Retail news

• Halfords profits beat expectations as garage growth fuels turnaround

  25-06-2026 09:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Halfords has beaten analyst expectations as its turnaround plan began to gain traction, with the retailer forecasting profit towards the top end of market forecasts for the year ahead.
  The motoring and cycling specialist reported underlying profit before tax of £45.4m for the year to 3 April, ahead of analyst expectations of £40.3m.
  Reported pre-tax profit came in at £43.6m, marking a return to the black after the business posted a £30m loss last year.
  Revenue rose five p
  
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• Samsøe Samsøe unveils Seven Dials store

  25-06-2026 15:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Danish fashion brand Samsøe Samsøe has opened its second London store, choosing a Seven Dials location to “connect more directly” with customers.
  Situated at 5 Earlham Street, the store has been designed with a Scandinavian-inspired identity, featuring clean lines and muted tones.
  This latest two-floor site joins the brand’s existing location in the capital, situated at Beak Street in Soho.
  “Opening on Earlham Street is a defining moment for our UK growth jo
  
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• Uniqlo owner: ‘Suppliers invest when they believe they’ve got a future’

  25-06-2026 14:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Uniqlo parent company Fast Retailing is to focus on further investing in long supplier relationships, stressing that “collective action is critical to progress”.
  Speaking at a London supply-chain and sustainability event earlier this week [23 June], executives from Fast Retailing argued that long-term relationships with suppliers will be critical if the fashion industry is to cut emissions, improve traceability and secure future sources of raw materials.
  The message was delivered dur
  
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• Data: Social commerce growing faster than ecommerce

  25-06-2026 14:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Social commerce is growing by around 17 per cent a year, compared with 3 per cent for the wider ecommerce market, according to new research.
  A new study by American Express, conducted with Retail Economics, looked to highlight the power social media has not only on ecommerce uplift but also in driving footfall to stores. It found one in every 20 in-person sale had been influenced by social content, in the past 12 months.
  Additionally, 46 per cent of shoppers said a physical store or ve
  
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• Boots granted Royal Warrant by Her Majesty The Queen

  25-06-2026 13:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Boots has been granted a Royal Warrant by Her Majesty The Queen, recognising its service as manufacturers and retailers of health and beauty products to the Royal Household.
  The health and beauty retailer said the honour was a “very special” moment for the business and its colleagues across the UK.
  Royal Warrants are granted to companies that have supplied the Royal Household on a regular basis for at least five years.
  Boots managing director Anthony Hemmerdinger said: “We are
  
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• Adidas picks up Grand Prix: A look at Cannes Lions winners 2026

  25-06-2026 13:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  It’s that time of year again when the entire marketing industry abandons the dreary old UK (not so dreary this year) for the South of France.
  Yes, its Cannes Lions again.
  We take a look at some of the winners from this years Awards.
  Audio and Radio Lions
  Audio and Radio Lions received 513 entries and 15 Lions handed out, 2 Gold, 5 Silver, 7 Bronze and the Grand Prix.
  Hyundai Puerto Rico’s ‘Coquí Alarmed’  won the top prize. It was created by BBDO Puerto Rico,
  
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• Opinion: The Olive Bottle and Strait of Hormuz – why it matters to grocery retailers

  25-06-2026 13:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  by Blue Yonder Sr Industry Strategies Director Trevor Jordaan
  Most consumers see a bottle of olive oil.
  Supply chain leaders see something very different.
  They see farming, energy, packaging, logistics, inventory, promotions and risk—all converging on a single supermarket shelf.
  That is why a geopolitical event thousands of miles away can ultimately influence the price a customer pays at the checkout.
  At first glance, the Strait of Hormuz and a bottle of olive oil appear to have very littl
  
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• Retailers risk higher costs and missed deliveries without transport overhaul

  25-06-2026 12:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK businesses are prioritising greener transport fleets, but many remain unclear on how to make the shift, new research from GXO Logistics has found.
  The logistics company’s new report, The future of transport, found that 64 per cent of UK businesses want to reduce the environmental impact of their fleets but admit they do not know how to do so.
  The study surveyed more than 1,000 senior decision-makers across UK supply chain and logistics organisations for the report, which explores cost r
  
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• Disney and Formula 1 bring ‘Fuel the Magic’ campaign to UK for British Grand Prix

  25-06-2026 11:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Disney and Formula 1 are bringing their “Fuel the Magic” campaign to the UK for the first time with a major retail and entertainment takeover around this year’s British Grand Prix.
  The partnership will see Disney launch new limited-edition products, live performances, character experiences and retail activations across Silverstone and London.
  The campaign marks the European debut of Disney x Formula 1, bringing together Disney’s consumer products business with one of the
  
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• Lego opens global innovation campus to speed up toy manufacturing

  25-06-2026 11:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Lego Group has opened its first dedicated global manufacturing innovation centre in Billund, Denmark, as it invests in new production technologies and product development.
  The Kornmarken Campus brings together around 1,800 colleagues across engineering, quality and manufacturing, who will develop, test and scale new manufacturing processes for Lego products.
  The 47,000 sq m campus sits alongside the toy giant’s legacy factory, creating a 100,000 sq m facility in the town where Lego was
  
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• Adidas, Uniqlo and Calvin Klein ads banned over greenwashing accusations

  25-06-2026 10:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ads from Adidas, Uniqlo and Calvin Klein have been banned by the UK advertising watchdog over potentially misleading claims about recycled clothing and footwear.
  The Advertising Standards Authority ruled against paid-for Google ads from all three fashion brands after finding that they had not provided enough evidence to support the environmental claims being made.
  Adidas had promoted “recycled running shoes”, while Calvin Klein advertised “recycled” women’s tops. Un
  
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• B&M hires Asda finance boss as turnaround push stays on course

  25-06-2026 09:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  B&M has appointed Asda executive Atheeq Akbar as its next chief financial officer as the discount retailer continues work to strengthen its UK business.
  Akbar will join B&M in February 2027, replacing interim finance boss Pete Waterhouse.
  He is currently vice president of commercial finance at Asda and has previously held senior roles at Morrisons, Tesco and Etihad Airways.
  B&M chief executive Tjeerd Jegen said Akbar’s UK retail experience would support the company as it presse
  
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• Retailers urged to prepare as BNPL regulation deadline approaches

  25-06-2026 09:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Retailers offering Buy Now, Pay Later at checkout are being urged to review their customer journeys ahead of new rules bringing the payment method under Financial Conduct Authority regulation.
  The new regime comes into force on 15 July and marks a major shift for the UK retail payments market, as BNPL lenders face stronger oversight and tougher consumer protection requirements.
  The reforms are designed to ensure shoppers are given clearer information before borrowing, while lenders will also be
  
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• Halfords posts sales and profit growth as Fit for the Future strategy delivers

  25-06-2026 09:44 via theretailbulletin.com
  Halfords has posted an increase in annual sales and profit as its Fit for the Future strategy gains traction. In the 52 weeks to 27 March,... View Article
  
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• Retail parks running out of space as Aldi and Lidl fuel occupier rush

  25-06-2026 09:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  UK retail parks are becoming “effectively full” as Aldi, Lidl and other value-led retailers continue to compete for a shrinking pool of available units.
  New research from Savills found that available space across retail parks has dropped to just 1.8 per cent of total floorspace once obsolete and long-term vacant units are stripped out.
  While the headline vacancy rate stands at 4.3 per cent, Savills said almost 43 per cent of that empty space has been vacant for three years or more, e
  
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• Sephora brings beauty festival to London as UK expansion continues

  25-06-2026 09:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Sephora is bringing its global beauty festival Sephoria to the UK for the first time.
  The LVMH-owned beauty giant will host Sephoria Europe at 180 Studios in London from 16 to 17 October, marking a major moment for the brand after its UK relaunch in 2023.
  The ticketed event will combine brand activations, masterclasses, creator appearances and product giveaways, with Sephora describing it as a “celebration of beauty anchored in the UK culture”.
  This year’s festival will introdu
  
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• Ferrari marketing chief exits after backlash over electric supercar launch

  25-06-2026 09:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Ferrari’s long-serving marketing boss has stepped down just weeks after the luxury car maker faced a backlash over the launch of its first fully electric model.
  Enrico Galliera, who has spent 16 years at Ferrari, is leaving his role as chief marketing and commercial officer. He will be replaced in July by former BMW Italy boss Massimiliano Di Silvestre.
  The supercar maker said Galliera had “decided to embark on a new chapter in his professional journey”, adding that the move ha
  
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• Anthropic accuses Alibaba of ‘industrial scale’ Claude AI extraction campaign

  25-06-2026 09:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  US artificial intelligence giant Anthropic has accused Alibaba-linked operators of “brazenly” extracting capabilities from its Claude AI model through what it claims was the ‘largest campaign of its kind’.In a letter to US senators Tim Scott and Elizabeth Warren, dated 10 June, the San Francisco-based AI firm alleged that operators tied to the Chinese ecommerce and technology group carried out almost 29m exchanges with Claude using thousands of fraudulent accounts.
  Anthr
  
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• ProCook profits surge as kitchenware retailer adds almost one million new customers

  25-06-2026 09:05 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  ProCook has posted a sharp rise in annual sales and profits after new stores, stronger ecommerce trading and improved margins helped the kitchenware specialist outperform the wider market.
  The retailer reported revenue of £85.5m for the year to 29 March 2026, up 23 per cent on the previous year, while EBITDA climbed 39.6 per cent to £12.5m.
  Profit before tax rose 64.5 per cent to £2.5m, as ProCook benefited from a stronger gross profit margin, which improved by 170 basis points
  
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• Ocado succession talks intensify as share price slump piles pressure on Tim Steiner

  25-06-2026 08:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ocado’s search for a potential successor to founder and chief executive Tim Steiner appears to be gathering pace, following reports that the online grocery technology business has approached external candidates about the role.
  The company issued a statement this week confirming that its chief executive and board “continually engage in long-term succession planning” and “regularly engage with potential candidates”, after Sky News reported that talks were underway to
  
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• M&S brings back viral strawberry sandwich and launches new chocolate and pistachio version

  25-06-2026 08:46 via theretailbulletin.com
  M&S has brought back its Strawberry & Creme Sandwich that went viral last year. The product was a best seller when it launched last summer with... View Article
  
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• eBay’s Emily O’Hara on the inspiration behind its eBay live campaign

  25-06-2026 07:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Online marketplace eBay has unveiled a new global brand campaign for its live shopping platform that aims to position the marketplace as the “antidote to passive scrolling”.
  It was created in collaboration with creative agency JOAN and features dedicated assets across fashion, collectables and more.
  According to Emily O’Hara, VP of global brand marketing at eBay, the campaign was inspired by what the firm is already seeing on eBay live- sellers sharing their knowledge and buyer
  
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• Shareholders push Ocado board to oust chief Tim Steiner

  25-06-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  Co-founder could remain at grocery tech company in a different role
  
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• Shareholders push Ocado board to oust CEO Tim Steiner

  25-06-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  Co-founder could remain at grocery tech company in a different role
  
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• Predictions market Kalshi in talks to raise funds at $40bn valuation

  24-06-2026 21:00 via ft.com
  Rapidly growing company is increasingly challenging established derivatives and betting rivals
  
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• Tesco extends Clubcard loyalty scheme to 16 and 17-year-olds as it courts younger shoppers

  24-06-2026 19:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  Tesco has launched a new version of its Tesco Clubcard for 16 and 17-year-olds to give younger customers the chance to access to Clubcard Prices deals... View Article
  
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• Late night deliveries for football fans, thanks to Waitrose

  24-06-2026 17:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Waitrose will be extending its delivery window following increased demand due to late-night and early morning World Cup matches.
  Customers will be able to place orders through Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat, in more than 50 locations nationwide. The service will be available during the next four weeks of the World Cup
  Consumers will be order from most participating stores until midnight, with select locations operating a 24/7 service. However shoppers will be unable to purchase alcohol during
  
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• BrewDog pledges £1m bar tab if England, Scotland or USA reach final

  24-06-2026 16:18 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  BrewDog is to open a £1 million bar tab if England, Scotland or the United States reaches the FIFA World Cup final.
  The Scottish brewer said the tab would become available from 20 July, the day after the final, allowing supporters to continue celebrating regardless of whether their team wins or loses.
  Fans wearing an eligible national team shirt will be able to claim up to two free pints on a first-come, first-served basis at participating BrewDog bars while the £1 million fund lasts
  
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• Ribena maker invests £14.5m in UK blackcurrant processing facility

  24-06-2026 16:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I is investing £14.5m in a new blackcurrant processing facility in Herefordshire as it looks to strengthen the UK supply chain behind Ribena.
  Developed in partnership with Bevisol Ltd, the food and drink manufacturer said the Ledbury site will be operational in time for this year’s blackcurrant harvest, and will process fruit sourced from the company’s network of 33 British growers.
  The investment brings a key stage of Ribena production closer
  
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• Grape Tree staff share £100,000 bonus as move to employee ownership trust pays off

  24-06-2026 15:24 via theretailbulletin.com
  More than 900 staff at Grape Tree have shared a £100,000 bonus after the health foods retailer completed its move to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT)... View Article
  
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