Retail news

• AI adoption jumps across logistics as retailers face supply chain readiness gap

  03-07-2026 08:51
  AI use across UK logistics has surged in the first months of 2026, but a new report warns that many supply chain operators still lack the data and systems needed to make the technology work properly.
  The research created by Parcelhero, titled Putting the AI into Supply ChAIns, found that the proportion of UK transport and storage firms using AI rose from 16.1 per cent to 27.1 per cent in the first quarter of the year.
  It said the 11 per cent jump showed that AI was moving beyond trial projects a
  
  Read more

• Heatwave and World Cup hit high street sales as shoppers divert spend

  03-07-2026 08:43
  
  High street sales barely grew in June as the heatwave and the World Cup weighed on discretionary retail spending, according to new figures from BDO.
  The firm’s latest High Street Sales Tracker found total like-for-like sales across discretionary categories rose just 0.6 per cent compared with June last year.
  BDO said the figure was substantially below inflation, meaning sales volumes fell during the month.
  The weak performance marked a return to the sluggish trading that has affected much
  
  Read more

• Next hires former Asos ESG boss to lead brand sales and marketing

  03-07-2026 08:38
  Next has appointed former Asos ESG boss Jodie Leek to lead brand sales and marketing as the retailer continues to grow its fashion brand portfolio.
  Leek joins the high street giant with more than 25 years’ experience across global sourcing, supply chain management, brand engagement and sustainability.
  She spent seven years at Asos, most recently as head of ESG, where she oversaw brand engagement and led work across human rights due diligence, environmental performance, chemical compliance
  
  Read more

• John Lewis Partnership appoints former Tesco Bank CEO to John Lewis Finance board

  03-07-2026 08:24 via theretailbulletin.com
  John Lewis Partnership has appointed Gerry Mallon as a non-executive director of John Lewis Finance, a regulated subsidiary of the John Lewis Partnership that oversees John... View Article
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Ocado shareholders call for removal of chair Adam Warby

  03-07-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  Boardroom battle escalates after plot to oust founder and CEO Tim Steiner
  
  Read more

• Gymshark founder in talks to buy back stake from General Atlantic

  03-07-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  34-year-old Ben Francis is seeking to cement his control over fitness brand after a rocky period for the business
  
  Read more

• Asda names New Look head Helen Connolly as George chief executive

  03-07-2026 00:25 via theretailbulletin.com
  Asda has appointed New Look head Helen Connolly as chief executive of George, marking a return to the business for her. With more than 30 years’... View Article
  
  Read more

• Brompton sells stake to Decathlon and Chinese investor

  02-07-2026 22:16 via theretailbulletin.com
  Brompton has sold small stakes in its business to French sporting goods retailer Decathlon and Chinese investment firm BA Capital. The British bike maker said the... View Article
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Apollo struggles to sell Hispanic grocer after US immigration raids hit sales

  02-07-2026 19:16 via ft.com
  Investors and analysts say customers’ fear of Trump’s deportation campaign weakened the private equity-owned chain
  
  Read more

• From CBD to magnesium: What comes next for functional drinks?

  02-07-2026 15:06
  
  Functional drinks are moving into the mainstream, but industry experts say success will depend on supply chains and innovation keeping pace with changing consumer demand.
  The UK’s functional drinks market is growing fast, with sales rising 24.5 per cent over the past year. Almost 30 per cent of UK households now buy functional drinks, and the category is worth around £178 million, according to Worldpanel by Numerator.
  It is understood that the trend is being driven by consumers looki
  
  Read more

• Pret faces fresh protest over welfare pledge

  02-07-2026 14:52
  
   
  Pret has faced a fresh wave of protests over its decision to delay a commitment to stop sourcing fast-growing chicken breeds.
  Led by naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham in London, and organised by campaign groups Anima and Project Slingshot, Packham said he would not return to the retailer until it delivers on a welfare pledge first made in 2018.
  The demonstration comes in the wake of Pret’s alleged failure to stick to its previous commitment to phase out fast-growing “Fr
  
  Read more

• World Cup drives surge in football fashion sales, says Debenhams Group

  02-07-2026 14:00
  
  Football-inspired fashion is proving popular with shoppers during the World Cup, according to new figures from Debenhams Group.
  The online retailer said football-related product sales at boohoo rose by 1,827 per cent between May and June, while searches increased by 600 per cent as the tournament gathered pace.
  The company said interest also extended beyond replica kits. Its England Football T-shirt was its best-selling football-themed product during the tournament. While its England Football St
  
  Read more

• Lidl extends self-scan trial to 37 more UK stores

  02-07-2026 12:52 via theretailbulletin.com
  Lidl is extending its Lidl & Go self-scanning trial to a further 37 UK stores following positive feedback from customers in an initial seven shops. The... View Article
  
  Read more

• Landsec’s Ben Padley on why activations at Piccadilly Lights are a must

  02-07-2026 11:45
  
  The Piccadilly Lights are a familiar sight to any tourist, local or commuter.
  Turning 118 years old this year, they are one of the most well known out-of-home locations in the UK and always popular with tourists.
  Under the lights there is The Venue at Piccadilly Lights, an experience space that allows brands to set up live experiences and amplify their message using the Lights.
  Ben Padley, head of consumer at Landsec said he counted at least 18 tourists taking photos on the short walk from the L
  
  Read more

• Clarks steps up European expansion after return to profit

  02-07-2026 11:23
  
  Clarks has opened a new store at Santangelo Outlet Village in Italy as it accelerates its expansion across Europe.
  The opening forms part of a wider growth strategy spanning retail, wholesale, franchise partnerships and marketplaces, with Clarks targeting between 15 and 20 new European stores this year.
  It said the new Italian outlet follows recent openings across Italy, Spain and other European markets.
  The expansion comes after Clarks returned to profitability, supported by stronger cost contr
  
  Read more

• Speedo unveils playful Minions & Monsters collaboration

  02-07-2026 11:16
  
  Swimwear brand Speedo has partnered with Illumination’s Minions and Monsters film to launch a limited edition collection.
  The new collection “reimagines classic swimwear silhouettes through a fashion-led lens”. It is inspired by the Minion’s mischievous nature.
  This is the first collaboration of its kind for Speedo and is a step into “the worlds of entertainment, style and cultural storytelling”.
  According to the brand, the new range is designed to appeal to a
  
  Read more

• Lidl expands self-scanning trial to 37 more shops

  02-07-2026 10:53
  
  Lidl GB is expanding its Lidl & go self-scanning trial to 37 more stores across the UK, following “positive customer feedback” from its initial seven-store pilot. 
  The phased rollout will see the feature become available to the supermarket’s shoppers across Scotland, the South East and the wider South of England during July.
  Integrated within the Lidl plus app, Lidl & go allows customers to scan products as they shop, track their spending and savings in real time,
  
  Read more

• Nectar360 becomes first UK retail media network to secure IAB Europe certification

  02-07-2026 10:46
  
  Nectar360 has become the first UK retail media network to achieve IAB Europe’s Retail Media Certification, as the industry pushes for more consistent measurement standards across the fast-growing channel.
  The Sainsbury’s Group retail media, loyalty and insights business completed the certification following an independent audit by ABC.
  The milestone follows the certification of Dutch retailer Albert Heijn in 2025 and marks the first time a UK retailer has completed the programme.
  IAB
  
  Read more

• Currys profit jumps 18% as UK and Nordics sales grow

  02-07-2026 10:43 via theretailbulletin.com
  Currys has posted an 18% annual profit jump driven by strong performances in the UK and its Nordics region. In the year to 2 May, adjusted... View Article
  
  Read more

• Baldock bows out of Currys with profit rise and £50m buyback

  02-07-2026 09:56
  
  Currys has posted an 18 per cent jump in annual profits as outgoing chief executive Alex Baldock prepares to leave the electricals retailer after eight years.
  The retailer reported adjusted profit before tax of £191m for the year to May 2, ahead of its previous guidance range of £180m to £190m.
  Group revenue rose six per cent to £9.25bn, driven by like-for-like growth of four per cent across the business.
  Currys also unveiled a new £50m share buyback, which begins t
  
  Read more

• Met Police strikes retail crime action plan with major retailers

  02-07-2026 09:27
  
  The Met Police and some of the UK’s largest retailers have agreed a new action plan to tackle shoplifting, violence and organised retail crime across London.
  Senior leaders from the Met, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and around 20 retail organisations met at New Scotland Yard to agree stronger partnership working in the capital.
  The plan focuses on faster evidence sharing, better support through the criminal justice process and giving retail crime a higher priority across
  
  Read more

• B&Q tests greener store blueprint with Cheltenham sustainability flagship

  02-07-2026 09:22
  
  B&Q has unveiled a sustainability-focused flagship store in Cheltenham as it tests new ways to help shoppers make greener choices across home improvement and gardening.
  The company introduced new in-store displays, product zones and customer advice points across multiple departments, with learnings from the store expected to inform future rollouts across its estate.
  The Cheltenham store is designed to make lower-impact products and services easier to understand, from electric vehicle charger
  
  Read more

• Halifax to disappear from UK high streets after 173 years

  02-07-2026 09:16
  
  Halifax is set to disappear from UK high streets after 173 years as Lloyds Banking Group prepares to fold the historic banking brand into Lloyds.
  The banking giant confirmed the Halifax name will be phased out from branches, apps and customer accounts, with Lloyds becoming its lead brand in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  Bank of Scotland will remain unchanged for customers in Scotland.
  The decision means Halifax’s standalone high street presence will come to an end from 2027, marking
  
  Read more

• Decathlon and Chinese investor take stakes in Brompton

  02-07-2026 09:10
  
  Brompton has sold minority stakes to French sports retail giant Decathlon and Chinese venture capital firm BA Capital, as the British folding bike maker looks to expand its global reach.
  Decathlon Pulse, the retailer’s investment arm, has taken a 10 per cent stake in the London-based manufacturer, while Shanghai-based BA Capital has bought five per cent.
  The deal is understood to be worth around £18m and will see Brompton bring in two strategic backers with retail, supply chain and A
  
  Read more

• Romesh Ranganathan-backed Coughlans Bakery shuts all stores after 89 years

  02-07-2026 09:06
  
  Coughlans Bakery has collapsed into voluntary liquidation, closing all of its stores with immediate effect after almost 90 years on the high street.
  The family-run bakery chain, which is part-owned by comedian Romesh Ranganathan, operated more than 30 shops across south London, Surrey, Kent and West Sussex.
  Around 165 jobs are understood to be affected by the closure, which brings an end to a business founded in Thornton Heath in 1937.
  Managing director Sean Coughlan said the decision had been t
  
  Read more

• Up to 150 former WHSmith stores to shut in major TG Jones overhaul

  02-07-2026 09:02
  
  Up to 150 former WHSmith high street stores are set to close as TG Jones begins a major restructuring of its estate, putting pressure on hundreds of jobs and leaving some town centres facing the loss of a long-standing retail anchor.
  The retailer, which was created after Modella Capital bought WHSmith’s high street business last year, operates 451 stores, the vast majority of which are in the UK.
  The overhaul means roughly one in three stores could disappear as TG Jones tries to strip out
  
  Read more

• Frasers Group offloads Sports Direct Malaysia in $150m deal

  02-07-2026 08:50
  
  Frasers Group has agreed to sell its Sports Direct Malaysia business to MAP Active for around $150m (£113m), as it pushes ahead with a partner-led expansion strategy across Southeast Asia.
  The retail giant will sell its entire interest in Sports Direct Malaysia to PT MAP Aktif Adiperkasa Tbk, known as MAP Active, which is already one of Frasers’ key strategic partners in the region.
  Under the deal, Frasers will enter into a long-term agreement with MAP Active to grow and develop Spor
  
  Read more

• Topps Tiles issues profit warning following margin pressures

  02-07-2026 08:48 via theretailbulletin.com
  Topps Tiles has warned on profit after facing margin pressures due to ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty and the impact of recent heatwaves. The group has also reported... View Article
  
  Read more

• American Eagle taps Papa John’s executive Ravi Thanawala as CFO

  02-07-2026 08:45
  
  American Eagle Outfitters has appointed Papa John’s executive Ravi Thanawala as its new chief financial officer, as Mike Mathias prepares to step back after 25 years with the retailer.
  Thanawala will join the owner of American Eagle and Aerie as executive vice president and chief financial officer from August 3, 2026.
  He succeeds Mathias, who will move into a full-time non-executive strategic adviser role to Jay Schottenstein, American Eagle Outfitters’ executive chairman and chief e
  
  Read more

• Bensons for Beds hires former Blinds 2go CEO as chief customer officer

  02-07-2026 08:02 via theretailbulletin.com
  Bensons for Beds has appointed Nick Thomas to the newly created role of chief customer officer as the retailer looks to drive the next phase of... View Article
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!