Retail

  Bloomberg London’s delivery companies are experimenting with electric vehicles to curb the smog spewed by vans distributing parcels packed with goods purchased on the Internet. The UK capital’s transport authority is catalysing the transition from diesel to battery-powered vehicles by funding Gnewt Cargo Ltd., which operates London’s largest all electric delivery fleet. Gnewt is part owned by shipping DX ...

  Bloomberg TOA Group, controlled by Thailand’s Tangkaravakoon family, is considering an initial public offering of its paints and chemicals business, people with knowledge of the matter said. The company, which is Thailand’s number one paint producer, is working with banks on a possible share sale that could raise at least $400 million, one of the people said. A listing ...

  Bloomberg Burberry needs a style update. The luxury goods group is looking to appoint a senior manager to support chief executive Christopher Bailey, who is also its creative director, according to the Financial Times. This is not what Burberry needs. Bailey was already the brand’s top designer when he assumed the CEO role in May 2014, after his predecessor, ...

  Bloomberg Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc said it’s working on plans to eliminate as many as 300 more management posts as the maker of engines for Airbus Group SE and Boeing Co.’s biggest jets steps up a cost-cutting drive amid sputtering first-half earnings. The UK company, which has already announced the elimination of 200 senior positions in two tranches, is in ...

  NEW YORK / AP Those smiley door greeters are back at Wal-Mart. The US’ largest retailer said in a blog post this week that it’s bringing back door greeters to a majority of its 5,000 stores by mid-summer to improve customer service. For stores which have been selected as higher risks for thefts, Wal-Mart will position a “customer host,” ...

  Bloomberg Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. posted a 39 percent surge in revenue as China’s dominant e-commerce operator shrugged off a slowing economy with promotions to woo cash-rich consumers. Asia’s largest internet company posted better-than-expected sales of 24.2 billion yuan ($3.7 billion) in the March quarter and said it will start providing annual forecasts. Alibaba shares jumped 4 percent to ...

  Bloomberg HNA Group Co., the acquisitive owner of China’s fourth-largest airline, has approached the biggest shareholder of CWT Ltd. to express interest in a possible bid for control of the Singapore logistics company, people with the exact knowledge of the matter said. The Loi family that controls CWT will discuss HNA’s interest in coming days and could enter exclusive ...

  San Francisco / AFP Online retail colossus Amazon has boosted its fledgling air cargo service as it moves to gain more independence from freight firms for delivery of online purchases. Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings will provide air cargo services to Amazon, which also obtained an option to buy a stake in the New York-based company, the companies said in ...

  Bloomberg Next Plc, the British clothing retailer, cut its sales forecast for the second time this year after reporting first-quarter revenue that missed estimates on unfavorably cold spring weather, sending another chill over the embattled UK apparel sector. Next now expects full-year sales to fall within a range of negative 3.5 percent and 3.5 percent growth due to weaker ...

  Bloomberg UK supermarket chain J Sainsbury Plc reported annual profit that beat estimates as the company outperformed peers in a market blighted by deflation and discount competition. Operating profit fell 11 percent to 700 million pounds ($1.02 billion) in the 52 weeks ended March 12, the country’s second-biggest grocer said in a statement Wednesday. Analysts expected 683.4 million pounds, ...