Hamashbir 365 Holdings Ltd. launched a new supermarket chain, Cost365 to compete in the heavy discount market. The first store will open in Afula next week. the company aims to have 30 supermarkets with an average annual turnover of ILS 96 million per store for a total turnover of over ILS 2 billion.

Office Depot Inc. has filed a ILS 51 million lawsuit with an English court against Hamashbir 365 Holdings Ltd. for failing to pay royalties under the terms of its license. The lawsuit is the problem to plague Office Depot Israel, which is losing money on falling sales. Hamashbir has filed a motion to Annual its acquisition of the franchise., and the motion was Office Depot Inc.'s excuse to sue for unpaid royalties.

The New Hamashbir Latzarchan Ltd. opened its new department store at Zion Square in Jerusalem. The seven-storey building has 5,000 square meters of space. The company built the new store over four years, in collaboration with British-Israel Investments Ltd., which owns the building. The store cost NIS 125 million to build, of which Hamashbir's share was NIS 30 million. The store include incorporates two late 19th century historic buildings, which were slated for preservation. The company will convert its old store, located at the other end of Ben Yehuda Street, on King George Street, to an surplus retail outlet and stores of subsidiaries Office Depot Israel and New Pharm Drugstores Ltd.