Retail news

• Interview: The woman leading the Laura Ashley revival

  07-03-2023 19:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Laura Ashley turns 70 this year, a milestone that seemed almost unreachable just a few years ago.
  The British heritage brand, best known for its floaty floral dresses and botanical prints, was one of the first major retailers to fall during the pandemic.
  After being rescued by Gordon Brothers in 2020 in an IP deal that saw it close all 147 stores, the brand underwent a complete overhaul of its business model adopting a licencing approach, and then went out to find itself a new home on the high s
  
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• Greggs to open 150 new stores despite rising staff and energy costs

  07-03-2023 18:46
  
  Britain’s biggest bakery chain says it expects cost inflation of between 9% and 10% this yearGreggs has said higher wage and energy bills are weighing on its profits but it plans to push ahead with opening 150 new stores this year as well as trialling a 24-hour drive-through outlet.Britain’s biggest bakery chain, known for its sausage rolls and steak bakes, said costs had risen by 9% last year and would continue to be a challenge in the year ahead. Continue reading...
  
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• Co-op names former N Brown exec as new chief financial officer

  07-03-2023 17:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Co-op has appointed Rachel Izzard as its chief financial officer
  // Izzard was most recently CFO at fashion retailer N BrownCo-op has named Rachel Izzard chief financial officer and a member of the Co-op Group Board.
  Izzard has held a number of senior leadership and CFO positions, including IFA Cargo, Aer Lingus, and most recently chief financial officer at Manchester-based retailer N Brown.
  She will take up the position at the group from current interim chief financial officer Mike Hazell wh
  
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• Asos taps former Made.com exec for newly-created senior customer role

  07-03-2023 15:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Asos taps former Made.com exec Dan Elton for the role of senior customer director
  // The role replaces the position of chief customer officer at the retailer, with Elton reporting directly to CEO José Antonio Ramos CalamonteAsos has appointed former Made.com chief customer officer Dan Elton to the newly-created position of senior customer director.
  Elton is currently a Board Advisor at retail tech startup Slip, having left collapsed furniture retailer Made.com in November 2022 after it
  
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• Greggs eyes 150 new stores this year despite soaring costs

  07-03-2023 14:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Greggs plans to open 150 new stores across the UK by the end of the 2023
  // Total sales soared 23% to £1,513m in the year to 31 December 2022 boosted by record store openingsGreggs has said it plans to open around 150 new stores by the end of 2023 after last year’s record store openings saw sales soar 23%.
  Despite sales skyrocketing to £1.5bn in the 52 weeks to 31 December 2022, pre-tax profits edged up just 1.9% to £148.3m for the year.
  It said the performance re
  
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• Tesco Clubcard advert slammed for being ‘horrifying’ and ‘creepy’

  07-03-2023 14:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Tesco’s latest Clubcard advertisement has been slammed online
  //  Viewers have taken to social media, branding the campaign as ‘creepy’ and ‘horrifying’Tesco’s latest advertisement has been slammed online with viewers branding it as ‘creepy’ and ‘horrifying’.
  Promoting its Clubcard loyalty scheme, the supermarket’s ‘Power to lower prices’ campaign sees a woman enjoy the benefits of saving money – maybe a
  
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• Data: Retailers enjoy Valentine’s Day boost but sales growth slows

  07-03-2023 12:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Retail sales rose 4.9% in February thanks to a surge of consumers buying gifts for Valentine’s Day
  // However, total retail sales growth slowed last month as shoppers become “increasingly price sensitive” amid the cost-of-living crisisRetailers enjoyed a boost in sales last month benefiting from consumers buying gifts for Valentine’s Day.
  Like for like retail sales were up 4.9% in February, against a 2.7% increase for the same period in 2022, according to the BRC-
  
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• Zalando laser-focused on profitability after “challenges of 2022” see sales slow

  07-03-2023 12:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Zalando will focus on improving profitability this year after a profit slump and dampened sales last year
  // But the online fashion retailer said its loyalty program more than doubled its membership to over 2 million compared to the year priorEurope’s largest online fashion retailer Zalando has seen its number of active customers grow by 6% to more than 51 million last year despite the “challenges of 2022”.
  The online group said its Plus loyalty scheme more than doubled
  
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• Highcross Shopping Centre goes into receivership with Savills

  07-03-2023 11:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Highcross Leicester has been placed into receivership
  // It follows multi-million pounds losses at the shopping centre, which is jointly owned by Hammerson and Asian investorsHighcross Shopping Centre, previously described as the flagship destination in the Hammerson property empire, has been placed into receivership.
  Global property specialists Savills stepped in as receivers at the Leicester shopping mall on February 9 according to letters posted last week to shops and businesses opera
  
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• UK salad shortage weighs on supermarket fresh produce sales

  07-03-2023 11:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Fresh produce sales slowed as supermarkets struggled to meet demand for certain products, such as tomatoes and peppers
  // Farming minister Mark Spencer has summoned supermarket bosses in a desperate bid to solve the recent fruit and veg shortagesFresh produce sales slowed across supermarkets in the four weeks to Feb. 25 due to a lack of availability, industry data has revealed.
  Britons have been grappling with a shortage of key salad staples, particularly tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers as ha
  
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• UK bakery chain Greggs plans to open 150 stores this year

  07-03-2023 09:51
  Retailer to focus expansion on retail parks and transport hubs
  
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• Greggs to open 150 stores despite high costs

  07-03-2023 09:51
  UK bakery chain warns of persistently high energy and wage bills
  
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• Lidl promotes two execs amid leadership reshuffle

  07-03-2023 09:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Lidl GB names Maciej Tylkowski as joint chief operating officer
  // The grocer has also promoted Stephanie Rogers to replace Nan Gibson as chief human resources officerLidl has promoted two of its senior executives as part of a wider leadership reshuffle, including giving its Polish COO Maciej Tylkowski responsibility for the UK as well.
  Tylkowski will become joint chief operating officer and will work closely with current COOs Matt Heslop and Tim Ulbrich, who oversee the sales and logist
  
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• In The Style opts to sell business for just £1.2m to avoid administration

  07-03-2023 09:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // In The Style is recommending  its operating subsidiary to investor Baaj Capital for £1.2m
  // The group launched a strategic review in December which it said may or may not lead to the sale of the company or some of its assetsIn The Style is to sell the business for just £1.2m to avoid falling into administration.
  The online fashion retailer, which was valued at £105m when it floated in 2021, has agreed for In The Style Fashion Limited (ITSFL) to be acquired by priv
  
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• Lego bets on Epic Games collaboration after outpacing rivals

  07-03-2023 09:00
  Revenues at world’s largest toymaker increased 17% in 2022 while net profits rose 4%
  
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• Lego bets on collaboration with Epic Games after outpacing rivals in 2022

  07-03-2023 09:00
  Revenues at the world’s largest toymaker increased 17%, while net profits rose by 4%
  
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• Lego bets on collaboration with Epic Games after outpacing rivals

  07-03-2023 09:00
  Revenues at world’s largest toymaker increased 17% in 2022 while net profits rose 4%
  
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• Interview: Under Armour MD limbers up for UK expansion

  07-03-2023 08:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The fashion industry may have had a tough few years, but activewear retailers have flourished.
  Thanks to worldwide lockdowns and the rise of hybrid working, sportswear has become everyday wear and the market has exploded.
  In recent years, a host of new names and industry disruptors including Gymshark and Castore have entered the scene eager to capitalise on its growing popularity.
  One business hoping to bolster its presence in the UK’s sporting scene is Under Armour.
  But Under Armour is no
  
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• Issa Brothers sells EG Group’s US property for $1.5bn to reduce debts

  07-03-2023 08:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Asda’s billionaire owners the Issa brothers agree on $1.5bn sale and leaseback deal on a proportion of its US property portfolio
  // EG Group has sold 415 store assets on the US east coast to Realty Income CorporationAsda’s billionaire owners the Issa brothers have sold a proportion of its retail and petrol empire’s US property portfolio in a sale and leaseback deal worth $1.5bn.
  EG Group has sold 415 store assets on the US east coast to Realty Income Corporation.
  The gr
  
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• Issa Brothers’ EG Group strike $1.5bn sale and leaseback deal on its US property portfolio

  07-03-2023 08:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Asda’s billionaire owners the Issa brothers agree on $1.5bn sale and leaseback deal on a proportion of its US property portfolio
  // EG Group has sold 415 store assets on the US east coast to Realty Income CorporationAsda’s billionaire owners the Issa brothers have sold a proportion of its retail and petrol empire’s US property portfolio in a sale and leaseback deal worth $1.5bn.
  EG Group has sold 415 store assets on the US east coast to Realty Income Corporation.
  The gr
  
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• UK shoppers slash spending as price rises and energy bills bite

  07-03-2023 01:01
  
  February figures from BRC highlight impact of cost of living crisis on British economy before budgetUK consumers sharply cut back their spending in February as soaring living costs damaged household finances, retailers have warned, despite strong sales of jewellery and fragrances for Valentine’s Day.Highlighting the impact of the cost of living crisis on the economy before Jeremy Hunt’s budget next week, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said sky-high energy bills and the rising co
  
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• Zalando grows customer base following success of loyalty programme

  07-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Zalando has announced that its number of active customers grew by 6% to more than 51 million last year as trade was boosted by the success... View Article
  
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• Ted Baker chief customer officer steps down

  07-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Ted Baker’s chief customer officer Jason Beckley has stepped down after just over one year in the role. Beckley joined the fashion retailer in January 2022... View Article
  
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• Sitel Group accelerates global transformation with rebrand to Foundever

  07-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sitel Group®, one of the largest global providers of customer experience  products and solutions, has announced its rebrand to Foundever™. Since acquiring Sykes Enterprises, Inc. (SYKES)... View Article
  
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• Retail Omnichannel Futures 2023 – our flagship event is back live!!

  07-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Effective omnichannel execution is critical for retail success in 2023. The importance of omnichannel in today’s retail environment is more critical than ever, having to adapt... View Article
  
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• Q&A: Rania Lamprou, Co-founder & CEO, Simpler

  07-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Simpler are on a mission to simplify how people shop online and, at the same time, increase conversion rates for merchants. Tell us about your background:... View Article
  
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• Q&A: Juanita Huber-Millet, founder & creative director of Townhouse

  07-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Here we chat to Juanita Huber-Millet, founder and creative director of fast growing premium nail care brand Townhouse, about what inspired her to establish the business,... View Article
  
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• Mattress Online listed in Yorkshire Fastest 50 Awards

  07-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Mattress Online has been named as one of the 50 fastest growing companies in Yorkshire. The prestigious Ward Hadaway Yorkshire Fastest 50 Awards, in association with... View Article
  
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• In The Style agrees £1.2 million sale to avoid administration

  07-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Women’s fashion brand In The Style has agreed to sell itself for £1.2 million in order to avoid administration. The move follows a strategic review in... View Article
  
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• Greggs boosted by strong sales growth as it eyes a target of “significantly more” than 3,000 stores

  07-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Greggs enjoyed strong trading in 2022 with total sales surging by 23% year-on-year to £1.5 billion. The food-to-go retailer also posted like-for-like sales growth of 17.8% as... View Article
  
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• Greggs appoints new non-executive director

  07-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Food-to-go retailer Greggs has appointed Nigel Mills as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Mills is a former chief executive of Hoare Govett and was also... View Article
  
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• Fired Earth collaborates with Nina Campbell

  07-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fired Earth has teamed up with designer Nina Campbell on a new range of tiles. The Fired Earth & Nina Campbell collection features patterns inspired by... View Article
  
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• EG Group sells $1.5 billion US property portfolio to reduce debt

  07-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Issa brothers’ EG Group has sold a $1.5 billion portfolio of sites on the east coast of the US to Realty Income Corporation. The deal... View Article
  
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• Co-op Group appoints Rachel Izzard as Chief Financial Officer

  07-03-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Co-op has today, 7th March, announced the appointment of Rachel Izzard as Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Co-op Group Board. Having held... View Article
  
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