Retail news

• John Lewis looks at sale and leaseback of 12 Waitrose supermarkets

  28-09-2023 17:52
  
  Retail chain hopes to raise £150m to fund store updates and invest in online operationsJohn Lewis is looking into raising £150m from the sale and leaseback of a dozen Waitrose supermarkets to fund investment in updating the business.The staff-owned retailer, which this month announced a half-year loss of £59m, wants cash to update stores, improve prices and invest online operation, including expanding online grocery deliveries. Continue reading...
  
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• John Lewis eyes £150m sale of 12 Waitrose stores

  28-09-2023 17:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  John Lewis Partnership in understood to be in talks about raising as much as £150m from a sale and leaseback deal of a dozen Waitrose supermarkets.
  The business will begin marketing the stores from next week, which are predominantly located in the south of England with 20-year inflation-linked leases, Bloomberg reported.
  CBRE is understood to be acting as property agent, but sources told the publication that there was no certainty a deal would take place.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for fre
  
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• Poundland owner reshuffles management team as it slashes profit outlook

  28-09-2023 16:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Poundland owner Pepco has reshuffled its management team and issued its second profit warning in three weeks as it continues to witness an “increasingly challenging trading environment” across Central and Eastern Europe.
  In the last three weeks, the group has slashed its profit outlook for Pepco twice to £648m (€750m), blaming weaker sales, continued inflationary pressure on costs and the drag from investment in new stores.
  Pepco saw lower-than-anticipated revenues during
  
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• Pepco reshuffles top team after profit warning as Poundland boss takes helm

  28-09-2023 16:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Pepco has reshuffled its management team, placing Poundland boss Barry Williams at the helm, as it issued its second profit warning in three weeks.
  Following the underwhelming performance, Pepco managing director Anand Patel will step down with immediate effect, and Williams, who has led Poundland and Dealz in the UK and Ireland for six years, will replace him.
  Williams, who has also held senior roles at Asda, has spearheaded the discount giant’s UK transformation in recent years, includin
  
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• First look: Inside Pinterest’s reimagined high-street pop-up

  28-09-2023 16:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Pinterest is opening the doors to Possibility Place this week, bringing the platform to life in the format of the British high-street via a two-day corner shop, beauty bar and DIY store pop-up in London.
  Open from Friday 29th to Saturday 30th September at 5-11 Short’s Gardens in London’s Covent Garden, the first-of-its-kind pop-up will also allow visitors to take part in a number of creator-hosted expert sessions, from elevating everyday meals to upcycling household items.
  Visitors c
  
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• Sainsbury’s introduces paper packaging to its toilet and kitchen rolls

  28-09-2023 13:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sainsbury’s has become the first UK supermarket to replace the plastic packaging on its own-brand kitchen towels and toilet rolls with a paper version.
  The supermarket said the move was the biggest plastics reduction it had made in its grocery business so far, saving around 485 tonnes of plastic each year.
  The paper packaging will launch across 27 products in-store and online from this week. Sainsbury’s will complete the switch across all its lines by February next year.Subscribe to
  
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• Asda takes aim at M&S in new Taste Match campaign

  28-09-2023 11:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda has taken aim at M&S as part of its ‘Taste Match’ campaign to promote product quality.
  According to the supermarket, hundreds of its products were voted “as tasty” or “tastier than” their M&S equivalents but at a lower cost.
  The grocer’s latest campaign claims it stocks products with ‘M&S taste at Asda price’.
  Asda first launched its Taste Test initiative back in July, when it nominated a series of products for blind taste te
  
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• Asda takes aim at M&S as it launches Taste Match campaign to promote product quality

  28-09-2023 11:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda has taken aim at M&S as part of its new ‘Taste Match’ campaign to promote product quality.
  According to the supermarket, hundreds of its products were voted “as tasty” or “tastier than” their M&S equivalents but at a lower cost.
  The grocer’s latest campaign claims it houses products with ‘M&S taste at Asda price’ following thousands of independent blind taste tests.The retailer said all of the products in its M&S Taste Ma
  
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• Asda takes aim at M&S as it launches Taste Match campaign

  28-09-2023 11:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda has taken aim at M&S as part of its new ‘Taste Match’ campaign to promote product quality.
  According to the supermarket, hundreds of its products were voted “as tasty” or “tastier than” their M&S equivalents but at a lower cost.
  The grocer’s latest campaign claims it houses products with ‘M&S taste at Asda price’ following thousands of independent blind taste tests.The retailer said all of the products in its M&S Taste Ma
  
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• Asda shakes up commercial team to fuel growth

  28-09-2023 09:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda has made several changes to its commercial function at its head office in Leeds as it sets its sights on becoming the UK’s second-largest grocer.
  The supermarket said it was introducing eight new integrated business units to cover the different areas of the operation, which will all be led by a director who has full responsibility for sales and profitability in their sector.
  The move will see Asda shift to dedicated teams responsible for buying, ranging and pricing – replacing t
  
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• Asda restructures commercial team as it brings in new operating model

  28-09-2023 09:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda has restructured the commercial function at its Leeds head office, which it said will help it achieve its goal of becoming the UK’s second-largest grocer.
  The supermarket is introducing eight new integrated business units to cover the different areas of the operation, which will all be led by a director who has full responsibility for sales and profitability in their sector.
  The move will see Asda shift to dedicated teams responsible for buying, ranging and pricing – replacing t
  
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• BPF calls for empty rates relief to be extended to 12 months

  28-09-2023 09:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The British Property Federation (BPF) has called on the government to extend the period of business rates relief to 12 months and reintroduce a 50% rate cut for long-term empty stores in a bid to revitalise the high street.
  Owners of vacant shops currently have a three-month exemption from business rates to upgrade stores as necessary and re-let them to a new tenant.
  Data from the Local Data Company shows that less than one in ten empty shops (9%) are re-occupied within six months and almost a t
  
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• Ethical brand People Tree to liquidate UK arm, owing £8.5m

  28-09-2023 09:05 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ethical fashion brand People Tree has put its UK business into liquidation after racking up more than £8.5m in debt.
  The label, who counts actress Emma Watson and model Jo Wood as fans, shot to popularity due to its use of organic materials and campaigning for better treatment of garment workers.
  However, following and extended deteriorating in trading, the retailer has warned creditors that it cannot meet its debt.
  According to The Guardian, the brand owes almost £1.6m to three big
  
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• Next launches ‘Self’ brand to capitalise on athleisure trend

  28-09-2023 08:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Fashion giant Next has launched a new athleisure brand named ‘Self’ as it looks to take a slice out of the fast-growing sector.
  The own-label, which the retailer terms as an “affordable luxury lifestyle brand”, is available to buy on Next.co.uk with more than 30 lines on sale.
  Products range from size 6 to 26 and include jogging bottoms and hoodies, priced at £22 to £24, leggings, priced at £22, with lingerie also on sale from B to G cup.
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• H&M admits it needs to fix inconsistent sizing after returns fee backlash

  28-09-2023 08:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  H&M has admitted that it needs to improve consistency in its sizing after receiving backlash from customers over its returns fee for online returns.
  Chief executive Helena Helmersson acknowledged the issue, telling the BBC: “There’s always improvement to make.”
  She said the fashion retailer was taking active steps to make sure that “whatever customers buy, they want to keep”, for example improving its sizing guides for customers.
  Helmersson added that the chain
  
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• H&M admits it need to fix inconsistent sizing after returns fee backlash

  28-09-2023 08:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  H&M has admitted that it needs to improve consistency in its sizing after receiving backlash from customers over its returns fee for online returns.
  Chief executive Helena Helmersson acknowledged the issue, telling the BBC: “There’s always improvement to make.”
  She said the fashion retailer was taking active steps to make sure that “whatever customers buy, they want to keep”, for example improving its sizing guides for customers.
  Helmersson added that the chain
  
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• The Perfume Shop launch their Christmas recruitment programme

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Perfume Shop, the UK’s largest fragrance retailer, announces their recruitment programme for Christmas Sales Assistants ahead of the festive season. From mid-September through to October,... View Article
  
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• Tesco trials sensitive skincare section in selected stores

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Tesco is piloting a new sensitive skin section in selected stores to make it easier for customers to find products for their skin type. The section... View Article
  
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• Superdrug opens new store in Leigh

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Superdrug will open a new store a new store in Leigh Parsonage Retail Park today. Spanning 500 square feet, the shop will stock the latest health... View Article
  
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• Sook to Pop-Up at Liverpool ONE

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Grosvenor has announced that Sook, the pop-up retail space operator, has signed to take over a unit on Liverpool ONE’s Upper South John Street. Set to... View Article
  
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• Q&A: Charlene Flanagan, co-founder of Ella & Jo Cosmetics

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Ella & Jo Cosmetics is an award-winning Irish skincare brand created by skin and makeup experts Charlene Flanagan and Niamh Ryan. Here we talk to Flanagan... View Article
  
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• Pepco issues profit warning and announces organisational shuffle

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Pepco Group, the discount retailer behind brands like Pepco, Poundland, and Dealz, has cut its profit outlook for the second time in less than three weeks... View Article
  
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• People Tree liquidates owing creditors £8.5m

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  “Ethical fashion brand, People Tree, has plunged into liquidation in the UK, leaving behind a trail of debts amounting to a staggering £8.5 million. This unfortunate... View Article
  
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• One Stop celebrates its 10-year partnership with The Salvation Army

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  One Stop is celebrating its 10-year partnership with The Salvation Army with some impressive statistics which show the strength of the relationship and how much it... View Article
  
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• Morrisons posts increase in quarterly sales

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Morrisons has reported a fifth consecutive quarter of like-for-like sales growth in the 13 weeks to 30 July. The supermarket’s group like-for-like sales edged up 2.9%... View Article
  
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• Morrisons appoints new chief executive

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Morrisons supermarket chain has appointed Rami Baitiéh as its new chief executive. Previously chief executive of Carrefour France, Baitiéh will succeed David Potts who has... View Article
  
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• How to improve Customer Loyalty and win over shoppers

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  We know it might seem a bit too early to be thinking about it, but, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holiday season is just around... View Article
  
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• Gucci opens new boutique Munich store at Pembroke’s Maximilianhöfe

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Luxury fashion brand Gucci has launched a new store at Maximilianhöfe in the heart of Munich city centre. Spanning two floors, the new boutique has 794... View Article
  
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• Empowering Retail Excellence: A Conversation with Joanna Ward, Strategic Account Manager EMEA for Retail at Vertiv

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Joanna joined Vertiv in 2022 with 30 years’ experience in sales and business development, 16 of which have been spent in the critical power industry. She... View Article
  
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• Cyclists Raise More Than £416,000 For GroceryAid

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  More than 220 enthusiastic cyclists from across the grocery industry have raised over £416,000 for grocery colleagues in need. They have cycled over 777km through some... View Article
  
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• Burberry joins forces with Tate Britain to celebrate artistry

  28-09-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Burberry, the renowned British design brand, has collaborated with Tate Britain to endorse the “Sarah Lucas: HAPPY GAS” exhibition, which pays homage to one of Britain’s... View Article
  
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• Cost of living: UK households have £3bn less to spend this Christmas

  28-09-2023 01:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK households are set to be £3bn worse off this Christmas compared with last year as the cost-of-living crisis continues to hang over households.
  The research, conducted by Retail Economics and Auctane, showed that to cope with the high inflation, savvy shoppers will start Christmas shopping earlier, using online marketplaces to stretch their budgets and cut back their overall spending.
  40% of UK consumers surveyed plan to start their Christmas shopping before October while 15% of those ex
  
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