Retail news

• John Lewis to close foreign exchange desks, risking 200 jobs

  08-07-2026 09:36 via theretailbulletin.com
  John Lewis is to close its in-store foreign exchange desks and gift wrapping services which could result in the loss of 200 jobs. According to The... View Article
  
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• May and June heatwaves drive record convenience sales

  08-07-2026 12:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Convenience retailers witnessed record revenues throughout the May and June heatwaves, according to new data from convenience insight agency Talysis.
  The industry’s sales saw a £30 million boost during May, followed by a further uplift in June driven by the hot weather.
  The sector’s soft drinks category hit two all-time highs during the space of four weeks. Sales initially hit £105 million throughout the Bank Holiday week ending 31 May, before reaching £114 million
  
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• ASA makes six new “less healthy” food rulings

  08-07-2026 12:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has published six new rulings under the new healthy food and drink regulations.
  The new regulations ban ads for “less healthy” food items from appearing on on-demand and TV between 5.30am and 9pm or in paid online media at any time. According to the government these regulations are aimed to reduce children’s exposure to less healthy food products.
  It upheld a ruling against Morley’s Woking for a paid-for Instagram ad promoting two
  
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• Marks and Spencer’s first London Fashion Week appearance confirmed

  08-07-2026 11:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  British retailer Marks and Spencer will be taking part in London Fashion Week in the autumn.
  This marks the retailers first appearance at the event.
  The collection will include womenswear and menswear styles and the range will be available to purchase online and in flagship stores.Related Story Savile Row celebrates 50 years of Golden Shears Awards11/09/2025 x 12:01 AMM&S CEO Stuart Machin said: “I’d like to thank the British Fashion Council for supporting us in joining the LFW s
  
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• Supply chain shock could disrupt half of global businesses within three weeks

  08-07-2026 11:44 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Half of global chief executives said their businesses could not run beyond three weeks if a major supply chain shock hit, new research found.
  A report from procurement and supply chain consultancy Proxima found 51 per cent of CEOs said their business would experience some form of disruption within three weeks if a major supply chain shock occurred.
  The Global Supply Chain Resilience Outlook surveyed more than 500 chief executives at businesses generating over $500 million (£374.4 million)
  
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• New Look largest-ever concept store opens 9 July

  08-07-2026 11:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  New Look has revealed it is opening its largest-ever concept store at Metrocentre on 9 July, marking a milestone in its “investment in creating more connected shopping experiences”. 
  To mark the launch, customers visiting throughout opening day will see a programme of in-store experiences, including goody bags for the first 200 customers who make a purchase, surprise prizes hidden across the store, complimentary matcha drinks and live music from a DJ. 
  Located in Metrocentr
  
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• Vinted joins major coalition launching European Media Marketplace

  08-07-2026 11:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Vinted has joined a coalition of media, telecoms, retail and advertising technology firms launching a new European advertising marketplace.
  The second-hand fashion platform is one of the founding members of the European Media Marketplace, which aims to make it easier for advertisers, agencies and publishers to run campaigns across Europe’s open web.
  Other founding partners include T Advertising Solutions, which is part of Deutsche Telekom, Equativ, Experian, lastminute.com, leboncoin and K
  
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• John Lewis recalls 15 homeware products over asbestos fears

  08-07-2026 10:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  John Lewis has recalled 15 doorstops and draught excluders after officials warned they may contain small quantities of asbestos.
  The company has urged shoppers to stop using the affected products immediately and keep them out of reach of children.
  The recall covers a range of John Lewis & Partners decorative homeware products sold between 31 January 2021 and 11 June 2026.
  The affected items include the retailer’s Navy, Grey and Stripe draught excluders, alongside a number of novelty do
  
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• Very adds Estée Lauder to premium beauty line-up

  08-07-2026 10:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Very Group has added Estée Lauder to its beauty offer in a continuation of its efforts to expand its premium brands.
  The partnership has launched across Very and Littlewoods with 440 skincare and make-up options, including Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation and Advanced Night Repair range.
  Very said the launch forms part of its wider push to build a ‘curated premium beauty offer’ spanning skincare, make-up, haircare, fragrance and wellness.
  Ve
  
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• Carwow’s Dr Menton on its recommendation engine power to ‘showcase what shoppers want’

  08-07-2026 10:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Carwow has deployed an algorithm-powered recommendation engine to provide real value through relevance and discovery, according to Dr Gareth Menton, head of product- retail media at the online marketplace.
  Built by data scientists, the engine looks at what hundreds of users have “built and priced” over the previous year and recommends cars that “naturally cluster together” in buyers’ minds.
  Drawing on “behaviour rather than editorial opinion”, Mento
  
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• Morrisons expands parcel locker rollout to 500 supermarkets

  08-07-2026 10:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Morrisons is expanding its partnership with Quadient to bring parcel collection and returns services to hundreds of supermarkets across the UK.
  The supermarket will install Parcel Pending by Quadient lockers across its estate of around 500 larger stores, following an earlier rollout across Morrisons Daily convenience shops.
  Installations began in June, with an initial deployment across 125 supermarket locations before expanding across the wider Morrisons supermarket network over the coming month
  
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• Gymshark appoints former Boden CTO Shaun Perkinson as chief technology officer

  08-07-2026 09:57 via theretailbulletin.com
  Gymshark has appointed former Boden CTO Shaun Perkinson as chief technology officer as it looks ahead to its next phase of growth. Perkinson worked at Boden... View Article
  
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• Terry Smith accuses Unilever of misleading investors over food spin-off

  08-07-2026 09:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Fundsmith founder Terry Smith has accused Unilever of misleading him over its divestment plans after the consumer goods giant struck a deal to spin off its food business and combine it with McCormick.
  The high-profile investor, who recently sold out of Unilever entirely, said he had been told by management that there would be no further major disposals after the group demerged its ice cream division in 2025.
  However, Unilever announced in March that it would separate its food arm and merge it wi
  
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• Marks & Spencer eyes higher shareholder returns

  08-07-2026 09:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Marks & Spencer has signalled plans to increase shareholder returns in the coming years as it looks to balance heavier investment with growing confidence in its turnaround.
  Chief financial officer Alison Dolan told shareholders at the retailer’s annual meeting that M&S was in a stronger financial position, supported by a robust balance sheet, net funds and an investment-grade credit rating.
  “What that will mean is that over the coming years we will be in the position both to
  
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• Banks overtake retail for customer satisfaction for first time

  08-07-2026 09:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Banks and building societies have overtaken retail for customer satisfaction for the first time, according to the latest UK Customer Satisfaction Index.
  Retail has traditionally led the index since it launched in 2008, reflecting the sector’s focus on personalisation, competitive service and customer experience.
  However, the latest figures from the Institute of Customer Service show banks and building societies have moved into the top spot, scoring 82 out of 100.
  Non-food retail scored 81,
  
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• Amazon, Etsy and TikTok Shop remove dangerous baby products after Which? probe

  08-07-2026 09:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Amazon, Etsy and TikTok Shop are among the online marketplaces that have removed potentially dangerous baby products after an investigation found 150 items for sale despite safety warnings.
  Consumer group Which? identified baby sleep pillows, unsafe sleeping bags and self-feeding bottle devices listed across eight major online marketplaces, warning that some posed risks of suffocation, choking or serious injury.
  The investigation found products available on Alibaba, AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Ets
  
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• Retailers warn Burnham’s warehouse tax could hit supermarkets and department stores

  08-07-2026 09:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Retailers have warned Andy Burnham’s plan to cut business rates for high street venues by taxing warehouses could end up piling further cost pressure on supermarkets, department stores and major retail supply chains.
  Burnham has proposed a 20 per cent business rates cut for pubs, clubs and music venues, funded by higher rates on warehouses and other large commercial sites.
  He has previously said the policy would target “online tech companies and their warehouses”, arguing that
  
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• Marks & Spencer invests in fridges built for 45C heat after June heatwave disruption

  08-07-2026 08:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Marks & Spencer is investing in refrigeration equipment designed to cope with temperatures as high as 45C, after admitting its stores struggled during the recent UK heatwave.
  Chief executive Stuart Machin told shareholders at the retailer’s annual meeting in London that the business had faced pressure during nine days of extreme heat in June.
  “There is no doubt we were struggling,” Machin said, adding that M&S was now “assuming it’s going to get hotter&rdquo
  
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• Canadian brand Garage to open first Essex store at Lakeside shopping centre

  08-07-2026 08:58 via theretailbulletin.com
  Canadian lifestyle brand Garage is to open a new 4,221 square foot store at the Lakeside shopping centre. With 231 shops in North America, the brand... View Article
  
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• John Lewis puts 200 jobs at risk as it plans to axe in-store services

  08-07-2026 08:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  John Lewis has put 200 roles at risk as it proposes closing its in-store foreign exchange bureaux and dedicated gift-wrapping desks across dozens of stores.
  The company has launched a redundancy consultation with staff affected by the plans, which would see bureau de change services shut in 30 stores and specialist gift-wrapping desks close in 25 locations.
  No final decision has yet been made, although the closures are expected to take place this autumn if the plans go ahead.
  The development for
  
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• Very expands premium beauty offering with 440-product Estée Lauder range

  08-07-2026 08:32 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Very Group, operator of Very and Littlewoods, is expanding its premium beauty offering through a new partnership with Estée Lauder. The range has launched with... View Article
  
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• M&S to open biggest ever standalone food store in Godalming

  08-07-2026 08:10 via theretailbulletin.com
  M&S is to open its biggest ever standalone food store next week in Godalming, Surrey. The retailer has also announced an expansion of its Remarkable Value... View Article
  
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• Reach AI Shoppers with PayPal Store Sync

  08-07-2026 08:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  The shopping journey is being rewritten in real time. Where consumers once started in a search bar or on a product page, more and more of... View Article
  
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• Live webinar: The retail moments AI can’t replicate

  07-07-2026 12:29 via theretailbulletin.com
  Why human judgement is the next store advantage AI can make retail faster, smarter and more efficient. But customers are still real people, bringing real questions,... View Article
  
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• Hackstons bringing liquidity to Knightsbridge

  07-07-2026 10:36 via theretailbulletin.com
  Luxury goods business Hackstons is building a community around its drinks store in London that represents an extension beyond the company’s original business model of managing... View Article
  
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• Superdrug sales up 5.2% despite ‘challenging’ backdrop

  07-07-2026 10:10 via theretailbulletin.com
  Superdrug has reported a 5.2% increase in sales to £1.7 billion in its 2025 financial year, driven by growth online and across its retail stores. Pre-tax... View Article
  
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• St David’s Cardiff submits plans to transform Queens Arcade

  07-07-2026 09:39 via theretailbulletin.com
  The owner of the St David’s Cardiff has submitted a planning application for the first phase of works to transform Queens Arcade into a new food,... View Article
  
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• John Lewis Money relaunches car insurance with broker model

  07-07-2026 08:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  John Lewis Money has relaunched its car insurance proposition as it moves to a broker model for the first time.
  The financial services arm of John Lewis Partnership will now compare quotes from a panel of insurers to help customers find a more competitive option.
  The new car insurance panel launches with Ageas, Axa and Covéa Insurance, while RAC, Arag and Premium Credit will provide additional services.
  John Lewis Money said the wider network would allow it to insure a broader range of ve
  
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• Henkel marks 150th anniversary with STEM programme for students

  07-07-2026 08:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Henkel has marked its 150th anniversary by bringing its Forscherwelt STEM education programme to home-educated students at its UK headquarters in Hemel Hempstead.
  The global adhesive technologies and consumer brands business hosted more than 50 students as part of a wider anniversary event celebrating its history of innovation.
  Students took part in hands-on science activities including testing bond strength, creating glue sticks and investigating water hardness.
  Forscherwelt, also known as Rese
  
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• Summer holiday demand set to hand retailers seasonal spending boost

  07-07-2026 08:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK retailers could be in line for a summer spending boost as consumers prioritise holidays and pre-trip purchases despite pressure on household budgets.
  New research from KPMG UK found that 63 per cent of consumers have either booked or plan to book a summer holiday this year, with 45 per cent having already secured a trip and a further 18 per cent planning to book at short notice.
  Among those who have already booked a holiday, three-quarters said they planned to buy new items before travelling.
  
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