Retail news

• Hobbycraft sales grow as cost of living spurs demand for handmade gifts

  09-01-2023 18:54
  // Hobbycraft like-for-like sales grew 5.5% in the seven weeks to the 26 December
  // It recorded click and collect orders skyrocketed 54% making up 40% of all online ordersHobbycraft posted a 5.5% rise in like-for-like sales as the rising cost of living spurred demand for handmade gifts this Christmas.
  The arts and crafts retailer’s total sales grew 7.2% in the seven weeks to the 26 December.
  Surging demand for craft products saw click-and-collect orders soar 54%, which saw it make up 40%
  
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• N Brown to pay £50 million in PPI settlement

  09-01-2023 18:34
  // N Brown Group will pay £49.5 million to Allianz Insurance as it settles legal dispute
  // The settlement has been made without admission of liabilityJD Williams owner N Brown Group will pay its insurer Allianz Insurance £49.5 million in the settlement of a long-term legal case over payment protection insurance (PPI).
  The settlement, which will be paid by the end of January, has been made without admission of liability.
  However, the “full and final settlement” of &p
  
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• Inside Amazon’s first UK strike

  09-01-2023 16:22
  Workers at Amazon’s warehouse in Coventry are standing on the picket line for the first time in the company‘s history on 25 January.
  Darren Westwood, a 57-year-old worker, has been an instrumental part of the industrial action effort.READ THE FULL STORY HERE 
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• Asda launches two new vegan ranges during Veganuary

  09-01-2023 15:14
  // Asda launches two new vegan ranges to offer more choice
  // The OMV! range offers indulgent meat-free meals and delicious snacks, while Plant Based range provides healthy, nutritionist-approved meat alternativesAsda has launched two new vegan ranges to offer more choice for consumers, particularly during Veganuary.
  The grocer said the OMV! range offers indulgent meat-free meals and delicious snacks, whilst the Plant Based range provides healthy, nutritionist-approved meat alternatives.
  The OMV
  
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• Data: Tesco has most highly anticipated January sale for 2023

  09-01-2023 14:11
  // Tesco has the most highly anticipated January sale in the UK this year, compared to any other retailer, new data shows
  // “The fact that Tesco is currently the most popular January sale says a lot about the current economic climate” – Zendbox MD Gilson PereiraNew data has named Tesco as the retailer with the most highly anticipated January sale for 2023.Retail experts at Zendbox investigated the 46 brands with the highest search volume related to January sales
  
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• Data: Tesco has most highly anticipated 2023 January Sale

  09-01-2023 14:11
  // Tesco has the most highly anticipated January sale in the UK this year, compared to any other retailer, new data shows
  // “The fact that Tesco is currently the most popular January sale says a lot about the current economic climate” – Zendbox MD Gilson PereiraNew data has named Tesco as the retailer with the most highly anticipated January sale for 2023.Retail experts at Zendbox investigated the 46 brands with the highest search volume related to January sales
  
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• Timberland owner VF Corp reveals new hires in EMEA leadership

  09-01-2023 14:06
  // VF Corp has announced new appointments in its leadership team for EMEA
  // The company has given Martino Scabbia Guerrini an expanded role as executive vice presidentThe owner of The North Face and Timberland, VF Corporation has revealed new appointments in its leadership team in the EMEA region.
  The company has given Martino Scabbia Guerrini an expanded role as executive vice president, president EMEA, APAC & Emerging Brands.
  The new role will enable stronger cohesion and alignment a
  
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• ‘It’s going to be tough’: Sainsbury’s chief on price cuts, inflation and energy costs

  09-01-2023 14:00
  Simon Roberts says it is ‘thinking differently’ as it seeks new ways to compete with Morrisons and AsdaSimon Roberts spent his Christmas Eve in a van, helping bring groceries to Sainsbury’s shoppers’ homes as part of an initiative to make festive deliveries as close to the big day as possible.The chief executive of the UK’s second largest supermarket chain says the experiment, which involved holding back thousands of turkeys ordered by online shoppers to arrive on C
  
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• Tesco named ‘most expensive supermarket’ for basics

  09-01-2023 13:20
  // Read more on Grocery GazetteTesco has been named the most expensive supermarket for basic items, knocking off Morrisons off the top spot for the first time in six months.
  According to Manchester Evening News, the Big 4 grocer has come up on top with a bill of £11.50 for the eight items, including a two-pint bottle of milk, a loaf of bread, coffee, teabags, butter, beans, chicken breasts and mince.
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• M&S set to hail second bumper Christmas performance in a row as its food sales soar

  09-01-2023 11:52
  // M&S food sales soared by 10.5% throughout the festive season
  // The increase puts it well clear of its main rivals as sales at Tesco and Sainsbury’s rose by just 8.5% and 8.4% respectivelyMarks & Spencer has seen a successful Christmas as shoppers splashed out on its festive food ranges, This is Money has reported.
  The department store retailer‘s food sales soared by 10.5% in the four weeks to December 25 compared with 2021, putting it well above its main rivals.
  These res
  
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• M&S set for second bumper Christmas performance in a row, new data reveals

  09-01-2023 11:52
  // M&S food sales soared by 10.5% throughout the festive season
  // The increase puts it well clear of its main rivals as sales at Tesco and Sainsbury’s rose by just 8.5% and 8.4% respectivelyMarks & Spencer is understood to have had good Christmas as shoppers splashed out on its festive food ranges, This is Money has reported.
  According to Kantar data, the department store retailer‘s food sales soared by 10.5% in the four weeks to December 25 compared with 2021, putting it we
  
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• Boots recouples with Love Island as official Beauty partner for the third series in a row

  09-01-2023 11:30
  // Boots named as the official beauty partner for ITV2’s Love Island for the third year running
  // Last series, products featured saw the ‘Love Island effect with sales growth of over 50%Boots has recoupled with ITV2’s Love Island as the official Beauty Partner for the third series in a row.
  The latest series will see the high-street health and beauty retailer stocking the Love Island villa with products from across 13 categories, including make-up, fragrance, skincare, dental,
  
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• High street giants including H&M & Next pay Bangladesh manufacturers £2.30 per day

  09-01-2023 11:12
  // The majority of Bangladeshi factories selling to 24 of the largest global retailers report them paying the same prices almost two years on from the start of the pandemic, despite the cost of raw materials increasing
  // Bangladesh is the second largest garments exporter in the world, providing millions of garments to the UK marketHigh-street retailers, including H&M and Gap who source clothes from Bangladesh for the UK market, are reportedly paying below the cost of production, according t
  
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• Interview: Simon Ratcliffe, Principal Consultant – Ensono

  09-01-2023 11:00
  What is your role at Ensono and how do you help retailers?I am an Advisor at Ensono. We offer both strategic and operational advice and guidance to retail organisations as well as supplying research and data to our clients to help them make effective technology decisions that will help them reach their target business goals and outcomes. Every retailer is different, with different needs and expectations. Our job is to provide the expertise and guidance that allows them to utilise technology in
  
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• Boots boss: our pharmacies could ‘help solve the NHS crisis’

  09-01-2023 10:58
  // Boots boss has said the giant could “help solve the NHS crisis”
  // Seb James said the group could be ready to provide support “within weeks”Boots boss Seb James has said the pharmacy giant could “help solve the NHS crisis” if given the go ahead to provide more services.
  The chief executive told This is Money the move could save the NHS almost £2 billion each year.
  James said he wants those suffering from minor ailments to be able to visit their l
  
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• Lidl gained 1.3m British shoppers at Christmas amid living costs crisis

  09-01-2023 09:36
  Discount supermarket’s sales rise by a quarter year on year in four weeks to 25 DecemberLidl gained 1.3 million British shoppers in the Christmas period compared with a year earlier as the supermarket benefited from people cutting back on spending.The German-owned chain said the Friday before Christmas was its busiest ever day as sales rose by a quarter compared with the previous year as shoppers switched from other supermarkets in greater numbers. Continue reading...
  
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• Lidl Christmas sales soar almost 25% as it prises £63m of sales from rivals

  09-01-2023 09:18
  // Lidl sales rise 24.5% over the four weeks to December 25
  // It welcomed 1.3m more Brits to stores in the week before Christmas compared with the previous yearLidl sales have risen by almost a quarter over the key festive period as shoppers switched nearly £63 million from other supermarkets, more than triple that of last year
  The grocer said sales increased by 24.5% over the four weeks to December 25, compared with the same period in 2021.
  It welcomed 1.3 million more customers to store
  
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• Lidl Christmas sales rise by almost a quarter as Brits switch from major grocers

  09-01-2023 09:18
  // Lidl sales rise 24.5% over the four weeks to December 25
  // It welcomed 1.3m more Brits to stores in the week before Christmas compared with the previous yearLidl sales have risen by almost a quarter over the key festive period as consumers sought ways to reduce costs.
  The grocer said sales increased by 24.5% over the four weeks to December 25, compared with the same period in 2021.
  It welcomed 1.3 million more customers to stores over the week before Christmas compared with the previous year
  
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• Waitrose removes all Warburtons products in row over performance

  09-01-2023 08:52
  // Waitrose ditches sale of Warburtons products over the baking business’ performance
  // Waitrose crumpet sales had fallen by 15% over the last yearWaitrose has removed all Warburtons products from its shelves in an unlikely row that has broken out over the crumpet maker’s performance.
  The supermarket is now locked in a commercial dispute with the British baking business, claiming its “performance didn’t meet expectations”.
  The dispute – which took place almos
  
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• Tesco store staff receive ‘Quality Street tubs instead of Christmas bonus’

  09-01-2023 08:37
  // Tesco store colleagues say they’ve missed out on bonus this Christmas for second year in a row
  // However, staff received a box of Quality Street chocolates worth £5Tesco shop staff have missed out on a bonus this Christmas for the second year in a row – but were handed a box of Quality Street chocolates.
  The grocer paid its staff a 10% Christmas bonus in 2020 and in previous years has given out a shopping voucher.
  However, this year staff received a plastic tub of choc
  
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• As post-pandemic shopping habits settle, has the ecommerce bubble burst?

  09-01-2023 08:00
  It’s been almost three years since outbreak of the Covid19 pandemic, when the world of retail was upended.
  Enforced lockdowns meant the doors of ‘non-essential’ shops were closed, and fear of the virus meant many people were either shielding or too afraid to go to supermarkets.
  Businesses pivoted to find ways to meet consumer demand so the rise of ecommerce and home delivery was inevitable.
  So, the question is, now that the world has not only reopened for business, but simultan
  
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• John Lewis, Iceland, and Fenwick bosses outline growth opportunities for 2023

  09-01-2023 01:03
  Despite the cost-of-living crisis looming large in retail, there are still growth opportunities to be had.
  Retail Gazette talks to retail leaders to find out where the big opportunties lie for their businesses.
  Pippa Wicks, executive director, John Lewis
  John Lewis’ Anyday brand
  Anyday
  “We know that our partners, customers and suppliers will continue to be impacted by the cost of living in 2023, so our focus remains on keeping prices as affordable as possible.“We launched our A
  
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• Turtle Doves acquired by Refined Brands

  09-01-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Refined Brands, the digitally native portfolio of ethically sourced, natural and sustainable British brands, has completed the acquisition of Shrewsbury-based Turtle Doves. In the Refined Brands... View Article
  
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• Stitch Fix cuts staff as chief executive steps down

  09-01-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Stitch Fix has announced that its chief executive Elizabeth Spaulding has stepped down from her role and as a board director. The news comes as the... View Article
  
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• MusicMagpie products to be sold on Walmart.com

  09-01-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  MusicMagpie has teamed up with Walmart to enable its US brand Decluttr to sell refurbished CDs, DVDs and video games on Walmart.com. The retailer said a... View Article
  
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• Loaf to open first store in Scotland

  09-01-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Furniture retailer Loaf will be opening its first showroom in Scotland at Edinburgh’s Straiton Retail Park. Due to launch on 9 February, it will be the... View Article
  
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• Lidl boosted by bumper Christmas sales

  09-01-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Lidl has revealed that it attracted 1.3 million more customers in the week leading up to Christmas. This meant that festive shoppers switched almost £62.8 million... View Article
  
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• Hobbycraft achieves robust Christmas trading results

  09-01-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft has reported an uplift in sales over the key festive period as customers looked to make Christmas gifts and decorations. Total sales... View Article
  
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• Decathlon introduces “movement breaks” to boost wellbeing

  09-01-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Decathlon has introduced ‘movement breaks’ for all UK employees to help them maintain and improve their mental wellbeing during the month of January . The move... View Article
  
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• Asda launches two new vegan ranges

  09-01-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Asda has launched two new vegan ranges this month as it looks to appeal to customers who are seasoned vegans or wanting to cut down on... View Article
  
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• A very golden quarter for London Designer Outlet

  09-01-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  London Designer Outlet (LDO) ended 2022 on a high as price-conscious shoppers boosted revenues to make the December trading period the best one on record for... View Article
  
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