Retail news

• Aldi invests £90m in store upgrade programme

  14-06-2024 11:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Aldi is investing more than £90m on store improvements this year as it looks to ensure the “shopping experience is on a par with the high-quality products”.
  Over 30 of the discounter’s stores will undergo refurbishments this summer, while more than 100 are set to receive upgrades later this year.
  Aldi said the changes will vary at store level but include providing more space to shop and introducing energy efficient features, such as installing doors on fridges and us
  
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• Boden widen entry into US market with opening of second store

  18-03-2026 11:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Boden is set to open its second US store in Nashville, Tennessee this summer.
  The 1700 sq ft store, which is located at Hill Center Green Hills, represents “the next step” in Boden’s growing physical presence in the US, according to the British clothing brand. 
  The news follows the launch of Boden’s first US store in Atlanta during November.
  The Nashville store will feature a womenswear edit “designed to celebrate warm-weather dressing,” with a “vib
  
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• Battersea Power Station director on why social influence is redefining retail destinations

  18-03-2026 11:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Social media has transformed how we perceive and engage with the world around us, writes Battersea Power Station’s leasing director Harriett Renny.
  But how important is social media to landlords making brand decisions on the retail and leisure mix within successful destinations?
  Research from Sprout Social last year revealed that 41 per cent of Gen Z use social media first when looking for information, making it their primary tool ahead of traditional search engines. This shift h
  
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• Moonpig forecasts profit growth and unveils £65m share buyback

  18-03-2026 11:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Moonpig Group forecast profit growth for its full financial year, as it unveiled a new £65 million share buyback.
  In a trading update for April 2025 to the end of April 2026, the cards specialist said it expected to deliver its FY26 guidance of mid-single digit percentage growth in group adjusted EBITDA.
  The company said it anticipated growth in adjusted earnings per share to be at the top-end of its guidance of 8 per cent to 12 per cent growth, supported by “strong free cash flow ge
  
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• Harrods launches circular fashion initiative to tackle textile waste

  18-03-2026 10:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Harrods has launched a new circular fashion initiative aimed at reducing textile waste and extending the lifecycle of clothing and materials across its operations.
  The luxury department store has partnered with charity retailer Traid to repurpose surplus stock and materials, as it looks to embed more sustainable practices within its business.
  Under the initiative, surplus Harrods items will be collected, sorted and either reused, repurposed or redistributed, helping to divert materials away from
  
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• Kingfisher partners with Google Cloud to roll out AI-powered shopping across Europe

  18-03-2026 10:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Kingfisher has struck a multi-year partnership with Google Cloud to deploy AI-powered shopping tools across its banners, as the DIY giant looks to position itself at the forefront of “agentic commerce”.
  The agreement will see the retailer roll out Google Cloud’s Vertex AI across the e-commerce platforms of B&Q, Castorama in France and Poland, and Brico Dépôt France, shifting away from traditional keyword-based search towards more personalised, conversational sh
  
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• Tesco revamps frozen range with over 140 new and improved products

  18-03-2026 09:44 via theretailbulletin.com
  Tesco is stepping up its refresh of its frozen food offering by adding more than 140 new and improved products ahead of the summer. The products... View Article
  
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• Q & A: Ben Collier, co-founder, Ocasta

  18-03-2026 09:23 via theretailbulletin.com
  Ben Collier is co-founder at Ocasta, the frontline operations platform helping retailers reduce guesswork across stores and head office. Ocasta is a frontline operations platform that... View Article
  
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• Lululemon warns of softer 2026 outlook as demand slows and board tensions rise

  18-03-2026 09:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Lululemon has forecast weaker-than-expected revenue and profit for 2026, as the athleisure giant grapples with slowing demand, rising costs and ongoing leadership uncertainty.
  The retailer expects full-year revenue to reach between £9.0 billion and £9.1 billion, falling short of analyst expectations of around £9.1 billion. It also guided earnings per share of £9.56 to £9.72, below the £9.94 forecast.
  Shares dipped around 1.5 per cent in extended trading follow
  
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• Moonpig trading on track as it announces new £65m share buyback

  18-03-2026 09:09 via theretailbulletin.com
  Online greeting card platform Moonpig has reported that its second half trading is in line with expectations as it looks ahead to a new £65 million... View Article
  
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• Scottish retailers face £54m rates burden compared to England

  18-03-2026 08:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Medium and larger retailers in Scotland are set to pay £54 million more in business rates than their counterparts in England from 1 April, according to new figures revealed through a parliamentary question.
  The data shows that 2,296 Scottish retail properties with a rateable value of £100,000 or more will be subject to the Higher Property Rate of 54.8p in the pound. In contrast, similar-sized stores in England will face a rate of 43p, creating a significant cost disparity for retaile
  
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• Beats partners with Nike to launch new campaign starring LeBron James

  18-03-2026 08:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Beats has teamed up with sportswear brand Nike to launch a new campaign for its Powerbeats Pro 2- Nike Special edition.
  The campaign starred longtime brand ambassador LeBron James.
  Titled ‘Keep Your Head in The Game‘, the spot follows James as he shows off his “less-than-elite” golf skills to several critics, played by professional golfer Tom Kim and actors Travis Bennett and Lionel Boyce.
  James said: “I’ve been part of the Beats journey since day one with the
  
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• M&S adds David Gandy Wellwear to third-party Brands at M&S platform

  18-03-2026 08:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Marks & Spencer has added menswear label David Gandy Wellwear to its Brands at M&S platform as part of its strategy to strengthen its menswear offering.... View Article
  
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• Jigsaw hires Lisa Butler as retail director

  18-03-2026 07:34 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Jigsaw fashion brand has appointed Lisa Butler as its new retail director. Butler previously worked as global retail director at Russell & Bromley, joining in... View Article
  
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• [Interview] Clarity, Convenience and the UK Online Shopper

  18-03-2026 07:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  As eCommerce continues to evolve, UK online shoppers are demanding more clarity, confidence and convenience at every stage of the journey. To unpack the latest findings... View Article
  
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• Sustainable farming push could avoid £150bn economic hit, report warns

  18-03-2026 01:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  A new report has warned that failing to scale up sustainable farming could cost the UK economy billions, as pressure mounts on government to support the transition across the food system.
  Research from cross-party think tank Demos, supported by McCain Foods, found that adopting more sustainable agricultural practices could help avoid a £150bn economic hit by 2050 while improving resilience across the food supply chain.
  The report, The Sustainable Farming Dividend, highlights how regenerati
  
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• Boden chooses Nashville for second US store

  17-03-2026 16:42 via theretailbulletin.com
  Boden is to open its second US store this summer, with the retailer choosing Nashville, Tennessee as its latest location. The 1,700-square-foot space at Hill Center... View Article
  
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• Jigsaw appoints Lisa Butler as retail director following Russell & Bromley collapse

  17-03-2026 15:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  British fashion retailer Jigsaw has appointed Lisa Butler as its new retail director, following her short-lived tenure at Russell & Bromley, which recently fell into administration.
  Butler joins the heritage brand after serving as global retail director at Russell & Bromley, where she had been brought in as part of an ambitious five-year turnaround strategy. However, the footwear retailer’s collapse earlier this year cut that chapter short.
  In a LinkedIn post, Butler reflected on h
  
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• When Amazon and JD.com lock horns, it’s shoppers that win

  17-03-2026 13:30
  The risk for the Chinese contender is one of cash burn as it pursues expansion at home and overseas
  
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• Palmer’s opens retro diner pop-up in Westfield

  17-03-2026 13:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Body care brand Palmer’s has unveiled its first-ever pop-up activation inside Westfield White City.
  The ‘Vanilla Dreams Diner’ pop-up will run from March 27 to March 29 and has been styled to look like a retro diner in shades of pastel purple and white. It will also feature yellow and orange accents.
  When visiting the pop-up, consumers will be seated at the counter and served the brand’s new Tahitian Vanilla product range. Each product will be listed on the accompanying m
  
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• Tesco expands in-store parcel locker offer under new trial

  17-03-2026 12:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Tesco is expanding its in-store parcel locker offer under a new trial with delivery giant Evri.
  The supermarket has begun installing Evri-branded lockers throughout a small number of Extra and Superstore locations, under a broader locker hub trial that brings together multiple parcel providers within its stores.
  The move reflects the retailer’s ongoing push to enhance customer convenience by integrating additional services into its physical stores, enabling shoppers to collect, send and re
  
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• One in five people witness retail violence or abuse

  17-03-2026 12:07 via theretailbulletin.com
  A new survey has found that more than 14 million people in the UK have witnessed violence or abuse against retail workers in the past year.... View Article
  
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• Saks Global granted further £225m from bankruptcy financing package

  17-03-2026 10:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Saks Global has secured access to an additional £225.4m of its £1.3m bankruptcy funding package, as its five-year business plan was approved by a group of the business’s senior secured bondholders.
  The move completes the retailer’s pre-emergence financing packaging, granting Saks “sufficient liquidity” to sustain its operations and ongoing restructuring. 
  The business plan will be detailed in Saks’ plan of reorganisation, which is due to be filed wi
  
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• One in five shoppers witness abuse of retail staff

  17-03-2026 09:44 via retailgazette.co.uk
  More than 14 million people across the UK have witnessed violence or abuse against retail workers in the past year, according to new data from the British Retail Consortium.
  The survey, conducted with Opinium, found that 21 per cent of the public had seen incidents such as racial or sexual abuse, physical assault or threats with weapons while shopping. While slightly down from 23 per cent last year, the figures highlight the continued prevalence of abuse in retail environments.
  Shoplifting also
  
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• Data and AI: small words, big consequences

  17-03-2026 09:42 via theretailbulletin.com
  Retail leaders are absolutely sure they need to invest in AI because the opportunities appear to be unlimited but the quandary for many is that they... View Article
  
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• Wickes profits beat expectations as retailer eyes 300-store expansion

  17-03-2026 09:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Wickes has reported full-year profit ahead of expectations and set out plans to accelerate store investment, as the home improvement retailer said it now has ambitions to grow to 300 stores nationwide.
  For the year to December 2025, the group posted revenue of £1.64bn, up 5.9 per cent year on year, while adjusted profit before tax rose 14.4 per cent to £49.9m. Statutory profit before tax more than doubled to £48.7m, compared with £23.2m the previous year, which had been h
  
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• Highstreet administrations jump 41% in January as retail failures mount

  17-03-2026 09:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Highstreet failures accelerated sharply at the start of the year, with new figures revealing a significant rise in companies falling into administration across the UK.
  Data from The Insolvency Service showed that the number of company administrations increased by 41 per cent to 151 between December and January. The figure was also 14 per cent higher than the same period last year.
  The rise comes amid a wave of recent collapses across retail and hospitality, with a number of well-known brands ent
  
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• Visa launches ‘agentic ready’ programme to support AI-driven payments

  17-03-2026 09:05 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Visa has launched a new programme aimed at preparing banks and merchants for the rise of AI-driven transactions, as agentic commerce moves closer to real-world deployment.
  The initiative, Visa Agentic Ready, is rolling out first across Europe, including the UK, and will focus initially on helping issuing banks test how AI agents can initiate and complete payments on behalf of consumers.
  The programme builds on Visa’s wider Intelligent Commerce strategy and reflects growing momentum behind
  
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• Wickes targets 300 UK stores after strong profit performance

  17-03-2026 09:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Wickes has reported a rise in full year revenue and doubling of profit as it announced an acceleration in investment in future growth. In the 52... View Article
  
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• Shop theft shows signs of decline as retailers ramp up £313m crime spend

  17-03-2026 08:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Convenience retailers may be reaching a long-awaited inflection point in the fight against retail crime, as new figures suggest incidents of shop theft and abuse are beginning to fall, albeit gradually.
  The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has reported 5.8 million incidents of shop theft over the past year in its latest Crime Report, down from 6.2 million the previous year. Incidents of verbal abuse have also fallen, from 1.2 million to just over 950,000.
  While the numbers remain stark, t
  
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