Executive Summary

• This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” discusses how strong demand for value fashion, e-commerce pure plays and sportswear brands is pressuring Europe’s middleground apparel retailers.
• Following a stronger-than-expected IPO, Levi Strauss CEO Chip Bergh said on Mar. 21 that Levi’s has a “clear runway for growth” as it looks to boost women’s jeans sales.
• British supermarket Ocado signed an exclusive services agreement with Australian supermarket Coles to develop Coles’ online grocery business using the Ocado Smart Platform.
• Chinese technology giant Tencent plans to enter the lucrative mobile payments market in India by introducing WeChat Pay in the country, pitching it against Google Pay and Paytm.