In addition to most of the features of other ordinary mobile phones, CD’s new mobile phone also has a mini mobile phone that resembles a USB key. Users can put the main mobile phone in a handbag while using the mini mobile phone to make calls.

Produced by a small manufacturer called ModeLabs in France, the new mobile phones are reportedly priced around EUR3,500. Sidney Toledano, CEO of CD, says that they hope to increase their sales volume through these mobile phone products.

At present, CD’s annual sales are about EUR787 million. Toledano hopes that the new mobile phone business will bring about EUR200 million income each year to the company.

The UK continues to lead the world as the most international retail market, as Europe maintains its ability to attract the world’s top retailers, according to new research.

The 2009 edition of the How Global is the Business of Retail? report from CB Richard Ellis mapped the footprint of 280 top global retailers across 67 countries, exploring the globalisation of the retail industry at national and city levels to highlight differences between sectors and regions, identifying trends in the patterns of global retail expansion.

The UK outperformed other major European economies such as Spain, France, Germany and Italy to take the number one position within the top 15 most international retail markets, with 58% of all retailers surveyed present.

Europe continues to dominate, containing eight out of the top 15 most international retail locations, although emerging economies such as China, Russia and the United Arab Emirates have gained significant ground in the past 12 months. China, Russia and Japan performed particularly strongly in the 2008 global retail ranking, achieving sixth, seventh and 14th positions respectively. Middle Eastern countries have also seen a marked increase in retailers entering the region. The UAE jumped two places in the ranking, from sixth in 2007 to fourth in 2008, with 45% of international retailers present compared to 39% in 2007. Saudi Arabia also made a notable leap up the rankings from 28th position in 2007 to 15th position in 2008, with 37% of international brands present.

The US registered in 10th position globally, with 39% of international retailers present. This can be attributed, at least in part, to the size, maturity and strength of its domestic market. US retailers tend to penetrate their vast national market extensively before considering international expansion. Canada made the strongest rise up the global ranking of any country in the Americas in 2008, moving into 13th position from 18th, with 37% of international retailers present, a 6% increase from 2007.

Peter Gold, Head of EMEA Cross Border Retail at CB Richard Ellis, says, “Despite the global economic slowdown, many retailers, especially cash-rich private companies, have continued their expansion plans throughout the past 12 months. Our survey of 280 retailers saw them expand their international presence by an average of 12% in the past year, being represented in a further two more countries than in the previous year. This was primarily driven by clothing, footwear and accessories retailers from Europe. Interestingly, retailers have continued not just to internationalise, but to globalise – 40% of all new store openings in 2008 were outside the retailer’s home region.

“It remains to be seen whether this pace of expansion into emerging markets will be sustained through 2009 and 2010. Yet the globalisation of the retail industry is undoubtedly an ongoing long-term trend which is not going away,” adds Gold.

The report analysed which types or categories of retailers have the strongest international presence, and found that luxury retailers dominate global retail in terms of their footprint around the world. Some 90% of luxury retailers have a presence in more than 10 markets and 40% are present in more than 30 countries.

Gilles Petit, head of the French division, said in a press conference that the ‘Carrefour Discount’ range is designed to compete with deep-discount stores and that “Carrefour wants to improve its image on price.”

The company is the world’s second-largest retailer after Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Consumers are switching to cheaper goods and avoiding non-essential purchases as France’s economy shrinks at its fastest pace in more than 30 years.

Carrefour is responding to “all the people today who are keeping a close eye on their budget, want essential products, and want to eat well cheaply,” Petit said.

New CEO Lars Olofsson has said his priority is to improve performance in France, which accounts for about 40 percent of Carrefour’s sales. It operates over 5,500 stores in France, including hypermarkets, supermarkets, discount stores and convenience shops.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Wednesday it is “probable” that France’s economy will shrink by 2.5 percent this year as the country suffers its worst recession in decades.

Petit said Carrefour will launch the discount range in 1,200 Carrefour supermarkets and hypermarkets in France at the end of May with an initial 200 products.

The range will eventually cover 400 products, 80 percent of which will be foodstuffs such as breakfast cereals, coffee, yogurts, cheese and fruit juice. Household products such as shampoo, tissues and cleaning fluids will also be sold under the brand.

It will also be launched in Belgium, and may be sold in other European stores later if customer sentiment demands, he said.

The range won’t be on offer in its 914 French hard-discount stores Ed, which will continue to be run separately, he said.

Petit’s boss Olofsson was appointed last year to improve performance at Carrefour. In 2008, net profit slid 45 percent to euro1.27 billion ($1.64 billion) from euro2.30 billion a year earlier.

Shares were little changed in Paris trade, up 0.2 percent at euro28.53 at midday.