Retail news

• Superdrug opens its largest North-West store at the Trafford Centre

  20-07-2023 15:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Superdrug has opened its biggest store in the North-West, based in Manchester’s Trafford Centre.
  Shoppers in the new 8095 sq ft health and beauty store will find a fragrance counter, beauty studio area, and Superdrug’s new own-brand cosmetics range, Studio London.
  TV personality Charlotte Dawson appeared at the launch, which is set to create 20 permanent and temporary jobs.
  The Trafford Centre centre director Simon Layton said: “Superdrug is a much-loved high-street giant and e
  
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• First look: Under Armour opens Oxford Street store

  20-07-2023 14:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Under Armour has opened the doors to its newest UK store on 242-248 Oxford Street.
  The world’s fourth-largest sportswear brand has embarked on a store opening spree in the UK, as looks to expand its bricks-and-mortar footprint across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
  UA Oxford Street houses the retailer’s latest performance products across co-gender training and running collections as well as bespoke art specific to the city of London.Under Armour opened its first UK stores ea
  
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• Wilko owners explore sale in race to secure its future

  20-07-2023 14:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The family behind Wilko is considering the sale of a controlling stake as it races secure the chain’s future.
  The retailer is understood to have begun sounding out prospective buyers in the last few days in a bid to raise tens of millions of pounds in new funding, Sky News reported.
  Sources told the outlet that several large general merchandise chains had been approached about recapitalising the retailer in a move that would see the Wilkinson family surrender majority control.
  Wilko, which
  
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• Wilko owners explore sale in battle to secure its future

  20-07-2023 14:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The owners of Wilko are considering the sale of a controlling stake as it races secure the chain’s future.
  The retailer is understood to have begun sounding out prospective buyers in the last few days in a bid to raise tens of millions of pounds in new funding, Sky News reported.
  Sources told the outlet that several large general merchandise chains had been approached about recapitalising the retailer in a move that could see the Wilkinson family surrender majority control.
  Wilko, which cu
  
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• Marks & Spencer refused permission to demolish and rebuild Oxford Street store

  20-07-2023 14:34
  
  M&S says ‘short-sighted act of self-sabotage’ leaves no choice but to review position on UK’s premier shopping streetMarks & Spencer has been refused permission to demolish and rebuild its flagship store on Oxford Street in the West End of London in a win for campaigners concerned about the carbon footprint of redevelopment.The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities confirmed that Michael Gove, the secretary of state, disagreed with the recommendation from
  
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• UK watchdog warns retailers against food price profiteering

  20-07-2023 14:23 via ft.com
  Competition and Markets Authority calls for pricing policy reform as it finds high inflation not due to weak competition
  
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• Grocers are not responsible for driving up food inflation says CMA

  20-07-2023 14:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) has revealed that grocers are not responsible for driving up food inflation.
  Despite sky high food prices, the authority found that competition issues had not been the factor behind this.
  The competition regulator noted that operating profits across the retail grocery sector dropped 41.5% in 2022/23 compared to the previous year.
  Meanwhile, operating margins were also down from 3.2% to 1.8%.
  This highlights retailers’ costs rising faster th
  
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• M&S CEO: Gove’s rejection of Oxford Street plans is ‘utterly pathetic’

  20-07-2023 13:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Michael Gove has rejected M&S’ redevelopment plans for its Marble Arch flagship that would see the Art Deco building demolished.
  In response, M&S boss Stuart Machin said Gove’s decision was “laughable” and “utterly pathetic”, adding that the ruling meant that he must now review its future on London’s Oxford Street, considered the prime retail location in the country.
  Machin also took aim at the current state of the London shopping street and
  
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• Gove rejects M&S’ Marble Arch demolition plans

  20-07-2023 13:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Michael Gove has rejected M&S’ redevelopment plans for its Marble Arch flagship that would see the Art Deco building demolished.
  The plans were blocked by the Communities Secretary over concerns that the public benefits of the proposal did not outweigh the harm to nearby landmarks, including the grade II listed Selfridges building and nearby conservation areas.
  The proposal’s failure to reuse existing sources, such as converting the current buildings, and the scheme’s carbo
  
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• Make your price labels clearer, watchdog tells UK supermarkets

  20-07-2023 12:05
  
  CMA rules out claims are stores stoking food inflation but orders inquiry into supply chain competition Supermarkets must make price labels clearer so customers can more easily compare deals, the UK’s competition watchdog said.Food retailers will also be subject to a detailed investigation into competition in 10 product categories including milk, bread, and baby formula as part of efforts to ensure households benefit from competitive prices as cost inflation falls. Continue reading...
  
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• Mattel boss: How retail helped the Barbie movie become a cultural moment

  20-07-2023 11:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  When I joined Mattel 20 years ago this September, I could only have dreamed that one day I would see crowds dressed in hot pink clamouring to see an actress dressed as Barbie walking the pink carpet for the doll’s Hollywood debut.
  Sales of the iconic doll had peaked in the mid-nineties and begun a steep descent in the early noughties – around the time I joined Mattel India as managing director.
  Two decades on, Barbie has never been as relevant or popular as she is today – on th
  
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• Premier Foods says no more price rises planned this year

  20-07-2023 11:42 via ft.com
  Maker of Mr Kipling cakes joins other groups indicating food price inflation has moderated
  
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• MPs to debate tax-free shopping in parliament

  20-07-2023 10:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  MPs backing the ‘Scrap the Tourist Tax’ campaign have secured a parliamentary debate to put forward the case of reinstating tax-free shopping for international visitors.
  The Treasury will hear and formally respond to the proposals in a 90-minute Westminster Hall debate on 7 September.
  Britain is currently the only country in Europe to not offer tax-free shopping to international visitors after it scrapped the perk following the end the Brexit transition period at the end of 2020.
  Sir
  
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• Asda to cut prices on over 200 own-label products

  20-07-2023 09:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda is to cut the price of more than 200 own-branded products as it looks to support customers during the cost-of-living crisis.
  From Friday, shoppers will be able to save an average of 9% across 226 items which include fresh fruit and vegetables, cupboard staples, and frozen meat and fish products.
  The initiative is part of the supermarket’s ongoing investment into supporting its customers and builds on last months summer price lock campaign, which saw 500 popular branded and own-label l
  
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• Dunelm raises profit outlook as price cuts entice shoppers

  20-07-2023 09:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Dunelm has raised its profit outlook after posting a surge in fourth quarter sales due to customers splurging during the summer sale.
  The homewares retailer is expecting to deliver a profit before tax slightly ahead of current analysts’ forecasts of £188m for the 52 weeks to 1 July.
  It comes as total sales rose 6% to £1.64bn over the period, boosted by a 6% jump in fourth quarter revenue to £381m as shoppers took advantage of the retailer’s heavy discounts.
  Dunelm s
  
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• Asda co-owner angers MPs during fuel prices grilling session

  20-07-2023 08:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda co-owner Mohsin Issa has angered parliament during his “extraordinary” appearance before the business and trade committee.
  MPs described the session as “drawing teeth” after accusing Issa of failing to answer questions about the supermarket’s fuel prices, finances and treatment of staff, The Times.
  The Asda co-owner was questioned on the Competition and Markets Authority’s findings that the supermarket had increased margin targets on fuel prices and had b
  
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• Internet ratings get only three stars from me

  20-07-2023 06:00 via ft.com
  Nudges towards relentlessly positive feedback distort our ability to measure real customer experience
  
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• Argos at 50: How the ‘laminated book of dreams’ changed UK retail

  20-07-2023 03:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Argos is a business that evokes memories for many shoppers.
  Be it the catalogue in which they circled the Polly Pocket treehouse or Nintendo Gameboy that they wanted Santa to bring; or the Elizabeth Duke necklace their first boyfriend bought; or indeed the store where they bought the toaster or pans for their first home.
  “It does have a strong emotional connection with the UK population,” admits Argos trading director Matt Leeser. “Customers love the brand and have loved the it
  
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• Superdrug opens largest store in North-West at Manchester’s Trafford Centre

  20-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Superdrug has today (20th July) opened its doors to a brand-new store in Manchester’s Trafford Centre. Creating a total of 20 permanent and temporary jobs, the... View Article
  
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• M&S CEO Stuart Machin comments on Marble Arch

  20-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer will not be able to bulldoze and redevelop its flagship central London store, after the secretary of state blocked the plans. The retailer... View Article
  
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• Kidswear Collective pops up in Chelsea

  20-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Kidswear Collective, the pre-loved designer kidswear consignment platform, has opened its first standalone London pop-up shop. The 850 square foot space at 164 Walton Street in... View Article
  
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• John Lewis introduces virtual try-on service for fashion rental offering

  20-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The John Lewis department store has launched a new virtual ‘Try It On’ service for customers of its fashion rental offering. To use the service, customers... View Article
  
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• Dunelm expects full year profit to beat estimates

  20-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Dunelm has said its full year profit is likely to be slightly ahead of current market expectations after sales increased by 6% to £381 million in... View Article
  
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• Company Shop Group bolsters senior team

  20-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Company Shop Group has bolstered its senior team with the appointment of Adam King as marketing director and Sinead Healey as finance director. King has 15... View Article
  
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• Co-op expand robot deliveries across Leeds

  20-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Co-op and Starship Technologies today confirm the expansion of autonomous online grocery delivery services across more neighbourhoods in Leeds in collaboration with Leeds City Council. Following... View Article
  
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• Asda cuts prices on over 200 family favourite products

  20-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Asda supermarket chain has cut the prices of more than 200 own-label products. The 226 items, which have been reduced in price by an average... View Article
  
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