Retail news

• WTO agrees to extend ecommerce tariff exemption for 2 more years

  01-03-2024 23:13
  Boost for trade body though progress lacking on overfishing and aid for farmers
  
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• Two of biggest US pharmacy chains to stock mifepristone abortion pill

  01-03-2024 18:18
  
  Biden applauds decision by CVS and Walgreens to offer drug on prescription at stores in several US states where abortion is legalTwo of the largest pharmacy chains in the US, CVS and Walgreens, will start selling the abortion pill mifepristone on prescription at stores in several US states later this month, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing interviews with officials at both companies.Joe Biden quickly applauded the decision, issuing a statement from the White House hailing an “
  
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• M&S wins court challenge to Gove’s block on razing of Oxford Street store

  01-03-2024 16:50
  
  Judge rules levelling up secretary’s attempt to prevent the rebuilding of the Marble Arch shop is unlawfulMarks & Spencer has claimed victory after Michael Gove’s decision to block a controversial plan to raze and redevelop its main store on London’s Oxford Street was ruled to be unlawful.The levelling up secretary refused permission to redevelop the site near Marble Arch in the West End in July last year, in a win for campaigners concerned about the carbon footprint of the
  
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• At Sydney’s fruit and veg market, buying in bulk costs barely 30% of supermarket prices

  01-03-2024 15:00
  
  Consumers who get up early and get organised can buy a box of produce for $20 that would have cost $66 at WoolworthsGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastDelphine Quack and Veronique Morgan-Smith stand with hands on hips as they consider a deal for a box of bananas.“Bananas have always been their own currency,” Morgan-Smith says. “It’s the only fruit you can’t negotiate over.” Continue reading...
  
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• Gymshark promotes Carly Natalizia to newly created chief digital officer role

  01-03-2024 13:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Gymshark has promoted its former global marketing director Carly Natalizia as its new chief digital officer.
  In the newly created role, Natalizia will be responsible for scrutinising and optimising the brand’s digital journey to better serve Gymshark’s audience and drive digital growth.
  She joined the business back in June 2022 as vice president of marketing and went on to be promoted to global marketing director in January 2023.
  With a wealth of industry experience, before joining G
  
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• M&S wins legal challenge over Gove’s block on Oxford Street store revamp

  01-03-2024 13:15
  
  Judge rules levelling up secretary’s move to halt plan to raze and redevelop store is unlawfulBusiness live – latest updatesMarks & Spencer has claimed victory after Michael Gove’s decision to block a controversial plan to raze and redevelop its main store on London’s Oxford Street was ruled to be unlawful.The levelling up secretary refused permission to redevelop the store near Marble Arch in the West End in July last year, in a win for campaigners concerned about th
  
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• Footfall plunges in ‘wettest February on record’

  01-03-2024 12:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK footfall slumped in February, as consumers were put off shopping by bad weather and train strikes.
  Total footfall was down 6.2% year-on-year, from a 2.8% drop the previous month, according to the latest BRC-Sensormatic IQ data.
  High streets saw the biggest drop, falling 9.3% year-on-year from a 2.3% decline in January while footfall across retail parks slipped 5.8% during the month as shopping centre visitors declined by 7%.
  According to the Met Office, nearly a third more rain than usual fel
  
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• M&S hails High Court victory in battle to demolish and redevelop Marble Arch store

  01-03-2024 12:43 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer has announced that the High Court has ruled that Michael Gove’s decision to block planning permission for the redevelopment of its Marble Arch... View Article
  
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• M&S wins legal challenge against government over Oxford Street store

  01-03-2024 12:41
  High Court rules against Michael Gove’s attempt to stop retailer from rebuilding its flagship outlet in London
  
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• M&S wins legal challenge against government over Oxford St store

  01-03-2024 12:41
  High court rules against Michael Gove’s attempt to stop UK retailer from rebuilding its flagship store
  
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• M&S wins Marble Arch legal battle as Gove’s decision branded ‘unlawful’

  01-03-2024 12:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The High Court has ruled that Michael Gove’s decision to block M&S’ redevelopment plans of its Marble Arch flagship was “unlawful”.
  M&S launched its planning appeal last month over the secretary of state’s decision to reject it’s plans that would see the Art Deco building on London’s Oxford Street demolished and replaced with a new 10-storey complex.
  The High Court judge agreed with the retailer that Gove had “misinterpreted and wrongl
  
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• The Works axes loyalty scheme in a bid to cut costs

  01-03-2024 11:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Works is scrapping its loyalty scheme at the end of this month as it looks for ways to reduce costs amid ongoing inflationary pressures.
  The value retailer’s Together Rewards programme, which gives customers five points for every £1 spent, will close down on March 30 and members have until June 29 to redeem any vouchers they have collected.
  The Works chief executive Gavin Peck said: “With high inflation and a cost-of-living crisis affecting many of our customers, we’v
  
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• Asda unveils record investment to become highest paying UK grocer

  01-03-2024 11:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda is investing a record £150m in its retail pay offer to become the highest paying grocery retailer, boosting hourly pay for over 120,000 workers.
  The supermarket’s investment will see an 8.4% rise for hourly-paid staff, with rates increasing to £12.04 from 1 July, and to £13.21 for workers inside the M25.
  The move comes after a 10% uplift for hourly-paid retail roles in 2023, and a 28% total rise in retail pay since the Issa brothers acquired Asda in 2021, with a tota
  
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• Aldi trials parcel lockers outside stores with InPost tie-up

  01-03-2024 10:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Aldi is trialling the use of parcel lockers outside a selection of its stores as part of its strategy to make it more convenient for customers to shop at the chain.
  The discounter has teamed up with parcel locker provider InPost to provide lockers outside 22 of its stores across the country for a 12-week trial.
  The move means customers will be able to collect and return online orders from other retailers at select Aldi stores, with the aim to roll it out to more locations if successful.Subscribe
  
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• Zara owner Inditex to return to Ukraine after 2-year closure

  01-03-2024 10:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Zara is preparing to reopen the stores in Ukraine that it swiftly shuttered two years ago after Russia’s invasion of the country.
  The Spanish fashion giant’s owner Inditex has told local landlords that it will begin reopening its shops in Ukraine in early April, adding that the retailer plans to reopen 50 of its 80-plus stores in the country.
  The 34 shops set to remain closed are in parts of south and east Ukraine directly affected by the war, where the Ukrainian government has
  
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• Asda co-owner to step aside and hire new chief executive

  01-03-2024 09:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda co-owner Mohsin Issa is set to hand over the running of the supermarket as part of a revamp of the chain.
  Speaking to the BBC in his first interview, Issa explained he was carrying out a “reset” of the retailer before hiring a new CEO.
  He explained he was “getting to a point” where he could step aside and hire a chief executive to lead the grocer.
  The billionaire assured he was “here for the long haul” despite Asda’s £5bn worth of debts, and d
  
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• Asda co-owner to hire new CEO following ‘reset’ of the retailer

  01-03-2024 09:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda co-owner Mohsin Issa is set to hand over the running of the supermarket as part of a revamp of the chain.
  Speaking to the BBC in his first interview, Issa explained he was carrying out a “reset” of the retailer before hiring a new CEO.
  He explained he was “getting to a point” where he could step aside and hire a chief executive to lead the grocer.
  The billionaire assured he was “here for the long haul” despite Asda’s £5bn worth of debts, and d
  
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• Superdry extends Dunkerton’s deadline for takeover bid

  01-03-2024 09:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The deadline for Superdry co-founder Julian Dunkerton to submit an offer for the fashion retailer has been extended until the end of March.
  Dunkerton, who was previously given the deadline of March 1, is understood to be in talks with potential investors about backing a take-private deal.Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
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• Asda to invest £150 million in staff pay

  01-03-2024 09:50 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Asda is to invest £150 million in increasing retail pay as it opens its landmark 1,000th UK store. The move will result in an 8.4% increase for... View Article
  
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• Zara opens upsized store at Atria Watford

  01-03-2024 09:49 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fashion retailer Zara has opened an upsized store at the Atria Watford shopping centre. Situated in a prime location in Charter Place, the two-storey shop stocks... View Article
  
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• Boots poaches former Asda exec as strategy and transformation director

  01-03-2024 09:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Boots has named former Asda strategy head Preyash Thakrar as its new strategy and transformation director, as the cosmetics retailer “embarks on a significant period of change”.
  The executive previously served as chief strategy and customer officer at Asda, leading the grocer’s strategy and partnerships team. He stepped down from the supermarket shortly after its takeover by the Issa brothers in 2021.
  In his most recent role, Thakrar worked as a partner and headed consumer and
  
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• Oxford Street revamp to generate £2.8bn additional sales by 2033

  01-03-2024 09:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Oxford Street overhaul is forecast to generate up to £2.8bn extra sales during the first five years after its completion, business management consultant New West End Company (NWEC) has found.
  The £90m revamp, due to start this autumn, will see improvements to the shopping district including new trees, wider pavements, and better street lighting.
  In January, the revamp was given the green light to kick off this autumn by two thirds of respondents to a consultation of local people,
  
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• Sainsbury’s proposes changes to cut 1,500 roles

  01-03-2024 08:13 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sainsbury’s is proposing to cut 1.500 roles as it looks to adapt its business as part of its Next Level Sainsbury’s strategy. The plans include simplifying... View Article
  
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• Mango appoints renowned fashion industry expert Achim Berg as external advisor to its CEO

  01-03-2024 07:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Mango fashion brand has appointed fashion industry expert Achim Berg as external advisor to its chief executive, Toni Ruiz, and its management team. With the... View Article
  
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• Mango appoints fashion industry expert Achim Berg as external advisor to its CEO

  01-03-2024 07:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Mango fashion brand has appointed fashion industry expert Achim Berg as external advisor to its chief executive, Toni Ruiz, and its management team. With the... View Article
  
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• The Body Shop to close 75 stores and cut hundreds of jobs

  01-03-2024 07:12 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Body Shop is to close 75 stores over the next four to six weeks with the loss of 489 jobs. However, FRP Advisory, the firm... View Article
  
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• Zara returns to Ukraine following 2-year closure

  01-03-2024 06:00
  Decision to reopen stores by Spanish owner Inditex reflects tentative normality in some big cities
  
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