Retail news

• Farfetch posts first quarter growth despite coronavirus uncertainty

  17-04-2020 11:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Farfetch posts first quarter growth but reports slowdown in major markets
  // It has not witnessed “any material impact to its diversified supply and logistics platform to date”
  // Farfetch expects to make a loss in its adjusted EBITDA, of between £16.6m and £19.7mFarfetch has revealed a growth in its preliminary first quarter figures but has seen a slowdown in its larger markets, particularly in Europe and the US amid the coronavirus crisis.
  The luxury goods platform h
  
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• Labour risks election wipeout unless it improves Britain’s high streets, study finds

  28-01-2026 11:01
  Decay of town centres a top issue among voters especially Reform UK supporters and is fuelling resentment against WestminsterHow has your local high street changed since 2019? Check your postcodeThe struggling billionaire-owned high street that shows Reform’s road to No 10Labour will be “washed away in a tide of discontent” at the next general election unless it tackles the decline of Britain’s high streets, a study has warned, as Guardian analysis lays bare the changing
  
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• How has your local high street changed since 2019? Check your postcode

  28-01-2026 11:01
  The makeup of Great Britain’s high streets has changed dramatically. See what the data says about where you liveFrom department stores to discount shops, bookmakers to beauty salons, the makeup of Britain’s high streets has shifted dramatically since 2019. Shopping-led town centres are giving way to areas increasingly dominated by services, food, and leisure – but the scale and shape of that change varies widely from place to place.The last six years have coincided with a serie
  
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• Debenhams Group retaining PrettyLittleThing

  28-01-2026 10:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Debenhams Group has boosted its outlook for the financial year in its latest trading update.
  The retail giant reported it was trading above expectations for the year to 28 February 2026. It also noted that its full year adjusted EBITDA ((Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization)) for total operations was now expected to come in at £50m, up from its previous guidance of £45m in November.
  Debenhams said that this was a result of “the continued momentum
  
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• Debenhams Group boosts profit expectations and decides to retain PrettyLittleThing

  28-01-2026 10:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Debenhams Group has boosted its outlook for the financial year in its latest trading update.
  The retail giant reported it was trading above expectations for the year to 28 February 2026. It also noted that its full year adjusted EBITDA ((Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization)) for total operations was now expected to come in at £50m, up from its previous guidance of £45m in November.
  Debenhams said that this was a result of “the continued momentum
  
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• SUPER DELIVERY: A practical way to source directly from Japan 

  28-01-2026 10:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Japan has never been more visible in global consumer culture.
  Across social media, Japanese food, stationery, homeware and everyday lifestyle products regularly go viral, from minimalist packaging and clever design details to products that prioritise quality and usability over trends. At the same time, international travel to Japan has surged, bringing record visitor numbers and, in some areas, well-documented over-tourism challenges.
  For many consumers, a trip to Japan reinforces a simple idea.
  
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• Pets at Home sees group revenue climb despite ‘flat’ Q3

  28-01-2026 10:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Pets at Home has reported a 0.8% increase in consumer revenue across the Group.
  In a trading statement released today, 28 January, the business reported revenue of £472m for the third quarter (Q3) of full year (FY) 2026>
  Retail revenue was down 1.1%, despite “positive volume growth across food and accessories”.
  Q3 also saw “sequential improvement in growth during a period where we invested in our relative price position”, said the business. Online remains th
  
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• Lululemon opens first Birmingham store

  28-01-2026 09:53 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Athleisure brand Lululemon is set to make its Midlands debut at Birmingham’s Bullrings shopping centre, with a brand-new 5,700 sq ft store.
  The new site will showcase Lululemon’s latest range of activewear products for yoga, running, training, tennis, golf and other sporting activities, across womenswear, menswear and accessories lines.
  As part of the expansion, the Canadian brand will seek to create a community through a local grassroots approach, involving running clubs and group e
  
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• Aldi unveils £370m investment plan

  28-01-2026 09:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Aldi is set to invest £370m to open 40 new stores, as part of its two-year expansion programme.
  The discounter will develop new stores in Southam in Warwickshire, Hastings in East Sussex and Amersham in Buckinghamshire.
  The move forms part of the £1.6bn investment which was announced last year, as the retailer works towards its long-term ambition of opening 1,500 UK stores.Related Story Over 50% of households worse off than a year ago, Asda income tracker reports27/01/2026 x 3:29 PMT
  
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• Debenhams Group reports trading above expectations

  28-01-2026 09:42 via theretailbulletin.com
  Debenhams Group has increased its annual earnings outlook due to trading exceeding expectations in the year to 28 February 2026. The group attributed the performance to... View Article
  
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• Card Factory festive trading impacted by lower footfall

  28-01-2026 09:16 via theretailbulletin.com
  Card Factory has said its Christmas trading performance was impacted by a challenging consumer backdrop and lower footfall in UK shopping destinations. While total group revenue... View Article
  
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• Pets at Home says performance in line with expectations as it works through turnaround plan

  28-01-2026 08:48 via theretailbulletin.com
  Pets at Home has reported a third quarter performance in line with expectations with group consumer revenue edging up 0.8% to £472 million. The news follows... View Article
  
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• Edikted to open first UK store

  28-01-2026 07:05 via theretailbulletin.com
  US fashion brand Edikted has chosen Carnaby Street in London’s Soho for the opening of its first standalone store in the UK and Europe. Situated opposite... View Article
  
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• Just Eat launches AI voice assistant for UK customers

  28-01-2026 07:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Just Eat has introduced a new AI voice assistant on iOS and Android as it looks to make ordering on its platform easier. Launching initially in... View Article
  
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• UPS to cut up to 30,000 jobs and close facilities as Amazon shipments drop

  27-01-2026 22:43
  Delivery and logistics group has been reducing its ‘volume’ from ecommerce giant by approximately 1mn pieces per day
  
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• LVMH chief Arnault laments geopolitical strife as sales rise

  27-01-2026 19:37
  Louis Vuitton owner reports another quarter of growth but warns unpredictable world events may impede recovery
  
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• Hobbycraft issues full recall of asbestos-tainted children’s play sand

  27-01-2026 18:49
  Craft retailer says there is ‘risk to health’ after some vials in Giant Box of Craft set contained fibrous tremolite asbestosHobbycraft has issued a full recall of children’s coloured play sand after confirming some bottles contained asbestos, presenting “a risk to health”.The Guardian revealed at the weekend that the craft retailer had stopped selling the kit after being alerted to the risk but had stopped short of alerting customers who had already bought the item
  
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• Aldi to create 500 apprentice roles this year

  27-01-2026 18:27 via theretailbulletin.com
  Aldi is opening applications for 500 apprenticeship roles in its stores and warehouses across the UK. Apprentices will work towards industry-recognised qualifications. Store apprentices will start... View Article
  
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• LVMH predicts ‘gradual’ luxury recovery as sales rise

  27-01-2026 18:00
  Owner of Louis Vuitton and Dior reports another quarter of sales growth as luxury industry emerges from downturn
  
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• Over 50% of households worse off than a year ago, Asda income tracker reports

  27-01-2026 16:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Nearly six in ten UK households feel their weekly salaries don’t stretch as far as they did a year ago, the latest figures from Asda’s income tracker have found.
  Growth in the supermarket’s income tracker slowed sharply in December, leaving the average UK household with £256 a week in discretionary income.  
  The deceleration brings a halt to the progress made over the previous three months, with the lowest-income households hit the hardest.  
  The lowes
  
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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 Group CEO steps down to become chair

  27-01-2026 13:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Boots Group 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
  
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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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