Burger King forecast US and Canada total revenue and restaurant margins in the third quarter would be below prior-year levels as adverse weather in the central and eastern US kept diners away. The fast-food chain operator said over 75 per cent of ...

It's the favourite tipple of New Zealanders wanting a caffeine hit and now the flat white is taking the United Kingdom by storm.  Leading national cafe chain, Costa Coffee, introduced the Kiwi staple in late January and is crediting it with ...

Westpac is to reopen a branch for retail customers in the heart of London in an attempt to tap into the expatriate banking market. The bank has had a presence in London since 1853 but in recent years has focused mainly on corporate clients after c...

Children's clothing retailer Pumpkin Patch has cracked the Chinese market and will open its first store in Beijing next month.  The company has teamed up with a major Chinese clothing store operator which already manages about 400 stores. ...

US consumer spending increased slightly faster than expected in January while the US manufacturing sector grew, underscoring views the economic recovery is progressing. The Commerce Department said last night that spending rose 0.5 per cent, incre...

Dame Vivienne Westwood wants people to stop shopping.  The eccentric British designer, famed for her bright orange hair and colourful clothing, believes people should refrain from buying clothes to avoid over-consumption. She said: "I just tell ...

Retailers say changing the price tags of tens of thousands of products overnight to reflect a rise in GST will be a logistical nightmare.  One is picking the task could cost it hundreds of thousands of dollars.The Government has indicated it wil...

From Mattel's "Puppy Tweets'' linking pets to a Twitter feed to biodegradable nursery toys, toy makers are focusing on fun technology and green materials to win sales in 2010.The top US toy fair kicks off in New York on Sunday, with an eye to selling...

The Commerce Commission is warning New Zealand retailers not to use small print to hide the truth about promotions after Borders recently was caught out for the practice.  Any additions made in the small print should not materially alter the...

The online payments service PayPal has taken the unusual step of suspending many transactions in India for more than a week.A spokesman for the service said Saturday that "personal payments" to and from India are being blocked. Transfers to banks in ...

Cookie Time plans to launch a global cookie franchise, starting with its first store in Queenstown on May 10.The well-known baked treat is a familiar sight in dairies throughout New Zealand, but Cookie Time wants to start selling from its own purpose...

The Commerce Commission has warned an internet auction trader over what it says was an attempt to fix prices for bicycle lights, saying even online traders need to be aware of competition rules.The formal warning was issued to Auckland's Ernie Traver...

More retail closures could be in store following the rash of holiday receiverships.Several retailers were declared insolvent in January, including 10 Stax fashion stores, electronics store Eastern Hi Fi and Christchurch cycle shop Bike HQ.Three Welli...

Smiths City Group says 2009 was the worst year for "big- ticket" retail in two decades, affected by a stagnant construction industry and low consumer confidence.  Smiths City's half-year report for the six months to October 31 confirmed a $4...

Palmerston North gift shop Streets Ahead has been around for 15 years – and for all of that time owner Trisha Cameron has operated without a computer.  All her accounts and stock takes are kept on paper and in her head, meaning she could m...