Retail news

• B&M completes POS rollout ross 790+ UK stores in partnership with PMC

  04-08-2026 08:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Value retailer, B&M, has partnered with commerce technology specialist, PMC,   to deploy a modernised Point of Sale (POS) solution spanning hardware and software across its…
  
  Read more

• Samsøe Samsøe launches menswear pop-up at Harrods

  13-08-2026 11:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Copenhagen-founded fashion brand Samsøe Samsøe has opened an exclusive menswear pop-up at Harrods, presenting its autumn winter 2026 collection.
  Running until the end of October 2026, the pop-up is located on the second floor of the luxury department store.
  The space showcases the retailer’s latest menswear offer and brings the collection’s “understated design language” into a “considered retail environment that reflects the brand’s contemporary
  
  Read more

• Sephora opens first Glasgow store as UK expansion accelerates

  13-08-2026 11:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sephora has opened the doors to its first Glasgow store at Silverburn as it continues to ramp up its UK expansion.
  The 4,940 sq ft shop, which opened today, marks Sephora’s second store in Scotland, following the opening of its Edinburgh St James Quarter branch last month, and takes its UK estate to 18 locations.
  Sephora UK managing director Sarah Boyd officially opened the store alongside its leadership team, kicking off four days of launch celebrations at the shopping centre.
  The Si
  
  Read more

• Levi’s joins M&S website in boost to third-party brands offer

  13-08-2026 10:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  US denim giant Levi’s has rolled out its latest men’s and women’s collections on M&S.com, targeting shoppers across the UK and Ireland.
  The curated range includes womenswear styles such as the 501, Ribcage and Barrel leg jeans, alongside dresses and skirts. The menswear edit features 501, 502 and 511 jeans, as well as T-shirts, hoodies, sweats and non-denim pieces.
  Levi Strauss & Co Europe managing director Lucia Marcuzzo said the partnership reflected the brand’s
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Waitrose relaunches Jesmond store after multi-million pound refurbishment

  13-08-2026 10:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  Waitrose has relaunched its Jesmond store following a multi-million pound refurbishment. The shop welcomed back customers on 12 August after a five-week transformation. Carried out in…
  
  Read more

• Frasers Group closes in on Harvey Nichols acquisition

  13-08-2026 10:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  Frasers Group is reported to be closing in on the acquisition of the struggling Harvey Nichols department store chain. According to Sky News, a rescue deal through…
  
  Read more

• UK food inflation defies forecasts as supermarket price war keeps lid on rises

  13-08-2026 09:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK food inflation has remained significantly lower than expected as fierce supermarket competition and shoppers’ resistance to higher prices force grocers and suppliers to absorb mounting costs.
  Food and non-alcoholic drink prices rose 1.7 per cent in the year to June, down from 2.2 per cent in May and marking the lowest annual rate since August 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics. Prices in the category fell 0.2 per cent month on month.
  The figures have come in well belo
  
  Read more

• Amazon strikes global warehouse automation deal with AutoStore

  13-08-2026 09:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Amazon has struck a strategic global supply agreement with AutoStore to step up investment in robotics and automated fulfilment.
  The deal establishes a framework for AutoStore to supply its warehouse automation products and solutions to Amazon around the world, the Norwegian technology group confirmed on Thursday.
  However, AutoStore stressed that the agreement does not currently contain any purchasing commitments, meaning Amazon has not disclosed how many systems it could ultimately deploy or ho
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• BRC hits back after Government reveals £3bn cost of zero-hours ban

  13-08-2026 08:58 via theretailbulletin.com
  The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called on the Government to abandon its plans to ban zero-hour contracts after new Government figures revealed the move could…
  
  Read more

• BRC sounds alarm at zero-hours reforms as gov reveals £2.9bn business cost

  13-08-2026 08:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The BRC has urged the government to rethink its zero-hours contract reforms after official analysis revealed the measures could cost businesses as much as £2.9bn a year.
  New Department for Business and Trade analysis found that the package of reforms covering guaranteed hours, notice of shifts and compensation for last-minute cancellations could directly cost employers between £350m and £2.9bn annually, depending on how the final rules are designed. Its indicative central estim
  
  Read more

• West Midlands launches £10m fund to revive struggling high streets

  13-08-2026 08:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  West Midlands mayor Richard Parker has launched a £10m fund to breathe new life into struggling high streets and tackle rising shop vacancies.
  The High Streets and Growth Incubator will provide funding to a number of town and city centres, with the first locations set to be revealed at a later date.
  The scheme will focus on bringing boarded-up retail units back into use and supporting hundreds of high street businesses facing growing competition from online shopping.
  Funding will also be u
  
  Read more

• Morrisons debt pile swells to £7.5bn as lease liabilities climb

  13-08-2026 08:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Morrisons’ debt pile has climbed to £7.52bn as rising lease liabilities and preference share obligations weighed on the supermarket’s balance sheet.
  Net debt at Market Topco, the ultimate parent company of Morrisons, increased from £7.07bn to £7.52bn in the year to the end of October, according to newly filed accounts.
  The grocer’s total lease obligations jumped to £1.97bn from £1.75bn over the period, with Morrisons attributing much of the increas
  
  Read more

• Mike Ashley closes in on Harvey Nichols rescue deal

  13-08-2026 08:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group is reportedly putting the finishing touches to a rescue deal for Harvey Nichols, which could see it acquire the store through a pre-pack administration.
  Frasers is hoping to announce the acquisition as early as Thursday, following weeks of negotiations with FTI Consulting, which is advising Harvey Nichols and is lined up to act as administrator, according to Sky News.
  The Sports Direct and Flannels owner is understood to have been discussing a series of commitme
  
  Read more

• Le Creuset to open first South West boutique in Exeter

  13-08-2026 08:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  French cookware brand Le Creuset is to open its first South West boutique at Exeter’s Princesshay next month. Situated at 10 High Street, the new 1,599…
  
  Read more

• Deliveroo teams up with Lookfantastic for on-demand delivery

  13-08-2026 07:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  Deliveroo has embarked on a new, exclusive delivery partnership with Lookfantastic. The move allows customers to access over 300 of the beauty retailer’s skincare, haircare, makeup…
  
  Read more

• AO launches AO Mobile, a new SIM-only mobile network

  13-08-2026 07:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  Electrical retailer AO has launched AO Mobile, a new UK mobile network as it looks to “build on its established position as a retailer of SIM-free…
  
  Read more

• Foot Locker highlights ‘sneaker culture’ in new brand platform

  12-08-2026 16:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Foot Locker has launched a new campaign showcasing its role at the “centre of sneaker and basketball culture”.
  Titled ‘It Always Will be Foot Locker”, the brand platform features a two minute brand anthem narrated by American rapper Method Man.Crafted in partnership with creative agency Someplace, the hero film aims to showcase the influence of trainers from the original Air Jordan 1 to adidas Stan Smith and Converse Weapon.
  “For more than 50 years, Foot Locker has
  
  Read more

• Peter Alexander to close UK stores

  12-08-2026 15:42 via theretailbulletin.com
  Premier Investments, the owner of Australian sleepwear brand Peter Alexander, has announced plans to close the brand’s UK stores as it scales back its presence in…
  
  Read more

• Deliveroo partners with Lookfantastic for on-demand beauty delivery

  12-08-2026 15:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Lookfantastic will offer rapid delivery on more than 300 beauty, skincare, haircare, make-up and wellness products, as it teams up with Deliveroo.
  The range is available through Deliveroo in cities including London, Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow, Nottingham and Leeds. Orders can be delivered in as little as 20 minutes.
  Brands available through the partnership include Sol de Janeiro, OUAI, Anua, Medicube, Beauty of Joseon and Drunk Elephant.
  Keely Gough, managing director at Lookfantatic, said: &l
  
  Read more

• Stevensons operations director on digital innovation making back-to-school shopping child’s play

  12-08-2026 13:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  As back-to-school shopping becomes increasingly digital, Stevensons is leaning on a century of retail experience, while accelerating investment in ecommerce, personalisation and services designed around busy families.
  The school uniform and sportswear specialist, which works with more than 750 schools, has built a multi-channel model spanning stores, pop-ups and online. Operations director James Harding explains that this mix is now being refined to keep up with busy, modern parents’ routi
  
  Read more

• Why ‘fake’ job ads are becoming retail’s latest marketing tactic

  12-08-2026 12:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Over the past few years there has been a rise in “fake” jobs. Not simply jobs adverts that turn out to be fabricated, but jobs that purely serve as a marketing function such as Hotwheel’s tiniest team principal or Morrison’s chief donut taster.
  Marketing experts Pete Harrison, managing partner at  M+C Saatchi Talk and Alexandra Mendes, director of celebrity and creator partnerships, EMEA at UEG explain why many brands and retailer are utilising them.
  Harrison shares
  
  Read more

• Waitrose Jesmond reopens after multi-million-pound refurbishment

  12-08-2026 12:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Waitrose has reopened its Jesmond supermarket following a multi-million-pound refurbishment as part of the retailer’s wider £1bn investment programme.
  The Newcastle store welcomed customers back at 8am on Wednesday 12 August after closing for five weeks while the transformation was carried out.
  The refurbishment coincides with the branch’s 15th anniversary and includes a new-look bakery, upgraded beer, wine and spirits department and improvements to its fruit and vegetable offe
  
  Read more

• Bershka launches first store in the US

  12-08-2026 12:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Bershka has launched its first permanent US store at Aventura Mall, Miami.
  The Inditex-owned fashion brand said its new site, which opened on 11 August, represented a “major milestone” in establishing the business in the US market.
  The shop will sell Bershka’s women’s, men’s and teen collections, with its prices anticipated to match its online offering.
  Additionally, the store will provide a click and collect service for shoppers, as well as a dedicated returns stat
  
  Read more

• AO launches mobile network in move beyond electricals

  12-08-2026 11:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  AO is moving beyond selling mobile phones and into the network business with the launch of its own SIM service, AO Mobile.
  The company is entering the market with a single tariff offering 500GB of data for £12 a month to AO members.
  Non-members will pay £18 a month for the Ultimate 500GB plan, which comes on a 30-day rolling contract and includes unlimited UK calls and texts, 15GB of EU roaming and 5G connectivity.
  Customers can add up to nine additional SIMs to the same account, op
  
  Read more

• Halfords appoints Morrisons’ Lee Mountain as commercial director for motoring

  12-08-2026 11:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  Halfords has appointed Morrisons executive Lee Mountain as commercial director for motoring and services as part of a strengthening of its retail leadership team. In his…
  
  Read more

• Moonpig names Earnies as consumer PR agency

  12-08-2026 10:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Moonpig has named Earnies as its retained consumer PR agency, following a competitive pitch process.
  The agency will be responsible for with delivering a programme of “fun, thoughtful and emotionally resonant” works and highlighting the brand’s product range.
  Moonpig marketing director, Rachael Halliday, said: “From the moment we met the Earnies team, their energy and enthusiasm for the brand was clear. Related StoryMoonpig names Earnies as consumer PR agency 12/08/2026 x
  
  Read more

• Halfords appoints former Morrisons boss Lee Mountain as commercial director

  12-08-2026 10:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Halfords has appointed former Morrisons commercial leader Lee Mountain as commercial director for motoring and services.
  Mountain joins Halfords today, and will be responsible for helping shape the commercial strategy across its motoring products and services as the retailer targets its next phase of growth.
  He joins from Morrisons, where he led the supermarket’s £1.2bn impulse division.
  Mountain has also held senior commercial roles at Asda and brings experience spanning business tr
  
  Read more

• Asos customer and technology EVPs to step down

  12-08-2026 10:35 via theretailbulletin.com
  Asos has confirmed that Ben Blake, EVP customer and commercial, and Przemek Czarnecki, EVP technology, are to leave the business on 31 August. The news forms…
  
  Read more

• Brand identity starts smaller than most retailers think

  12-08-2026 10:21 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Brand Detail Customers Keep Wearing: When independent fashion retailers talk about building a brand, the conversation usually jumps straight to packaging, storefront design or social media…
  
  Read more

• UK exporters warned over EU pallet rules as PPWR takes effect

  12-08-2026 10:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  British retailers, manufacturers and FMCG suppliers exporting into the European Union are being urged to review how they manage pallets, crates and containers as new EU packaging rules begin to apply.
  The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) generally applies from 12 August 2026, having entered into force in February 2025, with a series of packaging requirements being introduced over the coming years.
  The regulation covers packaging placed on the EU market and is designed t
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!