Retail news

• China’s shopping slump will force ecommerce laggards overseas

  20-06-2024 22:00
  A sales drop has exposed the gap between rivals with a global presence and those relying on domestic customers
  
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• The future is delayed at Ocado (again) | Nils Pratley

  20-06-2024 19:26
  
  As shares drop by 12%, the ‘permanent shift to online grocery shopping’ its boss predicted during Covid looks absurdClose your eyes and you might have thought Ocado was announcing good news. Both its partners in North America, Kroger in the US and Sobeys in Canada, have announced “strong growth in digital sales” in their latest quarterly updates, the UK firm said excitedly.But, oh dear. What Thursday’s statement was really relaying was that Sobeys, like Kroger last
  
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• The future is delayed at Ocado (again)

  20-06-2024 19:26
  
  As shares drop by 12%, the ‘permanent shift to online grocery shopping’ its boss predicted during Covid looks absurdClose your eyes and you might have thought Ocado was announcing good news. Both its partners in North America, Kroger in the US and Sobeys in Canada, have announced “strong growth in digital sales” in their latest quarterly updates, the UK firm said excitedly.But, oh dear. What Thursday’s statement was really relaying was that Sobeys, like Kroger last
  
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• YouGov shares almost halve in value after sales and profits warning

  20-06-2024 18:45
  
  Polling company says sales bookings have been lower than anticipated since half-year figures in MarchShares in the polling company YouGov plunged by almost half on Thursday after the UK research and analytics company warned that sales and profits would be lower than expected this year.The firm, which is best known for its political polling but generates most of its revenues from providing consumer data and analysis to businesses, said sales bookings had been lower than anticipated since it repor
  
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• UK parties ignoring food shortage risks, say farming and retail bodies

  20-06-2024 17:13
  
  NFU and the BRC write letter to Tories, Labour and Lib Dems over lack of focus on food security in campaignsFarmers and supermarkets have accused the main political parties of ignoring the risk of severe food shortages in Britain, calling the issue a “worrying blind spot” in their general election campaigns.The UK’s main farming and food and drink bodies have joined forces to voice their frustration at the lack of focus on food security by politicians as the attempt to gain vot
  
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• Love Island to open first ever pop-up shop next week

  20-06-2024 16:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Love Island will be opening its first-ever pop up shop at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent next week.
  The pop-up will open on 25 June for four weeks and will house various products seen on screen during the popular ITV reality show, including its famous water bottles, which will be available for personalisation among other items.
  Alongside a host of summer-ready products all inspired by the show, season 5 contestant Amy Hart will officially open the shop to celebrate the grand opening next week
  
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• The Body Shop owes former owner £15m in unpaid debt

  20-06-2024 16:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Collapsed health and beauty chain The Body Shop owes its former owner Natura &Co £15m worth of debt in unpaid bills.
  The health and beauty retailer owes Natura the money for items it supplied, with the bills dating from the period when Aurelius took over The Body Shop before it fell into administration, Retail Week reported.
  Around 65% of The Body Shop’s supplies still come from the Avon factory based in Poland, which is owned by Natura, despite the retailer’s previous chan
  
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• YouGov shares plunge after sales and profits warning

  20-06-2024 16:01
  
  Polling company says sales bookings have been lower than anticipated since half-year figures in MarchShares in the polling company YouGov plunged by more than 40% on Thursday after the UK research and analytics company warned that sales and profits would be lower than expected this year.The firm, which is best known for its political polling but generates most of its revenues from providing consumer data and analysis to businesses, said sales bookings had been lower than anticipated since it rep
  
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• Ocado shares plunge after Canadian grocer halts robotic warehouse build

  20-06-2024 15:57
  UK group has staked its future on selling software and robots to traditional supermarkets around world
  
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• Miniso to open largest northern store at Trafford Centre

  20-06-2024 15:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Miniso is set to open its biggest store in the north of England in Manchester’s Trafford Centre.
  Located on the ground floor between Boots and John Lewis, the lifestyle retailer’s 2,700 sq ft space will open on 5 July.
  The opening marks Minso’s 28th store in the UK and the second in Manchester, following the success of its Arndale shop which made its debut last year. Related StoryTK Maxx transforms Wembley store to TS Maxx for Taylor Swift Eras gigs20/06/2024 x 12:22 PMMiniso U
  
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• NatWest to buy most of Sainsbury’s Bank

  20-06-2024 15:08
  Deal by state-backed lender’s new chief is latest sign of supermarket sector’s retreat from financial services
  
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• YouGov shares drop by a third after sales and profits warning

  20-06-2024 14:37
  
  Polling company says sales bookings have been lower than anticipated since half-year figures in MarchShares in the polling company YouGov plunged by more than a third on Thursday after the UK research and analytics company warned that sales and profits would be lower than expected this year.The firm, which is best known for its political polling but generates most of its revenues from providing consumer data and analysis to companies, said sales bookings had been lower than anticipated since it
  
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• Space NK offloads US wholesale arm

  20-06-2024 13:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Space NK has sold its US division to beauty distribution firm PCA Companies.
  The deal includes all its systems, concepts, employees and nearly 600 points of sale in the US, including in department stores such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, as well as a shop-in-shop partnership with Walmart.
  Space NK chief executive Andy Lightfoot said: “Three years ago, we pivoted the US business to focus solely on high-service wholesale with a clear vision of providing brands the structu
  
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• Ocado partner Sobeys halts Vancouver warehouse launch and ends exclusive tie-up

  20-06-2024 13:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ocado partner Sobey’s, Canada’s second largest supermarket, has paused the launch of its new warehouse in Vancouver, which was originally planned for 2025, and the pair have agreed to “end terms related to their mutual exclusivity”.
  The pair have worked with each other since inking the deal in 2018, with Ocado contracted to build warehouses for the grocer, and power its online operations through Ocado Smart Platform.
  The online grocery giant tried to assuage concerns
  
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• TK Maxx transforms Wembley store to TS Maxx for Taylor Swift Eras gigs

  20-06-2024 13:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  TK Maxx has transformed its Wembley store into a Taylor Swift-inspired haven as fans celebrate the singer’s Eras Tour coming to London this Friday, Saturday and Sunday,.
  The retailer said the revamped store, which is open until 23 June, features “vibrant window displays which celebrate the fans’ love of all things Taylor”, ideal for those looking for photo opportunities.
  Tomorrow (21 June), its Wembley store will be turning into a friendship bracelet trading hub for her f
  
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• Vestiaire Collective uses AI to launch Chinese, Dutch and Swedish websites

  20-06-2024 13:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Second-hand fashion platform Vestiaire Collective has used AI to launch website in Chinese, Dutch and Swedish as it expand its global footprint.
  It said AI technology had allowed it to “more easily launch and operate new languages in existing consumer markets and respond more effectively to customer service requests in these countries”.
  It comes as the pre-loved luxury fashion platform experienced a 208% growth in demand in Hong Kong alone over the past three years, prompti
  
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• NatWest to take on most of Sainsbury’s Bank

  20-06-2024 11:31
  
  Deal comes after retailer’s strategic review concluded banking operations could distract from core grocery armBusiness live – latest updatesNatWest has struck a deal to buy most of Sainsbury’s banking business, adding 1m customer accounts in the latest wave of consolidation in the sector.The lender is to take on the bulk of Sainsbury’s Bank assets including its outstanding credit card, unsecured personal loan and savings accounts. Continue reading...
  
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• Shoezone offers free next day delivery with no minimum spend

  20-06-2024 09:53 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Footwear retailer Shoezone has introduced free next day delivery for all orders on its website with no minimum spend. From this month onwards, shoppers will be... View Article
  
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• Labour leader Keir Starmer vows to protect shopworkers against abuse

  20-06-2024 09:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has told shopworkers he would crackdown on violence against them in stores if he wins the general election.
  The candidate reiterated Labour’s promise from its manifesto to introduce a specific offence for assaults on store staff to a group of Morrisons employees at the supermarket’s Swindon branch, The Mirror reported.
  Starmer said: “It’s not just the shoplifting, it’s also the abuse and threats. […] This is such an important is
  
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• Sainsbury’s core banking business to be acquired by NatWest

  20-06-2024 09:11 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sainsbury’s is to sell its core banking business to NatWest as it looks to focus on growing its retail offering. The news follows the retailer’s announcement... View Article
  
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• Globalisation and HR in Retail: Opportunities and Pitfalls      

  20-06-2024 09:11 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  What is globalisation in retail HR? Globalisation is one of the strongest tendencies influencing almost every industry in today’s volatile market. Globalisation is a phenomenon that... View Article
  
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• Asos warn staff virtual meetings have ‘detrimental’ impact

  20-06-2024 09:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Asos has informed staff that online meetings have a “detrimental” impact on performance as it warned against disobeying its flexible working policy.
  The online fashion retailer said it would begin taking disciplinary action for employees if they flaunt the rules, which require some departments to attend the office up to five days a week.
  Asos is understood to have requested that its creative, marketing and production teams conduct the majority of its meeting in person, claiming that
  
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• Saucony appoints global chief marketing officer

  20-06-2024 08:59 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Saucony, the performance running and lifestyle brand, has appointed Joy Allen-Altimare as global chief marketing officer. With over 24 years of experience in leading brand innovation,... View Article
  
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• Asda delivery drivers wear ‘Happy to Chat about the game’ badges to help tackle loneliness this summer

  20-06-2024 08:58 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Asda has relaunched it’s ‘Happy to Chat’ initiative this summer where delivery drivers have the the option to add a badge that signals they are happy... View Article
  
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• Sainsbury’s sells banking arm to Natwest

  20-06-2024 08:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sainsbury’s has agreed to sell most of its banking arm to Natwest Group and expects to complete the transaction in the first half of next year.
  The supermarket chain said its personal loan, credit card and retail deposit portfolios will be transferred across to the bank.
  Sainsbury’s said it will retain its commission income businesses, including insurance, ATMs and travel money, as “these are capital-light and profitable businesses with a strong connection to [its] core re
  
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• H&M Group invests in Rondo Energy to further strengthen its climate strategy

  20-06-2024 08:02 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  H&M Group is partnering with Rondo Energy, a provider of zero-carbon industrial heat and power, to explore the potential for heat storage technologies in its supply... View Article
  
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• How Uber Eats is revamping the grocery shopping experience

  20-06-2024 01:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Uber Eats has become a force to be reckoned with in grocery, which now accounts for around 40% of all orders. But the delivery platform has no intention of stopping there and is adding a host of new features to its app to make itself more attractive to shoppers.
  The changes come as the company’s global head of grocery and retail Susan Anderson insists grocery shopping trends have “fundamentally changed,” with consumers carrying out fewer big shops at the supermarket and leaning
  
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• How Uber Eats is revamping its operations to better serve the grocery shopper

  20-06-2024 01:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Uber Eats has become a force to be reckoned with in grocery, which now accounts for around 40% of all orders. But the delivery platform has no intention of stopping there and is adding a host of new features to its app to make itself more attractive to shoppers.
  The changes come as the company’s global head of grocery and retail Susan Anderson insists grocery shopping trends have “fundamentally changed,” with consumers carrying out fewer big shops at the supermarket and leaning
  
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