together its "deep understanding of local customers, established nationwide infrastructure and proven track record as a partner with Tesco's global retail expertise, international sourcing scale and supply chain capabilities". | |
Tesco, the biggest supermarket chain in the UK, first started operating in China in 2004 where it has hypermarkets and some shopping malls containing Tesco stores. | |
Analysts said the joint venture would allow Tesco to reduce the amount of capital it must commit to its China business, while still having a presence there. | |
After a decade of international expansion Tesco faces challenges in some markets. | |
In April, Tesco said it was abandoning its US chain of 199 Fresh & Easy shops, at the same time announcing its first decline in annual profits in almost 20 years. It is still to be decided whether it will sell the business or close it down. | |
It also announced that it would leave the Japanese market in 2012. | |
. |