Retail news

• Frasers Group tops up Asos stake once again to 23%

  19-10-2023 17:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers Group has lifted its stake in Asos once again as it continues its investment spree.
  Mike Ashely’s empire raised its shares in the online fashion retailer to 23% on Wednesday, building on top of last week’s increase to 22.7%.
  It comes as the group is also rapidly increasing its shares in rival Boohoo, lifting its stake to 15.1% last week as the retailer’s largest shareholder.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
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• After 13 years of Tory law and order, there has never been a better time to be a criminal | Zoe Williams

  19-10-2023 16:00
  
  Ministers won’t accept their failure on crime. But when M&S hires former cops to guard its steaks, that failure is plain to seeTM Eye is a company that hires former detectives, most of whom wear a uniform, some of whom are in plain clothes, to mingle with shoppers. In many respects, then, they’re a lot like a police force – except for the bit where they investigate shoplifting. They were called in by a benighted M&S, which had lost £500 worth of steak and many bot
  
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• EE branches into ecommerce to sell smart TVs, fridges and kettles

  19-10-2023 10:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  EE will start selling smart fridges, TVs, kettles and fitness products as it branches out into the ecommerce market.
  The telco company aims to utilise tactics developed selling its telecoms goods and services to support its venture into consumer electronics.
  The move comes after EE was found success in selling video games consoles including Xbox and PlayStation.
  The new set of products will be available to purchase online and in some EE stores, including its new EE studios.Subscribe to Retail Ga
  
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• Discount chain One Beyond circles 50 ex-Wilko outlets

  19-10-2023 10:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  One Beyond is considering taking on about 50 ex-Wilko units as part of its expansion plans – with final agreements expected to be made on 25.
  The discount chain has agreed to take on two former outlets – in Boston and Chelmsford – and is negotiating a third, the business’ chairman Christ Edwards Sr told The Grocer.
  “We currently looking at between 40 and 50 more stores,” he said. “By the time we’ve finished analysing them we think we’ll have
  
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• Fenwick returns to profit boosted by Bond Street store sale

  19-10-2023 09:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Fenwick has returned to profit, boosted by the sale of its New Bond Street store for £430m, Retail Week reports.
  The sale of the department store retailer’s 130-year old flagship last December enabled the business to report pre-tax profits of £57.1m last year, compared to a loss of £5.2m a year earlier.
  Gross sales rose 31% to £315m in the year to January 28, 2023, as shoppers headed back into to stores, while online sales increased 51%.
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• Boots unveils 400 new premium products as it expands luxury offering

  19-10-2023 09:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Boots has launched a new premium and professional haircare category online as part of its strategy to expand its beauty product range and increase its presence in the premium beauty market.
  The health and beauty retailer now offers 400 products from 10 professional and salon haircare brands including Redken, L’Oréal Professionnel, Pureology, Ouai, Briogeo, Ful, Matrix and more.
  Retail Week reports that shoppers can purchase the new products from the high-street giant’s websit
  
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• Sainsbury’s silently axes consumer recycling banks

  19-10-2023 09:03 via sustainability-beat.co.uk
  
  Sainsbury’s has been removing its on-site recycling banks across the UK, as it “prioritises services that people cannot get elsewhere”.
  The Times newspaper revealed that the grocer had been quietly closing down its recycling points for items including metal glass and cans across a number of local communities, where there have been reports of missing bins since early this year.
  A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s told Sustainability Beat it was prioritising services being offer
  
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• Dunelm eyes more market share as it posts strong sales

  19-10-2023 08:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Dunelm has seen its first-quarter sales up 9%, largely driven by volume, as customers continued to revamp their, bedding and home decorations despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
  The homewares retailer said both its stores and digital channels ‘performed well’, with the contribution from digital sales up 2 percentage points year-on-year to 35% as looks to ‘take further market share.’
  “Growth was broad based across our categories with our new autumn/winter rang
  
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• Amazon to relaunch UK delivery drones next year

  19-10-2023 08:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Amazon has confirmed it will be relaunching its delivery drones in the UK next year, Sky News reports.
  The online giant said it will begin deploying the unmanned, airborne vehicles for distributing goods from some of its same-day delivery sites, including one located in the UK although no location has yet been revealed.
  The move is part of the expansion of the drones within the retail side of the business, which will also be rolled out in Italy and a third state in the US, on top of California a
  
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• Issa brothers deny taking money out of Asda as they defend ownership structure

  19-10-2023 08:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda co-owners the Issa brothers have denied taking money out of the supermarket as the pair defended the the retailer’s complex ownership structure.
  Mohsin Issa’s denial was part of a response to the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee following a hearing back in July.
  The Telegraph reports that Issa countered allegations suggesting that he and his brother Zuber distributed dividends to themselves from Asda following their £6.8bn acquisition in 2021.Subscribe to Reta
  
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• Asda owners deny diverting funds as they defend ownership structure

  19-10-2023 08:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda co-owners the Issa brother have denied taking money out of the supermarket as the pair defended the the retailer’s complex ownership structure.
  Mohsin Issa’s denial was part of a response to the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee following a hearing back in July.
  The Telegraph reports that Issa countered allegations suggesting that he and his brother Zuber distributed dividends to themselves from Asda following their £6.8bn acquisition in 2021.Subscribe to Retai
  
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• SPAR UK celebrates raising £3m for Marie Curie

  19-10-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Leading convenience store group SPAR is celebrating a huge fundraising milestone by raising £3 million for its national charity partner Marie Curie. SPAR UK chose to... View Article
  
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• Q&A: Helen Armstrong, Founder & CEO, Silver Cloud

  19-10-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Helen Armstrong is the CEO & Founder of Silver Cloud HR, a global HR and payroll technology consultancy which specialises in helping retailers review, select and... View Article
  
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• New owner for Jarrow’s Viking Centre

  19-10-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Jarrow shopping scheme the Viking Centre has been acquired M Core’s Evolve Estates. Situated in the heart of Jarrow, the centre has more than 60 stores... View Article
  
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• Macy’s launches ‘mstylelab’ online fashion platform

  19-10-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  US department store Macy’s has launched a new online engagement platform that journeys into the future of fashion by merging the physical and digital worlds to... View Article
  
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• Holland & Barrett joined Menopause Mandate yesterday for World Menopause Day

  19-10-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Holland & Barrett partners with campaign group Menopause Mandate on World Menopause Day (18th October) to bring attention to and achieve better support and education for... View Article
  
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• Gear4music hit by lower European sales

  19-10-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Gear4music has posted a 6% fall in half-year revenues following its focus on prioritising gross margins ahead of sales growth. Revenues fell to £62.6 million in... View Article
  
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• Dunelm posts strong first quarter sales growth

  19-10-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Dunelm has seen its first quarter sales increase by 9% to £390 million after the homewares retailer benefited from volume growth. In the 13 weeks to... View Article
  
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• Boots adds 400 new products through launch of premium and professional haircare category

  19-10-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Boots has expanded its beauty offering with the addition of a new premium and professional haircare category. This includes 400 new products from professional and salon... View Article
  
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• B&Q 24-hour themed dance-a-thon for Shelter

  19-10-2023 02:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  B&Q stores across the nation have come together for a UK-wide event to raise vital funds and awareness for B&Q’s charity partner, Shelter – the UK’s... View Article
  
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