Retail news

• Improving colleague safety at Matalan: How body cameras are becoming part of the uniform

  09-01-2025 20:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Matalan are a UK value-retailer for fashion and homeware, with over 230 stores across the country. They are an important client for Reveal: the first to take... View Article
  
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• Big retail will cope – but Reeves’ NICs raid is too much, too soon for part-timers | Nils Pratley

  09-01-2025 19:00
  
  In the hospitality sector, where labour costs are a bigger proportion of the overall base, employers have fewer optionsIf one looked solely at this week’s trading reports from the world of big retail – the likes of Marks & Spencer, Next and Tesco – you might wonder why Rachel Reeves’ increase in employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs) has caused such a fuss. It is obvious from the trio’s outlook statements that they will cope with the extra cost
  
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• The Perfume Shop is making shopping personal – here’s why it matters

  09-01-2025 18:23 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Today, The Perfume Shop announced a major new collaboration with AS Watson OptimO, a state-of-the-art retail media platform designed to transform how customers shop for fragrances.... View Article
  
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• Sainsbury’s and Greencore pledge to donate one million fresh meals to tackle food insecurity

  09-01-2025 18:04 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sainsbury’s has teamed up with its long-standing supplier Greencore to produce and donate one million fresh meals to those facing food insecurity. The meals will be... View Article
  
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• Lidl becomes first major retailer certified with Plant-Based Trademark

  09-01-2025 17:54 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Lidl has made history as the first major retailer to secure the Vegetarian Society’s Plant-Based Trademark for its popular Vemondo Plant! range. This milestone certification highlights... View Article
  
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• In pictures: Inside Charlotte Tilbury’s biggest-ever flagship in Covent Garden

  09-01-2025 17:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Charlotte Tilbury has opened the doors to its “significantly upsized” flagship store in Covent Garden, following what it called “stellar success” at the destination.
  Relocating from its existing neighbourhood boutique which opened in 2015 to a larger, more prominent anchor unit, the beauty giant’s new store is on the corner of the Royal Opera House and James Street.
  Triple the size of its original James Street store footprint, the new store “brings a 4,300sq f
  
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• How being ‘positively dissatisfied’ kept M&S in fashion this Christmas

  09-01-2025 16:40 via retailgazette.co.uk
  M&S has had another strong holiday season, with its clothing and home division outshining competitors and building on its recent resurgence.
  Despite McKinsey stating the wider fashion industry’s outlook for 2025 appears to be a continuation of the sluggishness seen in 2024: revenue growth is expected to stabilize in the low single digits, M&S defied these odds with a 1.9% increase in sales over the 13 weeks leading up to 28 December.
  At the heart of this success is M&S’s
  
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• The 1990s are back in fashion — happily for Tesco

  09-01-2025 16:38 via ft.com
  
  UK grocer has successfully fought back against discount rivals, putting it in the ascendant once again
  
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• My petty gripe: shopping in a new supermarket should not require the navigational skills of Magellan

  09-01-2025 15:00
  
  I want milk, cheese and eggs, not exotic spices and silks. When so much else about the duopoly is identical, surely the layout could be standardised?More summer essentialsWhy is it so hard to walk into an unfamiliar supermarket and find what you need?You may have shopped at your grocery duopoly brand of choice for years, yet wander into any outpost for the first time and you’ll be craning your neck to read the signs at the end of each aisle, trying to divine by vibe alone whether the cold
  
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• Greggs shares drop on sales slowdown

  09-01-2025 13:17 via ft.com
  
  UK bakery chain blames ‘subdued high street footfall’ for weaker earnings
  
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• Uniqlo owner set for ‘record’ year as sales and profits surge despite China slump

  09-01-2025 13:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing is on track for a “record full-year performance” as it delivered strong sales and profit growth across all of its markets, excluding China.
  The fashion retailer registered a 21% surge in pre-tax profits to £1bn (196.6bn yen) in the three months to November 30 2024, driven by a 10.4% rise in sales year-on-year to £4.6bn (895.1bn yen).
  Revenue across the group’s international division climbed 13.7% to £2.6bn (501.7bn yen), bolstered b
  
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• M&S reports strong festive sales but says tax rises will lead to cost cuts

  09-01-2025 13:03
  
  Sales at food halls rise 8.9% over Christmas, with 23 December its biggest-ever day of food tradingMarks & Spencer has hailed a “good Christmas” with strong sales of food but warned it would have to find new ways of to cut costs in the face of the government’s tax increases.The UK retailer said sales at established food halls rose 8.9%, making its the top-performing high street grocer over Christmas, according to the analysts Kantar. Equivalent clothing, home and beauty pro
  
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• Celebrating a data revolutionary

  09-01-2025 12:47 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  When Tesco launched its Clubcard 30 years ago – on 13 February 1995 – loyalty within the retail sector was largely limited to Green Shield Stamps... View Article
  
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• Tala hires ex-Net-a-Porter exec as creative director

  09-01-2025 12:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Online activewear brand Tala has named former Boden and Net-a-Porter executive Jon Wetherell as its new creative director.
  Wetherell will be responsible for the marketing creative direction of the brand to drive its visuals and tone of voice.
  He joins Tala with over 14 years of experience in retail and 12 in the magazine industry, including most recently as a freelance creative director for The White Company and jeweller Graff. Related StoryTala secures £5m investment to fuel US expansion1
  
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• Tesco and M&S warn of rising costs but pledge to minimise price increases

  09-01-2025 11:58 via ft.com
  
  Shares in retailers fall despite positive Christmas trading
  
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• B&M golden quarter sales and profits rise

  09-01-2025 11:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  B&M reported a rise in its profits and sales as it maintained “disciplined operational execution” during the key golden quarter.
  Group sales for the discount chain rose 3.3% in the 13 weeks to 28 December, driven by a 2.8% uptick in its UK business to £1.3bn and 12.5% jump in its French division to £164m.
  The retailer reported its FMCG and general merchandise saw “excellent seasonal range sell-through”, with seasonal confectionery, toys, Christmas home ran
  
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• Greggs sales growth slows amid ‘lower consumer confidence’

  09-01-2025 11:10
  Bakery chain says fewer shoppers on high streets over Christmas also to blame in ‘more challenging market’Greggs, the UK’s biggest bakery chain, has reported slowing sales growth over the festive period, blaming weakening consumer confidence and fewer shoppers on high streets.The company said its total sales rose by 11.3% to just over £2bn last year. Company-managed shops posted a 5.5% increase in sales at established outlets over the year. However, growth more than halve
  
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• Greggs boss defends price hikes amid anger over cost of sausage roll

  09-01-2025 11:10
  Roisin Currie blames wage, tax and food cost rises as price of bakery chain’s flagship product increases to £1.30The boss of Greggs has blamed wage, tax and food cost rises for a 5p hike in the price of its sausage rolls, after it faced a backlash over the decision.The UK’s biggest bakery chain has increased the price of its flagship product to £1.30, as part of an average 4% price rise on key items including coffee and doughnuts. Continue reading...
  
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• 7-Eleven owner’s sharp profit fall adds to takeover pressure

  09-01-2025 11:10 via ft.com
  
  Seven & i operating profit drops 24% as it tries to fend off $47bn buyout offer from Canada’s Couche-Tard
  
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• Tesco CEO: We made switching gains from ‘virtually every part of the industry’

  09-01-2025 10:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco boss Ken Murphy said the supermarket made switching gains from “virtually every part of the industry” in the run up to Christmas.
  The chief executive reported the grocery giant witnessed shoppers switching “from discounters, from premium retailers [and] from other full line grocers”.
  “We’ve had switching gains across the board, so we were really pleased with the performance because it was the breadth of it that we felt really good about,” he said.
  
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• M&S CEO pledges to avoid ‘big job losses’ despite looming cost pressures

  09-01-2025 10:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  M&S chief executive Stuart Machin has vowed to steer clear of “big job losses” at the retailer, despite facing significant cost headwinds in the year ahead.
  Following its bumper Christmas trading results which saw sales top £4bn, Machin highlighted rising costs, including £120m in additional wage expenses driven by National Insurance increases.
  He said: “I do not see in M&S big job losses. We’re a growing business. We’ve got lots to do.”
  In
  
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• Greggs warns of price rises as hits £2bn sales milestone

  09-01-2025 10:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Greggs boss Roisin Currie hailed “another year of good progress” as the food-to-go chain saw sales surpass £2bn during 2024.
  However, the retailer warned that it will raise prices further this year to offset rising employment costs.
  Total sales for the chain jumped 11.3% to £2bn in the 52 weeks to 28 December, boosted by a 7.7% uptick during the fourth quarter.
  Greggs reported its seasonal lines were in high demand as consumers snapped up their festive bakes, but that sub
  
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• Tala appoints Jon Wetherell as creative director

  09-01-2025 10:28 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Tala activewear brand has appointed Jon Wetherell as creative director. A former creative director of both Boden and the Net-A-Porter Group, Wetherell has also previously... View Article
  
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• Marks & Spencer reports “another good Christmas”

  09-01-2025 09:52 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer has been boosted by “another good Christmas” as sales of food, clothing and home products all rose. In the 13 weeks to 28... View Article
  
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• Boohoo urges shareholders to block Frasers in second vote

  09-01-2025 09:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Boohoo has accused Frasers Group of attempting to “destabilise” its plans in a letter to shareholders ahead of vote on whether founder Mahmud Kamani be removed as a director.
  The fashion giant claimed the Sports Direct owner’s demand was “another tactical move on its part intended to distract the board from the important work of its business review” and that it had “made no compelling case to warrant change, and there are no such compelling reasons”.
  The
  
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• M&S reports strong festive sales but says UK firms will take hit from tax rises

  09-01-2025 09:34
  
  Sales at food halls rise 8.9% over Christmas, with 23 December its biggest ever day of food tradingMarks & Spencer has hailed a “good Christmas” with strong sales of food but warned that British businesses face higher costs from the government’s tax increases.The UK retailer said sales at established food halls rose 8.9%, making its the top-performing grocer over Christmas, according to the analysts Kantar. Equivalent clothing, home and beauty product sales grew by 1.9% in
  
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• Tesco delivers “biggest ever” Christmas

  09-01-2025 09:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Tesco has delivered its “biggest ever” Christmas as it continues to grow its market share. In the six weeks to 4 January, the supermarket’s like-for-like sales... View Article
  
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• Tesco enjoys ‘biggest ever Christmas’ as shoppers switch from rivals

  09-01-2025 09:11
  
  Supermarket now controls 28.5% of grocery market, with sales at UK stores up 4% in six weeks to 4 JanuaryTesco has recorded its “biggest ever Christmas”, with the UK’s largest supermarket chain landing its biggest share of the festive shopping trolley since 2016.Sales at established UK stores rose 4% in the six weeks to 4 January, with fresh food performing particularly strongly and clothing and homeware sales also up. Continue reading...
  
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• M&S enjoys ‘another good Christmas’ as sales top £4bn

  09-01-2025 09:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  M&S said it enjoyed “another good Christmas” as its focus across food, clothing and beauty helped the high street giant to deliver its “busiest ever peak”.
  Total group sales rose 5.6% to £4bn in the 13 weeks to 28 December as food revenue jumped 8.7% to £2.58bn.
  Sales of new Christmas products grew 14%, while its core categories across meat, produce, grocery and in-store bakery grew double digits. The retailer’s ‘Remarksable’ value r
  
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• Greggs hails year of good progress

  09-01-2025 08:41 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Greggs has seen its fourth quarter total sales rise by 7.7% as it benefited from high demand for seasonal Christmas food items. However, like-for-like sales growth... View Article
  
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• Tesco hails ‘biggest ever’ Christmas as sales rise

  09-01-2025 08:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco boss Ken Murphy said the supermarket has celebrated its “biggest ever Christmas” as it achieved its highest market share since 2016 driven by its focus on value, quality and service.
  The grocery giant saw a 2.8% increase in group like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to 23 November and a 3.8% rise in the six weeks to 4 January. Over the festive period, UK LFL sales jumped 4.1%.
  Food sales were up 4.7% over the period, driven by volume growth and a “particularly strong
  
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• Trio of fashion brands open stores in London’s Soho

  09-01-2025 07:42 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  London’s Soho has seen the opening of three new fashion stores by Carhartt WIP, Ronning and Blackhorse Lane Ateliers. Carhartt WIP has relocated within  the area to a... View Article
  
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• Redefining Peak Sales Days: lessons from Black Friday 2024 in emerging markets

  09-01-2025 07:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Keren Ben Zvi, Chief Data Officer at PayU GPO The Golden Quarter of 2024 has proven to be a monumental period for retailers worldwide. Once again,... View Article
  
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• Retailers warn of higher prices in 2025 and urge ministers to ease tax burden

  09-01-2025 06:00
  
  Companies grappling with higher employment costs say price of food may rise by 4.2% in latter half of yearUK retailers have urged ministers to ease their tax burden as they said that the cost of food and other items will rise sharply throughout the year as companies grapple with higher employment costs.Food prices are forecast to climb by 4.2% on average in the latter half of the year, while non-food items are likely to increase in line with inflation, which stands at 2.6%, according to modellin
  
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• Crowning Achievement: The Princess Royal Training Awards mark a decade of celebrating training innovation and excellence

  09-01-2025 02:29 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Princess Royal Training Awards, the ultimate standard of excellence in training, is thrilled to announce its 10th anniversary! This milestone marks a decade of honouring... View Article
  
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• Millennials now outshop Gen Z on social media, becoming the fastest growing demographic for social commerce purchases – RTS research

  09-01-2025 02:04 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Despite Gen Z often being stereotyped as the TikTok generation, Millennials now outshop their younger consumer counterparts across TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, according to the latest... View Article
  
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• BRC CEO: There is ‘little hope of prices going anywhere but up’ in 2025

  09-01-2025 01:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Retail prices dropped 1% last month, but the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that rising inflationary pressures in 2025 will soon reverse this trend, with food and non-food prices set to increase.
  The latest BRC-NielsenIQ Shop Price Index found that retailers relied on heavy discounting to close out 2024, but warned that rising costs —driven by higher taxes and new packaging levies— are expected to push prices higher in 2025.
  The December report, which captures data from 1
  
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