Retail news

• Aldi UK enjoys sparkling Christmas as champagne sales soar

  04-01-2021 18:56
  
  Retailer’s seasonal sales rise 10.6% driven by demand for beer, wine and spirits
  Aldi UK has reported a record Christmas performance, with sales rising 10.6% year-on-year in the four weeks to 24 December boosted by demand for premium products and champagne.All UK supermarket groups benefited in the run-up to Christmas from unprecedented demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic, driven by a large part of the population working from home and restrictions on cafe, pub and restaurant openings. Cont
  
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• How has the Brexit transitional period affected UK retailers?

  04-01-2021 18:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  On Christmas Eve, the House of Commons approved a zero tariff, zero quota trade deal with the EU as the Brexit transitional period, which started almost a year ago, drew to a close.
  The UK may have officially left the EU at the end of January 2020, as per the Withdrawal Agreement, but it remained a member of the single market and customs union in the ensuing months – known as the transition period – as a new trade deal was sought before the end-of-year deadline.
  The new deal made ar
  
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• Harvey Nichols promotes COO Manju Malhotra to CEO

  04-01-2021 17:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Manju Malhotra named new Harvey Nichols CEO with immediate effect
  // The appointment is a promotion for her, after leading the business as co-COOHarvey Nichols has announced the appointment of Manju Malhotra as its new chief executive with immediate effect.
  The move is a promotion for Malhotra, who has been the department store’s chief operating officer since 2018.
  She shared that position with Daniela Rinaldi, up until late last year when Rinaldi exited Harvey Nichols.READ MORE: H
  
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• Aldi hails record Christmas sales

  04-01-2021 17:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Aldi says sales in the final four weeks before Christmas increased 10.6% year-on-year
  // Aldi also saw strong growth in its online wine and Specialbuy offering, with sales in December up 75% on the previous yearAldi has hailed record sales during the key Christmas period that was bolstered by a spike in demand for premium products.
  In the four weeks to December 24, the German discount grocer said UK sales rose by 10.6 per cent compared with the same trading period a year ago.
  Aldi said it was
  
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• Footfall nosedives 55% after lockdown restrictions extended to much of the UK

  04-01-2021 14:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Overall footfall plummets 55.7% year-on-year across all retail destinations in the UK, Springboard says
  // In the week to Jan 2, it slid 23.2% compared to the previous week as lockdown restrictions were extended across the country
  // Footfall in Tier 4 locations was 72.2% lower than last year, while Tier 3 areas saw a 33.9% declineFootfall across UK retail destinations dived by almost a quarter last week despite Boxing Day sales due to tightened coronavirus restrictions across the country, ac
  
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• Brookfield seeks to take real estate arm private in $5.9bn deal

  04-01-2021 14:17 via ft.com
  Investment group offers near 15% premium to December share price of US mall operator
  
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• Former Tesco CEO Dave Lewis given knighthood

  04-01-2021 14:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Former Tesco boss Dave Lewis knighted in New Year’s Honours after turning around grocery giant
  // When he joined in 2014, Tesco posted a £6.4bn loss and last year, it surged to £551 half-year profit amidst the pandemic
  // Elsewhere, Mel Smith, the boss of Ocado Retail – the M&S and Ocado joint venture – was named a CBEFormer Tesco boss Dave Lewis has been knighted after turning around the fortunes of the UK’s biggest grocery chain and largest private em
  
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• Retailers cut almost 177,000 jobs in 2020

  04-01-2021 13:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Retailers shed 176,718 jobs in 2020 after Covid pandemic deepens high street woes
  // About 3400 jobs within the retail sector vanished each week during the year, according to Centre for Retail Research
  // The total number of overall retail jobs lost in 2020 was up by almost a quarter on the 143,128 lost in 2019The turmoil on the high street saw 176,718 jobs lost across retailers during 2020, according to new figures showing the dramatic impact of the pandemic.
  Data from the Centre for Retail
  
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• Tesco and Boots to help distribute Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine

  04-01-2021 12:31 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Tesco and Boots are due to help the government distribute the new Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine across the UK.
  The UK’s largest supermarket Tesco has offered the help of its country-spanning distribution company Best Food Logistics to aid the roll out of the vital COVID-19 vaccine as cases continue to skyrocket and millions more face new lockdown restrictions.
  Unlike the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which needs to be stored at -70C, the recently approved Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine can survive at
  
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• Retailers face record $115 billion in holiday returns this year

  04-01-2021 11:19 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Retailers are set to face record levels of holiday returns over the next few weeks further impacting their margins after a torrid year for the industry.
  A record $115 billion worth of unwanted gifts are due to be returned across the US this year, largely due to the huge boom in online shopping during the pandemic.
  Ecommerce orders are reportedly three times more likely to be returned than items bought in store, with gifts and clothing both having even higher return rates.
  READ MORE: Retail
  
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• Poundland reveals new “divorce range”

  04-01-2021 09:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Poundland is set to launch new “divorce range” to coincide with Divorce Day 2021
  // The range includes party items for when lockdown and social distancing rules allow get-togethers again
  // The retailer said research by solicitors Richard Nelson found that searches for “quickie divorce” rose by 235%Poundland is launching a “divorce range” aimed at those who want to celebrate a new start in life.
  The discount retailer said the new products will coincide with
  
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• Primark warns of £220m loss as Tier 4 forces store closures

  04-01-2021 09:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Primark warns of additional loss of £220m in sales thanks to Tier 4 restrictions
  // The restrictions have been implemented following the spread of the new variant of Covid-19Primark has warned that Tier 4 restrictions – which enforce non-essential retailers to close – will result in an additional loss of £220 million in sales as more stores are forced to shut throughout the country.
  The fast fashion retailer’s owner AB Foods said it expected to lose £650 mi
  
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• Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group snaps up fashion retailer Psyche

  04-01-2021 08:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Fashion retailer Psyche has been bought by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group in undisclosed deal
  // Frasers Group has bought out the retailer’s stores as well as its online operationsMike Ashley’s Frasers Group has acquired fashion retailer Psyche after a buyout deal was agreed.
  Frasers Group, which owns Sports Direct, House of Fraser, and Flannels, has bought out the retailer’s stores as well as its online operations.
  Psyche owner Steve Cochrane, who has owned the business
  
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• Arcadia hires agents to oversee sale of flagship Topshop store

  04-01-2021 08:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Arcadia Group has hired agents to oversee the sale of its Topshop store in London
  // Administrators appointed Eastdil and Savills to advise on the future of the London store
  // Arcadia, which owns Topshop among others, collapsed into administration in NovemberSir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group has reportedly appointed agents to oversee the sale of the empire’s former flagship Topshop store.
  Administrators have appointed Eastdil and Savills to advise on the future of the London store
  
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• Grocers rake in £12bn during Christmas as Brits spend their savings

  04-01-2021 08:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Brits spent more during Christmas 2020 than any other Christmas period
  // Supermarkets recorded £12bn sales after handing back tax breaksUK supermarkets have raked in £12 billion after handing back tax breaks as shoppers spent their lockdown savings during the festive period.
  Shoppers spent £12 billion on food and drink in December, which is the the biggest month of grocery sales, according to estimates from Kantar.
  The data also reported that Brits spent some of their
  
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• A 'Morrisons' van hit my car – but it turned out to be Ocado

  04-01-2021 08:00
  
  The delivery lorry that hit my car and drove off, turned out to be operated by a different companyIn early November I left my house to find that the front wing of my car had been smashed. Thankfully, a neighbour had left a note on my windscreen. Apparently, a Morrisons delivery van had crashed into my car the previous evening and driven off without stopping.I contacted Morrisons’ customer services later that day, which forwarded my details and photos of the damage to its insurance team. Si
  
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• Sainsbury’s reveals top food trends of 2020

  04-01-2021 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sainsbury’s has revealed some of the top food trends of 2020 after analysing data from its 18 million Nectar loyalty programme customers. From the start of... View Article
  
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• M&S expands activewear range to include kidswear and menswear

  04-01-2021 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  M&S is expanding its Goodmove activewear range to include both kidswear and menswear as it looks to increase the amount of casualwear it sells. The retailer... View Article
  
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