Retail news

• Poundland Foundation supports Tommy’s Midwives’ Helpline as calls rise.

  27-02-2025 17:07 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  A £200,000 grant from the Poundland Foundation has funded Tommy’s free midwife-led support service, which helps thousands of families every year. Funding from the Poundland Foundation has... View Article
  
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• Whole Foods to open first new UK store in a decade next month

  27-02-2025 16:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Whole Foods Market will open the doors to its first new UK store in a decade as it ramps up its London presence.
  The 21,800sq ft store at 120 King’s Road, Chelsea will open on 25 March, featuring new and exclusive products, alongside customer favourites including a salad bar and pizzeria.
  Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel said the expansion outside of the US will enable the organic grocer to “extend our reach to more customers while advancing our higher purpose to nourish people a
  
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• Frasers Group to open 50 Sports Direct stores in Gulf and Egypt over next five years

  27-02-2025 14:49 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Frasers Group has teamed up with GMG to facilitate expansion into the Gulf and Egypt. The new partnership with the wellbeing and retail conglomerate means that... View Article
  
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• Are supermarkets right to scale back on Aldi price match?

  27-02-2025 14:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Aldi Price Match became a copycat trend among the traditional supermarkets in recent years. However, it looks as though u-turn is now taking place.
  Earlier this month, Asda kicked off the changes as it completely axed its Aldi and Lidl price match after a mere 12 months. Meanwhile Tesco and Sainsbury’s have trimmed the number of products included in their campaigns.
  The changes come despite the retailers ramping up their schemes over the years. Sainsbury’s be
  
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• Walgreens Boots buyout to lay groundwork for three-way split of group

  27-02-2025 14:06
  
  Sycamore Partners has been in on-off talks over financing deal for weeks
  
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• Ocado to cut 500 technology and finance jobs as AI reduces costs

  27-02-2025 12:42
  
  Online grocery specialist takes advantage of tools that helped improve productivity of engineering teamOcado is to cut hundreds jobs in its technology teams as part of the loss-making online grocery specialist’s efforts to reduce costs using artificial intelligence to help with research and engineering.The company, which employs 20,000 people, said AI had helped improve the productivity of its engineering team, enabling it to cut 500 roles across its technology and finance divisions. Conti
  
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• Frasers Group teams up with GMG to drive Sports Direct international expansion

  27-02-2025 12:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Frasers Group has announced a 10-year strategic partnership with GMG to bring its flagship sports retailer, Sports Direct, to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
  GMG, a major retail player with a significant presence in MENA and Southeast Asia, operates an extensive portfolio of brands including Nike, JD Sports as well as its own multi-brand retailer, Sun & Sand Sports.
  Frasers Group Michael Murray said: “GMG is an unrivalled retailer in the region, operating and distributi
  
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• Ocado to axe R&D roles in cost-cutting drive, despite narrowed losses

  27-02-2025 10:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ocado is set to reduce its research and development (R&D) workforce both in the UK and globally as part of its effort to return to profitability, despite a strong performance from its online retail division.
  The grocery technology giant announced plans to scale back R&D spending in a bid to cut costs, having invested over £800m in the division over the past four years.
  CEO Tim Steiner did not specify the number of job cuts but emphasised that it would be “significantly”
  
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• [ EVENT ] Tailoring Retail Success: AI That Optimises Labour Efficiencies and Elevates Employee Experience

  27-02-2025 09:37 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  In today’s retail landscape, success depends on deep product expertise, a strong brand identity, and a highly engaged workforce that meets your customers’ unique demands. But... View Article
  
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• Q&A: Alex Ledsham, Commercial Manager, Chirp-protect

  27-02-2025 09:24 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Chirp-Protect offers a groundbreaking first-line defense security system for retail stores. While product tags are a common security measure, thier system goes above and beyond. Can... View Article
  
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• Turning ‘Saturday Jobs’ into lifelong careers: A conversation with Linda Sleath

  27-02-2025 09:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  We sit down for a candid chat with Linda Sleath, Chief People Officer at Bensons for Beds, who transformed her career from operations and production management... View Article
  
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• BRC CEO Helen Dickinson: Why 2025 needs a Manifesto for Retail

  27-02-2025 09:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Our last Manifesto came out before the General Election and a lot has changed since. But for the industry, many of the barriers to investment remain.
  In fact, some have got a whole lot more challenging. This may not be an election year but our policy recommendations for government are as important as ever. That’s why we published our 2025 Manifesto for Retail, Kickstarting Growth in the Everywhere Economy.
  The ‘everywhere economy’ is a good way describe retail because its reach
  
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• Shein: Two cases of child labour found at suppliers in 2024

  27-02-2025 08:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Shein told MPs that it found two cases of child labour at its suppliers last year during an audit of its mostly China-based third-party manufacturers.
  The fast fashion giant was responding to questions put forward by a parliamentary committee as it awaits regulatory approval for its initial public offering in London, The Guardian reported.
  The findings were disclosed in a letter that Shein’s general counsel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa Yinan Zhu wrote to MPs earlier this month, w
  
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• Ocado posts narrowed full year losses

  27-02-2025 08:55 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Ocado has posted narrowed full year losses as it reported improvements in the performance of both its retail and technology divisions. In the year to 1... View Article
  
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• Ocado narrows losses as grocery sales surge

  27-02-2025 08:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ocado Group has narrowed its full-year losses as it capitalises on more shoppers choosing to order their groceries online.
  The grocery technology giant’s loss before tax reduced 4.9% to £374.5m in the 52 weeks to 1 December, down from £393.6m.
  Group sales rose 14.1% to £3.16bn, boosted by an 18.1% surge in revenue to £496.5m in its technology solutions and its logistics arm advancing 7.6% to £718m.
  Ocado reported sales for its its retail business – a joi
  
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• ASOS restructures senior team as part of customer-focused approach to driving growth

  27-02-2025 08:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  ASOS has unveiled a series of promotions and new appointments as part of a broader organisational restructure to align with its strategy and customer-centric approach. Key... View Article
  
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• Lidl champions British agriculture with inaugural farming conference

  27-02-2025 07:36 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Lidl has strengthened its support for British agriculture by hosting over 130 farmers, food producers, and industry leaders at its first-ever Grassroots British Farming Conference. Held... View Article
  
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• Seven & i shares plunge after founding family abandons $58bn buyout

  27-02-2025 03:31
  
  Group led by Ito family unable to secure financing for Japanese convenience store chain
  
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• Co-op launches rapid delivery app to help indie retailers compete online

  27-02-2025 01:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Co-op has launched a new rapid delivery grocery app, Peckish, aimed at supporting independent retailers by providing them with a platform to serve their local customers online.
  The app marks a first for a UK supermarket, offering smaller, often family-owned stores the opportunity to establish an online presence and provide quick delivery services to their communities.
  According to the convenience giant, Peckish will allow independent retailers to curate their own product selection and set their
  
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