Neighbourhood Shops - The New Retail Winners.

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c35917) has announced the addition of "Neighbourhood Retailing 2006" to their offering.

No longer regarded as a retail backwater, the neighbourhood is currently one of the hottest battlegrounds in retail. Frustrated by planning refusals for out-of-town superstores and recognising that many people value the convenience of local shopping, leading multiples continue to strengthen their position in neighbourhood retail. This has acted as a catalyst for wider consolidation in the sector, as smaller retailers look for strategies through which to maintain a competitive stance.

As a result growth in the neighbourhood in 2005 is set to outstrip that on the high street for the first time in living memory. Not only that, average sales density growth increase faster than high street and out-of-town locations for the third success year.

Neighbourhood Retailing 2006 explores the following trends and their implications:

--Though Spar remains the neighbourhood leader, few would bet against it losing its crown to Tesco in 2006.

--A new wave of forecourt c-store development presents major scope for sales growth.

--For major multiples in 2005 the emphasis switched from acquisition to integration.

--Major symbol group operators are making headway as consolidation has continued, but need to strengthen propositions further.

Key topics covered:

--Location Definitions

--Neighbourhood Summary

--Retail Sales

--Store Numbers

--Space

--Sales Densities

--Neighbourhood Channels

--Company Data Analysis

--Neighbourhood Market Shares

--C-store Market Shares

--Key Operating Statistics

--Neighbourhood Fortunes on the Up

--Sales Density Outperformance

--Competing with Multiples

--Moving Beyond Needs-driven Retailing

Companies mentioned:

--Co-operative Group

--Costcutter

--Musgrave

--Premier

--Sainsbury

--Somerfield Group

--Spar

--Tesco

--Alliance Pharmacy 

--Lloydspharmacy

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c35917

Source: Verdict Research Ltd.