Retail news

• Bernie Marcus, Home Depot cofounder and Trump mega-donor, dies aged 95

  05-11-2024 16:59
  
  Company announces death of billionaire who contributed millions to Republican party and former presidentThe billionaire Home Depot cofounder and outspoken supporter of Donald Trump, Bernard “Bernie” Marcus, has died, according to a company statement. He was 95.Marcus, a former pharmacist, was described as “a master merchant and a genius with customer service” who was “unparalleled in generosity and goodwill” in the statement by the company. Continue reading...
  
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• Disney Store expands Selfridges partnership with Birmingham and Manchester openings

  16-06-2026 19:45 via theretailbulletin.com
  Disney Store is to open two new retail destinations inside Selfridges’ Birmingham and Manchester Trafford stores as it looks to give customers outside of London access... View Article
  
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• Take it easy, there’s no rush

  16-06-2026 15:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  Retail is typically a fast-paced sector but there are exceptions to this rule and the planned launch of EasyShop as an e-commerce site is a great... View Article
  
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• Talking Shop 2026: UK frontline workforce report

  16-06-2026 13:11 via theretailbulletin.com
  What 500 store staff told Rotageek about communication, digital & AI adoption, wellbeing and the reality on the shopfloor. Talking Shop 2026 is a UK retail industry... View Article
  
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• Disney Store to launch two new Selfridges locations

  16-06-2026 11:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Disney Store is opening two new retail destinations inside Selfridges Birmingham and Selfridges Manchester Trafford stores.
  The concession spaces, which are set to open in mid-July, build on the business’s existing presence within Selfridges London and its flagship Disney Store on Oxford Street.
  They form part of Disney Store’s continued investment in “creating meaningful in-person retail experiences for fans,” according to the brand, offering guests the chance to discove
  
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• Debenhams confirms 35% jump in earnings as ‘all brands profitable’

  16-06-2026 11:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Debenhams Group has recorded £53.3 million in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA).
  This is up 35 per cent year-on-year following two trading upgrades. The firm has also highlighted that every brand is “profitable on some basis”.
  The group published its financial results for the year ending February 28 2026.
  It reported that the Debenhams brand was scaled to £730 million gross merchandise value (GMV), up from £654 millio
  
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• Ellis Brigham reduces WISMO enquires by 14%

  16-06-2026 11:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Outdoor clothing and activewear retailer Ellis Brigham has worked to improve its omni-channel delivery operations and post-purchase experiences, cutting Where is My Order (WISMO) complaints by 14 per cent.
  The mountain sports brand operates a network of 15 stores across the UK, as well as its growing online channel. It aims to supply outdoor enthusiasts with high-quality equipment, from mountaineering to trail running, skiing and snowboarding.
  As part of its recent digital transformati
  
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• Aldi to launch 16 new UK stores with £370 million investment

  16-06-2026 11:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Aldi is opening 16 new stores over the coming months as part of its continued investment in expanding its footprint across the UK.
  The discounter, which has more than 1,080 stores nationwide, will launch new sites in areas including Watford and Hoxton in London, Hattersley in Greater Manchester, and Balsall Common in the West Midlands. 
  The latest openings support Aldi’s long-term ambition to operate 1,500 stores across the UK.
  The news follows the opening of Aldi’s new Salford
  
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• Edikted and Shaftesbury Capital: Brand identity is perfect for Carnaby Street

  16-06-2026 11:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Edikted is the new kid in town, having opened on Carnaby Street earlier this year.
  The new flagship spans 4,800 square feet and offers a range of street-style and runway inspired womenswear and accessories.
  Catherine Riccomini, director of marketing and communications at Shaftesbury Capital and Kiko Sunata, senior director of PR and partnerships at Edikted, broke down their marketing strategy for the new opening.
  Sunata explains that they received an “overwhelming” turnout to a pop-u
  
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• Waitrose reports surge in demand for unhomogenised milk

  16-06-2026 10:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  Waitrose has reported a surge in demand for unhomogenised organic whole milk as customers look to increase their intake of whole foods. The supermarket said sales... View Article
  
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• Aldi to open 16 new UK stores in coming months

  16-06-2026 10:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  Aldi is set to open 16 new stores over the coming months as it continues to expand its footprint across the UK. The supermarket said stores... View Article
  
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• Boots impersonated in phishing scam targeting nearly 9m shoppers

  16-06-2026 09:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Boots has reportedly been impersonated in a large-scale phishing campaign that targeted nearly nine million email inboxes, according to cybersecurity firm Huntress.
  The scam promised shoppers a free Boots beauty sample pack in exchange for completing a short customer satisfaction survey.
  Victims who clicked through were taken to a realistic-looking fake Boots storefront, where they were asked to hand over personal information including their name, email address, date of birth, phone number and h
  
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• Parcel wars: Evri nabs InPost veteran Steve Kelly to lead returns

  16-06-2026 09:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Evri has appointed Steve Kelly as its new head of returns, as the delivery firm continues to expand its parcel drop-off and locker network across the UK.
  Kelly joins from InPost UK, where he served as operations director. He has also held roles at Menzies Distribution, Hermes and Amazon UK.
  Announcing the move on LinkedIn, Kelly said: “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Head of Returns at Evri.
  “Great to be working again in this fast paced business wit
  
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• Sainsbury’s kicks off search for new chair as Martin Scicluna nears exit

  16-06-2026 09:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sainsbury’s has reportedly begun the search for a new chair, with Martin Scicluna expected to step down after more than six years in the role.
  The supermarket giant has instructed headhunters to identify a successor to Scicluna, who has chaired the business since spring 2019.
  Scicluna is expected to remain in post until a replacement is appointed. Under corporate governance rules for London-listed companies, he would not reach the maximum recommended tenure limit until late 2027, which wou
  
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• M&S poaches Woolworths tech boss to lead digital overhaul

  16-06-2026 09:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  M&S has appointed Woolworths Australia’s John Hunt as its new chief digital and technology officer, with the aim of sharpening its digital, data and technology ambitions.
  Hunt will take over responsibilities currently held by operations director Sacha Berendji, who will remain with M&S and stay on the executive committee until April 2027 to support the transition.
  He joins from Woolworths Australia, where he has served as chief information officer and managing director of group ena
  
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• Cotswold Company sales hit record £123m despite homeware market slump

  16-06-2026 09:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Cotswold Company has posted record annual sales and a near 25 per cent rise in profit, despite a tougher backdrop for the wider furniture and homewares market.
  The premium furniture company saw sales climb 23 per cent to £123million in the year to 28 February, while profit before tax rose to £9.6million, up from £7.8million the previous year.
  The strong performance comes as the wider UK furniture and homewares sector continues to cool following the surge in demand seen duri
  
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• Sigma Healthcare walks away from £7bn Boots takeover

  16-06-2026 08:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sigma Healthcare has abandoned its pursuit of Boots, ending talks over a potential takeover that could have valued the UK pharmacy chain at around $10bn (£7bn).
  The Australian pharmaceutical wholesaler and retailer said on Monday that acquiring Boots would ‘not meet its strategic and capital investment objectives’.
  It comes days after the Financial Times reported that Sigma had held early-stage talks over a potential deal for the high street pharmacy giant, which operates aroun
  
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• Aldi to slash prosecco prices as England progresses through the World Cup

  16-06-2026 08:45 via theretailbulletin.com
  Aldi has announced that it will be cutting the price of prosecco every time the England progresses through the World Cup as it looks to help... View Article
  
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• Mike Ashley ramps up takeover spree with £166m Accent Group bid

  16-06-2026 08:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has launched a £166m takeover bid for Australian footwear retailer Accent Group, just days after tabling an offer for Hugo Boss.
  Frasers, which already holds a 22.9 per cent stake in Accent, has offered 65 Australian cents a share for the rest of the business. The offer matches Accent’s closing share price on Friday and values the company at around A$316million.
  It marks Ashley’s second takeover tilt in less than a week, following Frasers&rsquo
  
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• Footasylum opens new Merthyr Tydfil store

  16-06-2026 08:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  Footasylum has opened a new store in Merthyr Tydfil as it continues its expansion and investment in physical retail. Situated in Cyfarthfa Shopping Park, the 4,000... View Article
  
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• M&S appoints John Hunt as chief digital and technology officer

  16-06-2026 08:05 via theretailbulletin.com
  M&S has appointed John Hunt as chief digital and technology officer to take over responsibilities held by operations director Sacha Berendji. Hunt is joining from Woolworths... View Article
  
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• China retail sales sink for first time since Covid

  16-06-2026 06:17 via ft.com
  Investment slump deepens as divergence widens in second-biggest economy
  
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• China’s economy shows signs of weakness in May

  16-06-2026 04:34 via ft.com
  Retail sales decline for first time in more than three years and fixed asset investment slump deepens
  
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• Co-op launches store in new Kennington residential development

  15-06-2026 17:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Co-op has opened a store to serve a new residential development and the surrounding areas of Kennington, near Ashford. 
  The new “Brook Court’s” Co-op, which opened on Harrison Lane, Kennington, launched on 12 June and has created 18 local jobs.
  The convenience retailer’s store includes “an extensive range” and a choice of fresh and chilled products, an in-store bakery and a Costa Coffee Express. 
  The grocery giant’s store also offers online hom
  
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• Collabs 2026: Hit or Miss?

  15-06-2026 13:48 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Time seems to have just flown by over the past few months and we are now six months into 2026.
  Which is why were are taking a look back at some of the best and worst collabs we have seen so far this year.
  Hits
  Ikea x Chupa Chups
  Weird it may be but it certainly caught people’s attention. The campaign has garnered over 25 million impressions across all social media platforms.
  And while many people will question why we’ve placed it on the hits list. We copy Vincenzo Riili, Ikea’s
  
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• Tesco partners with Hanshow to deliver ESL rollout

  15-06-2026 12:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco has agreed a multi-year partnership with digital store solutions firm Hanshow to deliver electronic shelf labels (ESLs) across all of the grocer’s large and convenience stores.
  The ESLs, which are set to launch in stages over the next two years, will support the supermarket’s sustainability agenda by replacing paper labels in stores. 
  The new shelf labels will also simplify daily routines for staff, saving them from manually replacing labels when prices or promotions chang
  
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• Q&A: Graham Dixon, Chief Technology Officer, x-Hoppers

  15-06-2026 12:49 via theretailbulletin.com
  x-hoppers is all about connecting and empowering retail teams across the business.  Our unified communications platform offers store colleagues hands-free access to full telephony, systems notifications... View Article
  
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• Lululemon SVP EMEA on activewear giant’s Greek debut

  15-06-2026 11:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Lululemon recently opened its first stores in Greece as part of its continued EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) expansion.
  The first store launched on 23 May at Akadimias 17 & Voukourestiou in Kolonaki, central Athens, and the second on 12 June at the Golden Hall shopping mall.
  The country marked the sportswear brand’s third new market entry of 2026 through its franchise partnership with Arion Retail Group, following its Poland and Hungary launches earlier this year. 
  And
  
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• Frasers Group’s Nordic ambitions following first Sports Direct opening

  15-06-2026 11:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers Group launched its first Sports Direct store in the Nordics last month, with the site based in Finland’s Helsinki Citycenter Mall.
  The shop, which opened on 29 May, is spread across two floors and 30,000 sq ft. It stocks global brands such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Under Armour and The North Face.
  It also features the sportswear giant’s signature running, football, and outdoor concepts, offering shoppers “high-quality products and equipment to support their sporting journe
  
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• Frasers Group targets Sports Direct as number one Nordics sports retailer

  15-06-2026 11:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers Group launched its first Sports Direct store in the Nordics last month, with the site based in Finland’s Helsinki Citycenter Mall.
  The shop, which opened on 29 May, is spread across two floors and 30,000 sq ft. It stocks global brands such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Under Armour and The North Face.
  It also features the sportswear giant’s signature running, football, and outdoor concepts, offering shoppers “high-quality products and equipment to support their sporting journe
  
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