Retail news

• Ocado may lose customer loyalty after M&S deal, poll suggests

  08-03-2019 17:47
  Survey shows many shoppers loyal to Waitrose and don’t see M&S as ‘adequate replacement’ Ocado risks a customer exodus as a result of its new tie-up with Marks & Spencer after a straw poll by analysts suggested shoppers were loyal to Waitrose and did not see M&S products as an “adequate” replacement.On Friday a note by HSBC’s influential retail analyst Dave McCarthy revealed the opinions of 250 Ocado shoppers on the deal, views which he described a
  
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• Primark takes over former Debenhams unit in Ashford

  22-06-2026 10:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Primark is set to open its seventh location in Kent, as it secures a former Debenhams unit in Ashford’s County Square shopping centre.
  The 29,000 sq ft of space mergers former Debenhams and Select units into a single trading store. The Debenhams unit has sat empty since January 2020.
  When open in the second half of 2027, the new Primark will span almost half of the centre’s upper oval. While, building work to combine the units is due to begin imminently, an exact launch date has
  
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• Castore acquires 160-year-old bootmaker Grenson

  22-06-2026 10:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Premium sportswear brand Castore has taken a 75% stake in boot and shoe maker Grenson, which had been based in Northamptonshire since 1866.
  Through its corporate vehicle J Sporting Club, Castore has acquired a controlling interest in Grenson. The move also sees Grenson owner Tim Little and his wife Julia Little step down from the board.
  This acquisition marks another step in the expansion of Liverpool-founded Castore. Launched in 2015 by brothers Thomas and Phil Beahon, the brand has grown throu
  
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• Retailers face match day store strain.

  22-06-2026 10:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  England’s opening World Cup match against Croatia triggered a marked uptick in shoplifting and violent incidents across UK stores, with theft levels increasing by +6% on... View Article
  
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• Ocado lines up new chief executive to succeed co-founder Tim Steiner

  22-06-2026 10:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Ocado Group is preparing to appoint a successor to its chief executive Tim Steiner, according to reports. Sky News has revealed that a technology industry source... View Article
  
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• Hotel Chocolat head of retail and cafe operations on its White Rose launch

  22-06-2026 09:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Luxury chocolate specialist Hotel Chocolat has been on an expansion spree in recent years.
  The confectionary giant was acquired by Mars under a £534 million deal in January 2024. At the time of the takeover, the retailer claimed that the acquisition “could provide the brand with an enhanced platform for growth in the UK and potentially in new geographies”.
  Hotel Chocolat went on to unveil plans to launch 20 stores over the next 18 months in May 2024. It then revealed ambitions
  
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• Bath & Body Works UK & Ireland brand manager on its new East Midlands stores

  22-06-2026 09:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Bath & Body Works unveiled plans to launch a new store in Victoria Centre, Nottingham, back in May.
  The new shop, which is due to open in the autumn, will comprise a 1,300 sq ft “full assortment” store, offering its complete collection of product lines.
  The Nottingham shop announcement came after the brand also unveiled plans to make its East Midlands debut at Derbion shopping centre in February, with the store set to open in spring/summer 2026.
  Retail Gazette chats to Bath &
  
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• Laura James to open new operations facility in Rugby with the creation of 200 jobs

  22-06-2026 09:31 via theretailbulletin.com
  Interiors retailer Laura James is to open a new operational facility, photography studio and showroom at in Rugby. Representing one of the largest investments in the company’s... View Article
  
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• Morrisons avoids potential shortages after Eddie Stobart drivers call off strike

  22-06-2026 08:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  Morrisons has averted the threat of product shortages after Eddie Stobart drivers in the north of England called off strike action. More than 500 drivers at... View Article
  
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• UK’s out-of-town retail parks ‘effectively full’

  22-06-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  Industry says shortage of space reflects rising demand from some retailers and a dearth of new sites
  
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• Tesco, B&Q and John Lewis join pilots for new retail media alliance

  21-06-2026 10:14 via theretailbulletin.com
  Tesco, B&Q, John Lewis and Waitrose are taking part in a range of pilots for a new Dunnhumby retail media alliance. The scheme has been launched... View Article
  
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• Lincolnshire Co-op plans job cuts as it overhauls ways of working

  21-06-2026 09:55 via theretailbulletin.com
  Lincolnshire Co-op is reviewing its operations and planning job cuts amid rising costs and tougher economic conditions. Employing over 2,770 people, the society runs more than... View Article
  
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• From the Archive: Auctions

  20-06-2026 11:42 via theretailbulletin.com
  ‘From the Archive’ is the regular column that revisits some of the more interesting retail stories covered over the past 30 years by Glynn Davis for... View Article
  
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• Gold coin salesmen orchestrated plot to set up rival, court finds

  19-06-2026 19:03 via ft.com
  Ex-employees of Hattons of London took confidential customer data amid a booming market for bullion
  
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• Gold coin salesman orchestrated plot to set up rival, court finds

  19-06-2026 19:03 via ft.com
  Ex-employees of Hattons of London took confidential customer data amid a booming market for bullion
  
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• Bensons for Beds appoints former Boots exec to head up owned brands

  19-06-2026 16:10 via theretailbulletin.com
  Bensons for Beds has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of former Boots executive Emma Forbes as director of owned brands. Forbes previously served as... View Article
  
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• Co-op expands concession partnership with Bonmarché

  19-06-2026 13:41 via theretailbulletin.com
  Co-op has expanded its partnership with Bonmarché with the launch of four new in-store concessions. The openings include a Bonmarché concession in Co-op’s Stornoway store this... View Article
  
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• Retail sales rise more than expected in May

  19-06-2026 13:28 via theretailbulletin.com
  UK retail sales increased by more than expected in May as the warm weather encouraged people to shop for summer items. Following a revised 1% fall... View Article
  
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• Asda losses widen to nearly £1bn

  19-06-2026 12:38 via ft.com
  TDR-backed UK supermarket chain had slashed prices to try to win back customers
  
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• John Lewis Partnership commits to recruiting 1,000 care-experienced young people

  19-06-2026 12:31 via theretailbulletin.com
  The John Lewis Partnership is to offer a further 1,000 roles to young people who have experienced care by 2030, more than doubling its previous target.... View Article
  
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• Lakeside shopping centre unveils Brompton Arcade transformation

  19-06-2026 11:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Lakeside shopping centre has unveiled Brompton Arcade, formerly Brompton Walk, and its strategic repositioning as “a vibrant hub for independent businesses, local entrepreneurs and experience-led operations”. 
  Located on level 2 of the shopping centre, Brompton Arcade’s vision is to “curate and support ambitious, independent and experience-led brands,” providing them with “greater visibility, operational support” and access to Lakeside’s annua
  
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• Tesco, B&Q, John Lewis and Waitrose among names to join dunnhumby retail media pilot

  19-06-2026 11:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco, B&Q, John Lewis and Waitrose are taking part in a series of pilots for a new dunnhumby retail media alliance designed to make it easier for brands to run campaigns across multiple retailers.
  The dunnhumby network alliance has been launched to tackle fragmentation across retail media, one of the sector’s biggest barriers to scale.
  The new offer will give brands and agencies a single route to activate campaigns across multiple retailers, audience providers and media owners, withou
  
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• Co-op encourages consumers to ‘pop to the Co-op’ in new campaign

  19-06-2026 11:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Convenience retailer Co-op has unveiled a new creative platform to encourage consumers to ‘Pop to Co-op’.
  Devised by media agency VCCP, the marketing drive highlights the benefits of convenience shopping and centres on a phrase that is already in the public’s vernacular, ‘popping to Co-op’.
  It aims to highlight that the retailer is always there when customers need something last minute such as a needing food for a BBQ or feeding the kids and their friends.
  The campa
  
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• Pop Mart, Lego and Crew Clothing bolster Meadowhall’s retail offering

  19-06-2026 11:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Meadowhall has announced the signing of a regional debut for Pop Mart, alongside “standout openings” for Lego and Crew Clothing. 
  Chinese toy retailer Pop Mart has signed for a 2,618 sq ft unit on the shopping centre’s high street upper level, marking its debut in South Yorkshire. 
  Pop Mart will use the regional flagship to sell its collection of collectable toys, such as Labubu’s, Hello Kitty, and Disney.
  Lego has also relocated to an upsized store on Meadowhal
  
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• Snap mocked over £1,995 smart glasses as investors question consumer appeal

  19-06-2026 09:48 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Snap has faced investor backlash after unveiling its long-awaited £1,995 smart glasses, with the bulky design of the device widely mocked online.
  The Snapchat owner launched its new augmented reality Specs this week, positioning them as the next major shift in personal computing.
  Snap chief executive Evan Spiegel said he had spent his working life developing the technology behind the product, which he described as a “see-through computer”.
  However, the launch has been overshado
  
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• Retail job vacancies fall as employers rein in hiring

  19-06-2026 09:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Retail and hospitality businesses cut back on hiring as UK job vacancies fell to their lowest level in five years, according to the latest official figures.
  The Office for National Statistics said vacancies dropped to 707,000 in the March to May period, the lowest level since February to April 2021.
  While the labour market remained “broadly stable”, the ONS said some areas were showing signs of weakening as employers became more cautious about taking on staff.
  Retail and hospitality
  
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• John Lewis pledges 1,000 more roles for young people from care

  19-06-2026 09:40 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The John Lewis Partnership has pledged to offer 1,000 more roles to young people who have been in care as it steps up efforts to support disadvantaged jobseekers.
  The owner of John Lewis and Waitrose said the commitment, which will be delivered by 2030, more than doubles its previous target under its Building Happier Futures programme.
  The move will take the total number of roles offered through the initiative to at least 250 a year.
  It comes amid growing concern over youth unemployment, with mo
  
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• Retailers brace for fresh cost pressure as Hormuz shipping route remains blocked

  19-06-2026 09:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Retailers could face renewed pressure on freight, fuel and energy costs as normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is expected to remain disrupted despite a ceasefire between the US and Iran.
  The key maritime route, which sits between Iran and Oman, remains partially blocked by around 80 mines that will need to be cleared before standard shipping can resume, according to independent tanker owner trade body Intertanko.
  Several vessels began leaving the Gulf through the strait on Thursday aft
  
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• UK borrowing surge adds fresh pressure to consumer outlook

  19-06-2026 09:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK government borrowing rose sharply in May, raising fresh concerns over the public finances, as retailers continue to face fragile consumer confidence and cost pressure.
  Britain borrowed £23.3bn last month, £5.4bn more than in May last year and the highest figure for the month since 2020, when the country was under Covid lockdown restrictions.
  The figure was also £5.6bn above the £17.7bn forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility, increasing pressure on the governm
  
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• Consumer confidence holds steady but plunges amongst younger adults

  19-06-2026 09:23 via theretailbulletin.com
  GfK’s latest Consumer Confidence Index has shown that confidence has remained flat in June, although it has plunged amongst younger adults. While the headline index is... View Article
  
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