Retail news

• When plastic reality meets consumerism | Letter

  24-03-2025 18:40
  
  Important coverage of the problems caused by plastic clashes with superficial nods to ‘sustainability’, says Samuel BruceOn 10 March, you reported on a study showing that microplastics may impact plant photosynthesis, putting hundreds of millions at risk of starvation, part of your continuing important coverage of the damage caused by plastic.A few days later, on 14 March, an article suggested ways to reduce your use of plastic: “Get milk delivered and always buy refills: 20 si
  
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• Morrisons to cut 300 jobs as it shuts convenience stores, cafes and counters

  24-03-2025 17:24
  Supermarket chain said it was mitigating extra cost amid rise in employer national insurance contributionsMorrisons has put more than 300 jobs at risk as it shuts cafes, convenience stores and food counters as retailers grapple with rising labour costs.The supermarket chain said on Monday that it plans to close 52 cafes, 17 convenience stores, all 18 of its Market Kitchen hot food counters, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters and four pharmacies. Continue reading...
  
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• Morrisons says more than 300 jobs at risk in convenience stores, cafes and counters

  24-03-2025 17:24
  Supermarket chain has complained about extra cost from rise in employer national insurance contributionsBusiness live – latest updatesMorrisons has put more than 300 jobs at risk as it shuts cafes, convenience stores and food counters as retailers grapple with rising labour costs.The supermarket chain said on Monday that it plans to close 52 cafes, 17 convenience stores, all 18 of its Market Kitchen hot food counters, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters and four pharmacies. Con
  
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• Wingstop UK brings flavour takeover to Leeds with fourth location opening

  24-03-2025 16:04 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Wingstop UK has landed in Leeds once again, opening its fourth site in the city today at Cardigan Fields Leisure Park and treating the first 100... View Article
  
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• Tesco taps social agency to drive engagement on TikTok and Instagram

  24-03-2025 14:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco has named its first specialist social media agency Uncovered in a bid to create “engaging, high-volume social-first content”.
  The supermarket giant has drafted in the social-direst creative agency as it aims to strengthen its social media strategy and increase its influence on TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms, reported The Grocer.
  “We’re focused on strengthening our social media strategy, and we are excited to be working with Uncovered to produce new cont
  
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• Morrisons to close 17 stores and 52 cafes with 365 jobs at risk

  24-03-2025 13:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Morrisons has unveiled a number of changes and adjustments to its stores and operations as it enters the second year of its renewal programme, in a bid to boost growth, optimise operations and mitigate recent cost rises.
  It comes after a wide-ranging review of the retailer identified a number of areas where its operations costs were significantly out of line with usage, volumes or the value that shoppers placed on them.
  The supermarket has proposed a series of changes over the next few months, i
  
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• Frasers expands Sports Direct footprint in Southeast Asia and India

  24-03-2025 13:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers Group has strengthened its international expansion plans by partnering with MAP Active to launch Sports Direct in five new markets across Southeast Asia and India.
  The British retail giant has signed an agreement with MAP Active—a leading sports, fashion, and lifestyle distributor in the region—to bring its sports retail concept to Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
  The partnership aims to open over 350 stores across these markets in the long
  
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• FatFace boosts B Corp score under sustainability push

  24-03-2025 13:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  FatFace has improved its B Corp score by eight points, boosting the brand’s commitment to sustainability.
  The fashion retailer said its grew its B Corp score from 80.4 to 89.1, following a successful recertification process.
  The announcement followed FatFace hosting a panel to mark B Corp month, with sustainability consultant Bianca Foley, B Lab UK head of comms Hannah Reiss, B Corp Beeble co-founder Nicola Arkell-Reed, and FatFace trading director Nick Stevenson.
  The discussion focused on
  
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• Holland & Barrett debuts new experience-led store format in former Wilko

  24-03-2025 12:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Holland & Barrett has launched its first experience store, featuring the brand’s first wellbeing studio where customers can take part in a range of activities including yoga and pilates lessons.
  The 3,710sq ft site, which opened last week on Cardiff’s Queens Street, marks the health and wellness retailer’s largest ever store, housing its latest range of products and brand-first immersive experiences.
  It also features a cushion wall, a “be strong for life” window
  
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• Uniqlo ramps up UK presence with new Birmingham and Glasgow stores

  24-03-2025 12:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Uniqlo is set to expand its UK store portfolio with the launch of new stores in Glasgow, Birmingham, and Liverpool in 2025.
  The Japanese fashion giant confirmed its highly anticipated Liverpool store will open on 24 April, with the Glasgow and Birmingham stores slated for autumn.
  The Liverpool store, located at the Liverpool ONE shopping destination on Paradise Street, will span 1,430 sq m across two floors.
  The retailer will offer its popular LifeWear collection across men, women, children and
  
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• Uniqlo to open first Midlands store at Bullring

  24-03-2025 11:21 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Uniqlo is to open its first store in the Midlands at Birmingham’s Bullring. The clothing retailer’s 20,000 square foot flagship will span three floors and have... View Article
  
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• Fortnum & Mason launches rapid delivery service

  24-03-2025 11:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Fortnum & Mason is launching a new rapid delivery service for customers in London. The move means that customers can order from a selection of the... View Article
  
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• Select Fashion enters liquidation, 35 stores to close

  24-03-2025 10:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Select Fashion has entered liquidation and will close all 35 of its remaining stores on 28 March.
  The high street fashion retailer has appointed Michael Solomons and Andrew Pear of Moorfields as joint liquidators, filings show.
  Select reportedly drafted in advisors last week to oversee the liquidation process, with “hundreds of staff” thought to be impacted by the move. Related StoryThe Body Shop: Suppliers to be given no more than a quarter of debts owed20/03/2025 x 3:42 PMSelect, w
  
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• Fortnum & Mason launches round-the-clock rapid delivery service for luxury hampers

  24-03-2025 10:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Fortnum & Mason has entered the on-demand delivery market, launching a new service that brings luxury hampers, loose-leaf teas, and premium biscuits straight to the doorsteps of Londoners in minutes.
  Through a partnership with rapid delivery app Zapp, the service will be available 24/7, allowing customers to enjoy Fortnum & Mason’s high-end offerings whenever they wish.
  This is the retailer’s first move into the rapidly growing on-demand delivery industry, which has seen othe
  
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• Harrods nears six-figure settlements with alleged al Fayed abuse victims

  24-03-2025 10:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Harrods is proposing six-figure pay outs to settle claims brought forward by alleged sexual abuse victims of the retailer’s former owner Mohamed al Fayed.
  More than 250 claims for compensation were made against al Fayed last October by women who allege sexual misconduct including rape and attempted rape during his time owning the iconic London department store.
  Lawyers at MPL Legal have informed potential claimants that they could be eligible for general damages of up to £110,000 or
  
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• Beyond quick wins: Retail’s new era of time-driven efficiency

  24-03-2025 09:49 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Have we ever faced stronger cost headwinds? Labour costs are pushing higher with regular increases in the national living wage and changes to employers’ National Insurance... View Article
  
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• A question of trust: 77% of shoppers want retailers to spell out governance procedures for AI use – RTS research

  24-03-2025 09:46 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Greater consumer awareness of AI within retail isn’t translating into increased trust around the use of the technology, prompting shoppers to call for greater transparency and... View Article
  
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• Frasers raises Asos stake amid takeover speculation

  24-03-2025 09:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Frasers Group has raised its stake in Asos to 25.13% from 24.21%, strengthening its position as the second-largest shareholder in the online fashion retailer.
  The move follows an increase by Asos’ largest shareholder, Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen’s Bestseller, which upped its stake to 28% last week.
  The shareholder activity has added fuel to takeover speculation surrounding the online fashion giant, particularly with Povlsen now just 2% away from the 30% threshold that wou
  
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• Ocado delays diversity targets amid DEI scrutiny

  24-03-2025 09:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ocado has delayed its target for increasing ethnic minority representation in senior management to 2030, extending its original 2027 goal.
  This move comes amid a broader pullback of diversity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the corporate world, as companies reassess their strategies in light of growing scrutiny.
  The London-listed tech company, which operates the Ocado Retail joint venture with M&S, had initially aimed for 10% ethnic minority representation in senior roles by 2027, but
  
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• Primark boosts US presence with new Virginia store

  24-03-2025 08:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Primark is expanding  with the launch of a new store at Potomac Mills in Woodbridge, Virginia next month.
  Opening 10 April, the 32,000sq ft store will feature the retailer’s latest collections of clothing, homewares, and beauty items.
  This new location marks Primark’s second store in Virginia, following the opening at Tysons Corner Center last year. With this new addition, Primark will operate 30 stores across 12 states in the US.
  To mark the opening weekend, the retailer will h
  
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• Zara opens new Silverburn store

  24-03-2025 08:51 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Zara has opened a new store at Glasgow’s Silverburn after moving into a former Debenhams unit at the scheme. Spread over two floors, the shop offers... View Article
  
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• Gymshark hit with $1m lawsuit after severing ties with pro-Israel influencer

  24-03-2025 08:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Gymshark is facing a $1m (£775,500) lawsuit from American influencer Alix Earle, who claims the British sportswear brand unfairly terminated a sponsorship deal following backlash over her social media posts.
  Earle, who boasts seven million TikTok followers and four million on Instagram, alleges that the gymwear giant agreed to pay her $1 million for a series of promotional posts, a photoshoot, and an event appearance.
  However, she claims the deal was abruptly scrapped after her pro-Israel
  
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• Gymshark hit with $1M lawsuit after axing influencer’s deal over pro-Israel posts

  24-03-2025 08:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Gymshark is facing a $1m (£775,500) lawsuit from American influencer Alix Earle, who claims the British sportswear brand unfairly terminated a sponsorship deal following backlash over her social media posts.
  Earle, who boasts seven million TikTok followers and four million on Instagram, alleges that the gymwear giant greed to pay her $1 million for a series of promotional posts, a photoshoot, and an event appearance.
  However, she claims the deal was abruptly scrapped after her pro-Israel s
  
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• Primark continues US expansion with new Virginia store

  24-03-2025 08:18 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Primark is continuing its expansion in the US with the opening of a new store at Potomac Mills in Woodbridge, Virginia on 10 April. The 32,000 square foot space... View Article
  
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• Authentic Brands Group hires new EVP, head of India

  24-03-2025 08:16 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Authentic Brands Group, the parent company of Champion, Nautica and Ted Baker, has appointed Sanjeet Mehta as executive vice president, head of India. Mehta most recently... View Article
  
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• Asda cuts prices of 1,500 products

  24-03-2025 07:37 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Asda is doubling down on its commitment to value by reducing prices by up to 45% on 1,500 “family favourite” items.  The move means that nearly... View Article
  
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