Retail news

• Upmarket UK retailers ditch Christmas pud for panettone

  04-12-2023 16:36
  
  Selfridges hails Italian classic as ‘new undisputed champion of Christmas grub’ as demand soarsShoppers at upmarket British retailers are eschewing the traditional Christmas pudding in favour of panettone for a lighter festive dessert this year.Panettone has been steadily growing in popularity in the UK in recent years, but retailers said demand for the Milanese bread had soared this winter. Continue reading...
  
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• M&S extends Christmas opening hours and food to order window

  04-12-2023 14:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  M&S has extended its opening hours over the festive period to help shoppers get ready for the big day.
  From 18 to 22 December, more than 400 of the retailer’s stores will be open from 6am until 10pm.
  A number of stores will also be open until 10pm on Saturday 23 December and 4pm on Christmas Eve.
  The retailer has also revealed it will close its stores, support centres and distribution centres on Boxing Day.
  M&S has also extended its Christmas food to order window until 13 December.
  
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• Currys unveils new retail media network as the sector booms

  04-12-2023 13:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Currys has unveiled its new retail media network, Currys Connected Media, as it seeks to grow advertising revenue.
  Samsung, Acer and Hisense are among the brands utilising the network, which is built on solutions from the electricals retailer’s tech partners including Circana, Epsilon and Criteo.
  The retail media network uses first-party customer data to better understand what consumers will be shopping for, and when.
  A range of new advertising vehicles then allow advertisers to act on the
  
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• In pictures: The first Wilko stores opened by The Range

  04-12-2023 10:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The first set of Wilko stores under its new owner opened over the weekend, marking the discount chain’s return to the high street.
  The Exeter and Plymouth stores are the first two out of five planned by The Range owner CDS Superstores, which rescued the brand from administration in September.
  Both branches will stock the retailer’s home and garden range, mixing brands with its own label. There is also an on-site paint mixing service in both stores.
  Self-service terminals are also in
  
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• Do you really need shiny new tech for Christmas? The answer is ‘no’

  04-12-2023 10:00
  
  If you are tempted to ask Santa for the latest smartwatch or phone, think again This Christmas, many Apple enthusiasts will be mulling over whether to shell out almost £800 for a new iPhone 15, while some commuters will be thinking of putting the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones on their list, although at £450, Santa will need to be feeling generous.But is it really necessary to keep on updating our phones, laptops, smartwatches and headphones as new models hit the market? The
  
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• We’ll take on Amazon and Currys in EE revamp, vows boss

  04-12-2023 09:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  EE boss Marc Allera said he is planning to take on Amazon and Currys as one of the UK’s biggest seller of electrical goods.
  The chief executive told The Mail on Sunday that he wants customers to buy items through the telco network “every day and every week”.
  “We want to be one of the top three retailers for consumer electronics,” Allera said, adding that his priority is to become a “viable alternative” to the big online shopping giants and High Street ri
  
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• Supermarkets ‘blatantly disregarding’ HFSS rules

  04-12-2023 09:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Some UK supermarkets are “blatantly disregarding” rules aimed at tackling childhood obesity by placing restrictions on where products high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) can be placed.
  According to a report from the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) and Food Active, a quarter of the 25 stores they had visited had put sweets, crisps, fizzy drinks or other “less healthy” items in parts of the shop that include near checkouts or on end-of-aisle displays.
  The stores “were sho
  
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• Private equity firm explores £100m Jollyes sale

  04-12-2023 09:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The private equity owner of pet specialist retailer Jollyes is understood to be considering a sale of the business for more than £100m.
  City sources told The Times that the retailer’s private equity owner, Kester Capital, is working with financial advisors at Houlihan Lokey on “strategic options” for the business.
  Jollyes, which sells pet food, dog leads and toys, has 98 stores across the UK and has recently expanded into providing grooming and veterinary services in
  
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• Discover eCommerce Benchmarks & Insights for Food & Beverage

  04-12-2023 09:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Food & Beverage eCommerce has gained significant importance in the UK and in France. Digital marketing plays a key role in driving online sales, and impacts increasingly brick & mortar sales too.
  According to the MikMak Shopping Index, search and social media are the biggest eCommerce traffic sources for Food & Beverage brands this year. Did you know that TikTok is the social media platform that drives the most shopping traffic in the UK? In today’s challenging economic contex
  
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• Lush boss attacks Tories for ‘letting councils go bust’

  04-12-2023 08:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Lush boss Mark Constantine has blamed the government for the state of the high street as its cut on council finances has pushed some local authorities to the state of bankruptcy.
  The chief executive said a rethink was needed to prevent further decline after thousands of stores in the UK had closed in recent years.
  “The high streets in Britain are deserted,” he told The Times.
  “If the government wants us to become a nation of retailers and shopkeepers again, then it has to do so
  
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• The Body Shop reignites its fight against animal testing

  04-12-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Body Shop has teamed up with long-term partner Cruelty Free International to reignite its campaign against animal testing. The UK banned animal testing for make-up... View Article
  
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• Tessa Group invests in Sofa Club

  04-12-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sofa Club has announced that Polish sofa manufacturer Tessa Group has acquired a significant shareholding in its business. As part of the investment, Tessa Group is... View Article
  
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• Superdrug opens “best-in-class” store at Brent Cross

  04-12-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Superdrug has opened a new larger, “best-in-class” store at Brent Cross Shopping Centre as it continues its expansion across London. Spanning 6,000 square feet, it is... View Article
  
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• Nisa appoints new head of central operations

  04-12-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Nisa has promoted Michelle Scott-Jones to the role of head of central operations. Now heading into her thirtieth year with the business, she previously held the... View Article
  
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• Majestic strengthens property team with two newly created roles

  04-12-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Wine retailer Majestic has strengthened its property team with two key appointments as part of plans to accelerate its store opening programme. In a first appointment,... View Article
  
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• It’s Black Fry-day! Demand for Air Fryers boosts Black Friday sales

  04-12-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Expectations for a good Black Friday weekend have been high in the consumer technology, durables and homewares markets which have had a challenging 2023 so far.... View Article
  
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• How to optimise your employee scheduling process

  04-12-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  By Lightspeed Retail: Employee scheduling can become a time-consuming chore when it comes to managing your retail business. When you start to look at how you... View Article
  
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• From punk roots to vinyl heights: Rough Trade’s ongoing legacy and expansion

  04-12-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  In the resounding resurgence of vinyl within mainstream music, Rough Trade emerges as a defining force, seamlessly fusing a love for music with operational expertise. With... View Article
  
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• French Connection joins line up at Manchester Arndale

  04-12-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  French Connection has opened a new store at Manchester Arndale. Situated at Lower Unit 30 in the shopping centre, the 2,189 square foot shop will stock... View Article
  
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• Cracking the code of Emotional Loyalty

  04-12-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  With more than 90% of retail companies offering their customers some type of loyalty program[1], brands are constantly looking for new ways to distinguish themselves from... View Article
  
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• Boots to donate 100,000 essential hygiene products to The Hygiene Bank

  04-12-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Boots is to donate 100,000 essential hygiene products to The Hygiene Bank as it looks to help people affected by hygiene poverty. The health and beauty... View Article
  
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• ASA To Step Up Deployment Of AI Technology To Monitor Greenwashing

  04-12-2023 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is to harness  AI to combat greenwashing: strengthening oversight on environmental claims Greenwashing, as defined in the “Sins of Greenwashing” report,... View Article
  
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