Retail news

• Mattel hails ‘Barbie’ movie success as ‘showcase’ for more brand tie-ups

  26-07-2023 22:23 via ft.com
  Quarterly earnings top forecasts but toymaker warns of softer industry conditions in the months ahead
  
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• Mattel executive behind Barbie revival appointed Gap chief executive

  26-07-2023 18:50 via ft.com
  Retailer hopes Richard Dickson will help turn around its fortunes as year-long search for new leader ends
  
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• Amazon offers concessions over third-party sales to appease UK antitrust watchdog

  26-07-2023 17:29 via ft.com
  US tech giant addresses CMA concerns with proposed measures to help marketplace vendors
  
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• Amazon proposes marketplace changes to appease UK competition watchdog

  26-07-2023 17:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Amazon has proposed several changes to the way it treats third-party sellers on its Marketplace platform to address concerns raised by the UK’s competition watchdog.
  The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a probe last year into whether the online giant had been giving its own brands and those that used its logistics services an unfair advantage.
  The CMA shared in an update on Wednesday that Amazon has proposed several changes that include not using Marketplace seller data to
  
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• Australian food giants making more profit from grocery sales than overseas peers

  26-07-2023 17:00
  
  Exclusive: Coles and Woolworths have consistently expanded their profit margins in a cost-of-living crisis, outstripping their UK counterpartsGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s big supermarkets are far more profitable than their British peers Tesco and Sainsbury’s, and the gulf has widened during the pandemic, leaving shoppers with fast-escalating food bills in a cost-of-living crisis.Exclusive Guardian Australia analysis of financial
  
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• Morrisons introduces coffee pod recycling points in 29 stores

  26-07-2023 15:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Morrisons has become the first UK supermarket to introduce recycling points for used coffee pods.
  The scheme is being trialled across 29 locations in partnership with pod recycling service Podback.
  Shoppers can collect their Podback recycling bags, fill with their used pods and recycle in a dedicated bin at the front of the store.
  The grocer is also set to become a Podback member, meaning its own-brand coffee pods will be recyclable through the service, along with 24 other coffee brands.Subscrib
  
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• Amazon proposes changes to appease UK competition regulators

  26-07-2023 14:44 via ft.com
  US tech giant addresses CMA concerns with proposed measures for third-party sellers on its marketplace platform
  
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• Tesco launches food bank donation bags to stores over summer

  26-07-2023 13:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco has launched food bank donation bags across 300 of its stores, to help food banks reach increased demand over the summer.
  Bags from the grocery giant are pre-filled with the products most needed by food banks and charities, such as pasta, pulses and pasta sauce.
  Shoppers can collect the bags when they enter the supermarket, which will typically cost them around £3.50.
  The bags are available at the selected stores from 24 July to 3 September.
  Tesco head of community Claire de Silva ex
  
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• Hotter Shoes CEO faces uncertain future after pre-pack deal

  26-07-2023 12:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The future of Hotter Shoes’ CEO Ian Watson remains uncertain, after the company was rescued by WoolOvers last week in a pre-pack administration sale.
  According to BusinessCloud, multiple sources claimed Watson no longer worked at the struggling footwear retailer.
  However, as of this morning the chief executive still remains on the Hotter Shoes’ parent company website, Unbound, and can be seen on Companies House as a director.
  Watson has served as chief executive of the business
  
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• THG makes surprise bid for City AM

  26-07-2023 11:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  THG is in advanced talks to buy London-based business newspaper City AM as it borders on the brink of collapse.
  The Cult Beauty and Look Fantastic owner is understood to be negotiating the purchase of the news outlet with accountancy firm BDO, which is on standby to handle its insolvency, Sky News reported.
  The deal could be announced as soon as Wednesday afternoon, sources told the outlet, but warned it could be delayed.
  Sky News reported THG was expecting to pay “a small seven-figure sum
  
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• The truth about loyalty cards: discounts, data collection and the very best deals

  26-07-2023 11:00
  
  Shoppers could save 50p to £10 for every £100 spent with these money-saving schemes. But are they always worth handing over your personal details?Loyalty cards have been around for decades, but over the past couple of years there has been something of an evolution in the biggest UK schemes. While previously shoppers would rack up points on their spending that they could later cash in for rewards, several major retailers have switched to offering upfront benefits. The loyalty schemes
  
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• Frasers ups stake in Boohoo

  26-07-2023 10:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers Group has upped its stake in Boohoo after shares in the fashion retailer fell amid ongoing tensions with Revolution Beauty.
  The Mike Ashley-owned group widened its holdings from 5% to 6.7% on Tuesday, building on its “strategic investment” into the fashion retailer.
  Frasers – which snapped up the 5% stake last month – explained that Boohoo is an “attractive proposition” due to its “laser focus on young female consumers”.Subscribe to Retail
  
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• H&M sues fashion rival Shein over copyright infringement

  26-07-2023 09:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  H&M has filed a lawsuit against Shein for copyright infringement, according to court documents filed in Hong Kong.
  The Swedish fashion giant is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction to stop the Chinese fast fashion rival from infringing on its copyrighted designs.
  The summons dates back to July 2021, which H&M confirmed, with the next hearing set to take place on 31 July.
  According to Bloomberg, the filing included photos of H&M items, such as swimwear and
  
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• M&S Family Matters Index: UK optimism at highest in two years

  26-07-2023 09:21 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The quarterly M&S Family Matters Index has revealed that family optimism has reached its highest level in almost two years to 45% – marking a significant improvement from September 2022’s record low figures when optimism hit 32% as inflation soared to 10.8%
  The retailer‘s Index found that one in three consumers (32%) now feel more in control of their families’ finances and are looking to make the most of the summer holidays – with 37% seeing the summer break as
  
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• Aldi slashes prices on fruit and vegetables to pass savings onto shoppers

  26-07-2023 09:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Aldi has cut the price on fruit and veg products as the discount grocer looks to pass savings on to its customers amid the cost-of-living crisis.
  Ten products are included in the price drop, including avocados, red peppers, baking potatoes and sweetcorn and is the latest price cut move after including household staples such as milk and pasta – lowering the price of almost 100 products.
  Shoppers will see prices drop by up to 36%, which Aldi said is a testament to its “commitment to of
  
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• Sainsbury’s makes £4m price cuts to toilet paper and kitchen towels as inflation slows

  26-07-2023 08:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sainsbury’s has cut the cost of its own brand toilet paper and kitchen towels, passing 4m in savings directly on to customers as the price of pulp continues to fall.
  Shoppers at the supermarket will see up to 7% reduction in price of toilet paper and kitchen towels in the latest of a series of price cuts on popular household essentials, after already reducing the prices of toilet paper and kitchen towels by 18% in the last two months.
  The price cuts come weeks after Sainsbury’s bosse
  
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• Qatar sovereign fund seeks stake in Mukesh Ambani’s retail arm

  26-07-2023 06:00 via ft.com
  QIA considers investing in Reliance as Indian conglomerate looks to expand consumer businesses
  
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• Wickes partners with Flair Impact to undertake company-wide anti-racism survey

  26-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Wickes, the UK’s home improvement retailer, is partnering with Flair Impact, a racial equity technology company to undertake an anti-racism survey amongst its 8,000 Wickes colleagues.... View Article
  
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• Sweet partnership with Swizzels and Bird & Blend

  26-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sweet manufacturers Swizzels have teamed up with independent tea company Bird & Blend to launch an exciting new range of tea blends this summer. If you... View Article
  
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• Small businesses to be offered rent-free stores on London’s Oxford Street

  26-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Westminster City Council and New West End Company have teamed up to offer small businesses the chance to take over a shop on London’s Oxford Street,... View Article
  
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• Primark extends click and collect trial to London

  26-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Primark has extended its trial click-and-collect service to 32 more stores to enable shoppers in Greater London to buy online from its range of kidswear and... View Article
  
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• Pentland Brands joins The People to bring youth insights to the boardroom

  26-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Pentland Brands, the owner of brands such as Speedo, Berghaus and Ellesse, has joined mission-led start-up The People to form a new youth advisory board. The... View Article
  
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• Morrisons becomes first UK supermarket with recycling points for coffee pods

  26-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Morrisons has become the first UK supermarket to introduce recycling points for coffee machine pods. The move which is being trialled in 29 stores is in... View Article
  
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• IKEA launches new Plan & Order Point in Preston

  26-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  IKEA has opened one of its smaller Plan & Order Point stores in Preston in Lancashire. Dedicated to kitchen and bedroom planning, the 1,300 square foot... View Article
  
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• H&M teams up with Disney and Trevor Andrew on new menswear collection

  26-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  H&M is celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary with the release of Disney 100 x H&M, a collection by artist Trevor Andrew. Made up of streetwear-inspired pieces featuring... View Article
  
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• Aldi lowers price of staple fruit and veg items

  26-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Aldi has launched price cuts on a range of ten fruit and vegetable products. The supermarket said customers will see prices drop by up to 36%... View Article
  
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• Aesop’s Fresh Chapter: A New Store in Marylebone

  26-07-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Aēsop, the renowned skincare brand, has unveiled its newly-relocated store on Marylebone High Street, marking a significant milestone after a decade at its previous location. The... View Article
  
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