Retail news

• Britain’s supermarket model is not fit for purpose | Letters

  06-03-2023 19:25
  
  Antony Adorian, Michael Miller and Pete Lavender respond to Henry Dimbleby’s comment about the sector’s ‘weird’ cultureHenry Dimbleby highlights the UK’s “weird supermarket culture” as a “market failure” and identifies a lack of government strategy (Food tsar blames shortages on UK’s ‘weird supermarket culture’, 4 March). For 30 years, successive governments have allowed the main multiple food retailers to develop an almost
  
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• Ted Baker chief customer officer departs

  06-03-2023 16:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Ted Baker chief customer officer Jason Beckley has left the high-street fashion retailer
  // He took responsibility for strategy across the marketing, customer and digital teams at the business
  Ted Baker’s chief customer officer Jason Beckley has exited, following its sale to new owners Authentic Brands Group, Drapers reports.
  Beckley joined the high-street retailer last January and took responsibility for strategy across the marketing, customer and digital teams.
  He joined Ted Baker fro
  
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• Ted Baker chief customer officer and creative boss depart

  06-03-2023 16:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Ted Baker chief customer officer Jason Beckley has left the high-street fashion retailer
  // He took responsibility for strategy across the marketing, customer and digital teams at the business
  Ted Baker’s chief customer officer Jason Beckley and global head of creative Anthony Cuthbertson have left the business.
  The departures follow a string of senior exits since it was acquired by Authentic Brands Group in October 20222.
  Chief information officer Leon Shepherd and general counsel Rish
  
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• Harrods trades ahead of 2019 levels as boss says the “rich get richer” during recession

  06-03-2023 15:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Harrods Michael Ward says he is confident the luxury department store would thrive in a recession
  // The managing director said the “rich get richer” during an economic downturn as demand for superbrands soarHarrods is trading ahead of 2019 levels as boss Michael Ward said he remained confident of its performance amid the economic downturn because “the rich get richer in a recession”.
  The managing director told The Financial Times: “Statistically the rich ge
  
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• Starbucks to open 100 outlets in UK after abandoning sell-off plan

  06-03-2023 14:58
  Chain shelves proposed sale of owner-operated UK coffee shops after opposition from franchise partners
  
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• Food tsar blames ‘supermarket culture’ for shortages with cold snap set worsen salad availability

  06-03-2023 12:48 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Food tsar Henry Dimbleby has blamed Britain’s “weird supermarket culture” for shortages of certain vegetables
  // British growers have warned that the cold conditions expected this week will further hit supplies in the future as it could reduce the availability of British crops tooFood tsar and Leon founder Henry Dimbleby has blamed the UK’s “weird supermarket culture” for the ongoing shortages of certain vegetables.
  Dimbleby said “fixed-price contract
  
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• Asda bans Thai coconut milk after Peta monkey abuse exposé

  06-03-2023 12:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Asda is the first international retailer to stop selling Thai coconut milk
  // Peta’s undercover investigation revealed animal abuse through the supply chainAsda has become the first international retailer to stop selling Thai coconut milk in the wake of a recent undercover investigation by animal rights organisation Peta into monkey abuse.
  The exposé revealed abuse of monkeys throughout the country’s coconut supply chain. As a result, Asda’s new ow
  
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• In pictures: Ikea X Shelter – the reality of homelessness

  06-03-2023 12:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Ikea and Shelter launch ‘Real Life Roomsets’ in London, Manchester, Birmingham & Bristol stores to highlight the realities of homelessness
  // The four roomsets are located in stores near cities experiencing some of the worst levels of homelessness in the countryIkea and its national charity partner Shelter have unveiled ‘Real Life Roomsets’, highlighting the conditions that an increasing number of people who are experiencing homelessness are forced to experience wh
  
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• Mamas & Papas lays out international expansion plans ahead of return to US

  06-03-2023 11:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Mamas & Papas eyes international expansion into Australia and Western Europe over the next coming months
  // The business will then look to return to the US market in the next 18 monthsMamas & Papas has set its sights on expanding into Australia and Western Europe, before re-entering the US.
  Drapers reports that the high street nursery retailer’s newly appointed CEO Nathan Williams, who was promoted from chief operating officer to CEO at the start of the year, said the
  
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• M&S, Sainsbury’s and Currys bosses blast insufficient business rates reform

  06-03-2023 09:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Bosses from M&S, Sainsbury’s and Currys have slammed the government’s business rates reform
  // Currys CEO Alex Baldock said the business rates tax system is “outdated and punitive”Bosses from M&S, Sainsbury’s and Currys have slammed the government’s business rates reform for being a far cry from what was promised.
  The retailer’s chiefs criticised the recent changes, which include more frequent revaluations, for being insufficient as physical s
  
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• Starbucks to open 100 new UK coffee shops

  06-03-2023 08:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Starbucks is opening 100 new coffee shops as it invests £30m into the UK
  // The coffee chain explored selling its UK business last July amid concerns over rising costs and increased competition from rivalsStarbucks has squashed rumours it is looking to sell its UK business after it unveiled plans to open 100 new coffee shops across the country.
  The coffee chain is set to invest £30m in opening new branches over the next year and refurbishing existing locations over the next t
  
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• Starbucks to open 100 new coffee shops

  06-03-2023 08:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Starbucks is opening 100 new coffee shops as it invests £30m into the UK
  // The coffee chain explored selling its UK business last July amid concerns over rising costs and increased competition from rivalsStarbucks has squashed rumours this week it could sell its British business after it unveiled plans to open 100 new coffee shops across the UK.
  The coffee chain is set to invest £30m in opening new branches over the next year and refurbishing its existing locations over the
  
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• WHSmith targets Paperchase customers with new Curi.o.city stationery stores

  06-03-2023 08:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // WHSmith is opening several high-end stationery stores as it pursues Paperchase customers
  // The first Curi.o.city stores will open in Gatwick Airport’s north and south terminals on March 16WHSmith is set to open several high-end souvenir and stationery shops as it looks to fill the space left by Paperchase, which collapsed earlier this year.
  The retailer will open Curi.o.city in Gatwick Airport’s north and south terminals on March 16 as well as one at King’s Cross railway st
  
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• As Dunelm and Sainsbury’s offer a four-day week, could this be a new reality for retail workers?

  06-03-2023 08:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Dunelm became the latest retailer this week to offer its staff the option of working a four-day week.
  The homewares retailer is currently trialling a new shorter hybrid working model across select departments with the view to expand the initiative at a later date. 
  It also emerged last week that Sainsbury’s is also giving some staff more flexibility, which allows them to work their 37.5 contracts in a seven-day week. 
  According to The Times, this means that means some head-office
  
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• WH Smith to introduce new style shops called Curi.o.city

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  WH Smith is planning the launch of a new chain of higher end stationery stores as it looks to target the Paperchase customer. Called Curi.o.City, the... View Article
  
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• Tesco to donate thousands of new warm coats for children to food banks

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Tesco is stepping in to help families struggling by donating almost 4,000 brand new F&F coats to people in need. The supermarket is giving around 2,000... View Article
  
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• Starbucks announces plans to open over 100 new UK coffee shops

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Starbucks is to open 100 new coffee shops across the UK as the country’s appetite for coffees continues to grow despite the gloomy economic outlook. The... View Article
  
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• Small Business Champion gives back to struggling retailers

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Celebrating female entrepreneurs: Emily Lyons this week launches free support services for small independent retailers to help them thrive. After spending 10 years working with the big... View Article
  
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• [REPORT] The Complete Grey Area Report: HR-Operations Divide

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  With insights from over 600 experts in Operations and HR, discover how both functions think, act, and collaborate and discover the grey areas of misunderstanding that... View Article
  
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• Nike Unite makes regional debut at Merry Hill

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Nike Unite has made its regional debut at the Merry Hill shopping destination in the West Midlands. The community-focused concept has taken a 10,165 square foot... View Article
  
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• New retail park anchored by Lidl and B&M to open at Glasgow’s Barrhead

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  A new retail park in south west Glasgow is to open this spring. Developed by London & Scottish Property Investment Management, Barrhead Retail Park will span... View Article
  
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• New research: office occupiers in retail sector not ready for April energy standards deadline

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  A new study by Irwin Mitchell has found that only a third of office occupiers in the retail sector know how energy efficient their office buildings... View Article
  
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• Morrisons to move to sole provider for property repairs

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Morrisons supermarket chain is planning to ditch 83 maintenance suppliers as it looks to move to a sole provider for property repairs. According to The... View Article
  
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• Morrisons launches £8.99 two course set menu in all cafés

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Morrisons has launched a new two-course set menu across its cafés where customers can buy a main, hot dessert and drink for £8.99. The move follows... View Article
  
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• Lidl GB commits to work with WWF to halve environmental impact of average UK shopping basket

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Lidl GB has signed WWF’s Retailers’ Commitment for Nature as it looks to work with the wildlife organisation to halve the environmental impact of the average... View Article
  
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• Judges offer advice on acing People in Retail awards nominations

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Not long now to get your award winning entries for the People in Retail Awards in! With this in mind, we talk to our judging panel... View Article
  
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• JD Williams launches Find Your Style campaign and competition

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  JD Williams is launching a competition on Heart where people have the chance to win £1,000 to spend on the retailer’s website as part of its... View Article
  
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• Highcross Shopping Centre goes into receivership

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Highcross Shopping Centre previously described as the flagship destination in the Hammerson property empire, has entered receivership. Global property specialists Savills stepped in as receivers at... View Article
  
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• Freemans launches latest campaign with trio of famous dancers

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Digital department store Freemans has launched a new spring campaign featuring dance stars Ola Jordan, Janette Manrara and Karen Hauer. Running throughout throughout March and April,... View Article
  
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• Freemans launches latest campaign with trio of dance stars

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Digital department store Freemans has launched a new spring campaign featuring dance stars Ola Jordan, Janette Manrara and Karen Hauer. Running throughout throughout March and April,... View Article
  
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• Costa announces an average 6.7% pay rise for over 16,000 UK store team members

  06-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Costa Coffee has announced that it will be upping pay rates for team members across its 1,520 UK company-owned stores. Hourly wages are set to increase... View Article
  
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