Retail news

• Co-op extends robot home delivery service

  25-11-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Co-op is extending its use of autonomous home delivery robots to Northampton. The expansion will see the retailer serve around 5,000 households in the area with... View Article
  
  Read more

• Jollyes launches ‘lowest price pet brand in the UK’

  10-02-2026 10:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Jollyes Pets has launched its first dedicated value range, Simply Jollyes.
  According to the business, the offer is the lowest-priced own-label pet range in the UK, “covering essential pet food and accessories designed to help households manage the cost of pet ownership without any quality compromise”.
  In late 2025 the RSPCA’s annual kindness index reported that 34% of pet owners had changed their behaviour in the last year, including 10% buying pet food less often or changing t
  
  Read more

• Desert Island Stores: Sean Ghouse of Fortnum & Mason

  10-02-2026 09:50 via theretailbulletin.com
  In this latest instalment of our Desert Island Stores series, Glynn Davis chats with Sean Ghouse, director of retail UK at Fortnum & Mason.   The... View Article
  
  Read more

• Dunelm posts solid first-half growth despite profit fall

  10-02-2026 09:48 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Home furnishings retailer Dunelm Group has reported a solid first-half performance despite a challenging trading environment, with sales growth ahead of the wider homewares and furniture market.
  For the 26 weeks to 27 December 2025, the business delivered total sales of £926m, up 3.6% year on year, compared with £894m in the prior period.
  The performance saw Dunelm increase market share by 20 basis points to 7.9%, underlining continued outperformance versus the combined homewares and
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Dunelm delivers ‘solid’ trading but lower profit

  10-02-2026 09:32 via theretailbulletin.com
  Dunelm has said it delivered solid first half trading despite a drop in profit and what it described as a challenging trading environment. In the six... View Article
  
  Read more

• Hoka launches glow-in-the-dark billboard

  10-02-2026 09:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Shoe brand and retailer Hoka has unveiled a bold UV-responsive mural in Shoreditch, London.
  The billboard, on Great Eastern Street, is part of the brand’s ‘Together We Fly Higher’ campaign. It glows in the dark using a combination of reflective paint and UV light accents.
  It was devised in collaboration with digital agency Jellyfish, out-of-home firm Billups and advertising agency Global Street Art.
  “This activation was a dynamic expression of our brand and the night time
  
  Read more

• Superdrug to create 600 jobs through opening of 30 new stores

  10-02-2026 08:09 via theretailbulletin.com
  Superdrug will create 600 jobs through the opening of 30 new “best-in-class” stores in 2026 as it continues its expansion across the UK. After seeing strong... View Article
  
  Read more

• Tesco sets out Express store growth plan as it acquires former Amazon Fresh sites

  10-02-2026 07:43 via theretailbulletin.com
  Tesco has set out plans for Express store growth following its acquisition of five former Amazon Fresh sites. The supermarket has said it is on track... View Article
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• 8 areas to optimise that can transform your supply chain

  10-02-2026 07:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  The warehousing industry is evolving faster than ever. Rising customer expectations, growing SKU complexity, and global supply chain pressures demand faster fulfilment, better use of space, and uncompromising safety.
  Yet for many warehouses, inefficiency persists. Lost pallets, underused aisles, and inconsistent data updates. The question is no longer if automation drives ROI, but how fast you can capture it. That’s where optimisation comes in.
  Why inventory integrity is just the beginning
  
  Read more

• Retailers see sales boost after ‘drab’ December

  10-02-2026 07:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  UK retailers saw a sales boost over January, following a “drab” December.
  Total retail revenues were up 2.7% year on year (YoY) for the four weeks to 4 to 31 January, according to the latest BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor. This was against 2.6% growth during January 2025.
  Food sales rose by 3.8% YOY over the month, compared to an increase of 2.8% the same time last year.
  Non-food revenues were up 1.7% YoY over the period, against a 2.5% rise last January, the trade association reporte
  
  Read more

• Chinese luxury group Icicle plots IPO as non-western labels shine

  10-02-2026 06:00
  Shanghai-based brand known for its minimalist look also has stores in France and Ireland
  
  Read more

• UK shoppers held out for January sales, data shows

  10-02-2026 01:01
  Retail spending growth rose sharply last month in the latest sign of improved economic momentum
  
  Read more

• January sales spree fuels UK retail spending growth

  10-02-2026 01:01
  Value of retail sales more than doubled last month in latest sign of improved economic momentum
  
  Read more

• HMV to open second shop in the Netherlands

  09-02-2026 19:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  HMV will open its second shop in the Netherlands next month with a new site in Amsterdam, following the successful launch of its store in The... View Article
  
  Read more

• Pubs don’t deserve special measures | Letters

  09-02-2026 17:59
  Singling out pubs for government help when other high street businesses are also suffering is wrong, writes Michael Newman. Plus letters from John Whitney and Pamela EllisSimon Jenkins leaves one or two unanswered questions in his plea for state help with saving pubs (Here is a political lesson progressives need to learn, and fast: British pubs are crucial, 5 February).Why pubs and not wool shops? Or stationery shops or greasy spoon cafes? Should teetotallers be expected to donate
  
  Read more

• Superdrug to launch 30 new stores in 2026

  09-02-2026 16:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Health and cosmetics retailer Superdrug will open 30 new stores this year, extending its estate footprint across the UK. 
  The expansion is set to create around 600 new jobs and comes as Superdrug continues to see “strong customer demand” for experience-led physical retail.
  The business said that it would continue to  invest in large-format destination stores and retail park locations, under its ongoing strategy to “elevate discovery and engagement within the health an
  
  Read more

• Pepsi among most mentioned ads from the Super Bowl, according to Sprout Social

  09-02-2026 16:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Data from social media management tool Sprout Social highlighted that AI was mentioned 6939 times in relation to the Super Bowl ads.
  According to Sprout Social, Anthropic’s campaign generated a mixed reaction but had high Instagram engagement, driven by conversation about its “playful” jab at OpenAI.
  However, the management tool pointed out that “human-led creative” gained the most attention on socials, with Pepsi’s ad receiving 33,028 mentions.Budweiser was a
  
  Read more

• Ocado mulls up to 1,000 redundancies

  09-02-2026 12:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Ocado Group is reportedly considering axing up to 1,000 roles, as it seeks to lower costs following a challenging year at its automated warehouse arm.
  The company is in the early stages of discussions over redundancies that would represent around 5% of its global workforce, The Sunday Times reported.
  An announcement about the redundancies could take place as early as this month, according to the publication. Related Story Tesco snaps up Amazon Fresh sites for Express expansion09/02/2026 x 10:46
  
  Read more

• Tesco snaps up Amazon Fresh sites for Express expansion

  09-02-2026 11:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Tesco has outlined its store growth ambitions for 2026, including openings in five former Amazon Fresh sites.
  The supermarket said that it was “on track” to launch more than 70 Express stores before March 2027, after opening 60 new Express stores last year.
  Tesco said that its growth had been boosted by the acquisition of five former Amazon Fresh stores in London. 
  Former Amazon Fresh sites in Kensington High Street, Hounslow, Moorgate, Aldgate East and Wembley are set to reopen
  
  Read more

• Morrisons convenience and wholesale director exits

  09-02-2026 10:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Morrisons director of convenience and wholesale Matt Heslop has stepped down from his role at the supermarket.
  The exec joined Morrisons in March 2025, having previously worked for rival grocer Lidl for more than 20 years in various positions.
  He most recently served as Lidl UK’s chief operating officer (COO) from January 2017 to March 2025.Related Story Facial recognition: Sainsbury’s removes innocent shopper misidentified as offender06/02/2026 x 10:03 AMPrior to this, he worked as
  
  Read more

• Dunelm strengthens executive team with new hires

  09-02-2026 09:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Homeware retailer Dunelm has bolstered its executive team with two new hires to support the next phase of its growth.
  Laura Harricks has been appointed chief customer officer (CCO) and will join the business in early March.
  She was previously CCO at Ocado Retail and also worked at Monsoon Accessorize and Currys.Related Story Dunelm posts ‘solid’ Christmas as profits outlook trimmed15/01/2026 x 8:46 AMCaroline Angell joins Dunelm as chief people officer (CPO) with immediate effect.
  Sh
  
  Read more

• Dunelm strengthens executive team with two senior hires

  09-02-2026 09:44 via theretailbulletin.com
  Dunelm has strengthened its executive team with the appointment of Laura Harricks as chief customer officer and Caroline Angell as chief people officer. Due to join... View Article
  
  Read more

• Bloobloom opens Notting Hill store as part of London expansion

  09-02-2026 09:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  French eyewear brand Bloobloom has opened a new store in London‘s Notting Hill as it continues to expand across the capital. The 900 square foot store... View Article
  
  Read more

• Ocado cost saving drive puts 1,000 jobs at risk

  09-02-2026 09:20 via theretailbulletin.com
  Ocado Group is reported to be considering cutting up to 1,000 jobs, roughly 5% of its workforce, as it looks to reduce costs after a difficult... View Article
  
  Read more

• M&S to include alcohol in its healthy food sales target

  09-02-2026 07:37 via theretailbulletin.com
  M&S is to include sales of alcohol in its reporting of food sales as it looks to offer uncreased transparency on the percentage of healthy food... View Article
  
  Read more

• England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones

  09-02-2026 07:00
  Data shows deprived communities have more off-licences and takeaways and fewer childcare facilities and gymsEngland’s poorest communities have 70% more vape shops, off-licences and bookmakers than wealthier ones and far fewer cafes and gyms, a study has found.The Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (Icon), chaired by the Labour peer Hilary Armstrong, said ministers risked overlooking vitally important neighbourhood shopping precincts by focusing on town centres. In deprived areas, loc
  
  Read more

• Is Australia getting ruder? How to be kinder to others in everyday life – and break the contagion of rage

  08-02-2026 15:00
  Slow down, take a deep breath, maybe even let the other car take the park. In the face of rudeness, sometimes the most radical thing to do is remain passively politeGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailThink of a typical day in our angry world. You open social media and read abuse either directed at yourself or someone else, then you get in your car and find yourself aggressively overtaken while driving at the speed limit. You pull into a shopping mall car park, where another driver execut
  
  Read more

• ‘It has to be amazing’: Liberty links with Bridgerton as it capitalises on maximalist trend

  08-02-2026 12:00
  Department store’s retail boss reveals how it is thriving by focusing on unique items and tie-ups from Adidas to Grayson PerryOn a damp Thursday in central London, shoppers have fled the rain to indulge in some Bridgerton-themed escapism at upmarket department store Liberty, which has dedicated its fourth floor to the raunchy period drama.“When customers come to Liberty they want the discovery of new brands or something a bit different,” says Lydia King, Liberty’s new ret
  
  Read more

• Modern Milkman to collect unwanted electronics and toys with deliveries

  08-02-2026 08:00
  Grocery delivery firm will begin picking up broken tech across the UK and charging consumers to recycle itemsA UK dairy delivery business is to begin collecting unwanted or broken toys, mobile phones and laptops while dropping off milk, orange juice and butter in its latest attempt to expand.The Modern Milkman was founded by entrepreneur Simon Mellin in Burnley, north-west England, in 2019 and delivers groceries to more than 100,000 households across the UK. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Chocolatier that inspired Roald Dahl closes historic London shop

  07-02-2026 06:00
  Prestat agreed closure as part of a deal that will lead to it being taken over by L’Artisan du Chocolat
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!