Retail news

• Ocado shareholders call for removal of chair Adam Warby

  03-07-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  Boardroom battle escalates after plot to oust founder and CEO Tim Steiner
  
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• Morrisons relaunches Market Street counters after customer outpouring

  03-07-2026 11:32
  
  Morrisons is bringing back its Market Street counters in response to customer feedback.
  It comes after the supermarket scrapped 35 meat and 35 fish counters from its sites across the UK last year as part of a cost-cutting measure.
  The retailer also closed 52 cafes, 13 florists, four pharmacies, and all 18 branches of its Market Kitchen format.
  Morrisons claimed at the time that the selected locations had been unprofitable, and the move was met with widespread backlash.
  However, signs have appear
  
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• Marks Electrical CFO Tom Pallatt to step down after less than a year

  03-07-2026 10:38 via theretailbulletin.com
  Marks Electrical has announced that its chief financial officer, Tom Pallatt, has decided to step down after less than a year with the business. Pallatt joined... View Article
  
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• H&M’s & Other Stories to launch in Mexico this autumn

  03-07-2026 10:38 via theretailbulletin.com
  H&M Group is set to strengthen its presence in Latin America with the launch of its & Other Stories brand in Mexico this autumn. The move... View Article
  
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• Ocado investors push to oust chair Adam Warby as Steiner row deepens

  03-07-2026 10:03
  
  Ocado investors are calling for the removal of chair Adam Warby, as a boardroom battle over the future of founder and chief executive Tim Steiner intensifies.
  One of the firm’s leading shareholders has written to the board demanding Warby’s removal. The letter is understood to warn that investors representing around a quarter of Ocado’s shares support his exit, following reports of an attempt to accelerate succession plans for Steiner.
  The backlash comes after Warby and Ocado b
  
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• Currys warns fans are in short supply as heatwave sends cooling sales soaring

  03-07-2026 09:54
  
  Currys has warned that supplies of fans and air conditioning units are “tight” after the UK’s latest heatwave sparked a surge in demand for cooling products.
  Chief executive Alex Baldock said fans and air conditioning units had been “flying off the shelves” during June’s hot weather, leaving retailers racing to secure more stock ahead of another expected heatwave.
  Fan sales were up nearly 3,000 per cent over the most recent heatwave weekend compared with the p
  
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• Screwfix launches price promise as tradespeople face rising costs

  03-07-2026 09:33
  Screwfix has launched a new Price Promise guarantee to help tradespeople save money on tools, equipment and essential products.
  The company said the initiative was designed to give customers ‘greater confidence on price’ as cost pressures continue to affect businesses across the UK.
  Under the scheme, customers who find an identical product at a lower price from a qualifying retailer within seven days of purchasing from Screwfix can claim back the difference.
  The guarantee applies to
  
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• John Lewis Money appoints former Tesco Bank boss Gerry Mallon to board

  03-07-2026 09:29
  
  John Lewis Partnership has appointed former Tesco Bank chief executive Gerry Mallon to the board of John Lewis Finance as it looks to grow its John Lewis Money business.
  Mallon has joined as an independent non-executive director of John Lewis Finance Limited, the regulated subsidiary that oversees John Lewis Money.
  He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in financial services, including more than six years as chief executive of Tesco Bank.
  Mallon has also previously led Ulster Bank
  
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• Gymshark founder Ben Francis plots stake buyback from General Atlantic

  03-07-2026 09:24
  
  Gymshark founder Ben Francis is in talks to buy back part of the stake sold to private equity firm General Atlantic, with the aim of tightening his control over the sportswear brand.
   Francis is reportedly negotiating with the US investor over the size and valuation of a potential deal, and has also held talks with banks about financing.
  General Atlantic invested £200m in Gymshark in 2020 in exchange for a 21 per cent stake, valuing the Solihull-based retailer at more than £1bn
  
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• Chanel buys 188-year-old Paris shirtmaker Charvet

  03-07-2026 09:16
  
  Chanel has acquired luxury Parisian shirtmaker Charvet, ending 188 years of independent ownership for one of France’s most storied fashion houses.
  The deal includes Charvet’s headquarters and store on Place Vendôme in Paris. Financial terms were not disclosed.
  Founded in 1838 by Joseph-Christophe Charvet, the business is regarded as the world’s first specialist shirtmaker and is known for its bespoke shirts, suits and accessories.
  The acquisition follows a recent collabor
  
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• George at Asda poaches New Look boss Helen Connolly as CEO

  03-07-2026 09:13
  
  George at Asda has appointed New Look boss Helen Connolly as its new chief executive, as the supermarket pushes ahead with ambitious plans to grow its fashion business.
  Connolly will join the retailer “in due course” from New Look, where she has served as chief executive since 2022. She previously held the role of chief commercial officer at the fashion chain.
  The appointment marks a return to Asda for Connolly, who spent more than 15 years with George across two earlier stints in he
  
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• Boohoo boss says retailer is ‘fighting back’ as Debenhams turnaround makes gains

  03-07-2026 09:01
  
  Boohoo boss Dan Finley has admitted the fashion group has “not been at its best” but insisted it is fighting back as its Debenhams-led turnaround begins to gain traction.
  Speaking to The Times, the Debenhams Group chief executive said there was still a “big chunk” of UK shoppers who needed to be reminded that the former department store was still trading, after Boohoo bought the brand out of administration in 2021 and relaunched it as an online-only business.
  Finley, who
  
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• AI adoption jumps across logistics as retailers face supply chain readiness gap

  03-07-2026 08:51
  AI use across UK logistics has surged in the first months of 2026, but a new report warns that many supply chain operators still lack the data and systems needed to make the technology work properly.
  The research created by Parcelhero, titled Putting the AI into Supply ChAIns, found that the proportion of UK transport and storage firms using AI rose from 16.1 per cent to 27.1 per cent in the first quarter of the year.
  It said the 11 per cent jump showed that AI was moving beyond trial projects a
  
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• Heatwave and World Cup hit high street sales as shoppers divert spend

  03-07-2026 08:43
  
  High street sales barely grew in June as the heatwave and the World Cup weighed on discretionary retail spending, according to new figures from BDO.
  The firm’s latest High Street Sales Tracker found total like-for-like sales across discretionary categories rose just 0.6 per cent compared with June last year.
  BDO said the figure was substantially below inflation, meaning sales volumes fell during the month.
  The weak performance marked a return to the sluggish trading that has affected much
  
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• Next hires former Asos ESG boss to lead brand sales and marketing

  03-07-2026 08:38
  Next has appointed former Asos ESG boss Jodie Leek to lead brand sales and marketing as the retailer continues to grow its fashion brand portfolio.
  Leek joins the high street giant with more than 25 years’ experience across global sourcing, supply chain management, brand engagement and sustainability.
  She spent seven years at Asos, most recently as head of ESG, where she oversaw brand engagement and led work across human rights due diligence, environmental performance, chemical compliance
  
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• John Lewis Partnership appoints former Tesco Bank CEO to John Lewis Finance board

  03-07-2026 08:24 via theretailbulletin.com
  John Lewis Partnership has appointed Gerry Mallon as a non-executive director of John Lewis Finance, a regulated subsidiary of the John Lewis Partnership that oversees John... View Article
  
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• Gymshark founder in talks to buy back stake from General Atlantic

  03-07-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  34-year-old Ben Francis is seeking to cement his control over fitness brand after a rocky period for the business
  
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• Asda names New Look head Helen Connolly as George chief executive

  03-07-2026 00:25 via theretailbulletin.com
  Asda has appointed New Look head Helen Connolly as chief executive of George, marking a return to the business for her. With more than 30 years’... View Article
  
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• Brompton sells stake to Decathlon and Chinese investor

  02-07-2026 22:16 via theretailbulletin.com
  Brompton has sold small stakes in its business to French sporting goods retailer Decathlon and Chinese investment firm BA Capital. The British bike maker said the... View Article
  
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• Apollo struggles to sell Hispanic grocer after US immigration raids hit sales

  02-07-2026 19:16 via ft.com
  Investors and analysts say customers’ fear of Trump’s deportation campaign weakened the private equity-owned chain
  
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• From CBD to magnesium: What comes next for functional drinks?

  02-07-2026 15:06
  
  Functional drinks are moving into the mainstream, but industry experts say success will depend on supply chains and innovation keeping pace with changing consumer demand.
  The UK’s functional drinks market is growing fast, with sales rising 24.5 per cent over the past year. Almost 30 per cent of UK households now buy functional drinks, and the category is worth around £178 million, according to Worldpanel by Numerator.
  It is understood that the trend is being driven by consumers looki
  
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• Pret faces fresh protest over welfare pledge

  02-07-2026 14:52
  
   
  Pret has faced a fresh wave of protests over its decision to delay a commitment to stop sourcing fast-growing chicken breeds.
  Led by naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham in London, and organised by campaign groups Anima and Project Slingshot, Packham said he would not return to the retailer until it delivers on a welfare pledge first made in 2018.
  The demonstration comes in the wake of Pret’s alleged failure to stick to its previous commitment to phase out fast-growing “Fr
  
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• World Cup drives surge in football fashion sales, says Debenhams Group

  02-07-2026 14:00
  
  Football-inspired fashion is proving popular with shoppers during the World Cup, according to new figures from Debenhams Group.
  The online retailer said football-related product sales at boohoo rose by 1,827 per cent between May and June, while searches increased by 600 per cent as the tournament gathered pace.
  The company said interest also extended beyond replica kits. Its England Football T-shirt was its best-selling football-themed product during the tournament. While its England Football St
  
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• Lidl extends self-scan trial to 37 more UK stores

  02-07-2026 12:52 via theretailbulletin.com
  Lidl is extending its Lidl & Go self-scanning trial to a further 37 UK stores following positive feedback from customers in an initial seven shops. The... View Article
  
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• Landsec’s Ben Padley on why activations at Piccadilly Lights are a must

  02-07-2026 11:45
  
  The Piccadilly Lights are a familiar sight to any tourist, local or commuter.
  Turning 118 years old this year, they are one of the most well known out-of-home locations in the UK and always popular with tourists.
  Under the lights there is The Venue at Piccadilly Lights, an experience space that allows brands to set up live experiences and amplify their message using the Lights.
  Ben Padley, head of consumer at Landsec said he counted at least 18 tourists taking photos on the short walk from the L
  
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• Clarks steps up European expansion after return to profit

  02-07-2026 11:23
  
  Clarks has opened a new store at Santangelo Outlet Village in Italy as it accelerates its expansion across Europe.
  The opening forms part of a wider growth strategy spanning retail, wholesale, franchise partnerships and marketplaces, with Clarks targeting between 15 and 20 new European stores this year.
  It said the new Italian outlet follows recent openings across Italy, Spain and other European markets.
  The expansion comes after Clarks returned to profitability, supported by stronger cost contr
  
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• Speedo unveils playful Minions & Monsters collaboration

  02-07-2026 11:16
  
  Swimwear brand Speedo has partnered with Illumination’s Minions and Monsters film to launch a limited edition collection.
  The new collection “reimagines classic swimwear silhouettes through a fashion-led lens”. It is inspired by the Minion’s mischievous nature.
  This is the first collaboration of its kind for Speedo and is a step into “the worlds of entertainment, style and cultural storytelling”.
  According to the brand, the new range is designed to appeal to a
  
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• Lidl expands self-scanning trial to 37 more shops

  02-07-2026 10:53
  
  Lidl GB is expanding its Lidl & go self-scanning trial to 37 more stores across the UK, following “positive customer feedback” from its initial seven-store pilot. 
  The phased rollout will see the feature become available to the supermarket’s shoppers across Scotland, the South East and the wider South of England during July.
  Integrated within the Lidl plus app, Lidl & go allows customers to scan products as they shop, track their spending and savings in real time,
  
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• Nectar360 becomes first UK retail media network to secure IAB Europe certification

  02-07-2026 10:46
  
  Nectar360 has become the first UK retail media network to achieve IAB Europe’s Retail Media Certification, as the industry pushes for more consistent measurement standards across the fast-growing channel.
  The Sainsbury’s Group retail media, loyalty and insights business completed the certification following an independent audit by ABC.
  The milestone follows the certification of Dutch retailer Albert Heijn in 2025 and marks the first time a UK retailer has completed the programme.
  IAB
  
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• Currys profit jumps 18% as UK and Nordics sales grow

  02-07-2026 10:43 via theretailbulletin.com
  Currys has posted an 18% annual profit jump driven by strong performances in the UK and its Nordics region. In the year to 2 May, adjusted... View Article
  
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