Retail news

• WH Smith moves Telegraph titles to magazine section

  14-02-2020 18:09
  
  Retailer may be using relocation as tactic in commercial negotiationsWH Smith has moved the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph to the magazine section in more than 1,000 outlets across the UK as the retailer attempts to gain the upper hand in commercial negotiations with the newspaper group.Telegraph Media Group, the parent of the titles, said it had not requested the placement change, suggesting it is being used as a negotiating tactic. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Union calls for campaign to halt shop closures

  14-02-2020 17:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // A new campaign to halt shop closures has been called to stepped up by Usdaw
  // 57,000 jobs were lost in the UK retail industry in 2019Usdaw has called for action to stop store closures as the retail sector continues to report vacant units on the high street.
  The shopworkers’ union Usdaw is due to announce the 22 per cent decline in the number of people visiting high streets in the West Country at the annual conference of Labour South West in Bristol this weekend.
  A total of 57,000 jobs
  
  Read more

• Retail Gazette Loves: Retail Valentine’s Day campaigns

  14-02-2020 17:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Love is in the air this Valentine’s day and some retailers are choosing to celebrate with campaigns spreading the love.
  Here is Retail Gazette’s roundup of retail campaigns for Valentine’s Day 2020.
  Eve Sleep launches new ASMR initiative to “arouse and illicit a climax” from its customersEve Sleep mixes Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) with erotic fiction in order to “arouse and illicit a climax” from its customers.
  “ASMR-otica” la
  
  Read more

• Co-op to expand same-day delivery to 650 stores

  14-02-2020 16:18 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Co-op is planning to roll out its same-day delivery service to more than 650 branches by the end of 2020.
  Following a successful pilot launched in March last year, the grocer is planning to dramatically expand its same-day, sometimes two-hour delivery service across the UK.
  Digital Goodie provided the base headless commerce platform for Co-op to build its first pilot delivery scheme and storefront and will provide the framework for its wider roll out.
  Currently Co-op offers free delivery on orde
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Watchdog slams Tesco for “unlawfully” blocking rivals launching nearby

  14-02-2020 15:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Tesco “unlawfully stopping rivals from opening shops near its stores” says CMA
  // Tesco blamed the breaches on administrative errorsThe Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) revealed that Tesco has been unlawfully stopping rivals from opening shops near its stores.
  Tesco had prevented competitors opening supermarkets in 23 locations around the country, including five in London.
  The CMA said the anti-competitive behaviour had potentially been to the detriment of shoppers.
  The ret
  
  Read more

• Tesco slammed by watchdog for “unlawfully” stopping rivals opening stores nearby

  14-02-2020 15:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Tesco “unlawfully stopping rivals from opening shops near its stores” says CMA
  // Tesco blamed the breaches on administrative errorsThe Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) revealed that Tesco has been unlawfully stopping rivals from opening shops near its stores.
  Tesco had prevented competitors opening supermarkets in 23 locations around the country, including five in London.
  The CMA said the anti-competitive behaviour had potentially been to the detriment of shoppers.
  The ret
  
  Read more

• US retail sales edge upwards in January

  14-02-2020 14:45 via ft.com
  Headline spending increases, but underlying measures of consumption stall
  
  Read more

• Tesco stopped rivals opening nearby stores, watchdog finds

  14-02-2020 14:45
  
  Regulator censures supermarket for leaning on landlords not to let premises to competitors in 23 locations across UKThe competition watchdog has censured Tesco for breaking the law by blocking rivals from opening shops near its stores.On Friday, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said Tesco had prevented competitors opening supermarkets in 23 locations around the country, including five in London. The anti-competitive behaviour had potentially been to the detriment of shoppers, it said.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Eve Sleep launches new ASMR-otica content to bring together “sleep-inducing experiences of ASMR and an orgasm”

  14-02-2020 11:26 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Eve Sleep is has launched a mystifying new initiative mixing Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) with erotic fiction in order to “arouse and illicit a climax” from its customers.
  “ASMR-otica” has been launched in time for Valentine’s Day by the retailer, which aims to “bring together the two wonderful sleep-inducing experiences of ASMR and an orgasm”.
  ASMR is a new sensory phenomenon which has embedded itself firmly in the health and wellness ind
  
  Read more

• Aldi increases plastic bag price to encourage recycling

  14-02-2020 11:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Aldi reveals new initiatives to reduce plastic waste
  // The discounter aims to encourage customers to reuse bags by increasing the price
  // The 6p price increase will be implemented from February 24Aldi will reduce the volume of plastic bags sold in stores by providing reusable and recyclable alternatives in a bid to step up its sustainability initiatives.
  The German discounter is putting the price of its flexi-loop “bags for life” up from 9p to 15p to encourage customers to
  
  Read more

• £1.4bn Westfield Croydon development delayed again

  14-02-2020 10:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Plans to build a Croydon shopping centre have been put on hold by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
  // Westfield said the project “requires major redefinition”
  // Westfield said the scheme was among £2.66 billion of projects removed from its pipelinePlans for a new shopping centre in Croydon have been put on hold again after Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield said the project “requires major redefinition”.
  Westfield said the scheme was among €3.2 billion (£2.66 billion
  
  Read more

• Poundland sells 40,000 engagement rings for Valentine’s Day

  14-02-2020 10:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Poundland sells 40,000 engagement rings ahead of Valentine’s Day
  // The £1 “Bling Rings” and “Man Bands” are meant to be used as “placeholders” for proper rings
  // Poundland’s Valentine’s range features over 80 products, from fragrances to adult gift cardsPoundland has revealed it has sold around 40,000 engagement rings ahead of Valentine’s Day this year, almost double last year’s numbers.
  The discount retailer’s &l
  
  Read more

• Frasers Group calls on government to review business taxes

  14-02-2020 09:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Frasers Group has called on the government to review business rates
  // More than 50 high street retailers wrote to chancellor Sajid Javid to call for “a wholesale review of business taxes”Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has joined the BRC in calling for the government to “significantly modify” the current system.
  On Thursday, over 50 high street retailers wrote to chancellor Sajid Javid to call for “a wholesale review of business taxes to create a tax regi
  
  Read more

• 700 jobs at risk as M&S plans to shutter 2 distribution centres

  14-02-2020 09:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // M&S to close 2 distribution centres in Nottinghamshire and Sheffield next year
  // Around 700 jobs will be put at riskMarks & Spencer is due to close two of its clothing distribution centres, putting almost 700 jobs at risk.
  The move comes after the struggling retailer said it is revamping its warehouse network to cut costs and improve stock availability.
  On Thursday, M&S revealed that the centres in Long Eaton in Derbyshire and Thorncliffe in Sheffield would close next year.READ M
  
  Read more

• Gant to launch rental service to keep up with sustainability demands

  14-02-2020 09:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Gant will launch a rental service in May as part of a sustainability initiative
  // The collection of 10 pieces will be available in Gant’s London Regent Street flagship storeGant has revealed plans to launch a selected rental service for its spring 20 range as part of its sustainability initiative.
  The collection of 10 pieces will be available from May in Gant’s London Regent Street flagship store, and at least one store in each of its international regions, Drapers reported.
  The
  
  Read more

• Big 4 grocers to lose £1.9bn market share as discounters grow

  14-02-2020 08:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // UK grocery market set to grow 15% between 2019 and 2024
  // It will be worth £174.5bn by the end of 2024
  // The Big 4 grocers will lose 1.1% of the market share as discounters increaseThe grocery market in the UK is set to grow by 15 per cent, according to new research.
  It will be worth a colossal £174.5 billion by the end of 2024, though the Big 4 grocers will lose 1.1 per cent of the market share – worth £1.9 billion, Global Data reported.
  However, the Big 4 supe
  
  Read more

• The future of retail marketing

  14-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Do you want to discover what’s next for the future of retail marketing? Would you like to find out what other retailers are doing to attract... View Article
  
  Read more

• Marks & Spencer hires new menswear buying director

  14-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer has hired Alex Dimitriu as its new menswear buying director. Dimitriu previously worked with Marks & Spencer from 2013 to 2016 when she... View Article
  
  Read more

• Hollister to open upsized store at St David’s

  14-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Hollister will be relocating to a larger store within Cardiff’s St David’s shopping centre. Due to open in the spring, the new shop will be situated... View Article
  
  Read more

• Demand for Tesco plant-based wraps and sandwiches soared in Veganuary

  14-02-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Tesco has said demand for plant-based wraps and sandwiches soared during last month’s Veganuary. Sales of the products surged by nearly 75% compared to January 2019.... View Article
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!