Retail news

• Reducing plastic use is possible, but it’s not easy | Letters

  17-02-2025 18:04
  
  Sue Kellaway says the switch takes time and effort and Cathy Swann says the path to a sustainable life is not straightforwardIt’s difficult to avoid plastic, but Emma Beddington’s article makes it seem impossible and it isn’t (My no-plastic life: I tried to cut out single-use items for a month – and it almost broke me, 12 February). We have a routine that eliminates most plastic waste. We shop at the market for fruit and vegetables, all in paper bags, and use vinegar for
  
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• AllSaints opens new store in Birmingham Bullring

  17-02-2025 16:03 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  AllSaints, the global contemporary fashion brand, is delighted to announce the opening of its first store of 2025 in Birmingham’s Bullring, a premier shopping and dining... View Article
  
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• SPAR UK’s donation transforms lives in South Africa

  17-02-2025 15:59 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  SPAR UK is proud to highlight the incredible impact of its £30,000 donation to It Belongs To Me NPC, an organisation dedicated to empowering vulnerable women,... View Article
  
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• Tesco taps former M&S Master of Wine for new wine developer role

  17-02-2025 13:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco has brought in M&S Master of Wine and Majestic buying manager Beth Kelly as its new wine product development manager.
  In her new role at the UK’s largest supermarket, Kelly will be responsible for France and South Africa across both still and sparkling wines.
  She brings over 20 years of experience in the wine industry to the role, having previously spent time in the M&S wine buying team where she became a Master of Wine back in 2020.
  Her most recent role at Majestic Wine
  
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• Iceland boss ranks Labour government ‘6 out of 10’

  17-02-2025 13:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Iceland boss Richard Walker has ranked the Labour government “6 out of 10” for its performance so far.
  Speaking to the Financial Times, Walker said the national insurance contributions hike had “added greatly to the cost of business”.
  The exec also urged ministers to do more to resolve Britain’s “productivity crisis,” arguing: “A project that won’t be completed for decades is no help to businesses that need to invest today”.
  The superma
  
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• Crocs hails ‘record year’ driven by bumper sales

  17-02-2025 12:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Crocs reported a “record year” in the wake of its full year results, driven by its highest ever sales.
  The shoe retailer saw revenues rise 3.5% to £3.2bn for the year ended 31 December, making them 4% above its sales for 2023.
  Direct to consumer sales were up 7.2%, while wholesale revenues increased 0.2% over the period.
  Sales for the company’s sub brand HeyDude fell 13.2% year on year to £654m.
  Over its fourth quarter, the footwear specialist saw sales hit £7
  
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• Shein may cut IPO valuation by £10bn as pressure mounts

  17-02-2025 11:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Shein is facing pressure to further slash its valuation ahead of its listing on the London Stock Exchange.
  The fast fashion giant could be forced to reduce its valuation to around £23.83bn ($30bn), Bloomberg News reported, with its shareholders indicating an amendment is needed to complete the listing in the UK.
  It comes after reports earlier this month emerged that Shein ‘s London IPO could be cut from £50bn to around £40bn ($50bn), making it nearly a quarter less than i
  
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• M&S strengthens international leadership team

  17-02-2025 10:51 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  M&S has bolstered its international leadership team with three key senior appointments. Manish Kapoor, formerly with Pepe Jeans, has joined as managing director for M&S India.... View Article
  
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• Despite ubiquitous ‘members only’ pricing driving discount fatigue, 28% of shoppers will only shop with retailers offering loyalty pricing perks, up +5% YOY

  17-02-2025 10:33 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  With many retailers, including Tesco, Morrisons, Boots and Superdrug, offering members’ pricing within their loyalty programmes, the ubiquity of loyalty pricing means it could be losing... View Article
  
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• Topps Tiles’ CTD acquisition could trigger worse deals across four regions, CMA warns

  17-02-2025 10:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Topps Tiles’ takeover of 30 CTD Tiles stores could result in competition issues across four areas of the country, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has warned.
  The government department highlighted that companies and customers in the four areas could receive worse service or deals because of the reduction in competition.
  It comes after the UK’s largest tile specialist, which recently saw its CEO retire, acquired all of CTD Tiles sites for roughly £9m in August, after
  
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• ‘Six out of 10’: Iceland boss and Labour backer grades UK government

  17-02-2025 10:32
  
  Richard Walker laments record so far but welcomes more upbeat tone, planning reforms and move to better EU trading tiesBusiness live – latest updatesReeves warned UK inflation will fuel public sector pay claimsThe chair of the food retailer Iceland, Richard Walker, has given the Labour government only “six out of 10” for its record so far, after switching support to the party a year ago.Walker said Labour needed to do more to help firms investing now, rather than projects that
  
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• Orla Kiely appoints luxury retail specialist as chief commercial officer

  17-02-2025 10:03 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Orla Kiely has expanded its senior leadership team with the appointment of Jalil Rahman as chief commercial officer. Rahman has joined the heritage retail and wholesale... View Article
  
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• Capri Holdings promotes Philippa Newman to chief brand and product officer

  17-02-2025 09:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Luxury fashion group Capri Holdings has promoted Philippa Newman to the role of chief brand and product officer. In her new role, she will continue to... View Article
  
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• Waitrose to stun farmed prawns for more humane deaths

  17-02-2025 09:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Waitrose has committed to eliminating suffocation practices for farmed prawns by introducing electrical stunning across its entire supply chain by the end of 2025.
  This move follows growing concerns from animal rights campaigners over the welfare of prawns, including the controversial practice of eyestalk ablation, which the upmarket retailer has already phased out.
  The decision comes amid increasing recognition of the sentience of prawns, with the UK government acknowledging their capacity to e
  
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• UK marketplace sellers face ‘second Brexit’ hit from Trump’s US import rules

  17-02-2025 09:00
  
  End of ‘de minimis’ policy for Chinese goods also expected to hit bigger fashion retailers such as Asos and BoohooMany UK-based independent sellers on marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon could suffer a significant hit to US sales from planned changes to import rules under Donald Trump, with experts comparing the impact to a second Brexit.The new rules, which mean all parcels originating or made in China and being sold into the US must pay import duty – of as much as 15% on fas
  
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• AllSaints opens larger store at Birmingham Bullring

  17-02-2025 08:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  AllSaints has opened the doors to a new store at Birmingham’s Bullring, marking its first UK store opening of 2025.
  The fashion retailer‘s 3,207sq ft store, located on the upper level of the shopping centre, replaces the brand’s previous location on the ground floor.
  It said the new store offers a wide selection of men’s and women’s apparel, handbags, footwear, accessories, jewellery, and fragrances.
  Designed with AllSaints’ new store concept, first launched i
  
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• Tesco marks 30 years of Clubcard with £9m gift to staff

  17-02-2025 08:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its Clubcard loyalty scheme this weekend by offering a £9m gift to its colleagues.
  Over 300,000 Tesco employees will share in this special gift, which includes free Clubcard vouchers as a “little extra” thank you for their contributions, The Grocer reported.
  The Clubcard, which launched back in February 1995 was the UK’s first supermarket loyalty card, paving the way for the today’s countless schemes.
  Today, more than 23
  
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• Jigsaw chief executive steps down

  17-02-2025 08:35 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The chief executive of Jigsaw has resigned after 15 months in the role. Hash Ladha joined the fashion retailer in November 2023 after holding senior roles... View Article
  
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• Nobody’s Child expands beyond London with new St Albans store

  17-02-2025 08:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Nobody’s Child is expanding beyond London with the opening of its first store outside the capital, set to launch in St Albans this week (19 February).
  The conscious fashion brand‘s new 1,000sq ft location will feature its latest spring collection, alongside its full range of lifestyle products, including bridesmaids and occasion wear, accessories, fragrances, and jewellery.
  Nobody’s Child CEO Jody Plows said: “We are incredibly excited about our growth across the UK, and
  
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• M&S boosts global growth plans with senior international hires

  17-02-2025 08:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  M&S has made a trio of senior appointments within its international division as it seeks to drive growth in its overseas business
  The retailer has appointed Victoria Jones as its new commercial director for international operations.
  Jones, who previously held senior roles at Clarks, most recently served as chief product and merchandising officer. In her new role, she will be responsible for overseeing the product strategy for M&S’s international operations in both clothing and food
  
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• Poundstretcher to give away thousands of £10 vouchers this weekend

  17-02-2025 07:45 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Poundstretcher will be giving away thousands of £10 vouchers this coming weekend. The discount retailer will be offering customers the chance to win a £10 Poundstretcher... View Article
  
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• Nobody’s Child to open first store outside of London

  17-02-2025 07:36 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fashion brand Nobody’s Child is to open a new standalone store in St Albans. Due to launch on 19 February, the 1,000 square foot space will... View Article
  
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