MuzInk

By EVA WILAND
LOUISVILLE: KFC Corporation in the US is converting all of its 5500 restaurants in the USA to a zero grams trans fat cooking oil. The new oil, low linolenic soybean oil, will replace the partially hydrogenated soybean oil in current use in KFC restaurants.

By EVA WILAND
Retailers should start preparing for more aging customers than ever before, particularly retailers selling beer and wine, home improvements and furniture and consumer electronics.

By EVA WILAND
The A-line returned at the Paris 2006-07 autumn-winter haute couture shows. The other main features were short, flip-out shifts, bejewelling and fur trims, judging from Worth Global Style Network’s International Fashion Press Bulletin.

Tesco is on track to open for business in the US next summer and has started a staff recruitment program as part of its aggressive international expansion.

By EVA WILAND
Dutch retailer Royal Ahold plans to sell 46 of its Tops Markets in the US state of Ohio, as declining sales continue to bite into profits.

Barely into her new position as Burberry chief executive officer, American Angela Ahrendts, has indicated she wants to see more diversity in the label and less checks.

The Westfield Group has agreed to acquire 15 department store sites owned by Federated Department Stores, more than half of which are Macy’s outlets. The sites are spread over 11 Westfield shopping centres in the US.

The Montreal-based Cirque du Soleil circus empire known worldwide for its magic spectacles and acrobatic performers plans to open a chain of stores to expand its brand into fashion, cosmetics and more.

As part of its international growth strategy, Tesco has unveiled plans to enter the US retail market through the development of a new convenience store format, beginning on the US west coast in 2007.

Wal*Mart is unable to keep up with demand for its new, upmarket Metro7 label which, even with limited distribution, is said to generate sales of $US200 million ($A271 million) after its first 12 months on the market.