Exchange Also Announces Opening of Headquarters

ALEXANDRIA, VA (February 22, 2001) - In response to strong demand from the industry, the WorldWide Retail Exchange (WWRE), the premier Internet-based business-to-business (B2B) exchange for retailers and their suppliers, today announced it will reopen its membership ranks to new retailers starting April 1, 2001.

The move is expected to increase the WWRE's retailer base from its original 53 members, allowing more companies to deal directly with suppliers through a single, Web-based community.

"Interest in the WorldWide Retail Exchange is significantly increasing as more and more organizations realize that Web-based transactions can streamline the supply chain and lower overall organization costs," said Colin Dyer, chief executive officer of the WWRE. "We look forward to expanding our products and services to an even broader segment of the retail industry."

Membership was temporarily closed in October when the WWRE reached its initial membership target. Although membership will not officially open until April, the WWRE will accept applications for membership immediately. Membership conditions will be similar to those of the current retail member group, and benefits and representation for new members will also follow similar lines.

Headquarters Now Open

Last week, the WWRE officially opened the doors to its worldwide headquarters in Alexandria, VA. The WWRE plans to open regional offices in Europe and Asia (Tokyo) by the end of the first/early second quarter.

The WWRE is the premier Internet-based business-to-business (B2B) exchange in the retail e-marketplace. Designed to facilitate and simplify trading between retailers, suppliers, partners and distributors, the WWRE currently consists of 53 leading retailers from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America with combined sales of U.S. $722 billion. For more information, visit the website at www.wwre.org or www.worldwideretailexchange.org.

WWRE Members:

• Albertson's (U.S., NYSE: ABS)
• Auchan (France)
• Best Buy (U.S., NYSE: BBY)
• The Boots Company (U.K., LSE: BOOT.L)
• C&A Europe (Belgium)
• Casino (France, Parisbourse: 12558)
• Coop Italia (Italy)
• Coop Schweiz (Switzerland)
• Cora (France, PSE: 06176)
• CVS/pharmacy (U.S., NYSE: CVS)
• Dairy Farm International (Hong Kong, SES: DAIR.SI/Reuters, DAIRYNEW SP/Bloomberg)
• Dansk Supermarked (Denmark)
• Delhaize Group (Belgium, BSE: DEL)
• Dixons Group plc (U.K., LSE: DXNS)
• Edeka (Germany)
• El Corte Ingles (Spain)
• Galeries Lafayette (France, Parisborse: 12124)
• Gap Inc. (U.S., NYSE: GPS)
• Giant Eagle (U.S.)
• H.E. Butt Grocery Company (U.S.)
• JCPenney (U.S., NYSE: JCP)
• John Lewis (U.K., JLH)
• Jusco (Japan, TSE: 8267)
• Kesko (Finland, HEX: KES)
• Kingfisher (U.K., LSE: KGF)
• Kmart Corporation (U.S., NYSE: KM)
• Laurus (The Netherlands)
• Longs Drugs (U.S., NYSE: LDG)
• Makro Asia (Bangkok)
• Marks & Spencer (U.K., LSE: MKS)
• Meijer, Inc. (U.S.)
• Otto Versand (Germany)
• Publix Super Markets (U.S.)
• RadioShack Corporation (U.S., NYSE: RSH)
• REWE (Germany)
• Rite Aid Corporation (U.S., NYSE, PSE: RAD)
• Royal Ahold (The Netherlands, NYSE: AHO)
• Safeway Inc. (U.S., NYSE: SWY)
• Safeway plc (U.K., LSE: SFW.L)
• Schlecker (Germany)
• Seibu Department Stores Ltd. (Japan)
• ShopKo Stores, Inc. (U.S., NYSE: SKO)
• Sobeys Inc. (Canada, TSE: SBY)
• SUPERVALU INC. (U.S., NYSE: SVU)
• Target Corporation (U.S., NYSE: TGT)
• Tengelmann Group (Germany)
• Tesco (U.K., LSE: TSC.OL)
• Toys R Us (U.S., NYSE: TOY)
• Walgreen Co. (U.S., NYSE: WAG)
• Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. (U.S.)
• Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. (U.S., NYSE: WIN)
• Wooltru Ltd. (South Africa, JSE: WLO)
• Woolworths (Australia, ASX: WOW)

 

Media Contacts:
Keri Phifer
WorldWide Retail Exchange
703.234.5056
kphifer@wwre.org

 

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