Retail news

• Poundland owner to take control of 71 Wilko sites as chain is wound down

  12-09-2023 17:59
  Discounter has agreed to take on leases with plans to convert them to its own brand
  
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• Poundland moves to buy 71 Wilko sites with possible jobs guarantee for staff

  12-09-2023 17:33
  
  PwC says owner plans to reopen stores under Poundland brand throwing lifeline to as many as 1,800 staffPoundland is to acquire up to 71 Wilko sites that it intends to reopen under its own brand in a deal that could throw a lifeline to some of the about 1,800 staff who will lose their jobs at the stricken retailer.Under the deal struck by administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) with Poundland’s parent company Pepco, the sites will be acquired only after all 408 Wilko stores are shut and
  
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• Poundland owner to acquire up to 71 Wilko stores

  12-09-2023 16:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Poundland owner Pepco Group has agreed to take control of up to 71 Wilko store leases from administrator PwC in a new last-minute deal.
  The discount giant’s parent company now expects to convert stores to the Poundland brand while offering roles for Wilko team members as it looks to continue its own transformation programme.
  Poundland boss Barry Williams said it recognised the last few weeks had been difficult for workers of the embattled retailer.
  In a statement, the company said Wilko st
  
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• BREAKING: Poundland owner to acquire up to 71 Wilko stores

  12-09-2023 16:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Poundland owner Pepco Group has agreed to take control of up to 71 Wilko store leases from administrator PwC in a new last-minute deal.
  The discount giant’s parent company said it expects to convert stores to the Poundland brand while offering roles for Wilko team members as it looks to continue its own transformation programme.
  Poundland boss Barry Williams said it recognised the last few weeks had been difficult for workers of the embattled retailer.
  In a statement, the company said Wilk
  
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• Uniqlo expands to larger store at Bluewater after 13 years of trading

  12-09-2023 16:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Bluewater Uniqlo branch is opening in a new, larger location after trading at the shopping centre for 13 years.
  The new store, due to open on 17th October, will feature a sales floor of roughly 1,185 sq meters and will be located on the ground floor of the shopping complex.
  Uniqlo’s current store is set to close on 5th October in advance of the new store opening.
  Further details about the store, including promotional launch campaigns, are due to follow,  the company revealed.
  
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• £90m Oxford Street revamp gets green light

  12-09-2023 15:40 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Westminster council has signed off on the first stage of funding for the £90m overhaul of London’s Oxford Street.
  The council hopes the revamp will see the shopping district deliver a “world class offer and experience” after being flooded with American Candy and empty shop units, the Evening Standard reported.
  As part of its plans, the mile between Marble Arch and Tottenham Court will be redesigned with wider pavements and new additional crossings to help boost footfall a
  
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• Slug and Lettuce owner draws backlash over ‘dynamic’ beer pricing

  12-09-2023 15:30
  UK’s biggest pub company to charge more for pints during peak hours to offset high costs
  
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• Primark predicts bigger profits after strong Barbie T-shirt sales and price rises

  12-09-2023 13:29
  
  Cargo shorts and boho dresses also sell well as shoppers visit big city stores despite bad weatherThe owner of Primark said its full year profits would be higher than previously expected, helped by strong sales of Barbie T-shirts, cargo shorts and boho dresses as well as price increases.The company behind the budget clothing chain, Associated British Foods, said cargo shorts, linen blend T-shirts and sliders, as well as boho and paisley dresses and its Moroccan-inspired matching outfits for all
  
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• Frasers AI learning platform to revolutionise employee training

  12-09-2023 13:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers Group has teamed up with Thrive Learning to deliver and create a new online learning platform centred around employee learning and upskilling its team as the retail titan looks to achieve its “ambitious learning and communication goals.”
  The platform will be available to Frasers’ 35,000 employees, which will “play a key role” in compliance training, new employee onboarding, product training for sales and retail teams, internal comms and social learning.
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• Primark owner warns of rise in shoplifting and abuse against staff

  12-09-2023 12:21
  Associated British Food chief says theft and antisocial behaviour have hit fashion chain’s profit margins
  
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• Aldi names new marketing director

  12-09-2023 12:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Aldi has appointed Kyrsten Halley as its new marketing director.
  She joins the German discount grocer’s fellow marketing director Jemma Townsend in jointly leading its marketing team and strategy, as the business continues to win market share from traditional supermarkets.
  In her new position, she will lead Aldi’s brand campaigns and partnerships which include Team GB and ParalympicsGB.
  Previously Halley held the same role at The Flavourists which is part of Samworth Brothers Gr
  
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• Tesco and Sainsbury’s gain market share as grocery price inflation slows

  12-09-2023 11:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco and Sainsbury’s were the fastest growing traditional supermarkets this month, with sales up by 9.1% and 9.3% respectively after both ramped up loyalty schemes and unveiled reductions.
  The new data from Kantar shows that Tesco’s share now stands at 27.2%, up by 0.3 percentage points from last year, and Sainsbury’s at 14.8%, up by 0.2 percentage points.
  Meanwhile, German discount rivals Aldi and Lidl lost market share for the first time in months as the traditiona
  
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• UK grocery price inflation slows but shoppers worried by soaring bills

  12-09-2023 11:11
  
  Aldi and Lidl enjoy sales increase and own-label ranges thrive as consumers seek out bargainsBusiness live: latest updatesGrocery price inflation in the UK has slowed to its lowest level in more than a year, but it remains in double digits and most consumers still worry about rising supermarket bills.Annual supermarket inflation dropped for the sixth month in a row, to 12.2% in the four weeks to 3 September, according to the latest data from the analysts Kantar. Continue reading...
  
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• John Lewis boosts fashion offer as it eyes younger shoppers

  12-09-2023 10:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  John Lewis is introducing 20 new designers to its collections for Autumn/Winter 2023, in a bid to become the “leading high street name for mid-premium clothing”.
  The move is part of the department store company’s strategy to build its market share with younger shoppers, including those in their thirties and forties, and increase the frequency of fashion spend.
  New additions to the retailer include Olivia Rubin, Sister Jane, and Batsheva x Laura Ashley.
  Savannah Miller’s n
  
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• Primark owner raises profit guidance for second time as sales surge 15%

  12-09-2023 10:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Primark owner Associated British Foods has raised its profit outlook for the second time this year as sales performed better than expected following the “unusually variable and unseasonable weather” across the summer.
  Primark’s total revenue is forecast to jump 15% to £9bn in the 52 weeks to 16 September, with like-for-like up 9%.
  The fashion retailer attributed the sales growth to “selective price increases, well received ranges and strongly performing new stores&r
  
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• Primark owner raises profit guidance for second time as sales surge

  12-09-2023 10:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Primark owner Associated British Foods has raised its profit outlook for the second time this year as sales performed better than expected following the “unusually variable and unseasonable weather” across the summer.
  Primark’s total revenue is forecast to jump 15% to £9bn in the 52 weeks to 16 September, with like-for-like up 9%.
  The fashion retailer attributed the sales growth to “selective price increases, well received ranges and strongly performing new stores&r
  
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• How Holland & Barrett plans to make healthy returns from food revamp

  12-09-2023 09:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Holland & Barrett recently launched its biggest food transformation in a decade, dubbed ‘food that loves you back’.
  The health food retailer has spent two years redeveloping and “completely overhauling”, its food offer, according to chief commercial officer Alex Dower, and the first wave of the revamp will see more than 500 new items across own-label and brands hit the shelves this month.
  With the relaunch supported by a £5m marketing campaign, Holland &
  
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• Frasers to revolutionise employee learning using AI

  12-09-2023 09:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers Group has teamed up with Thrive Learning to deliver and create a new online learning platform centred around employee learning and upskilling its team as the retail titan looks to achieve its “ambitious learning and communication goals.”
  The platform will be available to Frasers’ 35,000 employees, which will “play a key role” in compliance training, new employee onboarding, product training for sales and retail teams, internal comms and social learning.
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• Zalando hires Pascal Brun as vice president of sustainability and D&I

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Online fashion retailer Zalando has appointed Pascal Brun as its new vice president of sustainability and diversity & inclusion. A textile and apparel industry expert, Brun... View Article
  
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• Yodel creates 2,000+ roles in the ramp up to festive peak

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  UK independent parcel carrier Yodel has announced that it is creating over 2,000 seasonal roles in a mix of functions in the business as it prepares... View Article
  
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• Wilko starts first round of store closures

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Collapsed discount retailer Wilko is to close its first group of 24 shops today following the failure of a potential rescue deal by HMV owner Doug... View Article
  
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• Whistl appoints Senior Leadership Sponsors for Race, Disability and Women initiatives

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Whistl, the UK’s leading logistics specialists in e-fulfilment, mail and parcels, has appointed Senior Leadership Sponsors to drive internal EDI (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) initiatives focused... View Article
  
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• The Works partner with charity: National Literacy Trust

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Works announces its new charity partnership with UK literacy charity, the National Literacy Trust, to help empower children and young people with the literacy skills... View Article
  
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• Q&A: Steve Pritchard, Director, It Works Media Ltd

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Steve Pritchard is the Managing Director of content agency It Works Media, with over 20 years in developing and managing digital marketing campaigns for a whole... View Article
  
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• Primark expects Q4 sales growth despite impact of unseasonable weather

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Primark owner Associated British Foods has said it expects the fashion retailer’s sales to be around 15% higher year-on-year in its fourth quarter. Meanwhile, like-for-like sales... View Article
  
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• Poundland agrees to take control of up to 71 Wilko stores

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Pepco Group, the fast-growing variety discount retailer which owns the Pepco and Dealz brands in Europe and Poundland in the UK, today announces that it has... View Article
  
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• Poundland agrees to take control of up to 71 Wilko store

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Pepco Group, the fast-growing variety discount retailer which owns the Pepco and Dealz brands in Europe and Poundland in the UK, today announces that it has... View Article
  
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• Majestic launches biggest-ever festive recruitment drive

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Majestic has embarked on its biggest festive recruitment drive to date as it looks to hire 200 team members to work in its UK stores. The... View Article
  
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• Interview: Martin Newman on the art of successful retail

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Martin Newman, respectfully known as the “Consumer Champion,” is a seasoned professional with a career spanning more than four decades in the world of consumer-facing businesses.... View Article
  
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• BP appoints Joanne Hall to head up UK retail operations

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  BP has appointed Joanne Hall as its new UK retail operations director as part of a wider drive to invest in its convenience retail proposition. Reporting to... View Article
  
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• Aldi makes price cuts on fruit and veg

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Aldi has announced its biggest round of price cuts on fruit and vegetables. This week, shoppers will find lower prices in-store on items including bananas, apples,... View Article
  
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• Aldi appoints new marketing director

  12-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Aldi has made an addition to its senior marketing team with the appointment of Kyrsten Halley as marketing director. She joins fellow Aldi marketing director Jemma... View Article
  
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• Majestic Wine to hire 200 staff ahead of its ‘biggest Christmas ever’

  12-09-2023 01:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Majestic Wine plans to hire 200 new staff members ahead of Christmas under its biggest-ever festive recruitment drive.
  The colleagues will work across the retailer’s stores nationwide across temporary and permanent roles.
  Available positions include drivers, sales assistants, assistant managers and trainee managers.
  The news comes as the company prepares to deliver its biggest-ever golden quarter and lay foundations for future bricks-and-mortar growth.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
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