Retail news

• Debenhams kicks off make-or-break year with 19 store closures

  03-01-2020 17:51
  
  Struggling department store chain to shut down all 19 locations in a fortnight Full list of stores to closeDebenhams will begin a make-or-break year with 19 store closures this month that will result in 660 job losses on the UK’s fragile high street.The struggling department store chain will close the sites in the space of a fortnight as it presses ahead with a rescue plan announced last year. The closures starting on 11 January are spread across the country, from Kirkcaldy in Scotland to
  
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• Debenhams closures: the full list of stores to shut

  03-01-2020 17:51
  
  Nineteen stores are to close this month as the chain fights for survivalDebenhams kicks off make-or-break yearList of Debenhams store closuresAltrincham, Greater Manchester – 11 January Continue reading...
  
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• Next: the stable label

  03-01-2020 17:34 via ft.com
  The retailer has a sensible strategy and investors have done well by sticking with it
  
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• Fred Perry sales smash £120m thanks to foreign operations

  03-01-2020 16:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Fred Perry posts pre-tax profit of £28.3m in the year to March
  // Sales increased by 3% to £122.2m during the periodFred Perry has recorded a pre-tax profit of £28.3 million in the 12 months to the end of March, a year-on-year rise on the £21.3 million it had made in the previous period.
  The British retailer said the increase was helped by its continued “firm control of the overhead cost base”.
  Sales increased by three per cent to £122.2 million
  
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• Aspinal of London posts double-digit growth over Christmas

  03-01-2020 14:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Aspinal of London posts strong sales growth over Christmas
  // Same-store sales in December climbed 12%
  // Online sales last month increased by 16%Aspinal of London has recorded a strong Christmas sales growth.
  The handbag retailer said same-store sales in December climbed 12 per cent, thanks to a 29 per cent surge at its Royal Exchange branch, and double digit rises at a number of its other London stores.
  Online sales last month increased by 16 per cent.
  Meanwhile, for the year to March 2019,
  
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• Childhood obesity: Lidl to remove cartoon characters from cereal boxes

  03-01-2020 13:52
  
  Discount retailer says nearly three-quarters of parents experienced pester power in supermarketsLidl is to remove cartoon characters from its own-brand cereal ranges to help parents resist pester power and tackle Britain’s growing childhood obesity crisis.The discount retailer, which has almost 800 stores across the UK, pledged to remove cartoon characters from eight of its own-brand cereal ranges by spring. Related: Sweet makers 'using cartoon characters to appeal to children'Continue rea
  
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• Primark stores in demand to anchor UK’s floundering high streets

  03-01-2020 13:00 via ft.com
  Landlords turn to discount retailer as older chains struggle and close outlets
  
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• Primark in demand to anchor floundering high streets

  03-01-2020 13:00 via ft.com
  Landlords turn to discount retailer as older chains struggle and close outlets
  
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• M&S hires ex-Tesco director David Surdeau as interim CFO

  03-01-2020 12:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // M&S drafts in David Surdeau as interim CFO while it continues its search
  // Humphrey Singer stepped down as CFO on December 31
  // Surdeau is due to join office on January 7Marks and Spencer has appointed David Surdeau as its interim chief financial officer to replace Humphrey Singer, who stepped down from the embattled retailer on December 31.
  Surdeau is due to join office on January 7.
  His previous work experiences include serving as Tesco’s European finance director, before workin
  
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• Lidl to remove cartoon packaging from cereals

  03-01-2020 11:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Lidl to stop displaying cartoon characters on own-brand cereal ranges from spring 2020
  // The initiative is to help parents tackle pester power and encourage healthier choicesLidl has announced it will stop displaying cartoon characters on its own-brand cereal ranges in the UK to help parents tackle pester power and encourage healthier choices in the supermarket aisles.
  The initiative is in response to nearly three-quarters of parents saying they experience pester power from their children in
  
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• Amazon threatens to sack employees who speak out about climate policy

  03-01-2020 11:21 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Amazon has threatened employees with “termination of your employment” after a group approached the media calling for stronger climate action from the retailer.
  Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, a group of staff which campaign for the retailer to take more action on climate change, has seen several of its members questioned by legal and HR representatives after making public comments about the company’s policies.
  Four employees are understood to have been questioned by Amazo
  
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• Simba secures £18.2m fund to push through expansion plans

  03-01-2020 10:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Simba reveals it has secured an £18.2 million investment
  // The online mattress retailer has plans to expand its brand
  // The fund was invested by Caresian Capital GroupOnline mattress retailer Simba has secured an £18.2 million investment to go ahead with its expansion plans.
  The fund was invested by Caresian Capital Group and will also be used to grow profitability in Simba’s main markets, accelerate its Canadian business and expand further in China.
  The retailer alre
  
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• Next exceeds Christmas forecasts as demand for knitwear spurs sales

  03-01-2020 10:31
  
  Retailer nudges profit guidance for year up to £727m after online sales soaredNext has emerged as a winner from a tough Christmas trading period for Britain’s retailers after the cold snap in November stoked demand for winter coats and knitwear.The high street company reported full-price sales growth of 5.2% for the last two months of 2019, which was well ahead of its own forecasts. The better than expected outcome meant Next nudged up its profit guidance for the year by £2m to
  
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• December discounts were “deeper and began earlier” for retailers

  03-01-2020 10:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Shop prices fell 0.4% year-on-year in peak trading
  // Retailers discounted items for longer on the back of weak customer demand
  // BRC CEO warns that the government must ensure “tariff-free and low-friction trade” to aid shop prices in 2020Discounting in December meant shop prices continued to fall despite the month of peak trading.
  Shop prices dropped 0.4 per cent year-on-year in December, coming in significantly beneath the 12-month average of flat shop prices.READ MORE: Shop pr
  
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• M&S launches athleisure range just in time for January

  03-01-2020 09:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // M&S launches new athleisure range Goodmove
  // The Goodmove collection runs across 150 pieces “made for the modern mover”Marks & Spencer on Friday launched its new athleisure range Goodmove, with 150 pieces focused on affordable sportwear.
  The range will be available from today in store, with leggings “experts” on hand to help customers choose from five styles, ranging from £15 for a basic pair and up to £45 for sculpting tights, as reported by the G
  
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• Next reports sales growth of 5.2% over Christmas period

  03-01-2020 09:45
  
  Retailer nudges profit guidance for year up to £727m after online sales soaredNext has emerged as a winner from a tough Christmas trading period for Britain’s retailers after the cold snap in November stoked demand for winter coats and knitwear.The high street company reported full price sales growth of 5.2% for the last two months of 2019, which was well ahead of its own forecasts. The better than expected outcome meant Next nudged up its profit guidance for the year by £2m to
  
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• Hotel Chocolat CEO calls for rent cuts to match CVAs

  03-01-2020 09:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Hotel Chocolat co-founder says retailers shouldn’t be “penalised for being successful”
  // Retailer is now negotiating CVA clauses if a near-neighbour achieves a reduction in rent
  // Angus Thirlwell adds that focus is now on expansion in stores with turnover rents systemHotel Chocolat co-founder and chief executive Angus Thirlwell told the Press Association (PA) he is sick of being “penalised for being successful”.
  Thirlwell called for clauses in rent renegotiatio
  
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• Hotel Chocolat CEO Angus Thirlwell seeks rent cuts

  03-01-2020 09:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Hotel Chocolat co-founder says retailers shouldn’t be “penalised for being successful”
  // Retailer is now negotiating CVA clauses if a near-neighbour achieves a reduction in rent
  // Angus Thirlwell adds that focus is now on expansion in stores with turnover rents systemHotel Chocolat co-founder and chief executive Angus Thirlwell reportedly said he is sick of being “penalised for being successful”.
  Thirlwell called for clauses in rent renegotiations to match any
  
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• Next raises profit forecast, reveals sales over Christmas rose 5%

  03-01-2020 08:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Next posts 5.2% rise in total full price sales for Christmas trading
  // Retailer raises its profit guidance, analysts await full year preliminary resultsNext this morning announced total full price sales including interest income rose 5.2 per cent year-on-year in the period from October 27 to December 28.
  Reporting back over the majority of its final quarter, Next’s total sales were 1.1 per cent ahead of its internal forecast compared to third quarter growth of 2 per cent.READ MORE: Nex
  
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• Next raises profit forecast after Christmas sales rose 5%

  03-01-2020 08:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Next posts 5.2% rise in total full price sales for Christmas trading
  // Retailer raises its profit guidance, analysts await full year preliminary resultsNext this morning announced total full price sales including interest income rose 5.2 per cent year-on-year in the period from October 27 to December 28.
  Reporting back over the majority of its final quarter, Next’s total sales were 1.1 per cent ahead of its internal forecast compared to third quarter growth of 2 per cent.READ MORE: Nex
  
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• Next upgrades profit forecast after upbeat Christmas

  03-01-2020 08:33 via ft.com
  Fashion chain’s rise in quarterly online sales offsets drop in store sales
  
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• Waitrose doubles size of vegan range

  03-01-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Waitrose & Partners is doubling its vegan range by adding over 30 new own-label and branded products this month. The new items include what Waitrose claims... View Article
  
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• Next raises full year profit guidance

  03-01-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Next has raised its full year profit guidance after its fourth quarter full price sales rose by 5.2%. The increase was 1.1% ahead of the retailer’s... View Article
  
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• Lidl to remove images of cartoon characters from cereal packaging

  03-01-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Lidl is to stop displaying cartoon characters on its own-brand cereal ranges in the UK as it looks help parents tackle so-called pester power from their... View Article
  
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