Retail news

• Off-licence chain Oddbins calls in administrators

  01-02-2019 13:53
  Jobs at risk as store chain collapses for second time in less than a decadeThe owner of Oddbins has appointed administrators to its retail businesses, putting about 550 jobs at risk.European Food Brokers has appointed Duff & Phelps as administrator to its retail operation, made up of 45 Oddbins stores, 56 Wine Cellar Trading and Whittalls Wine Merchants and two convenience stores. Continue reading...
  
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• One year on from retail’s devastating cyber attacks, what’s changed

  20-03-2026 14:05
  It’s been twelve months since a wave of sophisticated cyber attacks shook the retail industry. In the space of a few chaotic weeks, ecommerce platforms were knocked offline, supply chains faltered, and retailers were forced to confront the uncomfortable truth that the systems underpinning modern commerce were far more vulnerable than many had assumed.
  For some businesses, the damage was immediate and severe. Transactions stopped, operations ground to a halt, and teams scrambled to understa
  
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• Metrocentre shopping centre to roll out new independent brands space

  20-03-2026 12:06
  Metrocentre shopping centre is set to launch a new space for independent brands. 
  The UK’s second largest shopping centre, which is based in Gateshead, will refurbish and reposition its “The Forum” section to create “The Crescent”.
  This will form a “new flagship destination set to champion independent retail and revitalise a key link mall within the centre,” the shopping centre said.
  The plans form part of Metrocentre’s long-term vision to &ld
  
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• Matalan launches spring campaign to strengthen womenswear offering

  20-03-2026 11:25
  Matalan aims to strengthen its womenswear offering with a new spring campaign for its Spring/Summer collection.
  Titled ‘Style for Every Moment‘, it will roll out across TV, video-on-demand, social media and digital channels. This will run alongside in-store and owned platform activation.
  The marketing drive is centred around a TV spot that reflects the everyday life of the retailer’s female customers.
  The campaign features tailored co-ords, relaxed denim and occasionwear.Relate
  
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• LK Bennett deepens clearance sale to offload stock

  20-03-2026 10:56
  LK Bennett has deepened its clearance sale as it seeks to shift its stock.
  The luxury womenswear specialist has extended its discounts across all products from its initial 40 per cent to “at least” 60 per cent, Drapers reported.
  The retailer’s closing-down sale started in February, with discounts across all of its products of between 40 per cent and 50 per cent.
  Posting on Instagram yesterday (19 March), LK Bennett said: “It’s just got even better. 
  “Ever
  
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• From the Archive: Tesco online

  20-03-2026 10:09 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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• Unilever confirms approach for foods division amid break-up speculation

  20-03-2026 09:58
  Unilever has confirmed it has received an approach for its foods division, as speculation continues over a potential separation of the business.
  The FMCG giant said it is currently in discussions with McCormick & Company, Inc. following an inbound offer, but stressed that no deal is certain at this stage.
  In a statement, Unilever said: “The Board believes Foods is a highly attractive business, with a strong financial profile led by market-leading brands in growing categories and is con
  
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• Footasylum names former Gymshark general manager as chief executive

  20-03-2026 09:53 via theretailbulletin.com
  Footasylum has appointed former Gymshark general manager Hannah Mercer as its new chief executive, with effect from the start of May. Mercer joined Gymshark in 2024... View Article
  
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• Currys triples London HQ footprint as hybrid working strategy drives expansion

  20-03-2026 09:40
  Currys has nearly tripled the size of its London headquarters at WeWork’s 10 York Road in Waterloo, as the retailer doubles down on its hybrid working model.
  The omnichannel electricals retailer will expand its space from 6,700 sq ft to 18,200 sq ft, following continued investment in flexible workspace as part of its broader ‘people and productivity’ strategy.
  Currys said its hybrid model, which enables employees to choose how and when they work from the office, has delivered s
  
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• The Works exits ecommerce to focus on store-led growth as profits outlook improves

  20-03-2026 09:30
  The Works has shut down its ecommerce operations with immediate effect as it looks to simplify its business model and double down on its store-led strategy.
  The value retailer said it will transition to a non-transactional website, with the online channel now acting as a brand and product showcase designed to drive footfall to its estate of more than 500 stores.
  The decision follows a review of the channel’s long-term viability, with the business citing ongoing operational challenges linke
  
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• Footasylum appoints former Gymshark executive Hannah Mercer as CEO

  20-03-2026 09:21
  Footasylum has appointed former Gymshark executive Hannah Mercer as chief executive officer, as the retailer looks to accelerate its growth and international expansion.
  Mercer will take up the role from the start of May, bringing more than three decades of experience across sportswear, fashion and premium retail.
  She joins from Gymshark, where she served as global general manager for wholesale, retail and franchise, overseeing global P&L and leading the expansion of the brand’s physica
  
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• UK risks ‘jobless generation’ as retail employment falls to record low

  20-03-2026 09:17
  The UK retail sector could be at risk of creating a “jobless generation” after employment in the industry fell to its lowest level on record, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics.
  Retail employment averaged 2.81 million roles in 2025 on a four-quarter basis, down 68,000 year on year and 383,000 lower than a decade ago, marking a significant contraction in one of the UK’s largest employment sectors.
  The decline has been driven by sustained reductions in
  
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• The Works closes ecommerce website with immediate effect

  20-03-2026 09:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Works has ceased trading on its online channel and is transitioning to a non-transactional website. The retailer of screen-free activities for the whole family has... View Article
  
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• Consumer confidence slides as geopolitical tensions add pressure to UK retail

  20-03-2026 09:00
  UK consumer confidence has fallen sharply in March, adding further strain to an already pressured retail sector as geopolitical uncertainty weighs on spending intentions.
  According to GlobalData’s latest UK Consumer Sentiment report, future consumer sentiment dropped by 8.2 points month on month, representing the steepest decline since the first UK Covid lockdown in 2020.
  The downturn follows escalating tensions in the Middle East, with data collected in early March immediately after US an
  
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• Game closes final standalone stores as high street presence ends

  20-03-2026 08:52
  Game will close its remaining standalone stores next month, bringing an end to its presence as a dedicated high street retailer after more than three decades.
  The video games retailer has confirmed that its final three stores, located in Dudley, Lancaster and Sutton, will cease trading from April 2026 following its move into administration earlier this year.
  The closures mark the end of a chain that once operated around 300 stores across the UK, highlighting the continued decline of physical spe
  
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• Ikea owner Ingka to cut 800 roles as CEO says it has “grown too complex”

  20-03-2026 08:46
  Ingka Group, the largest Ikea retailer, is set to cut around 800 roles as part of a wider move to simplify its organisation and sharpen its focus on core retail operations.
  The restructuring will primarily impact Group Functions and is designed to streamline decision-making, reduce costs and support the retailer’s long-term ambition to lower prices for customers.
  The move comes as Ingka accelerates its strategy to become more affordable, accessible and sustainable, while placing physical s
  
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• Spar taps Mr Motivator for spring campaign to drive footfall and frequency

  20-03-2026 08:37
  Spar has launched a UK-wide marketing campaign fronted by Mr Motivator as it looks to drive footfall, increase visit frequency and reinforce its role within local communities.
  The ‘Fuel Your Spring’ campaign, which went live today, centres on a month-long in-store activation designed to encourage smaller, more frequent shopping trips.
  At the heart of the campaign is the ‘Step to Spar’ challenge, running until 20 April, which incentivises shoppers to walk to their local st
  
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• Michael Kors appoints Corey Moran as chief marketing officer

  20-03-2026 08:23 via theretailbulletin.com
  Capri Holdings has announced that Corey Moran  has been appointed to the newly created role of chief marketing officer at Michael Kors. Due to take up... View Article
  
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• John Lewis and LABRUM unveil second collaboration

  20-03-2026 08:19
  John Lewis has unveiled its second collaboration with British menswear brand LABRUM.
  The new collection launched this week and combines John Lewis’ “commitment to quality” with LABRUM’s “narrative style”.
  It features Nomoli and Adinkra symbols, which represent West African culture. The 35-piece line is made up of co-ords and separates as well as woven leather loafers, an embossed logo bag and silk scarves.
  LABRUM founder Foday Dumbuya said: “For me, this
  
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• Discounters to lead global grocery growth through to 2030, IGD says

  20-03-2026 08:16
  Discounters will remain the fastest-growing physical grocery channel globally through to 2030, with annual growth expected to outpace the wider grocery market, according to new research from IGD.
  Analysis from IGD’s Global discount trends 2026 report found the discount channel will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.8 per cent to 2030, almost a full percentage point ahead of the wider grocery market’s 4.0 per cent.
  The research said growth will be fuelled by sustained shopper
  
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• Asda Pharmacy offers meningitis B vaccine at cost price

  20-03-2026 07:59 via theretailbulletin.com
  Asda Pharmacy is offering its meningitis B (MenB) vaccination at cost price until 30 April following the recent outbreak of the infection affecting mostly students in... View Article
  
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• Currys triples size of headquarters as it continues to embrace hybrid working

  20-03-2026 07:38 via theretailbulletin.com
  Currys is tripling the size of its headquarters as it reaffirms its commitment to hybrid working. The omnichannel tech and electricals retailer is expanding its space... View Article
  
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• Mango appoints Sara Donninelli as chief brand officer

  19-03-2026 16:39 via theretailbulletin.com
  Mango has appointed Sara Donninelli as chief brand officer as part of plans to strengthen its brand. Also joining the fashion retailer’s management committee, she will... View Article
  
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• There’s no hiding, digital product passports are coming. What opportunities are there for retailers?

  19-03-2026 15:13
  
  There is a word increasingly muttered across retail boardrooms: confusion.
  Digital Product Passports (DPPs) – the EU-backed system designed to embed detailed product data into everything from clothing to electronics – have been billed as the next era of supply chain transparency.
  Yet, for many brands, the reality today is that clarity around the scheme has been slow to emerge. A recent study from GS1 found that only 16 per cent of UK businesses feel fully prepared, while a further 79
  
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• Retailers hit hardest by ‘data paradox’ as AI ambitions collide with poor data quality

  19-03-2026 15:00
  
  Retailers are facing the most severe operational disruption from poor data quality among major industries, according to new research from MindBridge, as businesses accelerate investment in AI-driven transformation.
  The study, which surveyed 640 professionals across retail, manufacturing and energy, highlights what it describes as a growing “data paradox” where organisations are pushing toward AI-enabled efficiency while being held back by unreliable data foundations.
  Across all secto
  
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• Morrisons employee contracts meningitis

  19-03-2026 14:59 via theretailbulletin.com
  Morrisons has confirmed that one of its employees who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury has contracted meningitis. The individual works at the supermarket’s distribution centre in... View Article
  
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• HR AI tools for smarter retail HR management

  19-03-2026 14:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  HR leaders are increasingly recognising the value of HR AI tools, as they streamline recruitment, automate time-consuming tasks, and unlock employee data insights to support smarter,... View Article
  
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• John Lewis unveils second collaboration with Labrum

  19-03-2026 14:13 via theretailbulletin.com
  John Lewis has launched a second collaboration with the Labrum premium menswear brand. The collection introduces several new categories, including woven leather loafers, an embossed logo... View Article
  
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• Opinion: How 2025’s cyber ‘10 days of doom’ exposed the UK supply chain threat

  19-03-2026 13:58
  
  The hammering UK retailers took in 2025 from cyber security incidents has pushed the subject higher up corporate agendas, writes Ed Hayes, partner at TLT law firm (and ex-Clarks head of legal)…
  10 days of doom in late spring that hit Marks and Spencer, the Co-operative Group, and Harrods, focused minds on the consequences of cyber attacks.
  With Heathrow Airport, Adidas, H&M, and Jaguar Land Rover among the big retail and leisure sector names also impacted in 2025, the message is stark
  
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• Neutrogena marketing director on partnering with the BRITs and redefining relevance

  19-03-2026 13:53
  
  The annual BRIT Awards is a riotous collision of music, fashion, beauty and social conversation. With brand partnerships and celebs galore, it’s a marketer’s dream, if they’re lucky enough to get their foot in the door.
  This year, the show took place at Manchester’s Co-op Arena at the end of February, and while the guest list was a who’s who of musicians and notable faces, brands were also out in full force.
  One such brand was household name Neutrogena. The brand ma
  
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