Retail news

• M&S chair warns junk food TV ban could mean end of Christmas adverts

  02-04-2025 18:34 via ft.com
  
  Archie Norman says the government is regulating to ‘stop people talking about mince pies during the day’
  
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• Gymshark founder: ‘Product in isolation isn’t enough’

  02-04-2025 15:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Former Gymshark CEO Steve Hewitt has emphasised that while product is crucial, it’s not the sole driver behind the brand’s success.
  Speaking at the 2025 Retail Technology Show, Hewitt pointed out that much of the gymwear brand’s success comes from its ability to build a community around their product.
  “Product in isolation is not enough. The fitness apparel world is extremely cluttered. And if you look at nutrition, that’s even more congested,” he said.
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• Gymshark former CEO: ‘Product in isolation isn’t enough’

  02-04-2025 15:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Former Gymshark CEO Steve Hewitt has emphasised that while product is crucial, it’s not the sole driver behind the brand’s success.
  Speaking at the 2025 Retail Technology Show, Hewitt pointed out that much of the gymwear brand’s success comes from its ability to build a community around their product.
  “Product in isolation is not enough. The fitness apparel world is extremely cluttered. And if you look at nutrition, that’s even more congested,” he said.
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• Sainsbury’s people boss defends café closures

  02-04-2025 15:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sainsbury’s chief people officer Prerana Issar has defended the supermarket’s decision to close its cafes, saying it “just didn’t make sense” to keep them.
  At the end of January the grocery giant said it was closing its remaining cafés, hot food counters, patisserie, and pizza counters, resulting in in 3,000 job losses.
  Issar, who is also the grocer’s head of corporate affairs, said at the 2025 Retail Technology Show that “customers who are going
  
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• M&S chair Archie Norman: Online grocery is a ‘desert of profit’

  02-04-2025 15:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Former Asda boss and current Marks & Spencer chairman Archie Norman has declared that Ocado Retail—the joint venture between M&S and Ocado Group—will soon “be worth a lot of money,” despite the online food sector remaining a “desert of profit.”
  Speaking at the 2025 Retail Technology Show, Norman emphasised the potential of the venture, saying it would be a unique way of delivering a better online food business.
  He pointed out that Ocado Retail is growi
  
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• PUMA to open London flagship store

  02-04-2025 11:22 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  PUMA has chosen London’s Oxford Street for the opening of its first European flagship store.  The move forms part of PUMA’s brand elevation strategy as it... View Article
  
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• Topps Tiles posts first half sales uplift ahead of £4 million cost increase

  02-04-2025 10:13 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Topps Tiles has posted an uplift in first half sales after volumes built progressively following a slower January. In the 26 weeks to 29 March, group... View Article
  
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• The Perfume Shop reports strong sales uplift in run-up to Mother’s Day

  02-04-2025 10:13 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Perfume Shop has reported a 14% increase in sales in the run-up to Mother’s Day with 280,916 bottles sold from 9th to 30th March. In the week... View Article
  
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• Harrods challenges law firm’s compensation cut for al Fayed abuse victims

  02-04-2025 09:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Harrods has urged lawyers acting for survivors of abuse perpetrated by its former owner Mohamed al Fayed to review plans to take a large cut of claimants’ compensation.
  KP Law is proposing to take up to 25% of compensation awards for handling the case meaning some claimants could miss out on tens of thousands of pounds to the law firm, Sky News reported.
  The compensation package drawn up by Harrods’ lawyers mean that some claimants will be eligible for almost £400,000 including
  
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• Topps Tiles faces £4m hike to wage bill

  02-04-2025 08:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Topps Tiles has warned the external cost environment “remains challenging” as it faces a £4m hike to its wage bill from changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions and National Living Wage this month.
  It comes as the tile specialist saw sales improve during the first half of the year as it continues to make progress under its Mission 365 strategy.
  Group sales rose 4% to £127.7m during the six minths to 29 March, with underlying revenues up 4.4% in the sec
  
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• Morrisons appoints group property director

  02-04-2025 08:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Morrisons has appointed George Brown as its new group property director. Brown previously worked with Aldi for over 21 years as national property director. In an... View Article
  
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• The Entertainer renews partnership with The Lego Group

  02-04-2025 08:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Entertainer is to sell Lego sets online and across its store network after renewing its partnership with the toy company.
  The retailer said hundreds of the brand’s products will be available in its own shops and concessions in Tesco from 14 April.
  Customers will also be able to order the range online and deliver it to their doors or click and collect within 30 minutes. Related StoryInterview: How The Entertainer CEO is aiming for infinity and beyond18/12/2024 x 7:30 AMThe Entertainer c
  
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• Currys makes ‘largest ever’ investment in safety and security

  02-04-2025 08:06 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Currys is making its largest ever annual investment in store safety measures as it looks to keep staff safe and deter shoplifters. As part of this,... View Article
  
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• Listen: Transforming returns from a cost drain to a money maker

  02-04-2025 03:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Why smart retailers are reimagining their returns strategies – and reaping the rewards…
  Returns. They aren’t fun. In fact, for most retailers, they’re the elephant in the warehouse – a painful yet unavoidable part of doing business. And while they may seem like just another operational necessity, returns are anything but neutral. They’re expensive, time-consuming, and often fraught with complexity, especially in a retail landscape where consumer expectations
  
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