Retail news

• Retail Gazette Loves: McColl’s raises £500,000 for GOSH charity

  02-10-2020 17:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // McColl’s hits milestone by raising £500,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity
  // The money raised will help fund the refurbishment of family accommodation, just across the road from the hospitalMcColl’s has revealed it reached a fundraising milestone of £500,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity in just under year since the partnership launched.
  Thanks to efforts from McColl’s shop workers and customers up and down
  
  Read more

• Aldi ditches single-use plastic bags for fruit & veg

  02-10-2020 17:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Aldi scraps single-use plastic bags for loose fruit & veg across all 900 UK stores
  // It will save 100 tonnes of plastic per year from going to landfills
  // Shoppers encouraged to bring their own containers or buy reusable drawstring produce bagsAldi has revealed the next step in its war on plastic by scrapping single-use bags for loose fruit and veg, a move that would save more than 100 tonnes of plastic per year.
  The German discount grocer said the plastic bags in question will be remov
  
  Read more

• H&M fined €35m after collecting employees’ private data in “intensive encroachment” of civil rights

  02-10-2020 15:21 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  H&M has been fined over €35 million for breaching EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws in a landmark ruling.
  The Swedish fashion retailer has incurred the largest fine ever to be levied against a single company over GDPR violations since the new laws were imposed in 2018.
  The Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information launched an investigation into H&M following a data breach in 2019.
  This data breach, caused by a configuration error, revealed t
  
  Read more

• Moonpig mulls stock market flotation

  02-10-2020 14:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Exponent Private Equity is talking to bankers about options for Moonpig that include a public listing
  // No decision has been made yet but it’s thought talks with investment banks are in early stages
  // Moonpig said it gained 1 million new customers in the first 2 months of lockdown this yearOnline greeting cards and gifts retailer is reportedly looking at the possibility of entering the stock market.
  According to Sky News, discussions with investment banks are at an early stage but a d
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• New Asda owners Mohsin and Zuber Issa - the Blackburn billionaire brothers

  02-10-2020 14:08
  
  The Issas once worked at their parents’ petrol station. Now they own 6,000 forecourts in 10 countriesIssa brothers buy Asda in £6.8bn deal Mohsin and Zuber Issa were cleaning the toilets at their parents’ petrol station, they say, when they hit upon the idea of transforming the filling station into a “shopping destination”.It turned out to be quite a big idea … their petrol station empire has since expanded to nearly 6,000 forecourts across 10 countries. It h
  
  Read more

• Ken Murphy starts as Tesco’s new CEO, replacing Dave Lewis

  02-10-2020 13:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Tesco begins “new chapter” as Ken Murphy takes over from Dave Lewis as the new CEO
  // Dave Lewis had been CEO since 2014 & led a successful turnaround in the wake of an accounting scandal
  // Murphy is a former Walgreens Boots Alliance executiveNew Tesco chief executive Ken Murphy has officially started his tenure leading the UK’s biggest supermarket.
  Analysts have heralded his tenure as a “new chapter” for the grocery giant, as the leadership team which helpe
  
  Read more

• Retailers urge Chancellor to scrap plans to tax tourists

  02-10-2020 13:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Up to £6 billion will be lost to UK businesses as tourist numbers and spending drops in key regions
  // Retailers are urging the Chancellor to rethink his plans to tax touristsThe UK economy could lose up to £6 billion as retailers urge the Chancellor to rethink his plans to tax tourists.
  The Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) published a report into the cost of the Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s decision to end tax-free shopping from January 1, 2021, which has f
  
  Read more

• Confirmed: Walmart agrees £6.8bn sale of Asda to Issa brothers & TDR Capital

  02-10-2020 12:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The billionaire Issa brothers & TDR Capital agree terms with Walmart to acquire majority stake in Asda
  // The £6.8bn deal will brinbg Asda back under British ownership for the first time in 21 years
  // The Issa brothers & TDR Capital to acquire Asda, with equal shareholdings; Walmart to retain an ongoing equity investmentAsda is returning to British ownership for the first time in 21 years after Walmart agreed terms for the £6.8 billion sale of the Big 4 grocer to the Issa
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Walmart sells majority stake in Asda

  02-10-2020 12:43
  Deal with Issa brothers and TDR values UK supermarket group at £6.8bn
  
  Read more

• Asda sold to billionaire Issa brothers in £6.8bn deal

  02-10-2020 12:30
  
  The pair and TDR Capital acquire majority ownership stake in supermarketAsda has been sold to two billionaire brothers from Blackburn and the private equity firm TDR Capital in a deal that values the supermarket chain at £6.8bn.Asda, which is owned by the US retail giant Walmart, announced the sale to Mohsin and Zuber Issa, who made their fortunes running the EG Group petrol station group, and TDR. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Amazon a “threat to public health” as over 19,000 workers contract COVID-19

  02-10-2020 11:59 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Amazon says that nearly 20,000 frontline workers in the US have contracted COVID-19, the equivalent of 1.44 per cent of its total workforce.
  Amazon disclosed the figures, which cover both Amazon and Whole Foods workers, in a blog post this morning following months of pressure from labour rights activists demanding it made the number of infected workers public.
  Despite tens of thousands of employees having contracted the virus, Amazon says that its own analysis suggested the infection rate was 42
  
  Read more

• Covid-19: almost 20,000 Amazon workers in US test positive

  02-10-2020 10:50
  
  Tech company has faced criticism for keeping warehouses openCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAmazon has revealed that almost 20,000 of its workers in the US have contracted Covid-19 after months of demands for public disclosure from activists.The US tech company has been one of the biggest corporate winners during the pandemic, with people across the world switching to online shopping during lockdowns. However, Amazon has faced criticism from some labour campaign
  
  Read more

• Home Office to brace retailers for points-based immigration system with new campaign

  02-10-2020 10:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Home Office begins marketing campaign to ensure businesses are ready for the UK’s new points-based immigration system
  // The marketing campaign will run nationwide throughout autumn
  // The comprehensive programme of communications follows the hundreds of engagement events the Home Office conductedThe Home Office has launched a new campaign to ensure businesses are ready for the introduction of the UK’s new points-based immigration system as free movement ends.
  The marketing ca
  
  Read more

• Home Office readies retailers for points-based immigration system with new campaign

  02-10-2020 10:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Home Office begins marketing campaign to ensure businesses are ready for the UK’s new points-based immigration system
  // The marketing campaign will run nationwide throughout autumn
  // The comprehensive programme of communications follows the hundreds of engagement events the Home Office conductedThe Home Office has launched a new campaign to ensure businesses are ready for the introduction of the UK’s new points-based immigration system as free movement ends.
  The marketing ca
  
  Read more

• New initiative to launch UK’s first “WhatsApp high street” in Watford

  02-10-2020 10:05 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // WhatsApp partners with Watford Borough Council to create the UK’s first “WhatsApp High Street”
  // The scheme sees retailers running their customer communications via WhatsApp Business
  // WhatsApp is providing local retailers with training on WhatsApp Business App, to help them connect with & inform customersA new partnership has been announced to launch the first “WhatsApp High Street” in the UK.
  The instant messaging app has joined forces with Watford B
  
  Read more

• Almost 20,000 Amazon workers in US test positive for Covid-19

  02-10-2020 09:45
  
  Tech company has faced criticism for keeping warehouses openCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAmazon has revealed that almost 20,000 of its workers in the US have contracted Covid-19 after months of demands for public disclosure from activists.The US tech company has been one of the biggest corporate winners during the pandemic, with people across the world switching to online shopping during lockdowns. However, Amazon has faced criticism from some labour campaign
  
  Read more

• The Very Group former ecommerce boss returns as customer experience director

  02-10-2020 09:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Very Group hires Paul Hornby as digital customer experience director
  // Hornby had spent 12 years at the multi-brand online retailer from March 2006
  // He will report directly to chief technology officer Andy BurtonThe Very Group has welcomed back its former head of ecommerce Paul Hornby, as digital customer experience director.
  Hornby had spent 12 years at the multi-brand online retailer from March 2006, holding various roles including head of digital transformation and head of ecommerce
  
  Read more

• M&S hires Next digital trading boss for newly-created role

  02-10-2020 09:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Marks & Spencer hires Next head of digital trading as head of optimisation and analytics
  // Gemma Lumsden will join the newly-created role on Monday
  // She will report into M&S online director Stephen LangfordMarks & Spencer has reportedly poached Next head of digital trading Gemma Lumsden for the newly created role of head of optimisation and analytics.
  She will report into Stephen Langford, who joined the business as director of M&S.com in May.
  Lumsden will join M&S on M
  
  Read more

• Clarks pension trustees hire advisers to secure new investment

  02-10-2020 08:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Clarks pension trustees working with advisers amid sale talks
  // They were “actively engaged” with the company about interest from bidders LionRock Capital and Alteri InvestorsClarks pension trustees are reportedly working with advisers amid talks about the company’s future to secure new investment.
  The shoe retailer’s retirement scheme has drafted in advisers from Penfida and FRP Advisory as discussions with two potential bidders are in progress.
  Clarks’ pension
  
  Read more

• Amazon says close to 20,000 of US workforce have had Covid-19

  02-10-2020 05:27
  Figures include staff at Whole Foods and come after criticism over worker safety
  
  Read more

• Seven Dials launches pop-up space initiative fror brands born out of lockdown

  02-10-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Shaftesbury has launched a new initiative to give brands born from the ‘kitchen table’ during lockdown the chance to apply for access to temporary pop-up space... View Article
  
  Read more

• McArthurGlen enhances customer experience with new digital services pilot

  02-10-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Designer outlet group McArthurGlen is enhancing its visitor experience by piloting two new digital shopping services. The group is working with appointment scheduling and queue management... View Article
  
  Read more

• M&S brings back Shwopping clothes recycling scheme

  02-10-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  M&S has brought back its Shwopping clothes recycling scheme in partnership with Oxfam. The scheme was temporarily paused in March to enable M&S staff to focus... View Article
  
  Read more

• Inditex to make Festival of Licensing  speaker debut as panellists on Smiley’s opening keynote – 6 October 2020

  02-10-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) 2020 opens its virtual doors at 0900 on Tuesday 6 October as part of Festival of Licensing and the event is already... View Article
  
  Read more

• H&M brands to expand online in Russia

  02-10-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  H&M brands COS, Weekday, Monki, Arket and & Other Stories will be launching online stores in Russia this autumn. The move follows H&M’s launch of an... View Article
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!