Retail news

• Asda: Moody’s warns credit rating under threat amid sales slump

  05-02-2025 16:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Financial services firm Moody’s has warned Asda’s credit rating is under threat if it does not turn around its performance.
  The company stressed that chair Allan Leighton urgently needed to resolve the grocer’s operational issues.
  It cautioned the supermarket could fall behind Morrisons. Despite the northern rival being issued a weaker B1 rating, it recently saw full-year profit rise and its “strongest” quarter since 2021.
  Asda was issued a ratings upgrade by Moody&
  
  Read more

• EU probes Shein over consumer protection

  05-02-2025 16:05
  
  Brussels to examine whether Chinese-founded fashion group that is targeting London listing is selling illegal goods
  
  Read more

• Asda trials automated free sample vending machine

  05-02-2025 15:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda has introduced its first automated free sample vending machine at its Pilsworth store in Bury, calling it a “first to market innovation” that will “revolutionise in-store sampling”.
  Shoppers at the branch can access free samples through the Asda Rewards app, with Müller offering Frijj as the first product.
  The machine is supported by Asda’s retail media LS Eleven Media Services, which helps brands engage customers with dynamic content and product trials, T
  
  Read more

• US Postal Service backtracks on suspension of packages from China

  05-02-2025 15:18
  
  Postal group struggles to respond to Trump’s decision to put levies on lower-priced goods
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• EU to tighten checks on goods sold by sites such as Shein and Temu

  05-02-2025 15:06
  
  European Commission also urges EU lawmakers to phase out exemption on customs duties for parcels under €150Parcels sent from China by online retailers such as Shein and Temu will face strict new customs controls as part of a crackdown by the European Commission on “dangerous products” flooding the EU market.Brussels officials also urged EU lawmakers to phase out the exemption on customs duties that is allowed for parcels under €150 (£125), which enables foreign suppli
  
  Read more

• About 2,500 products will disappear from Coles shelves soon. Here’s what we know

  05-02-2025 15:00
  
  Decision means about 10% of supermarket’s total range will be slashed in a bid to lessen ‘duplication’, with salt and haircare in the crosshairsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastColes has announced about 2,500 products will disappear from the supermarket giant’s shelves soon.The decision, first reported by the Australian Financial Review, builds on an investor presentation last year when Coles&
  
  Read more

• Retailer confidence in Trouva continues to decline

  05-02-2025 12:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Independent retailers are losing trust in online marketplace Trouva, after it “paused” trading on 31 January.
  Speaking to Drapers, creative director of lifestyle store Sunshine and Snow, India Snow, said although she was “forever grateful” for Trouva, “particularly during lockdowns and other unforeseen events,” it had “started to become more of a money making operation, with hidden fees and charges at any opportunity”.
  In July, Trouva “stoppe
  
  Read more

• Frasers Group rolls out credit and loyalty offer to Marks Electrical

  05-02-2025 11:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers Group has extended its credit and loyalty offer to independent online specialist retailer Marks Electrical.
  The partnership means that customers shopping at the online electrical brand will have access to Frasers Plus’ buy now pay later options.
  The Sports Direct owner has been steadily expanding its financial services offer over the last 12 months, and offers its credit options to more than 20 retailers. These include it’s own brands Frasers and Flannels, as well as the Horn
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Haribo to open new Bluewater store next week

  05-02-2025 10:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Haribo has confirmed the opening date for its new Bluewater shopping centre store.
  The confectionary giant’s 11th retail site will open on 12 February at 10am, with its first 50 customers to be given free goodie bags upon visiting.
  Shoppers will be joined by Haribo’s Goldbear mascot for its opening celebration, who will lead the official ribbon cutting of the store.
  Other visitors, to be chosen at random, will win surprise free giveaways throughout the first week of its opening.
  The
  
  Read more

• Supermarket sales surge as brits focus on budget-friendly cooking

  05-02-2025 09:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Total till sales at UK supermarkets grew by 5.3% in the four weeks to 27 January, according to the latest data from NielsenIQ (NIQ).
  This marks an increase from the 3.6% growth recorded in December, although underlying sales growth was more modest at 3%, as unit growth plateaued in recent weeks.
  With food inflation easing to 1.6%, compared to 6.4% last year, there was notable unit growth across all major supermarket chains. However, growth slowed following the New Year period.
  January, typically
  
  Read more

• Data: Supermarket sales surge as brits focus on budget-friendly cooking

  05-02-2025 09:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Total till sales at UK supermarkets grew by 5.3% in the four weeks to 27 January, according to the latest data from NielsenIQ (NIQ).
  This marks an increase from the 3.6% growth recorded in December, although underlying sales growth was more modest at 3%, as unit growth plateaued in recent weeks.
  With food inflation easing to 1.6%, compared to 6.4% last year, there was notable unit growth across all major supermarket chains. However, growth slowed following the New Year period.
  January, typically
  
  Read more

• ​Amazon reaches ‘fastest-ever’ delivery time for Prime members

  05-02-2025 09:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Amazon recorded its “fastest-ever” worldwide delivery times for those with a Prime membership last year.
  More than 9 billion products arrived on the same day or the next day around the world in 2024, according to the ecommerce giant.
  Over 1 billion of these goods were delivered on the same day across the UK, with its same-day service available for shoppers based in more than 80 UK towns and cities.
  Some of the UK’s most popular same-day products included pharmacy essentials, su
  
  Read more

• The Shein effect: Is fashion stuck in a race to the bottom?

  05-02-2025 09:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Shein has moved from its humble beginnings as a small player in the ultra-fast fashion world has grown to a global juggernaut – reshaping the fashion market with rock-bottom prices, a lightning-fast supply chain, and dominant social media presence.
  And the fashion etailer’s ascendency shows no signs of slowing as GlobalData predicts it will become the UK’s sixth-largest apparel retailer by 2027.
  But as the Chinese giant continues its rise, it raises a crucial question: Are fash
  
  Read more

• Boohoo taken to court over bikini top design

  05-02-2025 08:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Boohoo has been accused by a Welsh fashion designer of selling copies of her bikini top, a claim the fast fashion giant has denied.Sonia Edwards told a High Court judge in London that the business, which was recently embroiled in a lengthy battle with Frasers Group, had infringed her copyright across five of its designs.
  The designer is fighting Boohoo Group’s Nasty Gal brand, alongside Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing, Misspap and Debenhams brands, over the claim.
  Edwards called on the judge to
  
  Read more

• M&S launches young designer competition with Young Minds

  05-02-2025 08:40 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  M&S has launched a competition for young people to create a winning design for this year’s M&S and Young Minds Hello Yellow kidswear collection. Working with... View Article
  
  Read more

• Theo Paphitis calls for fresh legislation as Temu ‘destroys’ British high streets

  05-02-2025 08:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Former Dragon’s Den dragon and Ryman’s chairman Theo Paphitis has hit out at Chinese etail marketplace Temu for “destroying small UK retail businesses.”
  Speaking at Spring Fair, Paphitis said that although Temu is “operating absolutely legally”, its business model exploited legislative loopholes which enabled it to “suck up a big swathes of the UK consumer market and give nothing back” in terms of import tax or VAT.
  He added that the online ma
  
  Read more

• Very Group cuts ties with HSBC after 10 years

  05-02-2025 08:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Very Group has replaced HSBC as the bank running its customer loan portfolio worth around £1.8bn.
  The Barclay family-owned online retailer has handed over responsibility after 10 years to NatWest to run the securitisation of its buy now, pay later offer, The Times reported.
  About 90% on Very are made through customer loans and the group repackages the loans into a securitisation facility that has been active for more than twenty years. Related StoryVery Group Christmas sales boosted by
  
  Read more

• Aldi to create 1,600 UK store roles

  05-02-2025 06:07 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Aldi is to create 1,600 new store roles across the UK this year. Positions will include those for store managers, assistant store managers, deputy store managers, store... View Article
  
  Read more

• Aldi to create 1,600 jobs in 2025

  05-02-2025 06:07 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Aldi is to create 1,600 new store roles across the UK this year. Positions will include those for store managers, assistant store managers, deputy store managers, store... View Article
  
  Read more

• ‘We’re going to fix Harvey Nicks’

  05-02-2025 06:00
  
  Meet the trio of fashion insiders charged with turning London’s best-loved department store around 
  
  Read more

• Resonate CX Announces 2025 UK Insights Event: Brick-and-Mortar Customer Trends

  05-02-2025 02:40 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Resonate CX, a leading Customer Experience Management (CXM) platform, announces an exclusive breakfast event for senior retail executives, set to take place on 25 February 2025... View Article
  
  Read more

• [ EVENT – TOMORROW AM ] Current State of Brick-and-Mortar Retail Customers: Market Research 2025

  05-02-2025 02:40 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Resonate CX, a leading Customer Experience Management (CXM) platform, announces an exclusive breakfast event for senior retail executives, set to take place on 25 February 2025... View Article
  
  Read more

• [ Event – Final Call for Registration! ] Current State of Brick-and-Mortar Retail Customers: Market Research 2025

  05-02-2025 02:40 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Resonate CX, a leading Customer Experience Management (CXM) platform, announces an exclusive breakfast event for senior retail executives, set to take place on 25 February 2025... View Article
  
  Read more

• [ Event ] Current State of Brick-and-Mortar Retail Customers: Market Research 2025

  05-02-2025 02:40 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Resonate CX, a leading Customer Experience Management (CXM) platform, announces an exclusive breakfast event for senior retail executives, set to take place on 25 February 2025... View Article
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!