Retail news

• Boohoo/Shadowfall: little Benn

  27-05-2020 18:55
  For all its success, the online fashion group flourishes red flags
  
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• Aldi to launch 500 apprenticeship roles in 2026

  27-01-2026 15:21 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Aldi has opened applications for 500 apprenticeship roles, with positions available in stores and warehouses across the UK.
  The discounter’s apprentices will start earning from day one, as they work towards industry-recognised qualifications, Aldi said.
  Store apprentices will begin with a wage of £12.02 per hour, rising to £13.35. Those working within the M25 will start at £13.22 per hour.
  Staff members working in warehouse roles can earn up to £12.63 per hour.Relat
  
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• Screwfix hails 1,000 store milestone

  27-01-2026 13:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  DIY chain Screwfix has hit 1,000 stores across the UK, Ireland and France.
  The business, which opened its first store in Yeovil in 2005, has launched an average of one store per week for the last decade, whilst also growing internationally. 
  In 2019, Screwfix opened its first stores in the Republic of Ireland and has since opened more than 40 stores, creating nearly 500 jobs.
  While in 2022, the retailer expanded into France, opening a distribution centre and its first stores, which now tota
  
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• Boots CEO steps down to become chair

  27-01-2026 13:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Boots chief executive Ornella Barra has stepped down from her executive role to become chair, in a senior leadership reshuffle that could open the door to the UK retailer being separated from its parent company.
  Barra replaces her husband and long-time business partner Stefano Pessina as chair. Her chief executive role will not be replaced.
  As part of the changes, Boots managing director Anthony Hemmerdinger will take on broader responsibilities across the group, including oversight of the No7 B
  
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• Virgin Wines reports strong Christmas trading

  27-01-2026 12:50 via theretailbulletin.com
  Virgin Wines UK has posted a 5% year-on-year uplift in revenue during its busy Christmas trading period. In the seven weeks to 26 December, the online... View Article
  
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• Toolstation unveils new store format

  27-01-2026 12:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  DIY and trade retailer Toolstation has launched a new store format called Toolstation Go, designed to offer a “faster, more convenient way to shop”.
  The brand has opened its first Toolstation Go store in Battersea, creating eight roles.
  With convenience “at the heart” of its proposition, the new stores, which will be based in high street locations, enable shoppers to access tools, products and building supplies from “easy-to-access high street locations,” the
  
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• Dr Martens sales decline despite turnaround progress

  27-01-2026 11:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Dr Martens saw sales fall in its third quarter (Q3) trading update, despite reporting “good progress” with its consumer-first strategy.
  The shoe retailer witnessed a 2.7% drop in group revenue year on year (YOY) on a constant currency basis for the 13 weeks ended 28 December 2025.
  Dr Martens attributed the decline to a weaker direct-to-consumer (DTC) performance, as its Q3 DTC sales fell 6.5% in constant currency.
  Wholesale revenue grew 9.5% over the period in constant currency, the
  
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• Just Eat launches AI voice assistant to tackle ‘choice overload’

  27-01-2026 10:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Retail delivery service Just Eat has launched an AI-powered voice assistant designed to help customers decide what to order, tackling what the company says is growing “choice overload” among UK consumers.
  The new feature, which launches today (27 January) on iOS and Android, is being rolled out in the UK first before expanding to other markets.
  It allows customers to talk naturally to the app rather than scrolling through menus, offering personalised recommendations based on conversa
  
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• Poundland joins Retail Trust to protect staff mental health

  27-01-2026 10:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Discount retailer Poundland has partnered with the retail industry charity Retail Trust to provide its 12,000 employees with more support to protect their mental health.
  They will be given access to the Retail Trust’s wellbeing helpline and a range of other measures, including counselling, financial aid and support for young people in their care.
  Poundland managers will receive CPD accredited training to support their teams and the Retail Trust will provide access
  
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• January inflation higher than expected

  27-01-2026 09:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Rising inflation in January defied expectations, with the increase linked to high business energy costs and the hike to National Insurance, said trade association the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
  Shop price inflation increased to 1.5% year on year over the month, compared to 0.7% growth in December, the latest BRC-NIQ shop price monitor found.
  Non-food inflation grew to 0.3% year on year (YoY) in January, from a decline of 0.6% the month prior.
  Food inflation also rose to 3.9% YoY in January
  
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• Dr Martens boosted by turnaround progress

  27-01-2026 09:22 via theretailbulletin.com
  Dr Martens has said it is making good progress in its turnaround strategy as it reported that full price DTC revenue is up 2% in the... View Article
  
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• Aligne appoints Ellie Dickinson as global DTC director

  27-01-2026 08:38 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Aligne contemporary womenswear brand has appointed Ellie Dickinson as global DTC director. Prior to joining the brand this month, Dickinson had been working since September... View Article
  
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• Boots Group CEO to retire from role and become chairperson

  27-01-2026 07:32 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Boots Group has announced that Ornella Barra will retire as the company’s chief executive and replace Stefano Pessina as chairperson of its board of directors.... View Article
  
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• UK sofa retailer emerges as unlikely winner from Trump’s trade war

  27-01-2026 06:00
  London-listed DFS appears to be benefiting from US-China trade tensions and the rerouting of goods into Europe
  
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• Trade war pays an unlikely dividend for some UK retailers

  27-01-2026 06:00
  Sofa specialist DFS appears to be benefiting from US-China trade tensions and the rerouting of goods into Europe
  
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• Next’s coming challenge is life after Simon Wolfson

  27-01-2026 06:00
  The UK clothing and furniture chain keeps outperforming rivals but its veteran chief executive must one day leave
  
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• You’re invited: Before You Sign That Lease

  27-01-2026 01:12 via theretailbulletin.com
  Are you about to sign a commercial lease for your retail business? Avoid long-term consequences by knowing what to review before you sign. To help you... View Article
  
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• [ Webinar ] Before You Sign That Lease…

  27-01-2026 01:12 via theretailbulletin.com
  Are you about to sign a commercial lease for your retail business? Avoid long-term consequences by knowing what to review before you sign. To help you... View Article
  
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• National insurance hike and energy bills behind food price rise, say UK retailers

  27-01-2026 01:01
  Latest BRC figures show year-on-year rate of increase was 3.9% in January, up from 3.3% the month beforeRetailers have blamed rising energy bills and the chancellor Rachel Reeves’s hike in employers’ national insurance contributions for a jump in food prices, as suppliers and supermarkets struggle to absorb higher costs.The British Retail Consortium (BRC), the trade body for retailers, said prices across all goods in shops rose by 1.5% in January compared with the same month last yea
  
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• UK supermarkets push for Amazon soy safeguards after traders abandon ban

  26-01-2026 18:43
  European retailers urge traders to adhere to commitments after Brazilian lawmakers wreck forest protection pactLeading British and European retailers are trying to salvage the core elements of the Amazon soy moratorium after the world’s most successful forest protection agreement was wrecked by Brazilian lawmakers and abandoned by international traders.In an open letter, high street brands including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda say the breakdown this month of the 20-year-old agreement
  
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• Saks Global obtains court approval to liquidate Saks Off Fifth

  26-01-2026 16:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  US department store chain Saks Global has won court approval to hire a liquidator to offload the assets of its off-price ecommerce unit Saks Off Fifth.
  Saks Off Fifth is independently managed and its inventory does not include any of Saks Global’s physical stores, the chain’s attorney Michael K. Riordan said in court on 23 January.
  A chief restructuring officer and independent manager have been appointed to manage the process, as the online firm may owe money to its parent company,&n
  
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• Morrisons in battle with Usdaw over pay rises

  26-01-2026 15:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Morrisons has reportedly told workers they will not be given significant pay rises this year, following the Government’s tax increases on employers and the minimum wage hike.
  Bosses at the supermarket are locked in a disagreement over pay rises with trade union Usdaw, which represent roughly 45,000 Morrisons workers, LBC reported.
  The grocer’s bosses have refused to offer a pay rise beyond the national living wage, according to reports.
  In an email sent last week, the retailer highli
  
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• Waterstones boss defends government’s business rates shake-up

  26-01-2026 14:17
  James Daunt is relaxed about bills and the higher living wage, and says bookselling is having ‘a nice time’The boss of Waterstones has defended the government’s approach to the high street, arguing that controversial changes to business rates were “sensible” and had benefited outlets in struggling areas.James Daunt said the bookseller’s total business rates bill for this year was going to be similar to last year’s as big increases at large, successful si
  
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• Guess acquired by Authentic as it exits stock market

  26-01-2026 10:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Guess has been taken private following the completion of its takeover by Authentic Brands Group, bringing an end to the fashion brand’s listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
  The acquisition, which was completed on Friday (23 January), will see Guess becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of a new holding company backed by Authentic.
  As part of the deal, Guess transferred most of its intellectual property into newly created subsidiaries.
  These are now 51% owned by Authentic – whose port
  
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• Digital wallets vs traditional payments: which drives faster checkouts?

  26-01-2026 10:48 via theretailbulletin.com
  In 2026, paying for goods and services has become an almost invisible part of daily life; you expect transactions to be quick, predictable and free from... View Article
  
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• Daniel Křetínský launches ‘friendly’ takeover bid for Fnac Darty

  26-01-2026 10:18
  Czech billionaire already holds 28% stake in French electronics retailer
  
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• Sainsbury’s offering 50% Nectar card discounts

  26-01-2026 10:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Sainsbury’s has cut the price of fruit, vegetable and fridge staples by up to 50%, to entice shoppers away from rival retailers.
  The Nectar card discounts will be available from 25 January until 17 February in selected supermarkets and online.
  The move follows searches for ‘value’ increasing by 50% week-over-week, said the retailer, showing how customers are seeking out more affordable products.Related Story Sainsbury’s delivers biggest ever Christmas as Argos sales slip0
  
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• Conversation with… People in Retail Awards Judge Giles Smith

  26-01-2026 09:50 via theretailbulletin.com
  In this latest Conversations interview, we chat with Giles Smith, former head of digital, customer and data technology at Selfridges, about his career in retail and... View Article
  
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• SportsShoes.com to open flagship experiential store in Shoreditch

  26-01-2026 08:27 via theretailbulletin.com
  SportsShoes.com is to open a flagship experiential shop in London’s Shoreditch High Street. The online running shoes, clothing and outdoor gear retailer said the 5,000 square... View Article
  
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• Beauty Bay appoints advisors to undertake strategic review

  26-01-2026 08:26 via theretailbulletin.com
  Beauty Bay is understood to be exploring options to raise new funding through a process that could ultimately lead to a sale of the business. According... View Article
  
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