Retail news

• Mango invests in shared mobility start-up Hoop Carpool

  15-04-2024 08:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Mango is extending its innovation activities by investing in Hoop Carpool, a start-up that offers companies and universities a mobility alternative where employees and students can... View Article
  
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• HFSS ad ban set to affect just 1% of UK food advertising spend

  11-03-2026 09:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  New UK restrictions on the advertising of unhealthy food could ultimately affect as little as 1 per cent of total industry ad spend once brands adapt their marketing strategies, according to new analysis.
  Research from innovation foundation Nesta suggests that gaps in the legislation may allow most advertising budgets to shift into channels that remain outside the scope of the rules.
  The UK government introduced the new restrictions on 5 January 2026, banning paid online adverts and television a
  
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• Superdrug spotlights viral products in new store initiative

  11-03-2026 09:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Health and Beauty retailer Superdrug has unveiled a new in-store initiative that aims to showcase the latest trending and viral beauty products.
  The ‘Next Big Thing’ has been launched in 40 stores and is set to expand to 122 locations nationwide by the end of March.
  It features brands such as Made by Mitchell, Anua, Medicube, Biodance, HaruHaru Wonder and Skin1004. Additional end-cap displays feature Tir Tir and Daise alongside trending products from Revolution Beauty. Related Story
  
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• Mother’s Day spending set to hit £18bn as premium gifting drives growth

  11-03-2026 09:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  UK retail spending for Mother’s Day is forecast to reach £18bn in 2026, as shoppers increasingly opt for premium food, drink and personalised gifts to mark the occasion.
  New research from shopper marketing agency Savvy Marketing suggests spending will rise by around 15 per cent year on year, driven by high levels of participation and a growing preference for more “considered and experiential celebrations”.
  The survey of 1,000 UK consumers found that 65 per cent of shopper
  
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• The Range, Wilko and Homebase owner taps AI forecasting platform to transform supply chain

  11-03-2026 09:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  The owner of The Range, Wilko and Homebase is turning to artificial intelligence to manage the growing complexity of its retail empire.
  CDS Superstores has selected RELEX Solutions to roll out AI-driven forecasting and replenishment across its store and distribution network, a move designed to strengthen availability and improve supply chain responsiveness as the business continues to scale.
  The technology will be implemented with the support of supply chain consultancy Demandtex.
  The decision h
  
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• Primark raises hourly pay for more than 27,000 retail workers across GB

  11-03-2026 09:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Primark has announced it will increase hourly pay for its retail colleagues across Great Britain, with more than 27,000 workers set to benefit from the change.
  From April 1, the retailer will raise the average hourly pay rate for retail assistants to a minimum of £13.00 across England, Scotland and Wales, rising to £13.71 per hour for colleagues working in London.
  Primark said the latest uplift means that, on average, a colleague will have seen their hourly pay increase by more than
  
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• Aldi to create more than 1,100 store roles as part of £370m expansion

  11-03-2026 09:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Aldi is set to create more than 1,100 new store roles this year as it invests over £370m in the opening of 40 new shops across the UK.
  The retailer said the new jobs will include a mix of full-time and part-time positions, spanning store assistants, cleaners and store managers.
  The recruitment drive comes as Aldi continues its rapid UK expansion. The supermarket currently operates more than 1,080 stores nationwide and has steadily increased its footprint as it competes with established riv
  
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• Primark increases pay for 27,000 store staff

  11-03-2026 08:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  Primark is to increase pay for 27,000 workers in England, Scotland and Wales. From 1 April, the average rates of hourly pay for retail assistants will... View Article
  
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• Aldi to create 1,100 jobs this year

  11-03-2026 07:52 via theretailbulletin.com
  Aldi is to create more than 1,100 new store roles this year as it prepares to invest more than £370 million in the opening of 40... View Article
  
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• B&Q rolls out paint recycling trial

  11-03-2026 07:34 via theretailbulletin.com
  B&Q is partnering with the British Coatings Federation on the roll out of a paint recycling trial in selected stores. The retailer is taking part in... View Article
  
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• Oatly’s head of food and drinks experience on turning taste, culture and conviction into a strong brand story

  11-03-2026 01:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Few brands in the dairy alternatives category have shaped the conversation quite like Oatly.
  Founded in 1994 in Sweden, the oat drink pioneer has grown from a niche plant-based disruptor into a globally recognisable brand synonymous with dairy alternatives. With a market capitalisation of roughly $338 to $365 million as of March 2026, Oatly has built its reputation not simply on product innovation, but on a distinctive marketing philosophy that blends culture, taste and activism.
  For Rowena
  
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• Amazon leads record US corporate borrowing rush with nearly $50bn bond sales

  10-03-2026 21:12
  Total issuance tops $65bn on Tuesday as companies take advantage of calmer markets
  
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• Hugo Boss profits climb amid turnaround attempt

  10-03-2026 15:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Hugo Boss saw profits rise in its latest full year results amid its turnaround effort.
  The retailer’s EBIT was up 8% to £337.9m over the year, as it shot up 22% over the fourth quarter.
  Currency-adjusted sales increased 2% during the year to £3.7bn, while Q4 revenues grew 7%.
  The German clothing specialist saw growth of 9% and 2% throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for its fourth quarter and full year respectively.
  Additionally, it pulled in 6% growth in the Am
  
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• OpenAI pulls back from in-chat shopping as ecommerce reality bites

  10-03-2026 14:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  OpenAI has scaled back its plans to turn ChatGPT into a fully integrated shopping destination, marking a significant shift in its ambitions to reshape online commerce.
  The AI giant had previously launched an ‘Instant Checkout’ feature that allowed users to browse products and complete purchases directly within the ChatGPT interface. The initiative, unveiled last September, was developed in partnership with ecommerce platforms including Shopify and Etsy, with retailers such as Walmart
  
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• B&Q launches paint recycling trial in bid to tackle UK’s 34 million litre waste problem

  10-03-2026 11:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  B&Q has launched a new paint recycling trial across several UK stores as part of an industry-wide initiative aimed at tackling the country’s growing decorative paint waste problem.
  The retailer has joined the PaintCare programme, an initiative developed by the British Coatings Federation, which aims to significantly increase the reuse and recycling of leftover decorative paint and packaging.
  The UK currently generates an estimated 34 million litres of waste decorative paint each year,
  
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• Wickes adds buy now, pay later option for customers

  10-03-2026 11:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Wickes has expanded payment options for its trade customers through a new partnership with Billie, allowing tradespeople to buy materials and pay later.
  The retailer said TradePro customers can now pay invoices within 30 or 60 days, interest-free, after receiving real-time approval at checkout.
  The service is available online and through the Wickes TradePro app, with options for home delivery or click-and-collect.
  Once the approval process is completed during checkout, customers can begin using
  
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• The Perfume Shop launches scent sanctuary for National Fragrance Week

  10-03-2026 11:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  The Perfume Shop is launching a “scent sanctuary” this month in celebration of National Fragrance Week.
  The scent sanctuary consists of a “sensorial pop-up designed to restore energy, inspire calm and sharpen focus through the power of perfume,” according to the retailer.
  The event, which will take place at Noho Showrooms on Great Titchfield Street, London, will open with an exclusive preview for media and influencers on 19 March.
  Customers and VIP members from The Perfum
  
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• Waitrose deploys AI route optimisation to improve delivery efficiency

  10-03-2026 10:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Waitrose has partnered with AI specialist Satalia to optimise its home delivery network, improving delivery slot availability while cutting delivery mileage across its fleet.
  The retailer has implemented Satalia’s AI-powered route optimisation platform across its grocery delivery operations, enabling more efficient planning of delivery routes and schedules.
  The technology analyses variables including traffic conditions, vehicle capacity and delivery time windows in real time to generate th
  
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• Target, Sephora and Wayfair among retail brands dominating early ChatGPT ad trials

  10-03-2026 09:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Retail and grocery brands are dominating early advertising activity on ChatGPT, according to new data from app analytics firm Sensor Tower.
  As OpenAI enters the fourth week of trialling ads on its flagship chatbot, retail and grocery promotions account for 44 per cent of all ad impressions served on the platform, making them the largest category by a significant margin.
  Retailers including Target, Sephora and Wayfair are among the brands already experimenting with the ne
  
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• Review: Customer Centric Retail 2026

  10-03-2026 09:27 via theretailbulletin.com
  With mounting economic pressures and impressive recent technological advances there are growing tensions for retailers as they seek to deliver great customer service while maximising efficiency... View Article
  
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• Merseyside Police partners with Retail Trust to tackle abuse against shop workers

  10-03-2026 09:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Merseyside Police has become the first police force in the UK to partner with charity Retail Trust to tackle escalating levels of abuse, violence and intimidation against shop workers.
  The initiative will see retail staff across Liverpool city centre receive specialist de-escalation training delivered by the Retail Trust alongside enhanced support from local police officers.
  As part of the programme, around 500 shop workers will gain access to the charity’s dedicated wellbeing and support
  
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• Retail among UK’s ‘riskiest’ industries to work in as accidents rise

  10-03-2026 09:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Retail has been named one of the riskiest industries to work in the UK, according to a new workplace risk index analysing accident rates, enforcement action and employee wellbeing.
  The study from iHasco found that retail and construction jointly ranked as the UK’s riskiest sectors to work in for 2026, each scoring 85 out of 90 on its ‘Risk Index’.
  The ranking analysed the latest workplace safety data from the Health and Safety Executive alongside a survey of UK businesses, asse
  
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• Wet weather impacts February retail sales

  10-03-2026 09:06 via theretailbulletin.com
  Retail sales growth slowed in February as the month’s wet weather hit consumer spending. According to the British Retail Consortium, UK total retail sales increased by... View Article
  
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• Zalando launches new campaign with brand ambassador Lily Collins

  10-03-2026 08:06 via theretailbulletin.com
  Zalando has launched a new spring/summer campaign featuring Lily Collins as its first global brand ambassador. The campaign sees the Golden Globe nominated actress and Emily... View Article
  
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• Saks Global to shut an additional 15 stores

  10-03-2026 07:48 via theretailbulletin.com
  Saks Global has announced the closure of an additional 12 Saks Fifth Avenue and three Neiman Marcus locations as part of a planned optimisation of its... View Article
  
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• [ WEBINAR ] Hidden legal risks every online retailer needs to know

  10-03-2026 07:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Selling online opens up new opportunities to reach customers and scale your retail business. However, without solid legal foundations, everyday decisions can put you at risk... View Article
  
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• Coca-Cola unveils “bold” new track for football World Cup 2026

  09-03-2026 17:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  The Coca-Cola Company has unveiled a new anthem for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
  The song, which is performed by singer J Balvin, singer-songwriter Amber Mark, guitarist Steve Vai and drummer and producer Travis Barker, is a reimagining of Van Halen’s 1980s hit Jump. The new version uses “modern textures and high-impact production”.
  It was released via Real Thing Records in collaboration with Capitol Records.
  The official music video, part directed and designed by McFlyy, premiered
  
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• Guinness spotlights Premier League fans in new campaign

  09-03-2026 17:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  As part of its Premier League sponsorship, Guinness has unveiled a new campaign for Guinness Foreign Extra Stout.
  The marketing drive aims to put “real” Premier League fans at the heart of the story and strengthen brand recognition of Guinness as the official beer of the Premier League across “key” markets, including Africa and Asia.
  Devised by creative agency VML UK, the campaign features a documentary-style hero spot, directed by Arthur Neumeier.It was shot in Kenya us
  
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• AI is rewriting the rules of ecommerce discovery, but that hinges on trust

  09-03-2026 15:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Retailers have spent years refining the digital shopping journey, optimising search, polishing product pages and investing heavily in performance marketing to capture consumer attention at the point of intent. But increasingly, that intent is being shaped before a shopper ever reaches a retailer’s website.
  Artificial intelligence is fast becoming the new shop window to retail discovery. Consumers are turning to tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and other AI-powered assistants to compare produc
  
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• In pictures: House of Fraser rebrands to Frasers and launches Cat Deeley edit

  09-03-2026 12:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  House of Fraser has rebranded to Frasers and launched a spring edit with television presenter Cat Deeley. 
  As part of its rebrand, the retail giant has teamed up with Deeley to be the face of its 2026 spring campaign, which marks the brand’s first collaboration since entering its new era.
  The 100-piece edit, which has been hand-selected by Deeley, spans womenswear, footwear, accessories, kids, home and beauty. The collection is live in-store and online on frasers.com.
  The edit feature
  
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