Retail news

• Harrods chief shrugs off recession fears because ‘rich get richer’

  03-03-2023 22:00
  Sales at luxury London retailer above pre-pandemic levels and Windsor framework seen as step forward on EU relations
  
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• Amazon pauses construction on its second headquarters in Virginia

  03-03-2023 18:14
  Ecommerce company is looking to cut costs after years of heavy investment
  
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• Tesco faces UK lawsuit from Thai factory workers for negligence

  03-03-2023 17:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Tesco faces lawsuit in the UK from 130 former workers at a Thai clothing factory
  // VK Garment Factory (VKG) factory in Mae Sot currently faces criminal charges for fraud, using workers’ bank cards illegally, withholding their immigration documents and forcing them to work overtimeTesco is facing a lawsuit in the UK from 130 former workers at a Thai clothing factory for negligence and unfair treatment.
  A seven-year-old girl, who was raped in the factory compound while her mother worked
  
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• In Pictures: Karen Millen pops up on the high street 

  03-03-2023 16:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Karen Millen returns to the high street for a central London weekend pop up
  // Visitors can browse and try on the latest collections as well as enjoy Lancôme beauty treatments and a tailoring serviceKaren Millen opened the doors to its central London weekend pop-up shop today, the first physical retail space since the brand collapsed in 2019.
  Taking over the space at 6-10 Great Portland Street, visitors can browse the latest SS23 collections and signature lines including workwear, occas
  
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• Thai factory used by Tesco faces criminal charges over treatment of workers

  03-03-2023 16:15
  
  VKG, where workers made jeans for Tesco’s Thai branch between 2017 and 2020, faces charges including fraud and forced overtimeThai police have brought criminal charges against a clothing factory that was used by Tesco to make F&F clothes, over its treatment of workers.The Guardian revealed in December that Burmese workers who produced F&F jeans for Tesco in Thailand reported being made to work 99-hour weeks for illegally low pay in terrible conditions. Continue reading...
  
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• In pictures: Budgens, Belsize Park – how the internet-of-things is transforming the corner shop

  03-03-2023 15:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // A corner shop in Belsize Park is not where you’d expect to see a tech-laden store. However, Kavanagh Group has transformed the Budgens in the London neighbourhood into an internet-of-things powered grocery store.
  // The premium convenience retailer is utilising electronic shelf labels to streamline daily operations and enhance the in-store shopping experience for its customers.Read the full feature at Charged Retail
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• Aldi ‘steps up search’ for new stores as it invests £400m in expansion plan

  03-03-2023 15:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Aldi searches for new sites in UK as it invests more than £400m in store development
  // It is searching for freehold town-centre or edge-of-town sites that are around 1.5 acresAldi is on the lookout for new sites across the UK as it ramps up its store expansion plan.
  The grocer will invest more than £400m in store development this year as it targets new and refurbished stores across the Midlands, North West, North East, Yorkshire and coastal towns.
  Aldi currently has more than 990
  
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• Ted Baker owner ABG eyes takeover of boots brand Hunter

  03-03-2023 14:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Ted Baker owner Authentic Brands Group has expressed an interest in a deal with Hunter
  // Hunter is set to be auctioned after it secured a £5m cash injection from its shareholdersThe owner of Ted Baker and Reebok is among the interested bidders eyeing a takeover of footwear brand Hunter.
  Authentic Brands Group (ABG) has expressed an interest in a deal with Hunter, although it is uncertain how serious ABG was about a takeover of the retailer.
  Hunter is set to be auctioned after it secure
  
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• UK’s drive-throughs step up a gear as posh brands take to the road

  03-03-2023 14:27
  
  Bakery chain Gail’s is latest high-street chain hoping to serve its food through car windowsIt usually conjures images of Big Macs and fries, but drive-through dining is undergoing an upmarket makeover complete with sourdough sandwiches and street food as demand for meals on wheels accelerates in the UK.The posh bakery chain Gail’s is the latest high-street brand to set its sights on roadside dining, putting its feelers out for 10 sites in south-east England where it can serve expens
  
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• Sainsbury’s opens two new convenience stores as sales hit £3bn

  03-03-2023 11:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Sainsbury’s opens two new convenience stores in the UK
  // The grocer opened the stores in Leeds and CambridgeSainsbury’s has opened two new convenience stores in the UK as its Local shops reach sales of £3 billion for the first time.
  The grocer opened the stores in Leeds and Cambridge, with both shops serving their local communities between 7am to 11pm, seven days a week.
  Both Sainsbury’s SOYO Local and Sainsbury’s Hobson Square Local will offer customers grocery
  
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• Sainsbury’s convenience sales hit £3bn

  03-03-2023 11:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Sainsbury’s opens two new convenience stores in the UK
  // The grocer opened the stores in Leeds and CambridgeSainsbury Local sales have hit £3 billion for the first time.
  Sales in its convenience business, which comprises over 800 stores across the UK, grew 10% year-on-year in the financial year to date, which it said was 6% ahead of the market.
  Its convenience store sales are 7% higher than pre-pandemic.
  There have been over 45 million more customer visits to Sainsbury&rsquo
  
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• The moves that matter: Retail’s biggest hires in February

  03-03-2023 10:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Retail Gazette and executive search firm Oresa round up the biggest people moves of the month in February.Aldi’s David Hills will join Asda as chief customer officer later this year. Oresa CEO Orlando Martins says: “The appointment gives Asda the opportunity to understand and learn from someone intimate knowledge of the ascending discounters and powerful brands”.
  Wilko has shuffled its senior leadership team. Group finance director Dave Murphy has become chief finance officer,
  
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• Morrisons relaunches Savers range

  03-03-2023 09:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Morrisons is relaunching its Savers range in a bit to become more price competitive with discount rivals
  // The revamped value range will arrive in stores in the next few weeksMorrisons will relaunch its Savers range in a bid to become more price competitive with rivals.
  The new products, set to arrive in stores in the next few weeks, will have more vibrant white and blue packaging instead of the neutral wrapping.
  This comes as the grocery giant ramps up its efforts to become more a
  
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• First look: Under Armour opens new Liverpool flagship

  03-03-2023 09:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Under Armour opens new brand house at Liverpool ONE with the help of Liverpool FC star Trent Alexander-Arnold
  // The store features connected fitting rooms and custom Liverpool-inspired artworkUnder Armour has officially opened the doors to its first UK brand house at Liverpool ONE.
  The sportswear retailer said the new store will offer a seamless experience for Under Armour athletes and consumers, including connected fitting rooms which give them the opportunity to feel, try and learn about t
  
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• First look: Under Armour Liverpool

  03-03-2023 09:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Under Armour opens new brand house at Liverpool ONE with the help of Liverpool FC star Trent Alexander-Arnold
  // The store features connected fitting rooms and custom Liverpool-inspired artworkUnder Armour has officially opened the doors to its first UK brand house at Liverpool ONE.
  The sportswear retailer said the new store will offer a seamless experience for Under Armour athletes and consumers, including connected fitting rooms which give them the opportunity to feel, try and learn about t
  
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• Amazon to close Gloucester distribution centre

  03-03-2023 09:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Amazon is closing its Gloucester Centre Severn distribution centre
  // The retail said said the warehouse, which will now be sub-let, has never been fully operationalAmazon is to abandon its Gloucester Centre Severn warehouse as it evaluates its distribution network.
  The online giant said the distribution centre had never been fully operational and that the vacant site will now be “sub-let”.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
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• If inflation is stagnating, why are food prices still rising?

  03-03-2023 09:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  No one is in doubt that people are struggling as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite.
  Energy prices are soaring, a tank of petrol has reached dizzying heights, and rents and mortgages are rising. As a result, purse strings are being tightened even more to make ends meet.
  However, despite stagnating inflation, food prices continue to rise – making the weekly shop another source of pressure on UK family finances. At a time when people need help the most, is this not the time for busi
  
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• Hotel Chocolat begins formal redundancy consultation placing jobs at risk

  03-03-2023 08:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Hotel Chocolat begun a formal redundancy consultation on 21 February 2023
  // Jobs are at risk as it plans to take the business in a “leaner and more competitive direction”Hotel Chocolat has begun a formal redundancy consultation, putting jobs at risk as it plans to take the business in a “leaner and more competitive direction”.
  The official consultancy process began on 21 February when staff were notified that their roles were at risk due to the process which “ma
  
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• More than £1m worth of counterfeit goods seized from American candy shops

  03-03-2023 08:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Value of seized goods from Oxford Street’s American Candy stores reach more than £1m
  // Two more stores were raided earlier this week racking up £145,000 worth of counterfeit goodsThe value of unsafe or illegal goods seized from American candy and souvenir shops on Oxford Street has topped £1m.
  Westminster City Council reached the milestone earlier this week following a raid on two of the stores where £145,000 worth of illegal vapes, counterfeit goods and un
  
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• A third of American candy shops to get new tenants as more counterfeit goods seized

  03-03-2023 08:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Value of seized goods from Oxford Street’s American candy stores reach more than £1m
  // Around 11 stores are set to have new tenants soonAround 11 American candy and souvenir shops on Oxford Street are set to switch hands after the spaces have been put up for sale.
  Several of the units which house American candy and souvenir shops are currently under offer with other retailers, according to Drapers, which could see the spaces occupied by high profile global brands, according to pr
  
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• Q&A: Meghan Stabler, Senior Vice President, BigCommerce

  03-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Women’s Domain is a campaign launched by ecommerce agency 5874 Commerce on International Women’s Day 2022. A campaign, sponsored by its partners BigCommerce, consists of... View Article
  
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• Miniso steps up UK expansion

  03-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Miniso is planning to accelerate its UK expansion with the opening of at least ten new stores in 2023. Having launched ten shops in the past... View Article
  
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• Miffy to hop into London’s Chinatown

  03-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Miffy brand has chosen London’s Chinatown as the location for its first-ever standalone pop-up activation. Situated at 78 Shaftesbury Avenue. the 400 square foot space... View Article
  
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• Merry Hill to add womenswear brand Vanilla to its line-up

  03-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Womenswear brand Vanilla has signed to take 4,500 square feet of retail space at the Merry Hill retail and leisure destination in the West Midlands. The... View Article
  
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• Liverpool FC and England defender smashes open new Under Armour Brand House

  03-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Under Armour has launched its first UK Brand House at Liverpool ONE. To mark the occasion, Under Armour athlete and dead ball specialist Trent Alexander-Arnold took... View Article
  
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• Laura Ashley launches collaboration with Baggu

  03-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Laura Ashley has teamed up with reusable bag company Baggu to launch a limited-edition collection that features three Laura Ashley prints. The 13 piece range includes... View Article
  
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• L Catterton acquires controlling stake in A.P.C.

  03-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  L Catterton Europe is to  acquire a controlling interest in French casualwear brand A.P.C. and help it to grow its international presence. A.P.C. was founded in... View Article
  
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