Retail news

• ABF/Primark: Weston union

  05-11-2019 19:52 via ft.com
  The conglomerate’s family owners provide a stability that investors should welcome
  
  Read more

• Tesco snaps up Amazon Fresh sites for Express expansion

  09-02-2026 11:46
  Tesco has outlined its store growth ambitions for 2026, including openings in five former Amazon Fresh sites.
  The supermarket said that it was “on track” to launch more than 70 Express stores before March 2027, after opening 60 new Express stores last year.
  Tesco said that its growth had been boosted by the acquisition of five former Amazon Fresh stores in London. 
  Former Amazon Fresh sites in Kensington High Street, Hounslow, Moorgate, Aldgate East and Wembley are set to reopen
  
  Read more

• Morrisons convenience and wholesale director exits

  09-02-2026 10:23
  Morrisons director of convenience and wholesale Matt Heslop has stepped down from his role at the supermarket.
  The exec joined Morrisons in March 2025, having previously worked for rival grocer Lidl for more than 20 years in various positions.
  He most recently served as Lidl UK’s chief operating officer (COO) from January 2017 to March 2025.Related Story Facial recognition: Sainsbury’s removes innocent shopper misidentified as offender06/02/2026 x 10:03 AMPrior to this, he worked as
  
  Read more

• Dunelm strengthens executive team with new hires

  09-02-2026 09:54
  Homeware retailer Dunelm has bolstered its executive team with two new hires to support the next phase of its growth.
  Laura Harricks has been appointed chief customer officer (CCO) and will join the business in early March.
  She was previously CCO at Ocado Retail and also worked at Monsoon Accessorize and Currys.Related Story Dunelm posts ‘solid’ Christmas as profits outlook trimmed15/01/2026 x 8:46 AMCaroline Angell joins Dunelm as chief people officer (CPO) with immediate effect.
  Sh
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Dunelm strengthens executive team with two senior hires

  09-02-2026 09:44 via theretailbulletin.com
  Dunelm has strengthened its executive team with the appointment of Laura Harricks as chief customer officer and Caroline Angell as chief people officer. Due to join... View Article
  
  Read more

• Bloobloom opens Notting Hill store as part of London expansion

  09-02-2026 09:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  French eyewear brand Bloobloom has opened a new store in London‘s Notting Hill as it continues to expand across the capital. The 900 square foot store... View Article
  
  Read more

• Ocado cost saving drive puts 1,000 jobs at risk

  09-02-2026 09:20 via theretailbulletin.com
  Ocado Group is reported to be considering cutting up to 1,000 jobs, roughly 5% of its workforce, as it looks to reduce costs after a difficult... View Article
  
  Read more

• M&S to include alcohol in its healthy food sales target

  09-02-2026 07:37 via theretailbulletin.com
  M&S is to include sales of alcohol in its reporting of food sales as it looks to offer uncreased transparency on the percentage of healthy food... View Article
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Is Australia getting ruder? How to be kinder to others in everyday life – and break the contagion of rage

  08-02-2026 15:00
  Slow down, take a deep breath, maybe even let the other car take the park. In the face of rudeness, sometimes the most radical thing to do is remain passively politeGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailThink of a typical day in our angry world. You open social media and read abuse either directed at yourself or someone else, then you get in your car and find yourself aggressively overtaken while driving at the speed limit. You pull into a shopping mall car park, where another driver execut
  
  Read more

• ‘It has to be amazing’: Liberty links with Bridgerton as it capitalises on maximalist trend

  08-02-2026 12:00
  Department store’s retail boss reveals how it is thriving by focusing on unique items and tie-ups from Adidas to Grayson PerryOn a damp Thursday in central London, shoppers have fled the rain to indulge in some Bridgerton-themed escapism at upmarket department store Liberty, which has dedicated its fourth floor to the raunchy period drama.“When customers come to Liberty they want the discovery of new brands or something a bit different,” says Lydia King, Liberty’s new ret
  
  Read more

• Modern Milkman to collect unwanted electronics and toys with deliveries

  08-02-2026 08:00
  Grocery delivery firm will begin picking up broken tech across the UK and charging consumers to recycle itemsA UK dairy delivery business is to begin collecting unwanted or broken toys, mobile phones and laptops while dropping off milk, orange juice and butter in its latest attempt to expand.The Modern Milkman was founded by entrepreneur Simon Mellin in Burnley, north-west England, in 2019 and delivers groceries to more than 100,000 households across the UK. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Chocolatier that inspired Roald Dahl closes historic London shop

  07-02-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  Prestat agreed closure as part of a deal that will lead to it being taken over by L’Artisan du Chocolat
  
  Read more

• ‘Quality really matters’: why the organic food market is booming again

  06-02-2026 17:52
  Greater awareness of healthy diets and concerns over ‘trusted’ food mean sales are growing at fastest pace in two decadesWhen household finances were plunged into turmoil during the credit crunch, one of the first things that Britons cancelled was their veg box delivery.But although the cost of living crisis persists, the organic market is enjoying its biggest boom in two decades, according to the veg box seller Riverford. It is not just fruit and veg, with a “massive” in
  
  Read more

• Levi’s sales grow in UK as celebrities drive denim revival

  06-02-2026 16:21
  Noel Gallagher and Harry Styles lead way, and sales of jeans in general rise faster than wider fashion marketThe UK was one of Levi’s fastest-growing markets last year as British trend leaders from Harry Styles to Noel Gallagher and Grime Gran were spotted in the brand’s kit.Lucia Marcuzzo, the managing director of the European operations at the US company famous for its denim jeans, said the revival of 1990s trends had boosted sales of its classic 501s. New trends such as baggy jean
  
  Read more

• Freemans celebrates sixth consecutive year of Christmas growth

  06-02-2026 16:19
  Online department store Freemans has reported its sixth consecutive year of growth over Christmas.
  The retailer, which ditched its print catalogue in 2023, saw revenues grow 12% over the four weeks to Christmas, while sales also increased 9% over the 12 weeks to 2 January.
  The company’s new shopper numbers jumped 9%, website visits rose 10%, home category revenues climbed 16%, and fashion sales grew 3%.
  The figures come as the broader UK retail market witnessed a 0.3% decline over Q4.Relat
  
  Read more

• Freemans hails ‘exceptional’ growth over Golden Quarter

  06-02-2026 16:17 via theretailbulletin.com
  Digital department store Freemans saw “exceptional” sales growth of 12% in the four weeks to Christmas. The retailer said festive sales were boosted by the launch... View Article
  
  Read more

• John Lewis partners with Benugo to revamp in-store restaurants

  06-02-2026 14:06
  Department store chain John Lewis has teamed up with catering company Benugo to revamp 32 of its restaurants.
  The cafe brand secured the partnership with John Lewis after a two-year process, The Caterer reported.
  All of the new restaurants are set to be redesigned with a focus on fresh, high-quality food and welcoming spaces.
  Menus will feature deli, bakery and handmade pizza options, which all use locally-sourced ingredients.
  The in-store restaurants will run under a new brand and name, that wi
  
  Read more

• British shoppers ‘most sceptical’ of marketing communications, according to Intuit report

  06-02-2026 11:08
  British consumers are most likely to opt in to email communications, according to a new report from Intuit, the company behind Mailchimp and QuickBooks.
  However, it found British shoppers were also the “most sceptical”, with 40% of respondents highlighting that they do not trust brands with their personal data and 55% reporting they unsubscribed if they found the content was irrelevant.
  The report, titled ‘The Art of the Opt-In: Why List Building is Only the Beginning’, s
  
  Read more

• Facial recognition: Sainsbury’s removes innocent shopper misidentified as offender

  06-02-2026 11:03
  Sainsbury’s has apologised to a shopper after they were ejected from a store due to a mix-up with workers and the shop’s facial recognition system.
  Warren Rajah was visiting the retailer’s Elephant and Castle store, in south London, when he was confronted by employees and told he had been flagged by the shop’s facial recognition system, reported the BBC.
  The 42-year-old tech worker claimed that he was then escorted from the store by staff.
  When Rajah asked why, he wa
  
  Read more

• Retailers unveil Valentine’s Day dining deals

  06-02-2026 10:36
  It’s February, and that means love is in the air.
  On Saturday 14 February, couples across the country will celebrate St Valentine’s Day, offering each other gifts as an act of love.
  As we approach the most romantic day of the year, major retailers have already unveiled various dine-at-home deals.
  Here, Grocery Gazette looks at some of the top offers at supermarkets nationwide.Related Story Lidl unveils seventh pay rise since 202306/02/2026 x 6:00 AMClick here to sign up to Retail Gaz
  
  Read more

• K-Way to make West End debut on Carnaby Street

  06-02-2026 09:39 via theretailbulletin.com
  The K-Way French outerwear brand is to open its first store in London’s West End in Carnaby Street. The brand’s 1,400 square foot flagship will offer a... View Article
  
  Read more

• Retail Trust appoints Tracey Clements and Matt Birch to trustee board

  06-02-2026 08:40 via theretailbulletin.com
  Retail Trust has appointed Tracey Clements and Matt Birch as new trustees of the retail charity. Clements is currently chief retail, logistics and supply chain officer at... View Article
  
  Read more

• Waitrose acquires Surrey shopping centre to secure future of store

  06-02-2026 07:57 via theretailbulletin.com
  Waitrose has acquired the freehold of the 54,000 square foot Hersham Green Shopping Centre in Surrey. In a statement, the retailer said the purchase will secure... View Article
  
  Read more

• Pandora appoints Philippa Newman as chief product officer

  06-02-2026 07:54 via theretailbulletin.com
  Pandora has appointed Philippa Newman as its new chief product officer. Due to take up her role in March, Newman will lead the jewellery brand’s product... View Article
  
  Read more

• Frasers Group takes majority stake in Italy’s Maxi Sport

  06-02-2026 07:18 via theretailbulletin.com
  Sports Direct owner Frasers Group is to acquire a majority stake in Maxi Sport SpA. The premium multi-sport retailer operates 18 stores across Italy. The move... View Article
  
  Read more

• Lidl unveils seventh pay rise since 2023

  06-02-2026 07:00
  Lidl GB has unveiled a £29m investment in staff pay, which it says will “once again” make it the highest paying UK supermarket. 
  From 1 March, the business’s entry-level hourly pay will rise to £13.45 nationally, increasing to £14.45 with length of service. 
  In London, hourly pay will grow from £14.35 to £14.80, rising further to £15.30 with length of service.
  The changes are set to benefit all 35,000 of the supermarket’s work
  
  Read more

• Almost a quarter of soup on sale in UK supermarkets has too much salt, study finds

  06-02-2026 07:00
  Analysis of nearly 500 tinned and chilled products finds 23% exceed government’s voluntary salt targetNearly a quarter of all soup bought in supermarkets contains too much salt, with one brand containing more salt than two McDonald’s cheeseburgers, according to research.Soup has long had a reputation for being a healthy choice for lunch. The analysis of nearly 500 varieties of tinned and chilled soups sold in supermarkets found that 23% contained too much salt. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Amazon shares sink as it prepares $200bn AI spending blitz

  05-02-2026 23:03 via ft.com
  Capital expenditure forecasts for 2026 were a third higher than Wall Street’s expectations
  
  Read more

• Puma’s new Chinese backer will give Nike a run for its money

  05-02-2026 23:00 via ft.com
  Anta’s sales have grown on average 17 per cent a year for the past five years, with the US maker of the famous swoosh managing 4 per cent
  
  Read more

• WHSmith opens new sites in Manchester and Liverpool airports

  05-02-2026 21:43 via theretailbulletin.com
  WHSmith has officially opened three new spaces across Manchester and Liverpool John Lennon airports as it invests in travel hubs in the north of the UK.... View Article
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!