Retail news

• Waitrose hits 25 million meal milestone with FareShare partnership

  18-03-2025 19:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Waitrose has announced that, as of February 2025, it has diverted the equivalent of 25 million meals from surplus food, delivered from over 300 stores and... View Article
  
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• Morleys Stores to reopen historic Jollys store in Bath

  18-03-2025 17:20 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Morleys Stores has announced plans to reopen the iconic Jollys department store in Bath’s Milsom Street. Having signed a lease on the historic site following the... View Article
  
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• Harvey Nichols to close Beauty Bazaar store

  18-03-2025 14:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Harvey Nichols is set to close its Beauty Bazaar store in Liverpool ONE as part of new CEO Julia Goddard’s growth strategy for the department store.
  A spokesperson for the retailer said it had chosen to focus on “full category stores” and as such the beauty only store that opened in 2012 will close next month.
  The closure comes as other retailers including Harrods, Boots and Sephora have invested millions into beauty only stores. Related Story2024 in review: The biggest hires a
  
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• Morrisons to relaunch Market Street concept amid trading team restructure

  18-03-2025 14:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Morrisons is planning to relaunch its Market Street proposition as part of a wider overhaul of the supermarket’s trading team.
  Recently appointed group trading director Andrew Staniland has spearheaded the restructure which sees five layers of reporting in the retailer’s category buying teams reduced down to three, The Grocer reported.
  It is thought that some category director roles will be merged into heads of trading areas, while buyers will be known as traders. Related StoryEx-Mor
  
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• Debenhams launches buy now, pay later service

  18-03-2025 14:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Debenhams has launched its own credit payment option to help customers spread the cost of their purchases.
  Shoppers will be able to split the cost of their orders from the online marketplace over monthly instalments or use Debenhams+ as a credit card.
  Its launch follows a successful trial in January, and is available on the retailer’s website and can be managed through an app. Related StoryWhy are Frasers Group and Currys banking on credit to drive growth?13/02/2025 x 8:30 AMDebenhams Grou
  
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• The Original Factory Shop owner plots store closures amid restructure

  18-03-2025 13:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Original Factory Shop owner Modella Capital is plotting a radical restructuring of the discount chain, just weeks after taking control.
  The private equity firm drafted in advisors at Interpath to explore options for the business, including a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), Sky News reported.
  Modella is thought to be considering a CVA to close underperforming stores and forcing through rent cuts on others. Related StoryExclusive: The Original Factory Shop sold to Hobbycraft owner Modella
  
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• Former Wilko CEO named as new Poundland CFO

  18-03-2025 12:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ex-Wilko CEO Mark Jackson has been appointed the new chief financial officer of Poundland.
  The executive has been hailed for his efforts to save Wilko before its collapse, according to Retail Week.
  He has previously served as chief financial officer of clothing brand Pep&Co, which is sold across Poundland and Pep&Co stores.
  Jackson has also formerly held roles at collapsed firm Steinhoff and was the CEO of Bensons for Beds, which the company previously owned.
  Commenting on the executive&
  
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• Aldi becomes first UK supermarket to provide free in-store period products

  18-03-2025 12:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Aldi has become the first UK supermarket to provide free period products to its in-store toilets, following research from the retailer revealing the extent of period poverty across Britain.
  Customers will be able to take what they need from the toilets, with the products rolled out from today in 70% of its facilities.
  The full rollout of to all of Aldi’s toilets is to be completed by the end of May, according to the discounter.
  It comes as research from the retailer found 1 in 3 of those w
  
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• Industry body, The Customer Xperience Alliance (CXA), have today announced their latest partner.

  18-03-2025 11:50 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Customer Xperience Alliance (CXA) has warmly welcomed AutogenAI as a partner. Raj Khaira, Co-Founder & Deputy Global CEO comments; “AutogenAI is the world’s leading proposal... View Article
  
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• VR headsets and pulled pork join UK inflation basket

  18-03-2025 10:30
  
  Office for National Statistics updates items used to measure price growth as spending habits evolve
  
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• Data: Mother’s Day spend to hit £2.4bn for 2025

  18-03-2025 10:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK consumer spending for Mother’s Day is set to hit £2.4bn this year, marking a 5% rise on 2024.
  The amount of UK shoppers planning to buy at least one item for the celebration has increased to 56.4%, representing a 2.9ppt boost on last year, according to GlobalData’s latest retail Mother’s Day intentions report.
  Additionally, consumers are planning to spend £17.43 more on their mothers than last year, leading to an average spend of £125.30.
  The firm said reta
  
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• Listen: Understanding the true cost of customer acquisition

  18-03-2025 10:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
   
  In our latest episode of Retail Gazette’s Retail Unpacked podcast, we sit down with Phil Alltoft, commercial lead at Novuna, one of the UK’s leading point of sale finance providers. Leaning on Alltoft’s many years of customer-centric experience, we unpack one of retail’s biggest blind spots – customer acquisition costs (CAC). With 25 per cent of retailers unaware of their CAC and 35 per cent not tracking retention rates, we explore why these crucial
  
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• Listen: How to truly measure the cost of customer acquisition

  18-03-2025 10:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  
   
  In our latest episode of Retail Gazette’s Retail Unpacked podcast, we sit down with Phil Alltoft, commercial lead at Novuna, one of the UK’s leading financial services company. Leaning on Alltoft’s many years of customer-centric experience, we unpack one of retail’s biggest blind spots – customer acquisition costs (CAC). With 25 per cent of retailers unaware of their CAC and 35 per cent not tracking retention rates, we explore why these crucial
  
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• Desert Island Stores: Richard King, founder of The Cotton Textile Company

  18-03-2025 09:48 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Richard King is founder of The Cotton Textile Company and owner of Creek Lifestyle store. He is from a family of shopkeepers. His maternal grandfather had... View Article
  
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• Minka Dink to open new pop-up on King’s Road

  18-03-2025 09:41 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  London-based clothing brand Minka Dink is to open a pop-up store in London’s Chelsea. Operating for three weeks from 29 March, the 1,728 square foot space... View Article
  
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• Exclusive: Frasers Group cuts 30% of design and editorial staff in latest restructure

  18-03-2025 09:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Frasers Group has entered a consultation with selected staff within its design and editorial teams as part of a latest restructure, Retail Gazette has learnt.
  Sources within the retail giant said the consultations kicked off earlier this month on 7 March, impacting employees across both the retailer’s London HQ and Shirebrook offices.
  A company spokesperson confirmed that 30% of staff in the affected teams will be impacted. Related StoryFrasers Group closes Flannels Junior stores17/03/2025
  
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• Tesco taps into fruit beer boom with 250% growth

  18-03-2025 09:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Tesco has reported a 250% increase in sales volume for fruit-led beers over the past year, which it called the UK’s fastest-growing beer trend.
  The demand for these lighter, fruit-infused brews has surged as UK consumers increasingly opt for refreshing, lower-alcohol options.
  Typically around 4% ABV, fruit beers have long been popular in European countries such as France, Belgium, Germany, and Spain, where they are often enjoyed as a post-activity refreshment. The style is now gaining sign
  
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• Currys teams up with Cancer Research UK to recycle unwanted tech

  18-03-2025 08:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Currys has launched a new partnership with Cancer Research UK to recycle unsellable tech donations from the charity’s shops.
  As the UK’s leading tech recycler, Currys processes over 50,000 tonnes of e-waste each year. Under the initiative, Cancer Research UK will be able to drop off unwanted tech items from its stores at Currys’ UK delivery depots, at no cost.
  These items will then be sent to the retailer‘s central sorting facility in Newark, where they will be evaluated
  
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• In pictures: Birkenstock opens King’s Road store

  18-03-2025 08:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Birkenstock has opened the doors to its fourth London store on the King’s Road in Chelsea, are part of its strategy to bolster its direct-to-consumer business.The store, which reflects the footwear giant’s “unwavering commitment to premium craftsmanship, heritage, and innovation – empowering people to ‘walk as nature intended’” also intends to “connection with the local community while bringing its signature footbed experience directly to consumers
  
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• Currys to support Cancer Research UK through the recycling of unwanted tech

  18-03-2025 08:45 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Currys has announced a new initiative to support Cancer Research UK by recycling unsellable donated tech from the charity’s shops. As the UK’s leading tech recycler,... View Article
  
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• Go Outdoors rolls out body cameras to 25 additional stores

  18-03-2025 07:54 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Go Outdoors is rolling out body-worn cameras to 25 stores following the success of a trial at its shop in Stoke. The move forms part of... View Article
  
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• Tesco to invest £180 million in staff pay

  18-03-2025 07:35 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Tesco is to increase the hourly pay rate for store staff from £12.02 to £12.45 from 30 March, and again to £12.64 from the end of... View Article
  
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• Ikea to open Oxford Street store in May after 18-month delay

  18-03-2025 01:01
  
  Swedish furniture retailer’s arrival is seen as crucial to hopes of reviving the London shopping streetIkea will be bringing its mix of meatballs, lampshades and kitchen planning to London’s Oxford Street from 1 May, when the world’s largest furniture retailer finally opens its store 18 months late.The company said its three-floor outlet, in the former Topshop base, would house a 130-seat Swedish deli and showrooms, as well as offering one-to-one design consultations. Continue
  
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• Ikea confirms opening date for Oxford Street flagship

  18-03-2025 01:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ikea has confirmed its highly anticipated Oxford Street flagship will open at the start of May following an extensive environmental upgrade of the Grade II listed building.
  The 5,800sqm store at 214 Oxford Street will span three floors, and house the furniture giant’s showroom of inspiration roomsets, a market hall, and a 130-seater Swedish Deli.
  Shoppers will also be able to book complimentary one-to-one design consultations for kitchens and bedroom storage.
  Ikea Oxford Street will have a
  
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