Retail news

• Macy's to close 125 stores and axe 2,000 jobs as retail landscape shifts

  04-02-2020 23:57
  
  Department store chain plans to leave weaker shopping malls and focus on smaller stores in strip mallsMacy’s announced on Tuesday that it will close 125 stores and axe 2,000 jobs, becoming the latest shopping giant to shutter shops amid a radical reordering of the retail landscape.The department store chain plans to exit weaker shopping malls and focus on opening smaller-format stores in strip malls. Continue reading...
  
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• Macy’s to axe 2,000 jobs and cut 125 stores

  04-02-2020 23:07
  Department store chain lays down $1.5bn cost-cutting plan
  
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• NYSE parent in takeover talks with eBay

  04-02-2020 22:41
  Discussions between International Exchange and online retailer could lead to $30bn deal
  
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• NYSE parent held takeover talks with eBay

  04-02-2020 22:41
  Discussions between Intercontinental Exchange and online retailer could lead to $30bn deal
  
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• Intercontinental Exchange in takeover talks with eBay

  04-02-2020 22:41
  Discussions could lead to deal valued at more than $30bn
  
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• Sharon White makes maiden speech as chair at John Lewis Group

  04-02-2020 19:14
  
  Appointment comes with profits down and staff warned they could miss out on bonusSharon White has formally taken the reins of troubled retail group the John Lewis Partnership.White gave her maiden speech as chair at a meeting of the employee-owned group’s council, held at one of its staff retreats, the Odney Club in Berkshire. Her predecessor Sir Charlie Mayfield also spoke at the event which was attended by around 200 staff, with many more watching online. Continue reading...
  
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• EU urged to adopt meat tax to tackle climate emergency

  04-02-2020 18:00
  
  Levy would help offset impact of farming by raising price of steak in UK by 25%, says reportA “sustainability charge” on meat to cover its environmental damage could raise billions to help farmers and consumers produce and eat better food, according to a report.The levy, which would increase the price of a steak by about 25%, would be phased in over the next decade. The report focuses on EU countries and was produced for the Tapp Coalition of health, environment and animal welfare or
  
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• Ikea will close first UK store as visitor numbers disappoint

  04-02-2020 17:50
  Swedish retailer blames online shopping and retail parks for closure of Coventry outlet
  
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• Ikea to make first UK store closure as numbers disappoint

  04-02-2020 17:50
  Swedish retailer blames online shopping and retail parks for fate of Coventry outlet
  
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• COMMENT: 2019 marked a new chapter in our nation’s high street story

  04-02-2020 16:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Over the course of the last year, we visited high streets across the UK to see and hear first-hand how small retailers were combating the business challenges 2019 had brought. There’s no denying that amidst the backdrop of big chain closures and continued economic uncertainty, it was a tough year for retailers.
  But what really impressed me is the demonstration of strength and resilience keeping our high streets alive.
  The government-run Great British High Street Awards, in partnership with
  
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• M&S seeks to refresh clothing arm with first-ever denim TV ad

  04-02-2020 15:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // M&S launches first-ever denim TV advert to broaden appeal
  // The retailer said it will “put crucial focus on growing its killer categories”M&S has launched its first ever TV advertisement campaign for its denim category as it seeks to broaden its appeal and revive its ailing clothing arm.
  The embattled retailer, which recently switched up its kidswear range to reduce reliance on formal wear, said part of its turnaround strategy is to “put crucial focus on growing its
  
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• Dry January boosts low-alcohol sales for UK supermarkets

  04-02-2020 14:36
  
  Food industry estimates 4.2 million Britons took up the challenge of cutting out boozeSupermarket sales of no- and low-alcohol beer jumped nearly 40% in January as Britons challenged themselves to a month off booze.With an estimated 4.2 million Britons embarking on the dry January challenge this year, sales of alcohol-free beer surged 37%. Demand for adult soft drinks such as premium ginger beer and tonic also rose 3% as shoppers reached for alternatives to their favourite tipples. Continue read
  
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• B&Q lines up over 600 graduates to complete apprenticeships

  04-02-2020 13:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // B&Q has seen 123 apprentices complete the Retail Team Leader, Level Three apprenticeship scheme
  // Apprentices aged between 61 and 20 graduated from the scheme, which was launched in 2017B&Q has scheduled more than 600 graduates to complete apprenticeships by the end of the year, just as National Apprenticeship Week approaches.
  The DIY retailer has seen 123 apprentices graduate after successfully completing the Retail Team Leader, Level Three apprenticeship scheme since 2017.
  App
  
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• Ikea to close first big UK store, putting 350 jobs at risk

  04-02-2020 13:10
  
  Swedish chain says Coventry city centre store loses money and will shut this summer Ikea is to close its Coventry city centre store this summer, marking the first closure of one of its large format UK branches.The Swedish furniture chain says the shop has consistently lost money since it opened in 2007, with a declining number of visitors as shoppers visit retail parks or buy online instead. Continue reading...
  
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• Browns reshuffles buying team

  04-02-2020 12:40 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Browns has made a round of promotions and appointments within its buying team
  // Womenswear buying manager Heather Gramston has been promoted to head of womenswear buyingBrowns has completed a round of promotions and appointments within its buying team as part of a management reshuffle.
  The fashion retailer has promoted its womenswear buying manager Heather Gramston to head of womenswear buying. She will report directly to womenswear and menswear buying director Ida Petersson.
  Ready-to-w
  
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• Scotch & Soda strengthens executive leadership team

  04-02-2020 12:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Scotch & Soda appoints new CEO for the Americas, CMO and COO
  // The newly appointed roles reflect the retailers ambitions for growth in the future.Amsterdam-based fashion retailer Scotch & Soda has announced a series of appointments, reinforcing the management team that will support recently named CEO Frederick Lukoff in the next phase of the brand’s global development.
  Karis Durmer has been named CEO for the Americas, based in New York she’ll report to Lukoff and will be
  
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• Aldi opens £64m East Midlands distribution centre

  04-02-2020 12:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Aldi opens its 11th UK distribution centre in East Midlands, creating 400 new jobs
  // £64m facility in Sawley, Derbyshire will serve Aldi’s growing customer base in the region
  // Aldi also extends its store openings target to 1200 stores across the UK by the end of 2025Aldi has just opened its newest and largest distribution centre in Sawley, Derbyshire, providing jobs for more 400 local residents.
  The £64 million site, which spans over 600,000sq ft, is Aldi’s 11th UK
  
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• Alibaba’s fresh-food arm Freshippo sees sales skyrocket amid virus lock-down

  04-02-2020 12:22 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Alibaba’s physical fresh-food chain Freshippo has seen sales skyrocket over the past week as residents across China are advised to stay at home.
  The coronavirus outbreak has impacted many retailers both domestically and internationally as factories and stores across the country are forced to shut down to prevent its spread.
  However, some companies including Alibaba and JD.com are seeing massive gains in sales volumes as begin ordering food and vegetables in bulk to reduce contact with deli
  
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• VIA Outlets reports strong growth across 2019

  04-02-2020 12:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // VIA Outlets reports 8.4% increase in brand sales
  // The outlets saw a 6.1% uplift in footfall, over 32m guests visited the destinations
  // 128 new retailers joined the VIA Outlets portfolio last yearEurope’s fastest growing owner-operator of premium outlet shopping destinations, VIA Outlets confirms another year of impressive growth.
  Reinforced by the company’s remodelling programme and the introduction of new brands, VIA Outlets reported a 8.4 per cent rise in brand sales an
  
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• 352 jobs at risk as Ikea mulls closure of Coventry store

  04-02-2020 11:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Ikea proposes to close Coventry store in summer
  // The Coventry store was built in 2007 was one Ikea’s earliest examples of testing a new format
  // Ikea enters consultation with 352 affected staff at the Coventry storeIkea has announced plans to shut down its Coventry store this summer, potentially affecting 352 employees as the furniture retailer enters a consultation period with them.
  The Coventry store, one of 22 Ikea stores in the UK, was built in 2007 in the city centre and was one
  
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• John Lewis launches Virtual Sofa AR feature to its app

  04-02-2020 11:24 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  John Lewis is launching a new augmented reality feature to its iOS app allowing shoppers to virtually place sofas in their home before purchase.
  ‘Virtual Sofa’ is set to be tested with over 123 of John Lewis’ bestselling sofas and armchairs enabling customers to “check scale and colour in their home using the AR function in the app” in the coming weeks.
  While browsing products customers can tap the ‘View In Your Room’ button which will open their smartph
  
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• Pandora profits drop despite being “halfway through turnaround plan”

  04-02-2020 11:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Pandora profits dropped by 42% to £436 million in the 2019 financial year
  // Revenue dropped by 4% £2.5 billion
  // Black Friday drove online like-for-like sales by 28%Pandora was forced to lean heavily on Christmas as its profit dropped by over 40 per cent in 2019.
  Profit before tax fell by 42 per cent to 3.8 billion Danish krone (£436 million) in the 2019 financial year, while revenue dropped by around four per cent to 21.9 billion krone (£2.5 billion).
  The fall in pr
  
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• Muted UK grocery sales despite surge in Veganuary & Dry January

  04-02-2020 11:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Latest grocery sales data from Kantar Worldpanel revealed muted growth of 0.3%
  // The Big 4 all suffered sales declines & lost market share while Ocado, Aldi & Lidl continued to surge ahead
  // Separate figures from Nielsen also showed sales grew by a “subdued” 0.7%Surging demand for non-alcoholic drinks and the increasingly popular Veganuary trend failed to halt sales declines among the UK’s biggest grocers, new figures have shown.
  The latest grocery sales and market
  
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• Retail CEO turnover reaches 7-year high in “difficult year”

  04-02-2020 09:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // CEO turnover in retail has increased, reaching a 7-year high in 2019
  // The changes come amid “one of the most difficult years for the retail sector in over a decade”
  // 55 CEO changes took place over the year, compared with 44 in 2018The turnover in retail chief executives has reached a seven-year high in 2019, up 25 per cent on 2018, new research suggests.
  The findings by Korn Ferry’s eighth annual UK Retail CEO Tracker report also suggested that the changes in chief execu
  
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• Fresh calls for Sir Philip Green to have knighthood removed

  04-02-2020 09:44 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Sir Philip Green is facing fresh calls to have his knighthood removed
  // New MP Steven Bonnar used his maiden House of Commons speech to criticise Green and his title
  // Green’s knighthood was previously under threat in the wake of the BHS scandal in 2016 & allegations of sexual harassment in 2018A former BHS store worker who is now an MP has used his maiden speech to call for Sir Philip Green to have his knighthood removed because of his “indifference” to employees.
  Ste
  
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• Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group buys 12.5% stake in Mulberry

  04-02-2020 09:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Mike Ashley-owned Frasers Group takes out 12.5% stake in Mulberry
  // It’s rumoured to have come with a £19m price tag
  // Mulberry recently recorded a £9.9m pre-tax loss for the six months to September 28Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has bought a 12.5 per cent stake in luxury British handbag retailer Mulberry, the company has revealed.
  Frasers Group – previously known as Sports Direct – provided no detail on how much was paid, but based on Monday’s share
  
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• Grocers going package-free: The future of grocery shopping?

  04-02-2020 09:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Last year, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer became the first major retailers to introduce new refill or bring-your-own-container initiatives in response to growing concerns from consumers around excessive plastic waste from packaging.
  Big 4 grocer Asda followed suit by kicking of 2020 with plans to launch a refill scheme at its Leeds store this May.
  Loose fruit and veg and a ban on plastic bags are increasingly becoming common in grocers nationwide, but refill schemes are an emerging trend. Rese
  
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• Wilko appoints chief executive

  04-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Wilko has promoted Jerome Saint-Marc to the position of chief executive. In his new role, Saint-Marc will lead the company as it looks a become more... View Article
  
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• Waitrose appoints Martyn Lee as executive chef

  04-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Waitrose & Partners supermarket chain has appointed Martyn Lee as its executive chef as it looks to boost its product quality and innovation credentials. Lee... View Article
  
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• The world’s wealthiest shoppers spend an average of €35,000 in UK stores

  04-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  A new study has found that the world’s wealthiest international shoppers spend an average of €35,000 in stores when they visit the UK. The amount spent was... View Article
  
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• Shoppertrak: Luxury retailers go experiential with the sparkle of innovation and data insight 

  04-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Luxury fashion brands today are just as likely to gain media attention from their in-store and marketing innovations, as they are from their latest catwalk looks.... View Article
  
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• Selfie Factory launches O2 store

  04-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Selfie Factory has opened a pop-up store at O2’s  ICON Outlet. Situated on the lower level of the shopping destination,  the brand’s 2,260 square foot space... View Article
  
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• IKEA to close Coventry store

  04-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  IKEA has announced plans to close its Coventry store this summer. Built in 2007 in the centre of the city, the store was one of the... View Article
  
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• Aldi opens new East Midlands distribution centre

  04-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Aldi  has opened a new £64 million distribution centre in Derbyshire. Spanning over 600,000 square feet, the site in Sawley is the supermarket’s 11th distribution centre... View Article
  
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