Retail news

• H&M says it will ‘phase out’ sourcing from Myanmar suppliers

  17-08-2023 17:54
  
  Fashion retailer is latest in sector to cut ties as reports of labour abuses in country’s garment factories increaseThe world’s second-biggest fashion retailer, H&M, has announced it has decided to gradually stop sourcing from Myanmar, as reports of labour abuses in garment factories in the country increase.The company is the latest to cut ties with suppliers in the country, and follows similar action taken by Zara owner Inditex, Primark, Marks & Spencer and others. Continue
  
  Read more

• Waitrose prepares for biggest breakfast of 2023 ahead of World Cup Final

  17-08-2023 17:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Waitrose stores are preparing for the ‘biggest breakfast of the year’ ahead of the Women’s World Cup final this Sunday.
  The upmarket retailer has stocked up on breakfast staples such as bacon, eggs and sausage ahead of the kick off, as football fans gather to watch England be in for a chance of winning their first World Cup title since 1966.
  Uber Eats and Deliveroo orders are set to be in high demand, as searches on Waitrose.com for ‘brunch’ are already up +54% on l
  
  Read more

• Walmart sales rise as inflation keeps consumers hunting for bargains

  17-08-2023 16:21 via ft.com
  US retailer’s chief says ‘pockets of disinflation’ are helping customers but rising fuel and borrowing costs present risks
  
  Read more

• Ministers criticised for scrapping new food waste laws for England

  17-08-2023 15:16
  
  Mandatory reporting for large and medium-sized businesses would lower prices and help climate, say campaignersThe government has been criticised for binning food waste legislation that campaigners say could have reduced food prices and curbed climate change.The policy would have made food waste reporting mandatory for large and medium-sized businesses in England. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• The Tories crow that inflation is falling, but Britain's profiteering crisis is worse than ever | Sharon Graham

  17-08-2023 15:02
  
  Workers’ wages, and what they can afford to buy with them, are being squeezed by corporate wreckers pursuing runaway profits, quite literally at our expenseSharon Graham is the general secretary of UniteTriumphant claims in some quarters that the cost of living crisis is coming to an end as inflation falls to 6.8% are, quite frankly, a load of toffee. Working people have been left scratching their heads as to how this supposed good news for the economy will impact them – there is cer
  
  Read more

• Pret A Manger opens debut store in Northern Ireland

  17-08-2023 14:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Pret A Manger will open its debut store in Northern Ireland later this year as part of its expansion across the island, creating up to 20 new jobs.
  The new shop in Belfast city centre marks the food chain’s fourth outlet and will be operated by its franchise partner, Carebrook Partnership.
  Pret’s latest opening is part of the business’ plans to open 20 stores across the island within the next decade.
  It currently has three branches in Dublin in the Republic of Ireland – a
  
  Read more

• BRC urges business rates freeze to avert £400m price pressure

  17-08-2023 14:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that the government risks adding £400m additional pressures on prices without business rates freeze, despite welcoming easing inflation.
  The latest CPI inflation figures show headline inflation plunged to 6.8% and food inflation dropped to 14.8%, driven by falling household bills and clothing prices.
  Food inflation eased to its lowest level in almost a year, with price drops in tea, coffee, milk, breakfast cereals and fruit.Subscribe to Retail
  
  Read more

• Future of Wilko staff in limbo as deadline for rescue bid passes

  17-08-2023 12:38
  
  Collapsed budget retailer’s 12,500 workers wait to hear whether buyer emerged by Wednesday nightBusiness live – latest updatesThe future for Wilko’s 12,500 staff hung in the balance on Thursday as they waited to hear whether a serious bidder for the cut-price chain had emerged.Interested parties in the household goods chain, which has 400 stores, had until Wednesday night to put forward their best offers for the company which called in administrators last week as it faced runni
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Birkenstock profits fall despite rocketing sales

  17-08-2023 10:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Birkenstock UK has posted a drop in full year profits, despite sales continuing to skyrocket.
  Pre-tax profits for the footwear retailer fell 24% to £727,000 in the year to 30 September 2022, down from £954,000 the year before.
  Birkenstock attributed the fall to £4.4m of “administrative expenses” relating to property costs, advertising, higher salaries and foreign exchange losses.
  It comes as the retailer reported a significant increase in total sales, which rocketed
  
  Read more

• Iceland boss Richard Walker calls for change in law after baby formula price cuts

  17-08-2023 09:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Iceland boss Richard Walker joined the call for a change in advertising laws that currently ban retailers from promoting price reductions on baby formula products.
  The appeal comes as the supermarket revealed it was cutting the price of 13 lines of branded infant formula by up to 20%  as part of its £26m investment into lowering prices in 2023.
  However, current legislation prevents manufacturers and retailers from including infant formulas in price promotions or other activities aimed
  
  Read more

• Iceland boss calls for change in law after baby formula price cuts

  17-08-2023 09:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Iceland boss Richard Walker joined the call for a change in advertising laws that currently ban retailers from promoting price reductions on baby formula products.
  The appeal comes as the supermarket revealed it was cutting the price of 13 lines of branded infant formula by up to 20%  as part of its £26m investment into lowering prices in 2023.
  However, current legislation prevents manufacturers and retailers from including infant formulas in price promotions or other activities aimed
  
  Read more

• Aldi to create 1,700 new jobs amid expansion drive

  17-08-2023 09:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Aldi is to recruit more than 1,700 workers by the end of the year as it continues its rapid expansion plans.
  The German discounter said the recruitment drive includes a mix of full-time and part-time jobs at its regional warehouses, with salaries of up to £53k a year.
  Recruitment director Kelly Stokes said: “As we continue to grow and attract new shoppers, we need even more amazing colleagues at our distribution sites to make everything possible.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
  S
  
  Read more

• Costco eyes 14 new stores as it ramps up expansion drive

  17-08-2023 08:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Costco is set to open 14 new warehouses in the UK over the next two years.
  The bulk buy retailer is looking at several locations with plans to open “as soon as possible”, The Sun reported.
  However, some openings could be delayed if securing the sites take longer than expected.
  According to the publication, the proposed locations include Brighton, Cambridge, Chelmsford, south Glasgow, southeast London and Oxford.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
  Sign up here to get the la
  
  Read more

• The Perfume Shop open experiential store in Birmingham

  17-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Perfume Shop has had a scent-sational new addition as it opens the doors to another new and improved experiential store at The Fort Shopping Park,... View Article
  
  Read more

• Spinner Winner driving shoppers to SPAR stores

  17-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  SPAR’s new online Spinner Winner competition is running until 30th August and offers shoppers a daily opportunity to spin a wheel and win prizes including  the... View Article
  
  Read more

• Simply Be launches podcast series: Shaping Success

  17-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Inclusive fashion brand, Simply Be is launching a new podcast series, hosted by Fleur East, who will be talking to some of the UK’s leading female... View Article
  
  Read more

• Sealions announce charity partnership with The Trussell Trust

  17-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
   Sealions, a British online-only vitamin brand, has announced its charity partnership with The Trussell Trust and its nationwide network of over 1,300 food banks. The charity,... View Article
  
  Read more

• Pret A Manger to open first store in Northern Ireland

  17-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Pret A Manger is to open its first shop in Northern Ireland later this year. The shop in Belfast city centre will be operated by Pret’s... View Article
  
  Read more

• Parade acquired by Ariela & Associates

  17-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Online lingerie brand Parade has been acquired by Fruit of the Loom licence owner, Ariela & Associates International. In a statement, the new owner said Parade... View Article
  
  Read more

• [Indie Interview] COAT Paints, founders Rob Green & Rob Abrahams

  17-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Founded in 2020, COAT Paints was established by founders Rob Green and Rob Abrahams to revolutionise the paint industry, fueled by their dissatisfaction with its complexities,... View Article
  
  Read more

• George Home at Asda embarks on exclusive partnership with Stacey Solomon

  17-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  George at Asda has teamed up with TV presenter and interior enthusiast Stacey Solomon on a new, exclusive George Home collaboration. Marking the star’s first homeware... View Article
  
  Read more

• Gail’s rolls into the Ashley Centre

  17-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Gail’s, the artisanal bakery concept and café, has opened at Epsom’s Ashley Centre. The new 5,958 square foot store spans three floors and is situated adjacent... View Article
  
  Read more

• Comment: it’s surely time to investigate dynamic pricing

  17-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  As a result of the recent dubious Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into suspected profiteering by the major supermarkets through high fuel prices, Asda now... View Article
  
  Read more

• Aldi to create 1,700 new jobs before end of year

  17-08-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Aldi is seeking to recruit more than 1,700 new workers in its warehouses by the end of the year. The move forms part of the budget... View Article
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!