Tesco's UK sales growth slowed to 1.8% in Q1, down from 4.2% previously, citing "ongoing uncertainty for many households" due to the Middle East conflict and higher fuel prices. Despite the slowdown, online sales rose 8.9%, and group sales were up 1% to £16.8bn. The retailer expects to meet annual profit expectations.
Tesco CEO Ken Murphy stated that rainy spring weather significantly impacted UK grocery sales more than the World Cup or Middle East conflict. Sales growth slowed to 1.8% in Q1, below expectations, with sunshine boosting consumer spending and football wins causing only temporary, smaller sales spikes.
Sollers Group CEO Nikolay Sobolev announced plans for sales growth this year, targeting over 40% market share in pickups and around 30% in light commercial vehicles, despite a stable market.
Convenience store chain CU has opened 'Jeju Yongdu Coast Branch,' a store specialized for runners, featuring a 'Running Station' concept. The store, which includes amenities for runners and a dedicated product corner, has seen a 168.9% sales increase in April-May compared to the previous year.
Kohl's stock jumped 20% after reporting its best comparable sales performance in four years, with CEO Michael Bender saying the company is 'knocking on the door of growth'
Best Buy reported Q1 revenue of $8.94B, beating expectations, with 2% comparable sales growth driven by gaming, computing, mobile phones, and services, despite appliance sales declines.
Macapá's commerce anticipates a 50% sales increase in June due to Valentine's Day, Festa Junina, and the 2026 World Cup. Retailers are optimistic, boosting stocks and decorations, with consumers showing willingness to spend on gifts and seasonal items.
German industry experienced its first sales increase in three years in Q1 2026, growing 1.7% to €531 billion. However, job losses persist, with 127,300 positions cut year-on-year, particularly in the automotive and mechanical engineering sectors. High energy and labor costs, competition from China, and US tariffs remain challenges.
Walmart expects sales growth to slow significantly in Q2 due to rising fuel prices, driven by Middle East conflict. The retailer also warns of potential food price hikes if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, impacting fertilizer supply. Consumer spending is expected to face increasing strain as the benefit of tax refunds diminishes.
From January to April 2026, sales of Sber's "Salyut TV" smart TVs increased by 71% year-on-year in units, capturing 11% of the market share, up from 7%. In monetary terms, sales grew by 54%, significantly outpacing the overall market growth of 10% in units and 0.7% in value.
Burberry reports 2% comparable sales growth for FY2026, driven by strong demand in Americas and China, but European sales decline due to reduced tourism amid Middle East conflict, leading to a 6.84% stock slip.
Burberry reports 2% comparable sales growth for the fiscal year, driven by 10% growth in Americas and China, with £2.4 billion revenue and £160 million adjusted operating profit, despite challenges in EMEA and India due to Middle East conflict.
Tencent CEO Pony Ma admits past AI shortcomings, announces turnaround progress with Hy3 preview model, amid Q1 earnings miss due to slowed gaming growth.
KEPCO's net income rose 6.7% in Q1 to 2.51 trillion won, despite limited sales growth, thanks to cost-saving efforts
Kia Corp. reported a 1% year-on-year increase in global sales for April, reaching 277,188 units. While domestic sales grew by 7.9%, international sales saw a slight decline of 0.7% due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Africa.
Linde reported Q1 2026 earnings beating estimates with revenue of $8.78 billion (up 8% YoY) and adjusted EPS of $4.33 (up 9% YoY). The industrial gas supplier raised its price target to $550 from $540, citing strong performance across all end markets and regions, with electronics sales up 10% and aerospace seeing double-digit growth.
Hindustan Unilever Limited reported its fastest sales growth in three years with a 7% year-on-year increase to ₹16,207 crore in the March quarter, driven by stable consumer demand and supportive economic measures. Volume growth stood at 6% while profit after tax rose 4% to ₹2,711 crore. However, the company warned of potential price hikes due to surging crude oil-linked commodity costs stemming from the Iran war.
Chipotle Mexican Grill reported first-quarter same-store sales growth of 0.5%, beating Wall Street expectations of a 0.7% decline. Revenue rose 7.4% to $3.09 billion, slightly above the $3.07 billion expected. Net income fell to $302.8 million from $386.6 million a year earlier, impacted by higher tax rates, wage inflation and rising beef prices. CEO Scott Boatwright said results exceeded company expectations. The company reiterated its full-year outlook of flat same-store sales.
Varun Beverages Ltd (VBL), PepsiCo's largest franchise bottler, reported 16.3% sales volume growth in Q1 2026 with revenue rising 18.1% to Rs 6,574 crore. The company achieved 14.4% volume growth in India and 21.4% in international territories including Africa. VBL completed the acquisition of Twizza in South Africa and plans to acquire Crickley Dairy, betting on African market expansion and capacity investments to drive future growth.
IKEA Korea announced plans to open three additional outlets in Incheon, Daegu and Daejeon by 2027, expanding from its current six stores. The company reported a 2.2% year-on-year sales increase to 639.3 billion won for fiscal year ending August 2025, with online sales comprising 13% of total revenue. CEO Isabel Puig said the company aims to generate 200 billion won in e-commerce sales this year, up from 50 billion won in 2019.
