Executive Summary

• This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” looks at Lidl’s plans to expand in the US grocery market – breaking from traditional big to small-format stores.
• US retail sales unexpectedly fell in April as households cut back on purchases of motor vehicles and a range of other goods, pointing to a slowdown in economic growth after a temporary boost in the first quarter.
• In the UK, Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) is reportedly mulling closing over 200 stores in the next two years – which would equal a little under 10% of the group’s UK health and beauty stores.
• Chinese toy retailer Kidsland has opened US toy retailer FAO Schwarz’s first Asian store in Beijing. FAO Schwarz plans to open one large and several medium-sized stores in China in the next two years.