International Business

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $7.87 billion for the month of July, the four weeks ended August 4, an increase of 7% from $7.36 billion during the similar period last year.

For the 48 weeks ended August 4, the company reported net sales of $94.91 billion, an increase of 8% from $87.7 billion during the similar period last year.

Brussels, Belgium – Delhaize Group reported increases in net profit, same-store sales and revenues during the second quarter of fiscal 2013.  Net profit totaled $139.2 million, up 20% from the same quarter in the prior year. Same-store sales grew 1.1% in the U.S. and 0.8% in Belgium, while revenues came to roughly $7.1 billion, a year-over-year increase of 7.1%.

By Ted Vaughan, [email protected]

The year 2012 was the best year for retail IPOs since 2002 — S&P Capital IQ reported seven offerings for the year — and when we released our 2013 IPO Outlook Study earlier this year, 30% of capital markets executives expected initial public offerings (IPOs) in the retail and consumer products space to continue to grow in 2013. Now that we’re well into the second half of the year, how have those expectations fared?

San Francisco - Customer satisfaction is on the rise globally after more than a year in decline, with the average global customer satisfaction rating reaching 81% in the second quarter of this year. According to the new quarterly Zendesk Benchmark report, this about a 4% increase from an average rating of 78% in the previous quarter and the highest average rating since the first quarter of last year.

Affluent shoppers feeling better about their personal balance sheets helped global luxury brand Tumi grow total sales by 12.9%, same store sales by 4.6% and double profits in the second quarter ended June 24.

Best known for its expensive luggage, Tumi said sales total $108.2 million during the period and profits increased to $11.2 million, or 16 cents a share, compared to profits of $6.5 million, or 10 cents a share in the same period the prior year.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart is considering entering the bidding for Hong Kong-based grocery chain ParknShop, Reuters reports. Wal-Mart is currently exploring options to enter the initial bidding process for ParknShop, which closes Aug. 16.

ParknShop is owned by Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., which in turn is owned by Li Ka-shing, reputedly the wealthiest man in Asia. The chain may be valued as high as $4 billion.

Wal-Mart, which has not commented publicly, said last year it would open 100 new stores in China by 2015.

Northbrook, Ill. – Crate and Barrel is implementing the Flagship parcel shipping and Netship expense management solutions from Kewill, Inc. Using the new Kewill software, Crate and Barrel hopes to consistently manage domestic and international shipments from multiple shipping locations across North America, integrating with a roster of carriers to ensure the best available rate and service is selected.

Walmart may make a bid for 345 store Hong Kong supermarket chain known as ParknShop that is owned by Hutchison Whampoa, according to a Reuters report that cited people familiar with the matter.

Walmart is often linked to international retailers as a potential acquirer and according to the Reuters report it is among eight potential suitors for ParknShop who have until August 16 to submit preliminary offers.