Retail news

• In Pictures: Hackett’s SS26 campaign

  11-03-2026 17:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Menswear fashion brand Hackett has unveiled a new campaign, which celebrates “a man shaped not by one achievement, but by the experiences that made him who he is”.
  It stars model David Gandy.
  Titled ‘The Journey of Man’, the marketing drive explores the idea that “a man is not defined by his destination, but by the journey he takes”. Related Story In pictures: Retailers celebrate King Charles III’s Coronation weekend05/05/2023 x 11:31 AM
  The campaign was
  
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• Fortnum & Mason named official hospitality partner of The Boat Race

  11-03-2026 16:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Luxury department store Fortnum & Mason has been named as an official hospitality partner of The Chanel J12 Boat Race 2026.
  As part of the collaboration, the retailer will provide dining experiences to hospitality guests at the race. It will also supply luxury picnic hampers on VIP launches following the races.
  Friends of Fortnum’s members will receive exclusive Boat Race content and offers.Related Story Fortnum & Mason sales climb as profits rebound13/01/2026 x 10:48 AMLiz Darran,
  
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• Microsoft supports Anthropic lawsuit over Pentagon supply chain blacklist

  11-03-2026 13:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Microsoft has backed a legal challenge by AI startup Anthropic against a decision by the United States Department of Defense to classify the firm as a supply-chain risk.
  In a filing submitted to a federal court in San Francisco, according to Reuters, Microsoft asked the court to temporarily block the Pentagon’s designation while the case is being considered.
  The software giant submitted an amicus brief supporting Anthropic’s request for a temporary restraining order, arguing that the
  
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• If AI finds the product, what makes customers stay?

  11-03-2026 13:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  AI is shaping how products are evaluated, and increasingly, how they are purchased, writes Frances Dennis, chief marketing officer at Brandwidth.
  Agentic search is accelerating, commerce protocols are evolving and advertising inside conversational interfaces is currently being tested. Even in its relatively infant stage, a significant proportion of customers already prefer generative AI to traditional search.
  This will have commercial consequences. Traffic from agentic environments is converting
  
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• Zara owner Inditex profits and sales rise with strong start to Q1

  11-03-2026 12:21 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Zara owner Inditex posted an uplift in profits and sales in its annual results, as it claimed the new year was off to a good start.
  EBIT grew 5.9 per cent to £6.9 billion from January 2025 to the end of January 2026. Pre-tax profit rose 5.8 per cent to £6.9 billion, of which roughly £4.8 billion was made from the Zara fashion and homeware business.
  Revenues also jumped 3.2 per cent to £34.5 billion over the period. 
  Sales were up 1 per cent at Zara to &poun
  
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• Asda grants staff bonuses despite missing targets, report claims

  11-03-2026 11:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Asda is granting thousands of workers bonuses despite missing targets in its turnaround drive, according to a report.
  The grocery giant told 9,500 staff members, including head office workers and senior leaders in stores, that they would all be given a thank-you payment at the end of March, The Telegraph reported.
  In a memo sent to workers, viewed by The Telegraph, the supermarket’s chair Allan Leighton said all salaried staff who had begun working for the company before October 2025 would
  
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• How retail businesses use music

  11-03-2026 11:14 via theretailbulletin.com
  Retail businesses strategically use music to shape customer experience, influence purchasing behaviour, and craft memorable brand environments in-store. By tailoring playlists and soundscapes to the retail... View Article
  
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• HFSS ad ban set to affect just 1% of UK food advertising spend

  11-03-2026 09:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  New UK restrictions on the advertising of unhealthy food could ultimately affect as little as 1 per cent of total industry ad spend once brands adapt their marketing strategies, according to new analysis.
  Research from innovation foundation Nesta suggests that gaps in the legislation may allow most advertising budgets to shift into channels that remain outside the scope of the rules.
  The UK government introduced the new restrictions on 5 January 2026, banning paid online adverts and television a
  
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• Zara owner posts rise in full year sales and profit

  11-03-2026 09:56 via theretailbulletin.com
  Zara owner Inditex has grown its sales and profit in its 2025 financial year. The company attributed its performance to innovation, diversification and the flexibility of... View Article
  
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• Superdrug spotlights viral products in new store initiative

  11-03-2026 09:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Health and Beauty retailer Superdrug has unveiled a new in-store initiative that aims to showcase the latest trending and viral beauty products.
  The ‘Next Big Thing’ has been launched in 40 stores and is set to expand to 122 locations nationwide by the end of March.
  It features brands such as Made by Mitchell, Anua, Medicube, Biodance, HaruHaru Wonder and Skin1004. Additional end-cap displays feature Tir Tir and Daise alongside trending products from Revolution Beauty. Related Story
  
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• [Commentary] Teresa Long: Customer Centric Retail: What are the risks?

  11-03-2026 09:29 via theretailbulletin.com
  Industry Leader for Retail, Leisure & Hospitality for GB Risk Teresa Long shares with TRB her summary of Customer Centric Retail: 4th March. It is great... View Article
  
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• Mother’s Day spending set to hit £18bn as premium gifting drives growth

  11-03-2026 09:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  UK retail spending for Mother’s Day is forecast to reach £18bn in 2026, as shoppers increasingly opt for premium food, drink and personalised gifts to mark the occasion.
  New research from shopper marketing agency Savvy Marketing suggests spending will rise by around 15 per cent year on year, driven by high levels of participation and a growing preference for more “considered and experiential celebrations”.
  The survey of 1,000 UK consumers found that 65 per cent of shopper
  
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• The Range, Wilko and Homebase owner taps AI forecasting platform to transform supply chain

  11-03-2026 09:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  The owner of The Range, Wilko and Homebase is turning to artificial intelligence to manage the growing complexity of its retail empire.
  CDS Superstores has selected RELEX Solutions to roll out AI-driven forecasting and replenishment across its store and distribution network, a move designed to strengthen availability and improve supply chain responsiveness as the business continues to scale.
  The technology will be implemented with the support of supply chain consultancy Demandtex.
  The decision h
  
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• Primark raises hourly pay for more than 27,000 retail workers across GB

  11-03-2026 09:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Primark has announced it will increase hourly pay for its retail colleagues across Great Britain, with more than 27,000 workers set to benefit from the change.
  From April 1, the retailer will raise the average hourly pay rate for retail assistants to a minimum of £13.00 across England, Scotland and Wales, rising to £13.71 per hour for colleagues working in London.
  Primark said the latest uplift means that, on average, a colleague will have seen their hourly pay increase by more than
  
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• Aldi to create more than 1,100 store roles as part of £370m expansion

  11-03-2026 09:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Aldi is set to create more than 1,100 new store roles this year as it invests over £370m in the opening of 40 new shops across the UK.
  The retailer said the new jobs will include a mix of full-time and part-time positions, spanning store assistants, cleaners and store managers.
  The recruitment drive comes as Aldi continues its rapid UK expansion. The supermarket currently operates more than 1,080 stores nationwide and has steadily increased its footprint as it competes with established riv
  
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• Superdrug rolls out new fixtures to highlight trending beauty products

  11-03-2026 08:47 via theretailbulletin.com
  Superdrug is rolling out new in-store fixtures to showcase the latest trending and viral beauty products. Part of the retailer’s strategy to enhance its in-store experience,... View Article
  
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• Primark increases pay for 27,000 store staff

  11-03-2026 08:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  Primark is to increase pay for 27,000 workers in England, Scotland and Wales. From 1 April, the average rates of hourly pay for retail assistants will... View Article
  
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• Aldi to create 1,100 jobs this year

  11-03-2026 07:52 via theretailbulletin.com
  Aldi is to create more than 1,100 new store roles this year as it prepares to invest more than £370 million in the opening of 40... View Article
  
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• B&Q rolls out paint recycling trial

  11-03-2026 07:34 via theretailbulletin.com
  B&Q is partnering with the British Coatings Federation on the roll out of a paint recycling trial in selected stores. The retailer is taking part in... View Article
  
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• Oatly’s head of food and drinks experience on turning taste, culture and conviction into a strong brand story

  11-03-2026 01:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Few brands in the dairy alternatives category have shaped the conversation quite like Oatly.
  Founded in 1994 in Sweden, the oat drink pioneer has grown from a niche plant-based disruptor into a globally recognisable brand synonymous with dairy alternatives. With a market capitalisation of roughly $338 to $365 million as of March 2026, Oatly has built its reputation not simply on product innovation, but on a distinctive marketing philosophy that blends culture, taste and activism.
  For Rowena
  
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