Retail news

• Marks & Spencer launches plastic take-back scheme

  30-01-2019 09:35 via theretailbulletin.com
  Marks & Spencer has launched a new initiative to enable customers to take back non-recyclable plastic packaging to its stores.
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• 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
  
  Read more

• Summer Black Friday: How Joybuy is shaping the promotional calendar to meet changing consumer expectations

  24-06-2026 15:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  For years, Black Friday has been one of retail’s most anticipated promotional moments; the go-to event for consumers seeking the biggest savings of the year, particularly ahead of Christmas. But new research, commissioned by Joybuy, suggests shopper expectations are evolving.
  Almost half (49 per cent) of UK consumers say they would like a Summer Black Friday event, while nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) believe greater competition between online retailers leads to better value. The findings
  
  Read more

• Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Studios celebrate Supergirl release with Samsung team up

  24-06-2026 13:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Samsung Electronics has collaborated with Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Studios to celebrate the release of Supergirl in cinemas.
  As part of the partnership, Samsung has launched a Samsung Micro RGB TV sweepstakes in collaboration with electronics retailer Best Buy in the US.
  It also hosted fan experiences in the US and UK, including a pop-up at Phonica Records in London. The pop-up showcased Samsung 2026 home audio and TV range through film-inspired spaces.Related Story ASOS unveils summer beaut
  
  Read more

• Tesco opens Clubcard scheme to 16 and 17-year-olds

  24-06-2026 12:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco has launched a version of its Clubcard loyalty scheme for 16 and 17-year-olds, allowing younger shoppers to access member-only discounts and collect reward points for the first time.
  The new “Clubcard for 16-17s”, unveiled on 24 June, enables teenagers to benefit from thousands of Clubcard Prices promotions in stores and earn points that can be converted into vouchers for future purchases.
  To sign up, teenagers must be invited through the Clubcard account of a parent or guardia
  
  Read more

• Tesco launches Clubcard scheme for 16 and 17-year-olds

  24-06-2026 12:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco has launched a version of its Clubcard loyalty scheme for 16 and 17-year-olds, allowing younger shoppers to access member-only discounts and collect reward points for the first time.
  The new “Clubcard for 16-17s”, unveiled on 24 June, enables teenagers to benefit from thousands of Clubcard Prices promotions in stores and earn points that can be converted into vouchers for future purchases.
  To sign up, teenagers must be invited through the Clubcard account of a parent or guardia
  
  Read more

• Reframing Retail Safety: Protecting People, Performance and the High Street

  24-06-2026 11:32 via theretailbulletin.com
  Insights from a Retail Bulletin Private Leadership Roundtable, in partnership with Peoplesafe: Retailers are facing a sharp escalation in safety challenges across the UK high street.... View Article
  
  Read more

• Cole Palmer and Gopuff unveil ice range

  24-06-2026 11:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  To celebrate their new multi-year partnership, British footballer Cole Palmer and Gopuff have launched a new line of ice products.
  The partnership will cover new product creation, custom content and customer experiences.
  According to the commerce platform, the new range, ‘COLE’D,’ was inspired by fans nickname for the footballer, ‘Cold Palmer’, which highlights his “composure” on the pitch.
  This collaboration is the first time Palmer has played an a
  
  Read more

• B&M appoints Asda’s Atheeq Akbar as new chief financial officer

  24-06-2026 10:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  B&M has appointed Asda executive Atheeq Akbar as its new chief financial officer. Due to take up his role next February, Akbar is currently vice president... View Article
  
  Read more

• Boots debuts On the Go travel store at Belfast International

  24-06-2026 09:44 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Boots is looking to “bring a high street quality shopping experience” to the airport with a new On the Go concept store.
  It has introduced the first-of-its-kind at Belfast International Airport. Designed with a new layout featuring clearly defined quick-find zones, the Boots On The Go store aims to offer more convenience for shoppers who are travelling.
  A click & collect service will be available, with a more than 15 beauty brands debuting in the airport. This includes Sunda
  
  Read more

• ProCook posts record £85.5m revenue after attracting highest-ever number of new customers

  24-06-2026 09:27 via theretailbulletin.com
  ProCook has increased its annual revenue to a record £85.5 million with year-on-year growth of 23%. In the year to 29 March 2026, retail revenue climbed... View Article
  
  Read more

• [ TRB EVENT ] The Retail Tech Summit 2026

  24-06-2026 09:27 via theretailbulletin.com
  The landscape of modern retail is undergoing a profound transformation. As we navigate 2026 and beyond, the integration of advanced technologies has shifted from a competitive... View Article
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!