Executive Summary

• This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” looks at the state of US retail amid an ongoing wave of store closures.
• Walmart’s Mexico business Walmex will let customers order groceries for delivery using messaging service WhatsApp. Customers send a shopping list to Walmart’s WhatsApp number and pay by card or cash on delivery.
• French hypermarket chain Carrefour will sell 80% of its China business to retailer Suning.com. Carrefour will retain a 20% stake and two of the seven board seats.
• German cash-and-carry retailer Metro has responded to a takeover offer of €5.8 billion ($6.6 billion) from EP Global Commerce (EPGC), an acquisition entity owned by Czech and Slovak investors, saying it significantly undervalues the company.