Financial News

Retailers have plenty to cheer at the beginning of the new year.

Holiday sales increased 4.9% in 2017, setting a new record for dollars spent, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse. It was the largest year-over-year increase since 2011. Online shopping saw large gains of 18.1% compared to 2016, boosted by a late-season rally. (The SpendingPulse report details holiday shopping from Nov.1 through Dec. 24 and covers retail sales across all payment types.)

It has been announced that Walgreens Boots Alliance will be reducing its stake in Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a pharmaceutical wholesaling joint venture in China. This announcement comes after the Deerfield, Ill.-based company announced plans earlier this year their plans to take a 40% stake in Sinopharm Holding GuoDa Drugstores.

Campbell has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Charlotte, N.C.-based Snyder’s-Lance. This move will enable the Camden, N.J.-based brand to expand its portfolio of leading snack brands, the company said.

London-based Unilever, a leading brand in personal care, home care, food and refreshments has received an offer from KKR — a global investment firm that manages multiple asset classes including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate and credit — to purchase its global Spreads business. The offer is for €6.825 billion in Euros and is expected to be on a cash-free and debt-free basis. 

Hershey’s has announced that it has entered an agreement to acquire Austin, Texas-based Amplify Snack Brands. This deal includes all outstanding shares of Amplify for $12.00 per share in cash.

Costco earned $640 million, $1.45 a share, in the quarter ended November 26, compared with $545 million, or $1.24 a share, in the year-ago period. Analysts had expected earnings of $1.33 a share.

Net sales rose 13.3% to $31.12 billion, better than analysts expected. Total same-store sales 10.5%.

Costco’s comparable E-commerce sales jumped 43.5%. The increase comes as the retailer has been investing to grow its digital capabilities, including a partnership with delivery service firm Instacart to offer two-day and same-day delivery.

Unilever has announced an agreement to acquire Schmidt’s Naturals. The Portland, Ore.-based personal care line, founded in 2010 by Jamie Schmidt, began as a deodorant line, which has expanded its offerings to include bar soap and toothpaste.

Kroger is teaming up with Chase Pay, the digital engagement wallet from JPMorgan Chase & Co., to offer mobile payments. The initiative will kick off in select retail markets and e-commerce programs in 2018.

Kroger’s payment solutions are a part of the company’s “Restock Kroger Plan.” One of the key strategic drivers is to expand partnerships to create customer value, which includes Kroger forming alliances to accelerate digital and e-commerce platforms.