Retail news

• Next buys Cath Kidston brand for £8.5m with remaining UK stores to close

  28-03-2023 19:13
  
  About 125 jobs are at risk after British retailer falls into administration for second time in two yearsNext has bought the Cath Kidston brand name for £8.5m, after the vintage-inspired British retailer fell into administration for the second time in two years.It is understood that about 125 jobs are at risk as administrators from PricewaterhouseCoopers are set close the four UK Cath Kidston stores – in London, Ashford, Cheshire Oaks and York – once stock is sold off. The brand
  
  Read more

• Alibaba plans to split into six in radical overhaul

  28-03-2023 18:06
  Tech group will retain most profitable ecommerce businesses but allow other units to spin off and list separately
  
  Read more

• Next acquires Cath Kidston out of administration

  28-03-2023 17:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Next snaps up Cath Kidston in £8.5m deal
  // The fashion retailer will acquire Cath Kidston’s brand name, domain names and intellectual propertyNext has agreed to acquire Cath Kidston’s brand name, domain names and intellectual property after the business fell into administration.
  The retail giant paid £8.5m for the intellection property in a pre-pack deal.
  The cathkidston.com domain will be licenced back to the administrators for a period of up to 12 weeks to clear sto
  
  Read more

• UK supermarkets: bargain-hunting will put pressure on margins

  28-03-2023 17:34
  Shoppers are trading down and buying less, hitting mid-market chains and makers of branded products
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Asda offers to sell 13 petrol stations to secure £611m Co-op deal clearance

  28-03-2023 17:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Asda looking to sell 13 petrol stations with adjoining grocery stores
  // The grocer wants to gain approval from CMA amid concerns about its £600m takeover of Co-op forecourtsAsda has offered to sell 13 petrol stations with adjoining grocery stores to overcome competition concerns over its £611 million takeover of Co-op petrol forecourts.
  The grocer, which is owned by brothers Zuber and Mohsin Issa and private equity firm TDR Capital, purchased the Co-op’s 132 petrol stations
  
  Read more

• Boots sales rise 16% following strong demand for beauty

  28-03-2023 13:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Boots sales rise in three months to 28 February 2023
  // The health and beauty retailer said retail sales were up 16% during the periodBoots has posted a “strong performance” in the three months to 28 February 2023, following a busy Christmas trading and an increased demand for beauty products.
  The health and beauty retailer said retail sales were up 16% during the period, while sales rose 17.4% in the five weeks to 31 December.
  The business reported its eighth consecutive quarter
  
  Read more

• Alibaba to split into six in radical overhaul

  28-03-2023 13:47
  Tech group will retain most profitable ecommerce businesses but allow other units to spin off and list separately
  
  Read more

• Tesco CEO: Government should freeze business rates now, ahead of wider reform

  28-03-2023 13:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Tesco boss Ken Murphy urged the government to freeze the business tax rate now
  // He said wider reform was needed of both business rates and the apprenticeship levelTesco boss Ken Murphy has urged the government to freeze the business rates multiplier now ahead of making full-scale reform to the system.
  He told Retail Week Live: “The government needs to make sure retail bills are sustainable and incentivise investment in jobs and places across the country. To do this, the multiplier mus
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Alibaba plans big restructure to boost sagging share price

  28-03-2023 13:15
  Tech group will retain most profitable ecommerce businesses but allow other units to spin off and list separately
  
  Read more

• Asda’s Issa Brothers plot £8bn takeover of Subway

  28-03-2023 12:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Issa Brothers are currently plotting a £8bn takeover of Subway
  // The fast-food chain is believed to be an ideal fit for the brothers’ growing empire which includes Leon and a KFC franchiseAsda’s billionaire owners are said to be plotting an £8bn takeover of fast-food giant Subway.
  The Issa Brothers are understood to be interested in the restaurant chain, which operates at some of the EG Group’s petrol stations, The Sun reported.
  Subway is expected to be an
  
  Read more

• Matalan outgoing boss Nigel Oddy to take helm at American Golf

  28-03-2023 12:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Matalan outgoing interim CEO Nigel Oddy to become the new boss of sports goods retailer American Golf
  // Oddy will depart from Matalan after a stint as its interim CEO and will be replaced by former Co-op food chief Jo WhitfieldMatalan’s outgoing boss Nigel Oddy is set to take up a new role at privately owned sports goods retailer American Golf.
  Oddy will depart from Matalan after a six-month stint as its interim CEO, and will replace Gary Favell in his new role, Sky News reported.
  Amer
  
  Read more

• Matalan interim boss Nigel Oddy to take helm at American Golf

  28-03-2023 12:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Matalan outgoing interim CEO Nigel Oddy to become the new boss of sports goods retailer American Golf
  // Oddy will depart from Matalan after a stint as its interim CEO and will be replaced by former Co-op food chief Jo WhitfieldMatalan’s outgoing interim boss Nigel Oddy is set to take up a new role at privately owned sports goods retailer American Golf.
  Oddy will depart from Matalan after a six-month stint as its interim CEO, and will replace Gary Favell in his new role, Sky News report
  
  Read more

• 5 minutes with Caroline Ellis, Commercial Director, Advanced Supply Chain Group (ASCG)

  28-03-2023 12:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tell us about you and your role at Advanced Supply Chain Group.I head up our commercial team, which is responsible for driving company growth. ASCG has worked hard to sustain growth throughout the past decade, with this achieved through a mix of long-standing client relationships, organic growth with existing customers, international expansion and attracting new customers from across retail and eCommerce.
  We work together as a team to really understand retailers’ supply chain goals, and ho
  
  Read more

• Tesco, Aldi and Sainsbury’s join forces to tackle climate impact of food

  28-03-2023 12:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // READ MORE ON GROCERY GAZETTETesco, Aldi and Sainsbury’s are among eight supermarkerts partnering with climate action NGO Wrap and WWF to standardise measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
  Co-op, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons and Waitrose will also be part of the industry collabroation which looks to drive action on cutting the environmental impact of our food and drink.
  Read more on Grocery GazetteSubscribe to Retail Gazette for free
  Sign up here to
  
  Read more

• Morrisons to offer free Kellogg’s breakfast to struggling families

  28-03-2023 12:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Morrisons to launch breakfast club where families can request a free bowl of cereal
  // Adults and children can choose a free ‘Kellogg’s breakfast’ before 11am, in any of Morrisons cafés from 3 to 24 AprilMorrisons will launch a breakfast club where families can request a free bowl of cereal after research found that nearly a third of parents are struggling financially.
  The grocer has partnered with Kellogg’s to offer both adults and children the opportunity to c
  
  Read more

• UK food prices rise at record rate, Kantar data shows

  28-03-2023 11:40
  March grocery inflation of 17.5% adds £837 to average household’s annual bill, market research reveals
  
  Read more

• UK supermarket inflation hits record high, making shoppers hunt for bargains

  28-03-2023 10:15
  
  Prices rise fastest for eggs, milk and cheese amid shortages of salad and other items Supermarket price inflation in the UK has hit another record high, adding £837 to annual household bills, as shoppers increasingly turn to multiple supermarkets to hunt for bargains.Price increases for groceries hit an all-time high of 17.5% in the four weeks to 19 March compared with a year earlier, according to the latest figures from the data firm Kantar. The prices of eggs, milk and cheese are rising
  
  Read more

• Data: Morrisons returns to growth while Waitrose has best performance since 2021

  28-03-2023 10:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Morrisons returns to growth as sales rise 0.1% but its market share has slipped further to 8.8%, Kantar figures show
  // Waitrose delivered its fastest rate of growth since September 2021 as sales roles 2.1%Morrisons has returned to growth after it fell behind rival grocers as shoppers sought out  discounts elsewhere.
  The supermarket’s sales edged up 0.1% in 12 weeks to March 19, although it’s market share sits at 8.8%, down from 9.5% a year ago, Kantar figures showed.
  Wa
  
  Read more

• Ocado sales rise 3.4% but shoppers buy less

  28-03-2023 09:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Ocado sales rise 3.4% to £583.7m in the first quarter despite customers shopping in smaller quantities
  // Chief executive Hannah Gibson said the grocer had shaken off Covid consumer behaviorsOcado enjoys a solid start to the new year as sales rise 3% despite customers shopping in smaller quantities.
  Sales edged up 3.4% for the online supermarket to £583.7m in the 13 weeks to 26th February.
  The average basket size dropped 7.5% but was offset by an 8.3% increase in average sell
  
  Read more

• Next in advanced talks to acquire Cath Kidston

  28-03-2023 09:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Next is in advanced talks to snap up Cath Kidston
  // Hilco, who owns the vintage retailer, put the retailer up for sale in FebruaryNext is said to be in advanced talks to buy Cath Kidston as it eyes another troubled retailer to join the fold.
  A deal could be made as early as today, Sky News reported.
  Sources told the publication an agreement was likely but not certain.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
  Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morningC
  
  Read more

• Paperchase stores to close for good within days, 70% off sale launched

  28-03-2023 08:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // All Paperchase stores are set to close for good within days following its collapse
  // The stationery retailer is offering shoppers up to 70% off products in its final days.All Paperchase stores are set to close for good within days as it as it enters the final stages of its closing down sale
  In a customer email sent out on Monday, the stationery retailer said: “With just a few more days remaining until our stores close, stock up on all your stationery favourites while you can with
  
  Read more

• Videowise raises $3M seed round to power the future of commerce-centric video

  28-03-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Videowise has raised $3M in seed round funding, led by Slack Fund and SalesForce Ventures, to support the progress of our eCommerce video infrastructure designed for... View Article
  
  Read more

• Uniqlo and Theory to open joint store in Covent Garden

  28-03-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fast Retailing brands Uniqlo and Theory will be opening a new joint store in London’s Covent Garden next month. Due to launch on 27 April, the... View Article
  
  Read more

• Unbound Group shares double after bid approach for over-55s fashion retailer

  28-03-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Unbound Group, the owner of the Hotter Shoes brand, has confirmed it is in discussions with WoolOvers Group “in relation to a possible cash offer” for the issued share... View Article
  
  Read more

• Sandro launches UK fashion rental service

  28-03-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  French fashion brand Sandro has launched a fashion rental service in the UK. The move follows the brand’s successful entry into the rental market in France... View Article
  
  Read more

• Pets at Home appoints new non-executive

  28-03-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Pet care business Pets at Home Group has announced a change to its Board of Directors with the appointment of new independent Non-Executive Director, Dr Natalie-Jane... View Article
  
  Read more

• People in Retail Awards announce Kasey Swithenbank as judge

  28-03-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The TRB team is delighted to announce that Kasey Swithenbank, Head of UK&I Retail for Lush has joined the People in Retail judging panel for the... View Article
  
  Read more

• Ocado Retail maintains full year guidance

  28-03-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Ocado Retail, a joint venture between Ocado and Marks & Spencer, has maintained its full year financial guidance after posting an uplift in revenue in its... View Article
  
  Read more

• Morrisons and Kellogg’s team up on free ‘breakfast club’ offering

  28-03-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Morrisons has teamed up with Kellogg’s this Easter on a ‘breakfast club’ offering in its cafes where the whole family can request a free bowl of... View Article
  
  Read more

• Matalan names new chair and chief executive

  28-03-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fashion and homeware retailer Matalan has appointed Jo Whitfield as chief executive and Karl-Heinz Holland (pictured) as chair. Whitfield previously worked as chief executive of the... View Article
  
  Read more

• Landsec secures 100% ownership of Cardiff’s St David’s

  28-03-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Landsec now owns 100% of St David’s shopping centre following its purchase of debt secured against the 50% share previously owned by Intu. In a separate... View Article
  
  Read more

• American Golf names new CEO

  28-03-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The chief executive of American Golf has left amid a board room shake up by its private equity backer, Endless. Gary Favell had served in the... View Article
  
  Read more

• ‘Sour taste’ as cost of sugar hits Easter eggs and hot cross buns, say UK retailers

  28-03-2023 01:01
  
  British Retail Consortium blames rising price of butter, eggs and cocoa, with sugar at a six-year high A surge in the cost of sugar on global commodity markets is being blamed for a rise in the price of chocolate eggs and hot cross buns ahead of celebrations over the Easter weekend.Figures from global food markets show that the main ingredients of traditional festive treats – butter, eggs, cocoa and sugar – have risen in price month after month since last summer, with sugar at a six-
  
  Read more

• Fruit and vegetable shortages push UK food inflation to record high

  28-03-2023 01:01
  Annual price rise hits 15% in March as cost of living crisis shows no sign of letting up
  
  Read more

• Fruit and veg shortages push UK food inflation to new high

  28-03-2023 01:01
  Annual price rise hits 15% in March as cost of living crisis shows no sign of letting up
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!