Retail news

• Footasylum to launch 40 shops across Gulf region

  18-12-2025 15:48 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Footasylum is set to expand into the Gulf region through a new franchise partnership. 
  The footwear retailer, which recently unveiled plans to expand into Germany and Austria, is gearing up to launch 40 stores across the region over the next five years via a strategic partnership with Apparel Group, Drapers reported.
  The Dubai retail giant will also partner with the sportswear specialist across wholesale and ecommerce in the Gulf region.
  Footasylum is set to leverage Apparel Group’s p
  
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• Waterstones and Barnes & Noble owner prepares for bookseller listings

  18-12-2025 15:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Waterstones and Barnes & Noble owner Elliott Investment Management is reportedly gearing up to list the bookstores on the UK or US stock market.
  The US hedge fund has had conversations with potential advisers over an IPO (initial public offering), according to the Financial Times.
  Elliott is believed to favour London over New York for the IPO, with the listing expected for next year.
  Although initial discussions are underway, no final decision has been taken, with the plans subject to change
  
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• Consumer confidence nudges up despite ‘gloomy’ outlook

  18-12-2025 12:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  UK consumer confidence marginally rose in December despite remaining “gloomy”, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
  BRC-Opinium data revealed consumer expectations over the next three months of the state of the economy improved to -38 in December, from -44 in November.
  Expectations for personal financial situation over the same period improved to -10 in December, compared to -16 the month before.Related Story Usdaw calls for retail staff to be offered free jabs amid flu
  
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• Festive spending on cats has risen 26%, says Pets at Home

  18-12-2025 11:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  A new report by Pets at Home says “cats are the biggest winners of festive shopping” this year.
  Research from the retailer showed that seasonal spending for pets is up 4% year-on-year, and spending on cat products has risen by over 26%. Spending on small animals is up 40%, and spending on dogs has grown by 2%.
  According to the data, 88% of shoppers prefer to buy Christmas pet treats and toys in-store, and experiential retail is a key component of customers’ purchasing decisions
  
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• Amazon in discussions to invest £7.5bn in OpenAI

  18-12-2025 11:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Amazon is reportedly considering an investment of more than £7.5bn ($10bn) in OpenAI under the latest funding deal agreed by the ChatGPT developer.
  If the deal is made, the market valuation of the startup could grow above $500bn (£375bn), The Information reported. 
  Amazon’s investment would help OpenAI finance its commitments to rent capacity from cloud computing businesses, which include Amazon.Related Story Tesco launches tie-up with Mistral AI18/12/2025 x 8:46 AMIn Nove
  
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• Footasylum partners with Apparel Group to drive Gulf expansion

  18-12-2025 11:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  Footasylum has entered into a strategic partnership with Apparel Group to accelerate its expansion across the Gulf region. Under the agreement, Footasylum will partner with the... View Article
  
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• Currys reports £22 million group-adjusted profit

  18-12-2025 10:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Technology retailer Currys has recorded a group-adjusted profit of £22 million (before tax), a 144% increase year-over-year.
  The retailer published its interim financial results today (18 December) for the half-year ended 1 November 2025, which showed that its group’s free cash flow increased 68% year-on-year to £84 million.
  While total revenue for the reporting period was £4.23 billion, driven by like-for-like (LFL) revenue of +4%.
  Alex Baldock, group chief executive sai
  
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• Waterstones and Barnes & Noble owner plans to list booksellers on stock market

  18-12-2025 10:32
  US hedge fund Elliott thought to prefer London over New York, which could be welcome boost to UK stock marketBusiness live – latest updatesThe owner of Waterstones and Barnes & Noble is reportedly preparing to list the booksellers on the stock market.Elliott Investment Management, the hedge fund that owns the most popular bookstores in the US and the UK, has spoken to potential advisers about an initial public offering (IPO), the Financial Times reported. Continue reading...
  
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• Waterstones and Barnes & Noble owner looks to list booksellers on stock market

  18-12-2025 10:32
  US hedge fund Elliott thought to prefer IPO in London over New York, which could be welcome boost to UK stock marketBusiness live – latest updatesThe owner of Waterstones and Barnes & Noble is reportedly preparing to list the booksellers on the stock market.Elliott Investment Management, the hedge fund that owns the most popular bookstores in the US and the UK, has spoken to potential advisers about an initial public offering (IPO), the Financial Times reported. Continue reading...
  
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• Naked Wines pushes forecast to top end of guidance

  18-12-2025 10:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Naked Wines has forecast its adjusted EBITDA to come in at the top end of its previously published guidance.
  Providing an update on its expected FY26 financial performance, the wine retailer said the move reflected the “current success of peak trading across all markets” as well as its “disciplined approach to all cost areas”.
  It also noted that its “strategy of removing inefficient investment” would see its revenues come in at the lower end of its guidance.Re
  
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• Mamas & Papas posts record Black Friday as sales surge

  18-12-2025 10:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Mamas & Papas reported record trading over the Black Friday period, underpinned by strong demand across both stores and online, the business said.
  The nursery and baby products retailer said UK sales, including standalone stores, concessions and ecommerce, increased by 10% over the five weeks to 30 November. Performance was led by nursery furniture, which rose 13%, and travel systems, up 11%.
  The retailer also said its newly launched Ocarro 2 pushchair performed ahead of plan during the peri
  
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• Tesco launches tie-up with Mistral AI

  18-12-2025 09:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Tesco has unveiled a three-year partnership with Mistral AI to develop “cutting edge” AI solutions, which includes a revamp of its personalised Clubcard offers.
  The deal forms part of a wider strategy to embrace AI within the supermarket’s retail offer, The Grocer reported.
  The tie-up will grant the retailer full access to Mistral’s commercial models, including any future developments, and its AI engineers.
  It includes a commitment for the businesses to work together via
  
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• From the Archive: Flanagans Supermarket Direct

  18-12-2025 09:45 via theretailbulletin.com
  ‘From the Archive’ is the regular column that revisits some of the more interesting retail stories covered over the past 30 years by Glynn Davis for... View Article
  
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• Mamas & Papas hails ‘record’ Black Friday trading

  18-12-2025 09:40 via theretailbulletin.com
  Mamas & Papas has reported record sales over the Black Friday trading period. The retailer delivered a 10% increase in UK retail sales across stores, concessions... View Article
  
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• Currys posts strong first half growth

  18-12-2025 09:39 via theretailbulletin.com
  Currys has reported a strong uplift in first half profit as trading in its second half remains in line with expectations. In the six months to... View Article
  
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• Usdaw calls for retail staff to be offered free jabs amid flu ‘tidal wave’

  18-12-2025 09:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Usdaw has called for shop workers to be included in a programme of free jabs, as it welcomes the Government’s efforts to increase flu vaccines.
  The retail trade union has also called on employers to ensure that their staff have time to be vaccinated.
  Usdaw general secretary Joanne Thomas said: “Retail staff deal with hundreds if not thousands of shoppers every day, particularly in the busy run to Christmas, they need to be protected from flu and help ensure they don’t pass on t
  
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• Morleys appoints new chief executive

  18-12-2025 08:33 via theretailbulletin.com
  Morleys Department Stores has appointed Ray Clacher as its new chief executive He will succeed Allan Winstanley who will be stepping down at the end of... View Article
  
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• Q&A with Luke Elliott, Vice President of Ecommerce, Europe at Pattern

  18-12-2025 07:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Luke Elliott is the Vice President of Ecommerce, Europe at Pattern – a leader in accelerating brands on global ecommerce marketplaces by leveraging proprietary technology and... View Article
  
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• Elliott gears up to list Barnes & Noble and Waterstones in London or US

  18-12-2025 06:00
  US investor is close to appointing advisers for an IPO for booksellers next year
  
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• A Chocolate Orange has doubled in price – and got smaller. Why?

  18-12-2025 06:00
  From Quality Street to Toblerone to the Terry’s classic, festive treats are becoming more of a luxury – and it’s not just down to the price of cocoa You’re right – it is smaller. The Terry’s Chocolate Orange on shop shelves this Christmas weighs 12g less than it did this time last year. That’s a decrease in size of 8% – not as big a cut as when the product lost 10% of its mass in 2016, but a further whittling away of a favourite Christmas treat.Pri
  
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