Articles by AFP
Recently acquired footwear retailer André prepares for "a future expansion phase"
Paris, France – Footwear retailer André, acquired in January, is preparing for a "future expansion phase", according to a court ruling seen by AFP. This decision comes despite a challenging consumer environment and the erosion of its workforce and store portfolio over the years. According to the takeover bid, André was placed into receivership...
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A guerrilla poster campaign against Jeff Bezos at the Met Gala hits New York
New York - Posters have appeared on the streets and subways of New York calling for a boycott of the Met Gala, scheduled for May 4, due to Jeff Bezos' involvement in its organisation. The choice of the Amazon founder, who has grown closer to Donald Trump, and his wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos as sponsors and honorary chairs is “a total lack of tact”...
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Showroomprivé in the red in 2025 as sales continue to decline
Paris - Showroomprivé (SRP Groupe) announced on Wednesday a net loss of approximately 31 million euros (36.20 million dollars) and a 13 percent drop in its turnover for 2025. Its sales continue to decline in early 2026. The flash sales player therefore remains in the red after a net loss of 133 million euros in 2024. In 2025, its turnover...
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Amazon exceeds expectations, boosted by AI and Anthropic
New York - Amazon reported better-than-expected results for the first quarter, driven primarily by its cloud computing subsidiary, Amazon Web Services (AWS). The division continues to benefit from the appetite for artificial intelligence (AI). The Seattle-based group also saw its profit soar following a revision of the book value of its stake in...
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SMCP reports stable ready-to-wear sales despite strong regional disparities
French group SMCP, the parent company of brands Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot and Fursac, published its first-quarter 2026 results on Tuesday. While overall turnover remains stable, performance was driven by international markets as the French market experienced a sharp decline. The group's turnover stood at 287 million euros (335.6 million...
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Succession and ambitions: Bernard Arnault holds firm at LVMH shareholder meeting
Addressing shareholders of the world's leading luxury group, LVMH, its CEO Bernard Arnault, 77, has postponed the debate on his succession. He preferred to set medium-term goals for his group instead. The topic of succession prompted one of the very first questions from shareholders at the general meeting in Paris on Thursday. When asked about...
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"Made in China" hopes for improvement with Trump visit
Canton - In the heat of a vast wholesale market in southern China, surrounded by clothing and footwear, traders are hoping that Donald Trump's announced visit will ease the American tariffs penalising their exports. Manufacturers and factories in Guangdong province, the country's manufacturing heartland, have borne the full brunt of the White...
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Ski: Rossignol capitalises on strong winter to boost sales
Paris, France – April 22, 2026 (AFP) – Ski equipment manufacturer Rossignol has improved its sales for the 2025/2026 season, following two difficult winters. The brand announced on Wednesday that the increase was due to strong visitor numbers at ski resorts. For its financial year ending March 31, the French group achieved a turnover of 346...
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Switzerland: watch exports fall by 1 percent in March
Swiss watch exports contracted by one percent in March to 2.1 billion Swiss francs, driven down by the US market, according to figures published on Tuesday by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH). American market in decline In March, exports to the US, the largest market for Swiss watchmakers, fell by 1.6 percent compared to the same...
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Exploited labour: Loro Piana (LVMH) is no longer under judicial administration
Rome - Italian fashion house Loro Piana, owned by French luxury giant LVMH, announced on Friday the early termination of its judicial administration by the Court of Milan. “Loro Piana acknowledges the early conclusion of the judicial administration proceedings by the Court of Milan, ahead of the originally scheduled 12-month period,” the Italian...
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