BELGIUM: Unilever vowed to continue its negotiations with Delhaize after the Belgian supermarket chain failed to agree terms during annual price negotiations. The retailer said Unilever was trying to push through price increases and refused to agree terms for its fmcg brands including Dove, Persil, Flora and Knorr.

“Unilever Benelux is negotiating with Delhaize - as with all its customers - after implementing a price increase of 2.5%,” said a Unilever spokesman. “Thus far, no new agreement has been reached with Delhaize for 2009, and for this reason Delhaize has temporarily decided not to sell a number of Unilever products. It is important that our brands are available at Delhaize, just as they are at other supermarkets in Belgium. We are determined to continue dialogue with Delhaize in order to reach a satisfactory agreement.”

AUSTRALIA: Brewer Lion Nathan has withdrawn its £3.32bn bid for Coca-Cola Amatil after talks between the two companies broke down. The deal would have given Lion Nathan 60% of the soft drinks market in Australia. Coca-Cola Amatil said the price was too low, but Rob Murray, Lion Nathan CEO, denied there would be a higher bid. “We made a very attractive offer at a 30% premium,” he said. Theo Maas, a partner at Lion Nathan shareholder Fortis Investment Partners, said: “It’s good news in terms of removing uncertainty, especially with the worry that Lion Nathan would have to offer a higher bid.” 

USA: Wal-Mart will cut 700 to 800 jobs at its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, because it is building fewer stores this year and making other operational changes. The cuts are in the property, clothing and health and wellness teams, a spokesman said.

“Obviously we don’t need as many people to do the work, as we are not siting or building as many new stores,” a spokesman said.

Employees will be told of the cuts in the next couple of weeks. The company said it was creating jobs at its New York clothing office and expected “to add thousands of jobs” at Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Club warehouses this year. Wal-Mart has also announced it will test two new types of heavy-duty hybrid trucks and two alternatively fuelled heavy-duty trucks as part of its efforts to develop a more sustainable fleet.

“In order to meet our goal of doubling our fleet efficiency, we are taking a role in the develop­ment of these technologies,” said Chris Sultemeier, senior vice president of transportation for Wal-Mart. 

MALAYSIA: Carrefour, which currently has five stores in Malaysia, is planning to open 100 more Carrefour Express stores in the country by the end of the year, after entering the market last March. It is understood the stores will be franchised and operate in sites under 1,000 sq ft, and offer 4,000 lines. Last September, the company embarked on a search for entrepreneurs through a reality TV show, Carrefour Duniaku 2.