Retail news

• Fenwick and Selected bolster tie-up with omnichannel activation

  16-01-2026 15:29
  Fenwick has strengthened its partnership with Danish fashion brand Selected.
  On Wednesday (13 January), the two retailers expanded their tie-up with a nationwide omnichannel activation designed to “immerse customers in the brand” across all eight Fenwick stores, “supported by rich digital and social content”.
  Launching across the department store’s locations, the partnership will be brought to life through Selected window takeovers, refreshed shop fits and a program
  
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• Tesco trials shelf-scanning robots in supermarket aisles

  15-07-2026 11:54
  
  Tesco is testing an autonomous robot that roams supermarket aisles looking for empty shelves, misplaced products and incorrect prices.
  The grocery giant is trialling Simbe Robotics’ Tally robot in one of its stores, and has plans to extend the pilot to a small number of other locations.
  Measuring roughly five feet tall, Tally uses artificial intelligence, cameras and computer vision to travel independently through the aisles and scan the items on shelves.
  The technology checks stock availa
  
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• Co-op extends festival sponsorship deal with Live Nation until 2031

  15-07-2026 11:34
  
  Co-op has renewed its sponsorship of several major UK music festivals for a further five years, extending its partnership with Live Nation UK until 2031.
  The company will remain the official supermarket sponsor of Download Festival, Klarna Presents Latitude Festival, Pepsi Presents Reading & Leeds Festivals and Pepsi Presents Creamfields Festival.
  Co-op first signed the partnership in 2018 and has since operated pop-up convenience stores at some of the UK’s largest live music events.
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• M&S to commence Marble Arch store redevelopment works

  15-07-2026 11:19
  
  M&S is set to start work on its Marble Arch flagship redevelopment next year.
  The update comes after the retailer’s proposal to redevelop the site was granted approval in December 2024.
  The approval was given after more than three years, when former secretary of state for housing, communities and local government Angela Rayner approved its plans.
  The food and fashion giant said it wanted to regenerate the West End “to regain its position as a global shopping destination”.
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• Swiss trade deal to open market for UK beef, lamb and dairy farmers

  15-07-2026 11:13
  
  UK farmers are to have improved access to the Swiss market after the UK signed a new trade deal with Switzerland, in a move welcomed by the National Farmers’ Union.
  The agreement will allow greater access for British beef, lamb and dairy products, alongside some horticultural goods, while also offering new opportunities for UK sparkling wine exports.
  The NFU said it had spent several years lobbying for improved access to Switzerland, including writing to trade minister Chris Bryant last mo
  
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• The Very Group turns to AI to overhaul pricing strategy

  15-07-2026 11:08
  
  The Very Group has launched an AI-powered pricing system across its retail brands, as part of a new three-year partnership with software company UiPath.
  The multi-brand online retailer said the technology will help it make faster pricing decisions, improve stock management and give its teams more insight into pricing performance.
  The Very Group said the project is part of its broader strategy to expand the use of AI across the business.
  UiPath, which was selected following a competitive pitch, i
  
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• Asda rejects safety fears as 300 security jobs put at risk

  15-07-2026 10:43
  
  Asda has insisted its stores will remain properly protected after more than 300 security officers working for outsourcing giant Mitie were placed at risk of redundancy.
  Mitie has launched a consultation over plans to reduce guard hours across around 100 Asda stores, which could leave some officers facing reduced shifts, relocation or redundancy.
  The GMB union has branded the process “shambolic” and called for it to be suspended, warning that cutting security hours could place shopper
  
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• Dr. Martens maintains guidance as US market grows

  15-07-2026 10:17 via theretailbulletin.com
  Dr. Martens has said its full year guidance remains unchanged in a statement ahead of its annual general meeting today. The footwear brand said trading since... View Article
  
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• B&M like-for-likes dip 2.3% in UK amid slower garden sales start

  15-07-2026 10:12 via theretailbulletin.com
  B&M saw a 2.3% decline in like-for-like sales in its first quarter due to a slower start to garden and outdoor sales this year. Trading margin... View Article
  
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• Richemont sales surge on booming jewellery demand

  15-07-2026 10:01 via ft.com
  Cartier owner outperforms peers with consecutive quarters of double-digit growth
  
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• New BNPL rules trigger major checkout shake-up for retailers

  15-07-2026 09:57
  
  Retailers are bracing for changes to their online checkout journeys as the UK’s new buy now, pay later (BNPL) regulations come into force today.
  The Financial Conduct Authority has begun regulating deferred payment credit, the interest-free form of borrowing commonly offered through providers such as Klarna and Clearpay.
  Under the new regime, lenders must carry out proportionate affordability checks before allowing shoppers to borrow, while providing clearer information about repayment dat
  
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• Asos raids Amazon for new global trading chief

  15-07-2026 09:42
  Asos has appointed former Amazon executive Lizzie Jones as its new global head of trading as the online fashion retailer strengthens its commercial leadership team.
  Jones joins from Amazon Fashion, where she served as general manager and commercial leader for footwear.
  The hire marks a return to Asos for Jones, who began her retail career at the business around two decades ago before going on to hold senior commercial and merchandising roles.
  She will now oversee global trading at the fashion gi
  
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• CMA clears eBay’s $1.2bn takeover of Depop

  15-07-2026 09:32
  
  eBay has moved a step closer to completing its $1.2bn acquisition of Depop after the UK competition watchdog gave the deal the green light.
  The Competition and Markets Authority has cleared eBay’s proposed purchase of the fashion resale app from Etsy, following an initial investigation.
  The CMA said it would not refer the acquisition for a more detailed phase two inquiry, removing a significant obstacle to the deal’s completion. The body had opened its formal review in June and invit
  
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• Currys steps up SME push with ten new business hubs

  15-07-2026 09:25
  
  Currys has opened 10 more business hubs across its store estate after the division recorded 20 per cent year-on-year growth.
  The company has expanded the network to 70 locations across the UK, with the aim of capturing a greater share of the small and medium-sized business technology market.
  The new hubs have opened inside Currys stores in Durham, Tunbridge Wells, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Gloucester, Wolverhampton, Derby, Cheetham Hill, Watford and Poole.
  Each site gives local businesses access
  
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• B&M UK sales slide as France rescues quarterly growth

  15-07-2026 09:13
  
  B&M has reported a slight rise in first-quarter sales after stronger trading in France and at Heron Foods helped offset another decline across its core UK business.
  Group revenue increased by two per cent to £1.43bn in the 13 weeks to 27 June, although like-for-like sales at B&M UK fell by 2.3 per cent.
  The company said that UK trading was affected by a slow start to the garden and outdoor season, which dampened demand for seasonal ranges in its largest market.
  However, continued
  
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• Debenhams eyes £100m profits as marketplace model gains traction

  15-07-2026 09:02
  
  Debenhams Group has hailed continued sales growth across June and July as its shift towards a marketplace-led model begins to deliver.
  The group, formerly known as Boohoo Group, said gross merchandise value had continued to grow year on year after returning to growth during its first quarter.
  Sales margins have also improved, while customer return rates have fallen.
  Chief executive Dan Finley said the group’s platform model and broader product assortment had allowed it to react quickly to
  
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• Mike Ashley crashes Harvey Nichols sale as Next bidding war looms

  15-07-2026 08:56
  
  Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has joined the race to acquire Harvey Nichols, setting up a potential bidding battle with Next for the loss-making luxury department store.
  Harvey Nichols told brand partners this week that it had been required to allow Frasers Group to participate in the sale process alongside other prospective buyers.
  In a memo first reported by Sky News, the retailer said the situation surrounding the auction had “evolved”, despite concerns reportedly raised by se
  
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• Rituals to refresh 1,500 boutiques in 30 working days 

  15-07-2026 08:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  Rituals is to invest €40 million in refreshing 1,500 boutiques across 30 countries in just 30 working days  from next month. Rather than taking a phased... View Article
  
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• Currys adds ten new business hubs after 20% growth

  15-07-2026 08:13 via theretailbulletin.com
  Currys has rolled out ten further business hubs following 20% year-on-year growth in the offering. Situated in the tech retailer’s stores, the hubs provide SMEs with... View Article
  
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• Currys Business expands business hub network

  14-07-2026 17:17
  
  Currys Business is developing its business hub network following 20 per cent year-on-year growth, as UK SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) “continue to balance rising costs with an increasing reliance on technology”. 
  The technology retailer has rolled out 10 new business hubs across the UK, taking its total number of hubs nationwide to 70.
  Located within Currys stores, the company’s business hubs provide SMEs with access to dedicated business customer managers, spe
  
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• Why unchecked third-party suppliers are becoming a board-level risk for retailers

  14-07-2026 15:33
  
  Third-party supplier oversight is now one of retail’s biggest compliance risks, according to Vantify 
  Retailers are facing a compliance landscape where some of the greatest threats increasingly sit outside their direct control. 
  From greenwashing rules to cyber disruption and senior management accountability, organisations are being judged on how well they understand, verify and govern the third parties they rely on. 
  That creates a clear financial and reputational
  
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• Beyond Uptime: The 2026 Connected Retail Blueprint

  14-07-2026 12:33
  
  No customer praises a store for its Wi-Fi. But everyone notices when it stops working.
  A customer who was ready to buy becomes a customer who is ready to leave.
  Beyond Uptime is a new report from Retail Gazette and Gamma, built on interviews with retail specialists and data on payment failures, outages, and shopworker safety.
  What you’ll learn:The base on which exceptional retail is built
  Why system failures put £1.7bn in UK retail sales at ris
  
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• Dubai eyes new shipping route project amid Strait of Hormuz tensions

  14-07-2026 12:22
  
  Dubai is planning a new port in Fujairah as the UAE looks to reduce its reliance on the Strait of Hormuz following continued attacks on shipping in the region.
  According to the Financial Times, state-owned port operator DP World is in talks to expand facilities in Fujairah, on the UAE’s east coast, including a new terminal and a new multi-purpose port.
  The move comes after months of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, where attacks linked t
  
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• Rituals to revamp 1,500 boutiques in 30 working days

  14-07-2026 12:16
  
  Rituals Cosmetics is set to launch one of Europe’s largest retail transformations in August, renewing 1,500 boutiques across 30 countries with an investment of €40 million (£34.09 million). 
  Rather than renewing its boutique concept in phases over several years, Rituals will elevate 1,500 boutiques in 30 working days. 
  The transformation coincides with the introduction of many new collections, Rituals said, which “require a spacious, more premium presentation&rdq
  
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• Watches of Switzerland profit surges as shoppers fuel luxury boom

  14-07-2026 11:05
  
  Watches of Switzerland has posted a sharp rise in annual profit as booming demand from wealthy US shoppers helped the Rolex retailer defy the wider slowdown gripping the luxury market.
  The group’s statutory pre-tax profit jumped 76 per cent to £133m in the 53 weeks to 3 May, while adjusted operating profit rose to £155m.
  Revenue climbed 11 per cent on a reported basis to £1.83bn, or 13 per cent at constant currencies, coming in ahead of analysts’ expectations.
  Chief
  
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• TOAST brand director: “responsible operations and commercial growth are not mutually exclusive”

  14-07-2026 11:00
  
  Welsh clothing and lifestyle brand TOAST, which has had “great success in the UK” and is looking to replicate it responsibly in the US, has stressed “overproduction has to be the focus”.
  Following the news that 99 per cent of its 2025 clothing collections were made from solely natural fibres, Rosie McKissock, TOAST’s brand director, explains that responsible operations and business growth can go hand in hand.
  “TOAST demonstrates a different way to shop, guided
  
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• Furniturebox co-founder: “There’s no manuscript” for building ecommerce success

  14-07-2026 11:00
  
  Monty George was 17-years-old when he evolved his skill for selling on marketplaces into a dedicated ecommerce business, with his school-friend Dan Beckles. Just over a decade later and Furniturebox has recently rebranded; has grown into the States; and is about to replatform for its next stage of development.
  Fueled by a love of second-hand goods, George started selling electronics, mini quad bikes and dirt bikes on the likes of eBay. He realised if he could sell logistically complex items such
  
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• OurCoop appoints LoweConex to unify refrigeration and HVAC telemetry

  14-07-2026 10:59 via theretailbulletin.com
  LoweConex expands its work across the newly formed co-operative retail society, OurCoop, following the coming together of Central Co-op, Chelmsford Star Co-operative and Midcounties Co-operative in... View Article
  
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• Watches of Switzerland posts record full year revenue after strong US demand

  14-07-2026 10:11 via theretailbulletin.com
  Watches of Switzerland Group has posted record annual revenue and a surge in profit after a particularly strong performance in its US business and signs of... View Article
  
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• Retailers handed $81bn tariff lifeline after Trump duties ruled illegal

  14-07-2026 09:55
  
  US businesses have received $81bn (£61bn) in tariff refunds after the Supreme Court struck down a large part of Donald Trump’s import tax regime.
  The US government has returned the money during the current fiscal year, which began in October 2025, according to newly released budget figures.
  That compares with just $5bn refunded over the same period a year earlier, with the Treasury attributing almost all of the surge to the Supreme Court’s ruling in February.
  The judgment found
  
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