Retail news

• Lessons from a big M&A blow-up

  31-03-2025 21:15 via ft.com
  
  The collapse of the merger of US grocers Kroger and Albertsons shows the risks when deals go wrong
  
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• The answer to the skills crisis hides in plain sight. [LinkedIn Report]

  31-03-2025 18:11 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  In a world of constant flux, organisations can only be as adaptable as their people and their skills. Today, over half of learning and talent development... View Article
  
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• Asda launches facial recognition trial in five stores

  31-03-2025 16:57 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Asda has begun a trial of live facial recognition technology in five Greater Manchester stores as it looks to evaluate its potential for improving staff and... View Article
  
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• Naked Wines founder leaves the business

  31-03-2025 16:23 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Naked Wines founder Rowan Gormley has stepped down as non-executive chairman and as a director of the business with immediate effect. The move follows the retailer’s... View Article
  
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• Hedge funds fight over one of Europe’s largest lingerie brands

  31-03-2025 14:05 via ft.com
  
  Dispute over control of Dutch retailer Hunkemöller is latest example of so-called creditor-on-creditor violence in Europe
  
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• Wilko and Deliveroo extend partnership with nationwide expansion

  31-03-2025 13:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Deliveroo and Wilko are extending their partnership, following the launch of the home and garden retailer on Deliveroo Shopping in October.
  The retailer initially launched on the app across 10 Wilko hub locations, based in Edinburgh, Bristol, Nottingham, Bournemouth, Eccles, Manchester, Bedford, Harlow, Plymouth and Leeds, with 3,000 products on offer.
  But now it is now expanding to 212 areas, including London, Newcastle, York, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Glasgow and Derby, with more than 14,0
  
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• Naked Wines founder to exit business

  31-03-2025 13:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Naked Wines founder Rowan Gormley is stepping down from the business, following the launch of its new strategic plan.
  Gormley is departing from the alcohol retailer as its non-executive chairman and director of the company with immediate effect.
  Senior independent director Deidre Runnette is set to take over the role of non-executive chairman on an interim basis until a successor is hired.
  Naked Wines CEO Rodrigo Maza said: “Rowan’s knowledge and experience of the wine industry, and
  
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• Primark boss admits ‘error of judgment’ and resigns after woman’s allegation

  31-03-2025 12:48
  
  Paul Marchant accepts behaviour fell below standards expected at owner Associated British FoodsThe boss of Primark has admitted an “error of judgment” and resigned following an allegation made by a woman about his behaviour towards her in a social situation, the retailer’s owner has said.Associated British Foods (ABF) said that Paul Marchant accepted that his actions fell below the standards it expected and had resigned with immediate effect. Continue reading...
  
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• Ocado gets green light for Nottinghamshire distribution hub

  31-03-2025 12:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ocado has been granted approval for a new distribution hub in Nottinghamshire, which will create hundreds of new jobs.
  The retailer was given the green light by Rushcliffe Borough Council to transform one of the new business units at the Fairham development into a distribution hub.
  Planning documents indicated that the new centre could lead to 422 new roles being created, including 358 van drivers, 24 marshallers, 17 office staff, and five maintenance workers.
  The centre is expected to house doc
  
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• Asda trials facial recognition to combat retail crime

  31-03-2025 11:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda is trialling live facial recognition at five of its stores in Greater Manchester to help combat the rise in retail crime.
  The retailer has launched a two-month trial of the technology supplied by FaiceTech at its Ashton, Chadderton, Eastlands, Harpurhey and Trafford Park supermarkets.
  More than 1,400 incidents of assault took place against Asda store colleagues last year – an average of four per day.
  The technology is integrated into the supermarket’s existing CCTV network and w
  
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• Søstrene Grene plants Oxford Circus flagship

  31-03-2025 11:11 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  After working at the Dolphin Tavern and Falcon & Firkin in London in the 1990s the creative director of Danish homewares brand Søstrene Grene has finally... View Article
  
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• Majestic Wine to acquire Enotria&Coe to ‘accelerate’ supply ambitions

  31-03-2025 10:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Majestic Wine has agreed to acquire premium wines and spirits supplier Enotria&Coe in a move to enhance its position as the UK’s leading supplier of wines, beers, and spirits.
  The acquisition will ‘accelerate’ the online wine specialist‘s on-trade ambitions by expanding its portfolio of exclusive brands and improving value, choice, and service for its trade partners.
  It said Enotria&Coe, which works with over 300 producers, will continue to operate independently a
  
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• B&Q publishes inclusive language guide for staff

  31-03-2025 10:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  B&Q has published an inclusive language guide for its employees that warns against using phrases such as ‘blind drunk’ and ‘deaf to out pleas’.
  The DIY giant has encouraged staff not to use terms that associated “impairments with negative things”, The Telegraph reported.
  The guide asks team members to “understand that offensive language often includes words and phrases that reinforce stereotypes, reinforce derogatory labels, exclude certain groups of
  
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• Morrisons launches sensory equipment to support neurodivergent shoppers

  31-03-2025 10:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Morrisons has teamed up with the National Autistic Society to introduce Sensory Support Boxes that help autistic and neurodivergent customers have a positive shopping experience.
  To mark World Autism Acceptance Month, the grocery giant said the boxes “have been carefully developed” in consultation with the National Autistic Society to ensure they include the most helpful items.
  The boxes include a range of toys like fidget balls, spinners and squish mats which help encourage calmness
  
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• Q&A: Bernd Maehrlein, VP of EMEA, Constructor

  31-03-2025 10:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Bernd Maehrlein is VP of EMEA at Constructor, a leading ecommerce search and product discovery platform. With deep expertise in regional and global ecommerce trends, he... View Article
  
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• Blue Yonder Survey: Consumers willing to pay sustainability premium for everyday retail products, but not other categories

  31-03-2025 10:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Across regions, consumers say they are willing to spend more for food and beverage, cleaning products and more, but high prices and perceptions of greenwashing remain... View Article
  
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• M&S launches £50m overhaul of North West stores

  31-03-2025 10:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  M&S is investing £50m to open new and upgraded stores across the North West of England, creating 300 new jobs.
  The retailer‘s investment programme kicked off on Friday (28 March) with the reopening of a full-line store at Warrington’s Gemini Retail Park.
  M&S also plans to open six new stores in Speke, Formby, Thornton-Cleveleys, Warrington, Blackburn, and Bolton, and relocate the New Mersey Retail Park store from a food hall to a full-line store, Retail Week reported.
  
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• 5 things not to miss at the 2025 Retail Technology Show

  31-03-2025 10:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  One of the most electric events on the global retail calendar is about to head to London once again. The Retail Technology Show 2025 lands at the ExCeL next week, promising two days of unmissable insights, innovation, and inspiration for every corner of the retail ecosystem.
  Whether you’re driving decisions in IT, eCommerce, payments, marketing, loss prevention, finance, supply chain, operations, HR, or security, this is the show where game-changing ideas meet real-world applications
  
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• Primark chief executive resigns following investigation into his behaviour

  31-03-2025 09:58 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Associated British Foods has announced that Primark chief executive Paul Marchant has resigned with immediate effect following an investigation into his behaviour. Initiated by ABF and... View Article
  
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• Pets at Home warns of lower profit in 2026 financial year

  31-03-2025 09:58 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Pets at Home has said its full year underlying pre-tax profit will be in line with previous guidance at £133 million, but has warned that profits... View Article
  
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• In pictures: Sports Direct’s latest Manchester store at Trafford Palazzo

  31-03-2025 09:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers Group has expanded its Sports Direct footprint in Manchester with the opening of a new 30,000sq ft store at Trafford Palazzo.
  The group said the two-storey site “brings another state-of-the-art sports destination to Manchester” following the launch of its Arndale flagship in March 2023.The new store features a range of sports and leisurewear from global brands including Nike, Adidas, Puma, Under Armour, New Balance, ASICS, Skechers, and Jordan.The retail giant said shopp
  
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• Harrods increases compensation settlements for al Fayed abuse victims

  31-03-2025 09:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Harrods has increased the maximum compensation payouts to settle claims brought forward by alleged sexual abuse victims of the retailer’s former owner Mohamed al Fayed.
  More than 250 claims have been made against al Fayed of sexual misconduct including rape and attempted rape during his time at the helm of the iconic London department store.
  Lawyers at MPL Legal are understood to have increased the potential payout for survivors from £330,000 to almost £400,000, Sky News report
  
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• Primark chief resigns after investigation into inappropriate behaviour

  31-03-2025 09:27 via ft.com
  
  Paul Marchant leaves retailer after probe into allegation about his behaviour in a social environment
  
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• Pets at Home cuts profit guidance as costs increase

  31-03-2025 09:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Pets at Home has slashed its profit guidance for the upcoming financial year as it prepares for a hike in costs stemming from the Budget.
  The pet specialist warned it faces a £30m increase in costs arising from changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions, new packaging regulations and the rebuild of variable pay.
  Pets at Home said its ability to mitigate cost inflation depends “on the rate of sales growth we are able to deliver, which is dependent on how consumer dem
  
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• Pets at Home cuts next year’s profit guidance as costs increase

  31-03-2025 09:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Pets at Home has slashed its profit guidance for the upcoming financial year as it prepares for a hike in costs stemming from the Budget.
  The pet specialist warned it faces a £30m increase in costs arising from changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions, new packaging regulations and the rebuild of variable pay.
  It said its ability to mitigate cost inflation depends “on the rate of sales growth we are able to deliver, which is dependent on how consumer demand evolve
  
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• Co-op rebrands Nisa as Co-op Wholesale and appoints managing director

  31-03-2025 08:58 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Co-op Group has rebranded its Nisa wholesale arm as Co-op Wholesale. In a statement, Co-op said the move re-enforces the group’s commitment to drive increased value... View Article
  
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• Primark boss resigns after investigation into ‘error of judgement’

  31-03-2025 08:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Primark chief executive Paul Marchant has resigned from his role will immediate effect following an investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour towards women.
  The fashion retailer’s parent company Associated British Foods said an investigation was launched after a claim was brought forward against Marchant by an individual about his behaviour towards her in a social environment.
  It said that Marchant “co-operated with the investigation, acknowledged his error of judgement and
  
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• Asda mulls outsourcing as IT upgrade costs top £1bn

  31-03-2025 08:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda is considering moving some of its jobs overseas in the latest round of cuts from the supermarket.
  The retailer has entered into consultation with staff that could see 26 jobs made redundant across its customer service team and shifted overseas, The Telegraph reported.
  It is understood that staff in Asda’s social media department, who are responsible for responding to questions from unhappy shoppers online, will be impacted.
  An Asda spokesman told the publication: “As more custom
  
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• H&M Group’s nomination committee proposes new board member

  31-03-2025 08:32 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  H&M’s nomination committee has proposed that Klas Balkow is elected as a new member of the retailer’s board of directors at its AGM on 7 May.... View Article
  
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• Trinny London launches new initiative to highlight female-founded businesses

  31-03-2025 08:17 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Digital beauty brand Trinny London has embarked on a new initiative that shines a spotlight on female-founded businesses. Every six months, three businesses featured on Trinny... View Article
  
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• H&M’s nomination committee proposes new board member

  31-03-2025 07:37 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  H&M’s nomination committee has proposed that Klas Balkow is elected as a new member of the retailer’s board of directors at its AGM on 7 May.... View Article
  
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