Retail news

• Watch: Waitrose uncovers the culprit in part 2 of ‘whodunnit’ 2024 Christmas ad

  26-11-2024 21:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Waitrose has released the final instalment of its two-part star-studded festive ‘whodunnit’ Christmas campaign.
  The first part of ‘Sweet Suspicion, A Waitrose Mystery’ went live at the start of the month and features Succession actor Matthew Macfadyen, comedian Joe Wilkinson, Sex Education’s Rakhee Thakrar and Dustin Demri-Burns from Slow Horses.
  In the conclusive ad, created by Saatchi & Saatchi, viewers are invited to watch the mystery of the missing No.1 Wait
  
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• Frasers Group to acquire South African sporting goods company Holdsport

  26-11-2024 17:24 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sports Direct owner Frasers Group is to acquire Holdsport, the South African sporting, outdoor and recreation goods company. The business is being purchased from Old Mutual... View Article
  
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• Lincolnshire Co-op invests £200K in body cameras to tackle abuse

  26-11-2024 17:23 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Lincolnshire Co-op has committed £200,000 to equip its 99 food stores and 44 pharmacies with body cameras, aiming to combat the rising levels of abuse, threats,... View Article
  
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• Retail workers offered free training as Christmas abuse fears grow

  26-11-2024 17:12 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Hundreds of retail workers have participated in free training from the charity Retail Trust to help protect them from an anticipated rise in abusive incidents this... View Article
  
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• Greggs launches limited-edition Top Trumps card game for Christmas

  26-11-2024 17:02 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  High stakes meet Steak Bakes this Christmas as Greggs announces a partnership with Top Trumps, launching a limited-edition Greggs version of the nostalgic card game. For... View Article
  
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• Karen Millen launches in-store rentals at Selfridges & John Lewis

  26-11-2024 16:53 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Karen Millen has announced a partnership with leading fashion rental platform, HURR, marking a significant expansion in the brand’s rental offerings. The collaboration brings Karen Millen’s... View Article
  
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• Walmart to phase out DEI initiatives amid escalated attacks from conservatives

  26-11-2024 15:30
  
  Company will no longer consider race and gender when making offers to suppliers and will remove LGBTQ+ merchandiseWalmart, the world’s largest retailer, will phase out several diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in its workplaces, as far-right conservatives continue take aim at such programs.Among several sweeping changes, the company will no longer consider race and gender as a means to improve diversity when making offers to suppliers, several outlets reported. Continue rea
  
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• Big interview: Jag Weatherley, senior VP of operations at ASOS

  26-11-2024 14:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Here we interview Jag Weatherley, senior VP of operations at ASOS and judge for the The People in Retail Awards, about her remarkable career to date, the... View Article
  
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• Cook continues retail expansion

  26-11-2024 14:06 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Having opened its 100th shop at the beginning of the year, Cook is continuing its retail expansion by finding new sites for selling its award-winning range... View Article
  
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• Frasers acquires South African sporting goods leader Holdsport

  26-11-2024 13:21 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers Group has snapped up South African sporting and outdoor retailer Holdsport from Old Mutual Private Equity and Holdsport’s management, in a bid to “diversify its product range and geographic reach”.
  The Sports Direct owner said Holdsport has “well-established relationships with major international brands”, including Nike, adidas, Asics, Hoka, and Garmin, supported by their own brand portfolio including First Ascent, Cape Storm and OTG.It said the acquisition
  
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• BRC warns ‘end of falling of inflation’ following Budget tax raid

  26-11-2024 13:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The BRC has warned the trend of falling shop prices could be coming to an end as retailers face higher costs following announcements made in last month’s Budget.
  Shop prices fell 0.6% in November, up from deflation of 0.8% in the previous month, according to data from the trade body and NIQ.
  This marked the first time in 17 months that prices fell less than the previous month.
  Non-Food remained in deflation at -1.8% in November, up from -2.1% in October, while food price rises slowed 0.1 p
  
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• UK prices for car repairs and electrical goods expected to rise due to budget

  26-11-2024 13:07
  Halfords and AO.com say increases in employer national insurance will add to their costsBusiness live – latest updatesBritish consumers face paying more for car repairs and new kitchen kit after retailers Halfords and AO.com warned on Tuesday that the autumn budget had increased their costs.Halfords, the cycling and motoring retailer which has more than 12,000 employees, reported that the budget measures would add £23m of direct labour costs, of which £9m was already included i
  
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• Philadelphia workers at Amazon’s Whole Foods file for first union election

  26-11-2024 13:00
  Amazon has aggressively opposed efforts and is challenging the federal labor watchdog that ruled against its actionsWorkers at a Whole Foods store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have filed to hold a union election, the first union filing at the supermarket chain since Amazon acquired it in 2017.The union drive comes as Amazon has aggressively opposed unionization efforts and is challenging the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal labor watchdog that has rul
  
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• Next to triple store footprint at Bluewater

  26-11-2024 11:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Next is to triple its presence at the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent by relocating to what will be one of its largest stores in the... View Article
  
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• Next upsizes Bluewater store to offer enhanced product range

  26-11-2024 10:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Next is upsizing its Bluewater shopping centre store in a bid to offer an enhanced product range to its customers.
  The high street giant is moving from its 44,600sq ft store into a 133,000sq ft site currently occupied by House of Fraser, making it one of its largest UK stores.
  The store will support the brand’s omnichannel strategy, featuring men’s, women’s and childrenswear alongside homeware and a café.
  Next will also be relocating the US-based beauty brand Bath and Bo
  
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• Topps Tiles slumps to loss amid market slowdown

  26-11-2024 10:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Topps Tiles has plunged to a loss following weak sales as volumes remain “well below pre-pandemic levels”.
  The tile specialist reported a pre-tax loss of £16.2m in the 52 weeks to 28 September, down from a profit of £6.8m the year before. However, on an adjusted basis, the retailer’s profit halved to £6.3m.
  It attributed its statutory loss to a £19.4m non-cash impairment, primarily of right-of-use assets, with £3.1m relating to the purchase of rema
  
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• Halfords could raise car servicing and repair prices after £23m budget hit

  26-11-2024 10:10
  Cycling and motoring retailer calls for more support for business from the governmentBusiness live – latest updatesHalfords could raise prices for car servicing and repair to help it cope with a £23m cost increase after the autumn budget, and called for more business support from the government.The cycling and motoring retailer, which has more than 12,000 employees, reported on Tuesday that the budget measures add £23m of direct labour costs, of which £9m was already incl
  
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• Can Asda veteran Allan Leighton return the supermarket to its former glory?

  26-11-2024 09:44 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda has brought back its former CEO Allan Leighton as its executive chair, succeeding Lord Stuart Rose, in a bid to turn around the struggling chain.
  Leighton helmed Asda from 1996 to 2001 and is credited with turning around the struggling chain, alongside current M&S chair Archie Norman – pulling the grocer from the brink of insolvency to orchestrating its bumper £6.7bn sale to Walmart in 1999.
  However, Leighton certainly has his work cut out for him this time around, as the st
  
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• Sosandar sales drop 27% but profits improve as full-price strategy pays off

  26-11-2024 09:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sosandar has posted a 27% drop in sales for the last six months, as it shifted its pricing strategy to encourage customers to pay full RRP.
  For the six months ending 30 September 2024, the fashion retailer’s sales hit £16.2m, down from £22.2m a year earlier, with pre-tax losses narrowing by 50% to £0.7m
  The decline in revenue was attributed to Sosandar’s transition away from frequent price promotions, reducing the number of discounts on its site by 85%.
  Despite this
  
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• Halfords could raise servicing and repair prices after £23m budget hit

  26-11-2024 09:11
  Cycling and motoring retailer calls for more support for business from the governmentBusiness live – latest updatesHalfords could raise prices for car servicing and repair to help it cope with a £23m cost increase after the autumn budget, and called for more business support from the government.The cycling and motoring retailer, which has more than 12,000 employees, reported on Tuesday that the budget measures add £23m of direct labour costs, of which £9m was already incl
  
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• Halfords pleased with first half progress despite ongoing headwinds

  26-11-2024 09:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Halfords saw its revenue drop by 1% to £864.8 million in the first half of its financial year as underlying pre-tax pre-tax profit fell by 1.4%... View Article
  
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• Topps Tiles hit by weakness in home repair and improvements market

  26-11-2024 09:07 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Topps Tiles has reported a decline in full year revenue and profit after facing a challenging repairs, maintenance and home improvement (RMI) market. Group revenue fell... View Article
  
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• Asda: Allan Leighton searches for new CEO and admits turnaround ‘could take 3-5 years’

  26-11-2024 09:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Reviving Asda’s fortunes could take three to five years, according to Allan Leighton, the supermarket’s former CEO who’s returned to drive the supermarket’s turnaround efforts.Speaking to the Guardian on his first day as executive chairman, Leighton, who succeeds fellow retail veteran Stuart Rose, said his top priority was to “restore Asda’s DNA,” with a focus on improving pricing.
  He revealed that he had committed to spending three to five years with th
  
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• AO World upgrades full year guidance after strong first half performance

  26-11-2024 08:51 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  AO has upgraded its full year guidance after posting a rise in first half sales and profit. In the six months to 30 September, revenue increased... View Article
  
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• AO ups forecast as ‘Morecambe and Wise summer’ delivers sales and profit rise

  26-11-2024 08:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  AO has raised its full-year forecast once again, driven by a significant increase in both profits and sales during the first half of the year.
  It is now projecting adjusted profit before tax to be between £39m and £44m, with group revenues expected to reach £1.13bn and capex around £11m.
  For the six months ending 30 September 2024, the electricals retailer saw a 30% rise in adjusted profit before tax, reaching £17m, while total revenues climbed 6% to £512m.
  O
  
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• AO raises forecast following strong profit and sales growth

  26-11-2024 08:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  AO has raised its full-year forecast once again, driven by a significant increase in both profits and sales during the first half of the year.
  It is now projecting adjusted profit before tax to be between £39m and £44m, with group revenues expected to reach £1.13bn and capex around £11m.
  For the six months ending 30 September 2024, the electricals retailer saw a 30% rise in adjusted profit before tax, reaching £17m, while total revenues climbed 6% to £512m.
  O
  
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• Halfords CEO calls for apprenticeship levy reform as sales and profits stall

  26-11-2024 08:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Halfords has called on the government to fast-track reforms to the apprenticeship levy, as it posted a mixed performance in its first-half results for 2024, with flat sales and continued cost pressures.
  For the 26 weeks ending 27 September 2024, the motoring and cycling retailer’s group revenue hit £864.8m, down 1.0% compared to the same period last year.
  Like-for-like sales were virtually flat at -0.1%, as growth in its Autocentres business helped offset a slight decline in retail p
  
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• ‘Asda turnaround could take up to five years’: Allan Leighton returns to run retailer

  26-11-2024 08:00
  
  Exclusive: The 71-year-old, who left in 2000, says he has three priorities to revive the supermarket chain for a second timeIt could take three to five years to revive Asda’s fortunes, according to the veteran retail boss Allan Leighton, who first helped turn around the supermarket chain more than 20 years ago.Speaking to the Guardian on his first day in the job as executive chairman, Leighton, who has taken over from fellow retail veteran Stuart Rose, said his first priority was to &ldquo
  
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• ‘Asda turnaround could take three to five years’: Allan Leighton returns to run retailer

  26-11-2024 08:00
  
  Exclusive: The 71-year-old, who left in 2000, says he has three priorities to revive the supermarket chain for a second timeIt could take three to five years to revive Asda’s fortunes, according to the veteran retail boss Allan Leighton, who first helped turn around the supermarket chain more than 20 years ago.Speaking to the Guardian on his first day in the job as executive chairman, Leighton, who has taken over from fellow retail veteran Stuart Rose, said his first priority was to &ldquo
  
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• Caffè Concerto opens first site in northern England

  26-11-2024 07:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Caffè Concerto has opened its first outlet in the north of England at Victoria Leeds. Situated within Victoria Gate, the 2,000 square foot space features hanging... View Article
  
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• AO hosts school trip for behind-the-scenes tour of fridge recycling plant, led by kids’ TV presenter

  26-11-2024 07:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Electricals retailer AO has run a competition to give a school class the chance to get a behind-the-scenes tour of its state-of-the-art fridge recycling plant led... View Article
  
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• Walmart to curb diversity efforts in face of pressure campaign

  26-11-2024 03:04 via ft.com
  ‘Anti-woke’ activist Robby Starbuck says company told him it would stop considering race and gender for supplier contracts
  
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• Retailers warn inflation could hamper UK shoppers in run-up to Christmas

  26-11-2024 01:01
  
  British Retail Consortium figures come alongside data showing a fall in household disposable incomeShoppers’ ability to afford Christmas treats has been put under threat as retailers warned November could mark a turning point for inflation, with the recent fall in prices slowing amid increased fresh produce costs and fewer discounts on the shelves.Shop prices fell by 0.6% in November, compared with a fall of 0.8% in October, according to the latest report from the British Retail Consortium
  
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