Retail news

• Death of a dream: Saks’ crisis exposes luxury department store woes

  16-01-2026 19:10 via ft.com
  Chain sought to be the ultimate retailer in the sector but its collapse suggests plenty of shoppers never wanted it at all
  
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• Frasers Group integrates Sports Direct membership into Frasers Plus

  16-01-2026 16:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Frasers Group has updated its customer loyalty offering, integrating Sports Direct membership into Frasers Plus to create one unified, rewards platform.
  Frasers Plus forms the firm’s FCA-regulated credit payment account, which rewards customers every time they shop across the Frasers Group portfolio and its partner retailers. 
  With its new integration, which launches in February, Frasers Plus users will gain access to “greater rewards” with “more exclusive benefits a
  
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• Asda Express hits milestone with new convenience stores

  16-01-2026 15:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Asda Express has launched two new stores, taking its total number of convenience stores to more than 500.
  The business has opened a new shop in Bradford in the converted old Hare and Hounds pub on Toller Lane.
  It also launched a store in Salford, located on Norton Street close to Salford Central train station.
  The new stores support the supermarket’s ambition to strengthen its presence in high-footfall urban areas, residential neighbourhoods, and transport hubs. Related Story Asda faces de
  
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• Fenwick and Selected bolster tie-up with omnichannel activation

  16-01-2026 15:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Fenwick has strengthened its partnership with Danish fashion brand Selected.
  On Wednesday (13 January), the two retailers expanded their tie-up with a nationwide omnichannel activation designed to “immerse customers in the brand” across all eight Fenwick stores, “supported by rich digital and social content”.
  Launching across the department store’s locations, the partnership will be brought to life through Selected window takeovers, refreshed shop fits and a program
  
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• Walmart overhauls executive team in ecommerce push

  16-01-2026 15:08 via ft.com
  US retailer promotes two former Amazon employees ahead of John Furner’s start as chief executive
  
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• Saks Global receives court approval for $400m rescue financing

  16-01-2026 15:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Saks Global has received approval from a US bankruptcy judge to draw on $400m in new cash, despite objections from its estranged business partner Amazon, reports The Sun.
  US bankruptcy Judge Alfredo Perez approved the financing on Wednesday during a court hearing in Houston, Texas, saying that the cash would give Saks an opportunity to stabilise its business and restructure its debt, said the publication.
  During the hearing, Saks chief restructuring officer Mark Weinstein said the business
  
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• Liberty names new retail managing director

  16-01-2026 12:44 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Liberty has promoted Lydia King as managing director of retail, with the role taking effect immediately.
  As group buying and merchandising director, King was responsible for shaping the luxury department store’s buying strategy across its fashion, beauty and lifestyle divisions.
  In her new role, she will continue to oversee Liberty’s buying and merchandising teams and will also take responsibility for the retailer’s flagship London store.
  “Liberty is a truly special busin
  
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• Boots Opticians unveils ‘because there’s only one choice’ campaign

  16-01-2026 11:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Boots Opticians has unveiled a new brand advertising campaign, highlighting the range of services available at the retailer.
  Showcased across TV, radio, social media and OOH and developed with media agency The River Group, the optician’s new ‘because there’s only one choice’ campaign features four short scenes that focus on everyday moments made possible by clear vision
  Launching today (16 January), the advert includes seeing a child’s artwork clearly, playing sport
  
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• Aldi warns shoppers face £2000 ‘postcode penalty’ on groceries

  16-01-2026 10:40 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Families in more than 200 UK towns are paying hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of pounds more a year for their grocery shopping because they do not have access to a discount supermarket, according to new research from Aldi.
  Data from a price comparisons of a typical 68-item shopping basket tracked by consumer group Which? showed that households without an Aldi nearby are paying an average of £826 more a year on groceries.
  This cost rose to as much as £2,437 in areas dominated b
  
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• In pictures: Source Fashion concludes final day of trade show

  16-01-2026 10:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Retail trade show Source Fashion concluded at Olympia London yesterday (15 January), bringing three days of sourcing and collaboration to a close.
  The event saw buyers, brands and manufacturers come together to “drive progress across the fashion supply chain”. 
  The show saw a 16% increase in visitors and a 12% rise in exhibitors.
  Buyers and sourcing teams from across the fashion industry attended throughout the final day, including representatives from Marks & Spencer,
  
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• Tesco launches new celebrity cooking series

  16-01-2026 10:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Tesco has produced a new eight-part content series, Tesco Kitchen, to help “inspire customers with mouth-watering new recipes”.
  In each episode hosts Seema Pankhania and Greg James will welcome chefs, food writers and well-known food and drink experts.
  The guest will choose a dish that is meaningful to them to cook alongside the hosts with Pankhania, of @seemagetsbaked, making a complimentary dish. The first episode, which launched on YouTube this week, featured Channel Four presente
  
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• Under Armour announces senior leadership appointments

  16-01-2026 08:24 via theretailbulletin.com
  Under Armour has announced a series of senior leadership appointments to accelerate its transformation. The company has appointed Kara Trent as chief merchandising officer to lead... View Article
  
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• IKEA pilots virtual product experience in Welcome to Bloxburg

  16-01-2026 07:02 via theretailbulletin.com
  IKEA is testing a new digital experience in Welcome to Bloxburg, a life-simulation game on the Roblox platform where players build and design homes. Running in... View Article
  
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• British Heart Foundation appoints former Asda executive as chief commercial officer

  16-01-2026 06:26 via theretailbulletin.com
  British Heart Foundation, the UK’s largest charity retailer, has appointed Allison Swaine-Hughes as chief commercial officer. With more than 30 years’ retail leadership experience, including senior roles... View Article
  
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• Adidas Foundation highlights sport’s social value as Yeezy controversy fades

  16-01-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  First big initiative backs projects that tackle hate and discrimination
  
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