Retail news

• Rev Al Sharpton meets with Target CEO over halting of DEI initiative

  17-04-2025 23:24
  
  Activists had called for boycotting the company after it announced a roll back of diversity, equity and inclusion effortsOn Thursday morning, the Rev Al Sharpton met with Brian Cornell, the Target CEO, to discuss the fallout from the company’s decision to walk back its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts earlier this year. The meeting happened in New York at Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN) headquarters, and also included the NAN national board chair Dr W Franklyn R
  
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• Asda fires opening salvo as UK supermarket price war looms

  17-04-2025 20:07
  
  Tesco and Sainsbury’s preparing a fightback, as grocer turns to price cuts to reverse decline in market share
  
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• Asda fires opening salvo as supermarket price war looms

  17-04-2025 20:07
  
  Tesco and Sainsbury’s are preparing a fightback, as grocer turns to price cuts to reverse decline in market share
  
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• Supermarkets call for EU-UK deal on plant and animal exports

  17-04-2025 18:00
  
  Marks and Spencer and J Sainsbury intervene over veterinary agreement ahead of ‘reset’ summit next month
  
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• Asda CIO and tech VP step down amid team shake-up

  17-04-2025 17:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Two Asda tech executives responsible for handling its IT overhaul “Project Future” are stepping down from the supermarket.
  Chief information officer (CIO) Carl Dawson and VP of digital and technology Rob Barnes are set to depart from the retailer, Asda has confirmed.
  Dawson joined the retailer in 2021 from M&S, where he had previously served as CIO since 2014.
  Barnes began working at Asda in January 2024, also joining from M&S where he served as chief technology officer of de
  
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• Global economic growth will slow amid Trump tariffs, IMF warns – as it happened

  17-04-2025 16:48
  
  Live, rolling coverage of business, economics and financial markets as ECB reduces main interest rate from 2.5% to 2.25%, the seventh cut in a yearTrump attacks Fed chair Jerome Powell for not lowering interest ratesECB cuts rates for third time this year as Europe braces for Trump tariffsDonald Trump is awake. And he has strongly criticised monetary policy by the Federal Reserve, saying the end of Jerome Powell’s tenure as chair “cannot come fast enough”.In a post on Truth Soc
  
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• M&S unveils £90m investment to transform London food halls

  17-04-2025 16:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  M&S is investing £90m in new and upgraded food halls across London, creating 450 new jobs in the capital.
  The investment will see the opening of six new food halls in Clapham, Covent Garden, Fulham Broadway, Putney, New Malden, and Leytonstone, all of which are subject to planning permission.
  The retailer said a further 11 stores in London will be renewed, including a major refresh of the iconic Pantheon store on Oxford Street.
  The first of the renewed stores, the food hall at Clapham
  
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• Poundland: Bensons for Beds owner circles discount chain

  17-04-2025 16:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Bensons for Beds owner Alteri is among a number of bidders for discount chain Poundland.
  The investment company is gearing up to submit an offer for the discount retailer within the coming weeks, Sky News reported. 
  Alteri is thought to be among a significant number of suitors circling the discounter, which has been offered for sale by its parent company Pepco Group.
  Alteri Investors declined to comment on the matter, according to Sky News. Related StoryRetail staff costs soar 10% amid nati
  
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• WHSmith boss: Tariffs more likely to bring price cuts than inflation

  17-04-2025 14:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  WHSmith boss Carl Cowling has claimed that the Trump tariffs are more likely to result in price cuts than inflation for many UK retailers, as suppliers in east Asia look for alternatives to the US.
  Although many economists have argued that increased trade barriers could drive global inflationary pressures, the CEO insisted that there was “no logic” to the inflation fears, The Guardian reported.
  Cowling said: “I don’t think there is any logic in why there would be inflatio
  
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• Donald Trump criticises Federal Reserve chair as European Central Bank cuts interest rates – business live

  17-04-2025 14:27
  Live, rolling coverage of business, economics and financial markets as ECB reduces main interest rate from 2.5% to 2.25%, the seventh cut in a yearDonald Trump is awake. And he has strongly criticised monetary policy by the Federal Reserve, saying the end of Jerome Powell’s tenure as chair “cannot come fast enough”.In a post on Truth Social, the social network he owns, Trump said that Powell had been too slow to cut interest rates – contrasting its hesistance because of p
  
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• Four ways Sainsbury’s is holding firm as it braces for price war

  17-04-2025 14:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sainsbury’s has forecast flat retail profits of £1bn for its forthcoming year, down slightly from the £1.036bn it pulled in during the year to 1 March, as chief executive Simon Roberts vowed to defend the supermarket’s “strong competitive position” amid a possible price war in the sector.
  “We’re in the strongest place we’ve ever been, and we intend to stay there,” says the boss of the UK’s second-largest grocery chain.
  “We&r
  
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• Shein and Temu warn US shoppers of price hikes as tariffs kick in

  17-04-2025 12:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Shein and Temu have warned its US shoppers to brace for higher prices from next week, following the implementation of tariffs on China.
  In nearly identical statements, the ecommerce giants said they had witnessed operating expenses increase because of the “recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs,” the BBC reported. They added that they would make “price adjustments” from 25 April.
  It comes after US president Donald Trump has imposed taxes of up to 145% on imports
  
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• Topshop hints at summer return to UK high street in latest teaser

  17-04-2025 12:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Topshop has dropped its biggest hint yet that a return to physical retail is on the cards, suggesting at a potential launch this summer.
  The fashion retailer shared another three cryptic posts on Instagram this week, with the caption reading: “We’ll see you IRL in August”.
  The post is the latest in a series of messages aimed at re-engaging customers.
  In March, Topshop posted “we missed you too” across its channels, followed by a series of screenshots showing media s
  
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• Sainsbury’s expects supermarket price war and rising costs to hit profits

  17-04-2025 12:07
  Group joins UK retailers’ £1bn profits club but warns of flat year ahead despite cost-cutting plansBusiness live – latest updatesSainsbury’s has warned that profits are not likely to rise this year as it braces for an expected price war among the UK’s supermarkets and faces rising costs from higher wages.The group joined Tesco, Next and Marks & Spencer as one of a handful of retailers who have made £1bn in profits in the year to 1 March, but it does not ex
  
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• Nvidia boss visits China days after Donald Trump limits AI chip exports – business live

  17-04-2025 11:57
  Live, rolling coverage of business, economics and financial markets as Chinese state media publishes photo of Jensen Huang visiting BeijingThe UK parcel delivery company Yodel has been snapped up by the Polish parcel locker firm InPost in a £106m deal that will create the third-largest independent delivery business serving online retailers in Britain.The takeover will expand InPost’s footprint in the UK, taking its market share from 2% to 8%. It comes only months after the Polish ope
  
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• Aldi at 35: How the German discounter has disrupted the UK grocery sector

  17-04-2025 11:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  German discounter Aldi is marking its 35th anniversary in the UK this year after it opened its first store in Stechford, Birmingham back in 1990.
  The single supermarket, which sold just 600 basic grocery lines at the time, has since grown to more than 1,050 stores nationwide and overtook Morrisons to become the UK’s fourth biggest supermarket in September 2022.
  It is also catching up quickly to rival Asda and overtook its closest competitor on food and drink sales for the first time l
  
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• InPost snaps up Yodel to become UK’s third biggest courier

  17-04-2025 10:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  InPost has snapped up delivery courier Yodel, making it the third-largest logistics player in the country.
  This move is set to redefine delivery in the UK by integrating out-of-home with to-door solutions under one brand, according to the retailer.
  It is set to scale InPost’s operations, expand its service offering, and provide greater convenience to retailers and shoppers.
  Following the transaction, the Polish logistic company’s UK’s market share rose to around 8%.
  The acquisi
  
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• Nike launches RunTown pop-up amid London flagship refurb

  17-04-2025 10:40 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Nike has unveiled a new immersive running-focused pop-up experience in London, as it prepares for a major revamp of its Oxford Circus flagship store.
  Dubbed RunTown, the sportswear giant‘s temporary concept store opened its doors today (17 April) at 253-259 Regent Street and will run until April 28.
  Following this activation the location, which was formerly Microsoft’s Oxford Street flagship, will continue to operate as a Nike store until the sport titan’s flagship refurbishmen
  
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• First look: Inside Nike’s immersive RunTown pop-up amid London flagship refurb

  17-04-2025 10:40 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Nike has unveiled a new immersive running-focused pop-up experience in London, as it prepares for a major revamp of its Oxford Circus flagship store.
  Dubbed RunTown, the sportswear giant‘s temporary concept store opened its doors today (17 April) at 253-259 Regent Street and will run until April 28.Following this activation the location, which was formerly Microsoft’s Oxford Street flagship, will continue to operate as a Nike store until the sport titan’s flagship refurbishment
  
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• Temu and Shein warn of US price hikes from next week due to Trump tariffs

  17-04-2025 10:12
  
  Shein says ‘operating expenses have gone up’ as both Chinese retailers also drop ad spending in USTwo of China’s largest fast fashion retailers, Temu and Shein, have warned US customers that they will face price increases from next week, as Donald Trump’s hefty tariffs on Chinese imports come into force.Both companies will be hit by new import levies, which will mean taxes of up to 145% being applied to Chinese goods. They will also suffer from Trump’s cancellation
  
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• Sainsbury’s predicts flat profits as competition heats up

  17-04-2025 10:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sainsbury’s has said it expects to deliver flat profits in its current financial year as it looks to remain competitive amid signs of a looming price... View Article
  
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• Sainsbury’s warns of flat profits as it gears up for price war

  17-04-2025 09:35
  Supermarket chain vows to defend ‘strong competitive position’ after Tesco and Asda signal price cuts
  
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• Sainsbury’s forecasts flatlining profits as supermarkets brace for price war

  17-04-2025 09:35
  Retailer vows to defend ‘strong competitive position’ after Tesco and Asda signal price cuts
  
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• Revolution Beauty CEO to step down to join Ulta Beauty

  17-04-2025 09:29 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Revolution Beauty’s chief executive Lauren Brindley is to step down to become chief merchandising and digital officer at Ulta Beauty, the largest beauty retailer in the... View Article
  
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• AllSaints continues UK expansion with two new store openings

  17-04-2025 08:51 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  AllSaints has opened two new stores this month at London’s St Pancras station and the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield. The St Pancras store marks the... View Article
  
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• AllSaints expands UK presence with two new store openings

  17-04-2025 08:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  AllSaints has opened two new stores in the UK, expanding its presence with locations at London’s St Pancras station and the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield.
  The St Pancras store is the brand’s second within Network Rail Property locations, following the success of the London Bridge store that launched in May 2024.
  The 810sq ft space showcases the fashion retailer’s signature urban aesthetic, with high ceilings and exposed brick walls.
  With this addition, AllSaints now o
  
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• Sainsbury’s braces for price war squeeze as it forecasts flat profits

  17-04-2025 08:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sainsbury’s has forecast flat profits for the year ahead as it looks to maintain momentum in a highly competitive market, despite reporting a solid 7.2% increase in annual profit.
  The UK’s second-largest supermarket said it expects retail underlying operating profit for 2025/26 to come in at “around” £1bn — slightly down from the £1.036bn it delivered in the year to March 1 and below analysts’ expectations of £1.08bn.
  The cautious outlook fol
  
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• Revolution Beauty CEO exits to join Ulta Beauty

  17-04-2025 08:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Revolution Beauty has said its CEO Lauren Brindley will step down from her role as group CEO and as a member of the board on 31 May 2025.
  Brindley will be leaving the business to join Ulta Beauty, Inc., the largest beauty retailer in the US, as chief merchandising and digital officer.
  Following Brindley’s departure, Colin Henry will take over as interim CEO.
  Revolution Beauty said that Henry, who has been a non-executive director of the retailer since August 2023, brings over 35 years of e
  
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• Deliveroo sees strong Q1 growth as UKI and international orders rise

  17-04-2025 08:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Deliveroo has kicked off 2025 with a strong Q1 performance, posting a 9% year-on-year increase in Gross Transaction Value (GTV) and a 7% rise in orders.
  The rapid delivery firm also reported a solid 8% revenue growth, reaching £518m for the quarter.
  It said the growth was driven by a strong showing in both UKI and international markets, with GTV growth in UKI hitting 9%, and international GTV rising 9%, fuelled by strong performances in the UAE and Italy.
  Despite a challenging environment
  
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• Deliveroo sales ‘accelerate’ in strong first quarter

  17-04-2025 08:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Deliveroo has kicked off 2025 with a strong Q1 performance, posting a 9% year-on-year increase in Gross Transaction Value (GTV) and a 7% rise in orders.
  The rapid delivery firm also reported a solid 8% revenue growth, reaching £518m for the quarter.
  It said the growth was driven by a strong showing in both UKI and international markets, with GTV growth in UKI hitting 9%, and international GTV rising 9%, fuelled by strong performances in the UAE and Italy.
  Despite a challenging environment
  
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• Sosandar returns to profit despite drop in revenue

  17-04-2025 08:11 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sosandar has hailed a year of strong strategic progress with a return to profit despite a drop in revenue. For the year to 31 March, the womenswear... View Article
  
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• Dunelm hails ‘strong growth’ as digital sales and new ranges boost performance

  17-04-2025 08:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Dunelm has reported strong sales growth for the 13-week period ending 29 March 2025, with total sales rising by 6.3% to £462m.The retailer said its positive performance was driven by broad-based growth across both homewares and furniture categories, alongside a solid start to its new Spring/Summer ranges.
  Digital sales also showed progress, making up 41% of total sales—up from 37% in the same period last year.
  Gross margin improved by 30 basis points year-on-year, and full-year guida
  
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• Navigating the Next Chapter of Retail Media: How Self-Serve is Putting Retailers in the Driving Seat

  17-04-2025 03:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  By Dylan Husler, VP Retail Media, Kevel. It’s fair to say one of the bigger trends in retail media is most certainly the growth in self-service,... View Article
  
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• Temu and Shein slash US ad spending as trade war hits

  17-04-2025 02:56
  
  Chinese retailers’ retreat threatens Big Tech advertising revenues
  
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