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Tesco Forms Purchasing Alliance With Carrefour to Cut Costs. Tesco Plc is forming a purchasing alliance with French retailer Carrefour SA to increase its leverage with suppliers in a consolidating and price-squeezed supermarket business.

Tesco Forms Purchasing Alliance With Carrefour to Cut Costs

The alliance between two of Europe’s largest retailers, with combined annual sales of about $171 billion, aims to enhance the companies’ clout in buying branded goods and private-label items as competition from discounters like Aldi and Lidl ramps up. The planned partnership is the latest cross-Channel cooperation between U.K. and French companies even amid the looming uncertainties of Brexit, following a deal last year between Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA and grocery e-commerce technology provider Ocado Group Plc. Tesco and Carrefour spend roughly $105 billion a year on products they sell to customers, Jefferies analysts led by James Grzinic said in a note. That suggests that even small improvements could quickly lead to total savings of more than $500 million, they said. ‘Defensive Move’ Apple’s so-called 'Netflix killer' has failed to live up to its name. Corporate Social Responsibility Can Actually Be a Competitive Advantage, So Where's Your CSR Program?

Here are six companies leading the way in CSR not just because it's trendy but because it's the right thing to do.

Corporate Social Responsibility Can Actually Be a Competitive Advantage, So Where's Your CSR Program?

April 11, 2018 5 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. In these politically turbulent times, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is growing in importance, putting more pressure on up-and-coming entrepreneurs to adopt a social responsibility and/or sustainability strategy to boost their visibility and competitiveness.

Why are CSR strategies growing in importance? There are at least three reasons: Corporate distrust. The message: Publicly practicing social responsibility can be seen as a way to restore that trust. Amazon reportedly developing subscription video game streaming service. Amazon is planning to use its massive cloud computing service to jump into the streaming market for video game play, according to a new report from the Information.

Amazon reportedly developing subscription video game streaming service

The service, which could potentially bring top-notch titles to virtually anyone with a smartphone or streaming device, could make Amazon a major competitor in the space already in play by Microsoft and Google. While most big-budget video games require users to own a gaming console or a computer to run, Amazon’s reported streaming service would live on the tech giant’s cloud network, freeing customers to play elaborate, robust games even on their mobile devices, the report said. The service is slated to launch next year, the report said. The development of a Web-based gaming hub would mark a significant foray for Amazon. Other big tech companies are advancing their own efforts to claim territory in the new game streaming market, including Microsoft and Google. Netflix is raising its subscription prices.

All three of the company's plans will increase in price by $1-$2.

Netflix is raising its subscription prices

The standard $11 plan, for example, will increase to $13 per month. The price hikes will be applied to all existing members over the next few months. New members will be charged the new price immediately. Its $8 plan will go up to $9 and its $14 plan will go up to $16 a month. Netflix has been spending billions on new content — at least $8 billion last year, based on the company's own expectations from 2017.

ASOS creates sanitary pads for women in Kenya using spare fabric. The new ASOS Made In Kenya collection is providing women in the Kasigua region of the country who are in need with reusable sanitary pads made from leftover fabric from clothes in the range.

ASOS creates sanitary pads for women in Kenya using spare fabric

Earlier this year, the fashion retailer announced that it would be making stronger efforts to become a more sustainable brand by developing a new training programme for designers in partnership with London College of Fashion’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion. Following on from that, the ASOS Foundation has collaborated with the SOKO Community Trust in Kenya to launch The Kujuwa Initiative, created with the sole purpose of supporting young women in the Kasigua region of Kenya. Part of The Kujuwa Initiative’s mission to support young women will involve providing them with menstrual kits, which will consist of two pairs of cotton briefs, two reusable sanitary pads made from fabric scraps that can last for up to three years and have removable liners, a bar of soap and a waterproof wash bag.

ASOS has seen a huge rise in this trend and it could be thanks to Meghan Markle. The hidden face of Primark fashion. Its unrivalled success took the competition by surprise as it won over both the high-street shopper and the diehard fashionista with its simple philosophy: high on style, low on price.

The hidden face of Primark fashion

When Primark was launched, its flagship store in London's Oxford Street was besieged by stampeding bargain-hunters and sold more than a million garments in its first 10 days. The opening drew a bigger crowd than that managed by Topshop's much-hyped launch of its Kate Moss collection, which featured the supermodel herself moodily posing in its windows. Fashion bible Vogue gave a Primark jacket high-end credibility. Last week, in an announcement that effectively pre-empted publication by The Observer of this investigation, Primark announced it had sacked three of its clothing suppliers in India after being told by the BBC's Panorama programme of evidence that it was subcontracting labour to child workers. Mantheesh's home, the Bhavanasagar refugee camp, was at the very bottom. Born to lives of child labour. Concerns that Primark's cheap prices could be compromising its ethics - The heavily criticised chain stands by its practices - Cornwall Live.

Primark's Truro store had been open barely a week and was already a hit with shoppers.

Concerns that Primark's cheap prices could be compromising its ethics - The heavily criticised chain stands by its practices - Cornwall Live

The big name retailer chose Cornwall's capital city to open its first and flagship store bringing the number of stores in the UK to 174 and 321 worldwide. However, behind the neon lights and piles of cheap and cheerful clothes, Primark has suffered from a bad reputation as being unethical and employing children in sweat shops in South East Asia. Following the Truro store opening, some people commented on Cornwall Live's Facebook page .

Primark has 'perfected art of mixing low prices with high fashion' It's everyone's fashionable guilty pleasure: a high-street value store, known and loved for its fashion-forward designs at bargain prices.

Primark has 'perfected art of mixing low prices with high fashion'

And now, analysts are hailing Primark as a 'retailing powerhouse' that's perfected the art of mixing low prices with high fashion. The high street giant has considerably upped its fashion game in recent years, with stronger, on-trend ranges that have made it a clear winner in the 'hauling' trend, which sees customers sharing pictures and videos of their shopping sprees at value retailers, analysts Conlumino said. Primark – what’s the secret to its success? Whether you pronounce it Preemark, Primark or Primarni, there is no doubt that you’ll have come across Primark – the value fashion and homewares retailer that has become a staple of British high streets and shopping centres.

Primark – what’s the secret to its success?

Known for its quick fashion, basic styles and most prominently, small price tags, Primark has a distinctive offer within the fashion market, with many opting to love or hate the brand. Whatever your opinion of Primark, it can’t be denied that it is a very interesting retailer. Whilst the fashion market as a whole is coming under increasing pressure, and bricks and mortar clothing and footwear stores report falling footfall and sales, for Primark the opposite is the case.

Primark success proves cheap and cheerful can still conquer high street. Tesco founder Jack Cohen famously said the secret of success was “pile ‘em high and sell ‘em cheap”.

Primark success proves cheap and cheerful can still conquer high street

And despite many retailers on the high street struggling to make ends meet – Marks & Spencer shutting stores, House of Fraser striking last-ditch deals with its landlords, Debenhams issuing a profit warning – it seems to be a formula that still works even in a tough environment. The proof is there at Primark, which has taken Cohen’s philosophy to heart, and has attracted consumers into its stores with its cut-price fashion and makeup. The latest bargain spotted by aficionados is a £2 lipstick that bears comparison with a rival product costing £17.50. As other retailers mothball sites, Primark continues to successfully open new outlets: last month, there were reportedly 100 people queuing outside its Westfield store in west London on its first day well before the doors opened.

Not for Primark, anyway. ABF’s other major business, sugar, is expected to continue suffering from price weakness. Management euro. Technology is beginning to transform Indian agri, education, health. Farmers in Devanakonda mandal in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh are dependent on the rains. The area is not irrigated. The farmers are relatively poor, with landholdings of 2-3 acres each, and grow crops like groundnut and cotton. Groundnut yields depend a lot on when it is sowed. It's best sown when there is good moisture in the soil. People with Autism Are Filling a Void in the Workplace - Autism Parenting Magazine.

The future job market is looking bright for many people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Large companies such as Microsoft, EY, and Utah-based Chargeback have piloted neurodiversity programs that aim to employ adults who are on the spectrum. The main objective of the program is to explore the possible benefits of hiring employees with varying cognitive abilities. The goal is to test the possible opportunities for enhanced productivity and create a talented think tank for the company. While it’s understood not all people with autism can work, a great many people are highly employable and are too often overlooked. Over the past few years, several large companies have begun to realize the value of employing individuals with autism and have implemented some changes in their hiring practices. Autism Jobs on the Rise Company representatives explained the implementation of neurodiversity in the workplace is not merely an attempt at corporate social responsibility.

Microsoft plans a 75 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. Microsoft Ranked #1 in Best Corporate Social Responsibility Programs, Continues Dedication to Citizens and Communities – Local news from Microsoft in Boston. Who doesn’t like to get an award? Microsoft was recently named number one in Corporate Social Responsibility by the Reputation Institute for our philanthropy efforts. While this award is a wonderful validation, there is something much more important than recognition: the people and communities who benefit from the employees who take their time to give back through meaningful programs and individual efforts. Microsoft’s philanthropy campaigns this year included YouthSpark and the 30th Employee Giving Campaign. Why are these important?

YouthSpark connects hundreds of millions of youth with opportunities for continued education, employment and entrepreneurship. In fact, Dan Bross, Microsoft’s senior director of citizenship and public affairs, was recently quoted in Forbes saying, “It’s a tremendous honor and one that we’re very proud to receive. For more information on social responsibility initiatives, please visit the Microsoft Corporate Citizenship page here. Starbucks Chases China Market With New Tea Line. CEO Howard Schultz on Starbucks' expansion in China. Higher Bitesize Business Management - Decision-making in business : Revision.

What Are Soft Skills? Trailer du film The Circle - The Circle Bande-annonce VO. The real Google interns' first week. Apple's employee recruiting video. Subscribe to read. Read more All the benefits of Standard Digital, plus: Unlimited access to all content Instant Insights column for comment and analysis as news unfolds FT Confidential Research - in-depth China and Southeast Asia analysis ePaper - the digital replica of the printed newspaper Full access to LEX - our agenda setting daily commentary Exclusive emails, including a weekly email from our Editor, Lionel Barber Full access to EM Squared- news and analysis service on emerging markets Access to FT's award-winning news on desktop, mobile and tablet Personalised email briefings by industry, journalist or sector Portfolio tools to help manage your investments FastFT - market-moving news and views, 24 hours a day Brexit Briefing - Your essential guide to the impact of the UK-EU split For 4 weeks receive unlimited Premium digital access to the FT's trusted, award-winning business news Newspaper Only Weekend Paper + Premium Digital Weekend App Edition * Terms and conditions apply.