Retail news

• GlaxoSmithKline makes bold move with £130m Covid-19 investment | Nils Pratley

  20-07-2020 20:46
  
  GSK’s share price has been left standing by AstraZeneca’s high-risk success in cancer treatmentsMonday’s most important vaccine news was the promising early data from the Oxford University and AstraZeneca coronavirus trial – “robust immune responses” is encouraging. But let’s not overlook other vaccine developments. The industry has been viewed for years as a dull subsector of the pharmaceutical business; now it is a whir of deal-making activity.GlaxoSmi
  
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• Hermes to create 10,000 new jobs as delivery business soars

  20-07-2020 19:26
  
  Firm spends £30m expanding operations as home shopping benefits from lockdownCoronavirus – latest updates
  See all our coronavirus coverageParcel delivery firm Hermes is creating more than 10,000 jobs as it gears up to cope with the shift to home shopping during the coronavirus pandemic.The company says it wants 9,000 more couriers, most of whom are classed as self-employed and so not guaranteed the legal minimum wage, full sick pay or holiday benefits. It will also hire 1,500 full-ti
  
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• Walmart revives talks to sell its stake in UK supermarket Asda

  20-07-2020 18:28
  Parent group returns to process stalled in April, but says there is no certainty of a sale
  
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• Walmart revives talks to sell a stake in UK’s Asda

  20-07-2020 18:28
  US parent group returns to process that was put on hold because of coronavirus pandemic April
  
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• Big Interview: Jason Perry, Head of Online Development, Co-op

  20-07-2020 18:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Despite working in the retail sector’s ecommerce side for the past seven years, Co-op’s head of online development Jason Perry said it “took some time to understand the Co-op business”.
  Unsurprisingly, Perry was handed an extensive project upon his appointment as Co-op Food’s senior manager of strategy in September 2018 – at a time when the retailer didn’t have an online proposition.
  “Part of my role and the team that were brought in was to assess
  
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• The Original Factory Shop launches home delivery for the first time

  20-07-2020 17:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Original Factory Shop launches first ever home delivery service
  // The value retailer introduces free delivery service with every £35 spent
  // The Original Factory Shop previously operated offline-onlyThe Original Factory Shop has launched a new delivery service for its customers, particularly for vulnerable and elderly members of its communities who are still shielding.
  The value retailer, which has previously operated as an offline-only business, will trial the new initiative in f
  
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• Morrisons enters meal kit market with £30 recipe boxes

  20-07-2020 16:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Morrisons launches £30 family recipe box
  // The meal boxes aim to provide five meals for four and are offered onlineMorrisons has branched out to the meal kit market with the launch of a new weekly food box offering ingredients and recipes for five meals for for four people for £30.
  Known as Five Meals to Feed a Family of Four, Morrisons said its new meal kit boxes are designed to provide “quick and easy” meals that shoppers can cook at home.
  They are available online
  
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• Walmart restarts talks on selling Asda

  20-07-2020 15:46
  
  US owner looking to sell stakes in supermarket 15 months after collapse of Sainsbury’s mergerThe US retail group Walmart has restarted talks on the sale of Asda 15 months after the collapse of a planned merger with Sainsbury’s.Walmart said it was in conversation with “a small number of third-party investors” who were interested in acquiring a stake in Britain’s third-largest supermarkets chain. Continue reading...
  
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• Stores at risk as Jigsaw calls in advisers over potential sale

  20-07-2020 15:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Jigsaw owner David Ross begins landlord negotiations and mulls potential sale
  // Advisers drafted in to lead a strategic review of the retailer
  // An unspecified number of Jigsaw’s 75 stores could also be at risk of closureJigsaw’s owner has reportedly called in advisers to put together a strategic review that could potentially lead to a sale of the business or closure of a raft of stores.
  According to Sky News, David Ross drafted in KPMG to oversee rent negotiations wit
  
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• Antler’s future secured as administrators find buyer for online store

  20-07-2020 14:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Administrators officially conclude sale of Antler’s online retail business
  // Antler’s brand, assets and online retail business were sold to an ATR group company
  // There is no indication its 18 standalone stores would roepenAntler’s future on the UK retail scene has been secured after administrators found a buyer to takeover its online operations.
  The joint administrations for the suitcase brand and retailer said they have concluded a sale of Antler’s brand, online re
  
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• M&S to cut 950 jobs as Covid-19 hits UK retailer’s profits

  20-07-2020 13:42
  FTSE 250 group’s earnings tumbled by a fifth in the first three months of 2020
  
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• M&S to cut 950 jobs as Covid-19 hits retailer’s profits

  20-07-2020 13:42
  FTSE 250 group’s earnings tumbled by a fifth in the first three months of 2020
  
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• M&S confirms: 950 staff at risk of job cuts

  20-07-2020 13:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // M&S confirms plans to make hundreds of staff redundant
  // 950 jobs are at risk as part of plans to reduce store management and head office roles
  // M&S’s ongoing transformation plan is being accelerated after being disrupted by the coronavirus pandemicMarks & Spencer has confirmed that 950 jobs are at risk of being as part of plans to reduce store management and head office roles.
  The high street retailer said the proposals would help move the company to “a leaner, fas
  
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• Marks & Spencer to cut 950 jobs in latest Covid-19 blow to high street

  20-07-2020 13:11
  
  Redundancies at stores and head office follow job losses at John Lewis and Boots this monthCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMarks & Spencer is to cut 950 jobs at its head office and stores in the latest blow to UK high street retailers hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.The latest cuts – to store management posts as well as property and operational roles in head office – follow job losses relating to the closure of 54 stores in the past year or
  
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• Brits prefer “caring” approach from retailers, new research finds

  20-07-2020 12:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // UK consumers want brands to show “caring” tone of voice in their messaging post-Covid
  // 1000 UK users were surveyed in June and 7% were found to be currently satisfied with businessesNew research by social media platform Twitter has found that Brits are expecting brands to have a more “caring” tone of voice in their messaging post-pandemic.
  At least 1000 UK users were surveyed in June and only seven per cent were found to be satisfied with businesses continuing with t
  
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• Poundland latest to launch range of reusable face masks

  20-07-2020 12:35 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Poundland has become the latest retailer to launch its own range of reusable facemasks just days before they become mandatory in shops across the UK.
  Poundland’s fashion brand Pep&Co is releasing a range of face masks which it will sell in packs of three for £5.
  The reusable, washable face masks are made from cotton and will include fabrics patterned with unicorns and hears so customers can “continue to shop in style”.
  READ MORE: John Lewis launches “Great
  
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• Regent Street owner The Crown Estate offers switch to turnover based rents

  20-07-2020 12:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Crown Estate offers some tenants the choice to switch to turnover based rents
  // It said it was focusing its help on small and independent businessesThe Crown Estate, which owns the whole of London’s Regent Street and around half of St James’s, has reportedly offered some of its tenants the choice to switch to turnover based rents.
  The property giant has asked for nine per cent of turnover or a percentage of what it would normally receive in quarterly rents, on a scale st
  
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• Huawei to open first 3 UK stores creating 100 jobs despite 5G ban

  20-07-2020 11:06 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Huawei has announced plans to open its first three physical stores in the UK just a day after the government said it would ban its products from 5G networks.
  The Chinese smartphone giant has pledged to invest £10 million in the UK’s high streets and open three stores in London and Manchester later this year.
  In October Huawei will open its first ever standalone UK store in London’s Olympic park, with a second undisclosed London store coming soon after.
  In February 2021 Huawei w
  
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• Marks & Spencer 'to cut hundreds of jobs' as coronavirus hits sales

  20-07-2020 09:19
  
  Total number of redundancies could be in the thousands, according to reportsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMarks & Spencer is reportedly planning to cut hundreds of jobs this week in the latest blow to high street retailers hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.An announcement about job losses could come within days, Sky News reported, with total redundancies potentially reaching several thousand when existing restructuring plans are taken into account. Cont
  
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• Go Outdoors creditors to recoup just 1p per £1, Deloitte says

  20-07-2020 09:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Go Outdoors unsecured creditors recoup just 1p in every £1 owed
  // JD Sports, which bought back the retailer last month, said it will pay the taxman, its branded stock suppliers, customers’ returns and gift cardsGo Outdoors, the retailer bought back by sportswear giant JD Sports in a pre-pack administration, could see its unsecured creditors recoup just 1p in every £1 owed.
  JD Sports has said it will pay the taxman, its branded stock suppliers, customers’ returns and g
  
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• Retailers call on government to investigate UK fashion supply chain

  20-07-2020 08:44 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Fashion retailers alongside 50 MPs, have called on the government to address exploitation in fashion supply chains
  // The joint letter, coordinated by the BRC, called for an introduction of statutory licensing of garment factories in the UKFashion retailers including the likes of New Look and River Island alongside 50 MPs, have written to the government, calling for action to be taken to address exploitation in the UK’s fashion supply chain.
  A group of 13 retailers including Joules, Mat
  
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• M&S to reveal hundreds of job cuts this week

  20-07-2020 08:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // M&S is expected to announce job cuts this week
  // CEO Steve Rowe is working towards restructuring the business
  // M&S employs 78,000 people across the UKMarks & Spencer will reportedly confirm plans for hundreds of job cuts this week as it becomes the latest retailer to make changes to its workforce as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
  M&S will begin announcing redundancy plans within days, joining the likes of the John Lewis Partnership, Boots, Harvey Nichols and Debenhams.
  
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• I feel like I’ve been taken for a ride by Evans Cycles

  20-07-2020 08:00
  
  My ‘in stock’ order failed to arrive and it was ‘still being built’In May, desperate to get a bike, I used Evans Cycles website to order one for £1,049. It was showing as in stock but, soon after, I got an email saying it would be with me in 10-14 days.On 1 June, I was told it was still being built but would be shipped in two to four days. Since then, I have heard nothing. You cannot get hold of Evans, and I feel I was duped. Continue reading...
  
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• The battle for south-east Asia’s online shoppers

  20-07-2020 05:00
  China’s biggest tech companies have invested in rivals Lazada, Shopee and Tokopedia
  
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• Masks add to the burden of a nation of shopkeepers

  20-07-2020 05:00
  Even applied with a light touch, this new responsibility is bound to take its toll on retail staff
  
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• Half a million more small-sized eggs to go on sale in UK

  20-07-2020 01:01
  
  Waitrose to sell mixed-weight packs for the first time as demand soars for lockdown staple
  Up to half a million more small-sized eggs will appear on UK supermarket shelves, after new packaging specifications that will give consumers more choice at a time of record demand for the lockdown staple.Waitrose is selling new mixed-weight packs for the first time this week – each containing a dozen eggs including small, medium and large ones – to make better use of every egg produced in its
  
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• Wren Kitchens opens new Worcester showroom

  20-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Wren Kitchens has launched a new showroom in Worcester’s Elgar Retail Park as part of its expansion plans. Opened by Jo Hodges, mayor of Worcester, the showroom... View Article
  
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• Wren Kitchens opens new showroom

  20-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Wren Kitchens has launched a new showroom in Worcester’s Elgar Retail Park as part of its expansion plans. Opened by Jo Hodges, mayor of Worcester, the showroom... View Article
  
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• White Stuff cuts nearly 400 jobs

  20-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fashion brand White Stuff has cut 390 jobs within its retail team and head office as part of a restructuring plan. Some 290 store staff are... View Article
  
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• Ted Baker plans 500 job cuts

  20-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Ted Baker is understood to be planning to cut 500 jobs from its workforce of 2,000 across the UK. According  to a report in The Sunday Times,... View Article
  
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• Papa John’s opens three new UK stores

  20-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Pizza franchise Papa John’s has announced the opening of new stores in Gosport, Maidstone and Wednesbury. The new outlets have taken the total number of Papa John’s stores... View Article
  
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• Morrisons launches £30 family recipe box

  20-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Morrisons has entered the meal kit market with the launch of a weekly food box that offers ingredients and recipes for five family meals for £30... View Article
  
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• Marks & Spencer hires business lead for brands

  20-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer has hired Sarah Savva as its new business lead for brands. Until December 2018, Savva had worked for 29 years with the Debenhams... View Article
  
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• M&S to axe 950 jobs as part of transformation plan

  20-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer is to cut 950 jobs as part of plans to accelerate work on its transformation plan due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, the retailer said... View Article
  
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• Central England Co-op asks customers to wear face coverings from today

  20-07-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Central England Co-op has asked customers to begin wearing face coverings in its stores from today ahead of government plans to make them mandatory in shops from 24... View Article
  
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• Coronavirus-hit Muji USA files for bankruptcy protection

  20-07-2020 00:00
  Japanese retailer which has $64m in debt cracks under weight of pricey rent payments in America
  
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