Retail news

• Waitrose invests in personalised online shopping

  08-11-2023 21:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Waitrose is investing in delivering personalised online shopping that will improve the online search and browsing experience using AI tools.
  The upmarket grocer has signed a deal with Netcore Unbxd, which will help it improve customer service based on past buying patterns and behaviours, including search and browsing habits, product favourites, and brand choice.
  Customers will benefit from more relevant and accurate search results, which the supermarket said will make it quicker and easier to fi
  
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• Please stop this early Christmas madness – we need a law against it | Brief letters

  08-11-2023 19:11
  
  When Xmas comes early | British summer time | A Wetherspoon’s cuppa |Cheap brews at McDonald’s| Binge drinking | Toilet troubleThe king’s speech (Report, 7 November) might have had more substance if it had included a bill to ban Christmas adverts and piped music before, say, 10 December. On 7 November, I was treated to a Christmas music loop in my mother’s care home, and assaulted by snow, sledging and Father Christmas in TV adverts. How do we curb this collective madness
  
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• Holland & Barrett launches ‘Drinks with Benefits’ trial service

  08-11-2023 16:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Holland & Barrett has launched a new “Drinks with Benefits” trial service in its Birmingham store.
  The takeaway service offers a new range of teas and coffees, with each drink created to mirror the latest trending health and wellness ingredients, focusing on supporting gut health, mental focus, energy and immunity.
  The business said highlights from its 16-strong range included its Give Me Sunshine Latte, Beauty Within Latte, and Digest Support Tea.
  Alongside the Drinks with Benef
  
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• Bensons for Beds back in the black as transformation plan pays off

  08-11-2023 16:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Bensons for Beds has returned to profitability for the first time since 2020 driven by the success of its turnaround plan.
  Like-for-like sales for the bed retailer jumped 7% for the year to September 30, boosted by a 22% surge in online sales.
  Bensons attributed its performance to its transformation strategy, which has seen the business return to profitability “despite unfavourable weather and reduced consumer spending affecting footfall”.
  The retailer has increased its store footpri
  
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• M&S: Machin will find it harder to retain retailer’s new rhythm

  08-11-2023 15:55 via ft.com
  Last year, the chief exec set himself two 5-year goals and has already surpassed them
  
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• Just Hype promotes from within for new CEO

  08-11-2023 10:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Street style brand Just Hype has promoted its former COO Mike Thompson to the new CEO of the business, under a strategic leadership transition.
  Thompson was hired as chief operating officer of Just Hype back in May, after Sarjan Dulai acquired the company under a pre-pack deal and became CEO.
  The executive previously held in senior roles at DKNY, Crocs and Reebok.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
  Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning Just Hyp
  
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• Lidl rolls out body-worn cameras nationwide amid shoplifting surge

  08-11-2023 10:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Lidl will rollout body-worn cameras for its store staff nationwide amid the ongoing shoplifting epidemic.
  The German discounter said it would introduce the measure from the end of the month as part of a more than £2m investment into staff safety. The move will be completed by Spring 2024.
  It added that store employees will be given training to ensure the cameras are used safely and in a way that protects an individual’s privacy.
  Lidl claims it’s the first supermarket to make th
  
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• M&S regains crown of UK’s top womenswear retailer as profits jump

  08-11-2023 10:10
  
  Marks & Spencer will pay out almost £20m to shareholders in January in first dividend since 2019Business live updates – latest newsMarks & Spencer regained its crown as the UK’s biggest womenswear retailer over the summer for the first time in four years, helping drive a much better than expected 56% increase in profits.The retailer also confirmed it would pay out almost £20m to shareholders in January in its first dividend since 2019 as pre-tax profits soared to
  
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• Watch: All of retail’s Christmas ads, from Amazon to Aldi

  08-11-2023 09:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  It’s that time of year again. Christmas ads have started appearing on TV with retail front and centre with a slew of blockbuster campaigns.
  While some of the ads tug on viewers’ heartstrings with tales of lost mittens and cuddly toys, others take on a playful tone with singing oven gloves and dancing dolls.
  This year there is also an array of big name celebrities making appearances, from Michael Bublé to Ryan Reynolds.
  Retail Gazette looks at all of retail’s Christm
  
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• Marks and Spencer to pay first post-pandemic dividend

  08-11-2023 08:46 via ft.com
  Strong food sales drive higher first-half profits at UK retailer
  
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• M&S hails better-than-expected 75% rise in first-half profit

  08-11-2023 08:44 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Marks & Spencer has posted a much better than expected 75% rise in first-half profit to £360m in the six months to September 30, with pre-tax profits increasing by 56.2% to £325.6m and sales up 10.8% to £6.2bn.
  Sales of food led the advance, up almost 15%, as M&S seeks to pull in customers for their full weekly shop with affordable prices.
  Clothing and home also grew 5.7% despite unseasonably warm weather in September.
  The business achieved the leading position in
  
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• JD Sports grilled over ex-CEO Peter Cowgill’s non-compete deal

  08-11-2023 08:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  JD Sports is facing questions over the multi-million pound non-compete agreement signed with former chief executive Peter Cowgill.
  There is speculation over Cowgill’s exit package with the retailer after he became a significant shareholder in a sports equipment manufacturer.
  The Telegraph reports that under the non-compete agreement signed in September last year, JD Sports agreed to pay Mr Cowgill £3.5m to prevent him from working for or advising any competitors for the next two year
  
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• Just Eat launches speedy Lego toy delivery with Asda

  08-11-2023 01:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Just Eat has unveiled a new initiative with Asda and the Lego Group to offer rapid toy delivery.
  The UK-wide trial kicks off ahead of the key Christmas period and will allow shoppers to order Lego items via Just Eat from today (8 November) from five Asda stores in Hartlepool, Cwmbran, Dundee Milton, Watford and Hunts Cross initially.
  The food delivery company will offer items from Lego’s wide portfolio of toys, including products from its Lego Harry Potter, Lego Disney, and Lego Marve
  
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• AI Pictionary and a ‘robo-dog’ make UK shops’ hottest Christmas toy lists

  08-11-2023 01:01
  
  Retailers hope new version of top-selling board game plus Dog-E will help fuel festive sales recoveryA new version of Pictionary that pits artist against artificial intelligence and a pet “robo-dog” with a wagging tail are among the toys destined to appear on Christmas lists this year as retailers pray for better sales during the key festive trading period.With the cost of living crisis looming large over another year’s celebrations, the Toy Retailers Association’s annual
  
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• Travelex appoints global retail director

  08-11-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Travelex foreign exchange brand has appointed Jackie Uhi to the newly created role of global retail director as part of plans to drive the next... View Article
  
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• Superdrug to open new Bristol store

  08-11-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Superdrug is to open a new store at Bristol Gallagher Retail Park. Due to launch on 9 November, the 7,007 square foot space will stock the... View Article
  
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• Q&A: Peter Kristak, Pricing expert & co-founder, Voxwise

  08-11-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Voxwise is a professional services company that helps retailers and consumer brands grow revenue using technology and customer data. Can you tell us a bit about... View Article
  
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• Q&A: Isabell Aakervik, Chief Expansion Officer at Sitoo

  08-11-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Isabell Aakervik is the Chief Expansion Officer at Sitoo with extensive international experience in both retail and software which gives her a deep insight and understanding... View Article
  
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• Planet research provides UK retailers with new data on the importance of payments for Brits and overseas visitors

  08-11-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Planet, a global software, payment, and technology solutions firm, today announced the findings from its latest shopper sentiment poll of over 7,500 consumers across 19 nations.... View Article
  
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• Marks & Spencer opens “show-stopping” new store in Birmingham

  08-11-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer has officially opened its new store at Birmingham’s Bullring. Spanning 65,000 square feet, the shop has a large clothing department that stocks the... View Article
  
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• Marks & Spencer delivers strong first half

  08-11-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer has posted a strong uplift in half-year sales and profit as its turnaround gathers pace. In the six months to 30 September, the... View Article
  
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• Lounge to make city debut with pop-up at Liverpool ONE

  08-11-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Lounge is to launch a pop-up store at the Liverpool ONE shopping destination this festive season. Due to open in December, the 4,000 square foot space... View Article
  
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• Just Eat teams up with Asda to deliver toys across the UK

  08-11-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Just Eat has announced that customers will be able to order toys on demand through its existing tie-up with the Asda supermarket chain. From 8 November, customers... View Article
  
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• Is NPS dead for retail? understanding the power and the pitfalls

  08-11-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  There’s no doubt that retailers’ planning and target-setting for 2024 is well underway, but sometimes, it’s worth taking a step back to examine the metrics that... View Article
  
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• Holland & Barrett launch trial of ‘Drinks with Benefits’ and new Plant Points

  08-11-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Leading wellness retailer, Holland & Barrett will trial a new market-leading ‘Drinks with Benefits’ service in Birmingham as well as the launch of Plant Points. The... View Article
  
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• Bensons for Beds returns to profitability despite tough trading conditions

  08-11-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  UK bed specialist Bensons for Beds has continued its positive sales momentum over the year in a tough market, posting a full year +7% LFL sales... View Article
  
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