Retail news

• Retail boost as government unveils £725m apprenticeship overhaul

  08-12-2025 13:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  The Government has unveiled a £725m overhaul of the apprenticeship system, promising 50,000 more placements over the next three years.
  The move, which was revealed today (8 December), aims to see retail, hospitality and other service sectors benefit from new foundation apprenticeships aimed at tackling youth unemployment and widening access to training.
  The reforms include fully funded apprenticeship training costs for eligible under-25s at SMEs, removing the 5% co-investment contribution
  
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• Budget fears dampened Black Friday sales

  09-12-2025 15:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Pre-Budget fears hit Black Friday sales last month, figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG have found.
  Total UK retail revenues were up 1.4% year on year over the four weeks from 2 November to 29 November, compared to a 3.3% drop the same time last year, according to the latest BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor.
  The figure marked the weakest growth in six months, despite increased inflation.
  Food sales grew 3% year on year over the period, compared to a 2.2% rise the year before.
  
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• Asda revenues drop ahead of festive trading period

  09-12-2025 14:45 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Asda recorded a sales decline ahead of the festive trading period, making it the only major supermarket to experience a revenue drop before Christmas.
  The grocery giant’s sales fell 4.3% over the 12 weeks to 30 November, Worldpanel data revealed.
  The retailer’s market share also sunk 0.9% to 11.5% over the quarter.
  Rival supermarkets Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl all saw sales rise during the period, the industry tracker showed.Related Story Ocado remains fastest
  
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• Crisis on social media? A retailer’s guide to quick recovery

  09-12-2025 13:57 via theretailbulletin.com
  Social media offer great opportunities, but they can also come with some risks. All it takes is one dissatisfied customer, an influencer calling your brand out,... View Article
  
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• Ann Summers reduces losses as sales edge up

  09-12-2025 12:40 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Ann Summers saw losses narrow in its annual results, as sales nudged up.
  The lingerie specialist reported a pre tax operating loss of £3m for the 52 weeks to 28 June, compared to a £13m loss the year before.
  Adjusted EBITDA hit £100,000 over the period, from a £5.6m EBITDA loss the year prior.
  The brand’s gross profit grew 0.5% year on year to £58.5m.
  Ann Summers posted a £93.4m turnover for the year, compared to a £93m turnover in 2024.
  The retail
  
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• Strategies to increase revenue through retail marketing

  09-12-2025 11:18 via theretailbulletin.com
  Old-school casinos aren’t packing ’em in like before. Wander through places like Vegas or Atlantic City now, and you’ll see blackjack tables sharing real estate with... View Article
  
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• Naked Wines returns to profit despite sales decline

  09-12-2025 11:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Naked Wines saw profits double in its latest half year results, as it pushed ahead with its turnaround.
  The wine retailer, which named Jack Pailing as its new chair in July, saw EBITDA grew from £1.7m last year to £3.6m for the 26 weeks ended 29 September.
  Sales declined 20% to £89.5m over the period, although the brand noted that this was in line with its prior guidance and its strategy of recalibrating around its “highly profitable” core members.
  The business halv
  
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• Britons face higher chocolate prices but average cost of Christmas dinner falls

  09-12-2025 10:52
  Supermarkets investing heavily in promotional deals to pull in customers, Worldpanel findsBusiness live – latest updatesThe festive season may be less merry for those with a sweet tooth this year, as the price of chocolate has risen by nearly a fifth, according to research.Chocolate prices in Great Britain rose 18.4% on a year earlier in November, analysts at the market research firm Worldpanel found. Continue reading...
  
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• Moonpig Group profit grows 3.7%

  09-12-2025 10:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Card retailer Moonpig Group has reported its gross profit for the half year ending October 31 grew 3.7 year-on-year to £97 million.
  The firm has today (9 December) published its half-year financial results, which show a 6.7% rise in revenue for the six-month period ending October 31.
  According to the report, the brand’s experience revenue decreased by 8.9% year-on-year; however, it said recent trading results have been “encouraging”.
  Nickyl Raithatha, CEO, said: &ldq
  
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• Ocado remains fastest-growing retailer while Asda’s sales falls

  09-12-2025 10:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Ocado has reached a new record market share of 2.2%, with sales increasing by 15.8% during the 12 weeks to 30 November, according to the latest figures from Worldpanel by Numerator (formerly Kantar).
  Discounter Lidl has reported a continued strong performance with the ninth consecutive month of double-digit sales growth at 10.2% and now has a market share of 8.1%.
  Tesco and Sainsbury’s saw their sales increase by 4.7% and 5.1%, respectively. Tesco continues to remain Britain’s larges
  
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• Ocado remains fastest-growing retailer

  09-12-2025 10:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Ocado has reached a new record market share of 2.2%, with sales increasing by 15.8% during the 12 weeks to 30 November, according to the latest figures from Worldpanel by Numerator (formerly Kantar).
  Discounter Lidl has reported a continued strong performance with the ninth consecutive month of double-digit sales growth at 10.2% and now has a market share of 8.1%.
  Tesco and Sainsbury’s saw their sales increase by 4.7% and 5.1%, respectively. Tesco continues to remain Britain’s larges
  
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• Data: Gen Z’s sustainability ‘Intention Gap’ widens due to ultra-fast fashion purchases

  09-12-2025 10:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  New research has identified a significant “intention gap” in Gen Z’s sustainable shopping habits, with almost six in 10 (59%) young consumers admitting their generation talks more about sustainability than they practise.
  The RSM UK and Retail Economics study, which was based on a survey of 1,500 Gen Z shoppers, revealed nearly a third (29%) consider themselves committed to sustainable consumption, a larger group (43%) fall into what researchers call “aspirational intentio
  
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• Frasers Group purchases Swindon Designer Outlet

  09-12-2025 10:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Frasers Group has snapped up Swindon Designer Outlet, as the business continues to grow its physical retail portfolio.
  The retail empire acquired the 250,000 sq ft shopping outlet from LaSalle Investment Management (LaSalle), which bought the site in January 2022.
  Frasers Group said that the acquisition represented a “meaningful step” towards its vision of “building the planet’s most admired and compelling brand ecosystem”.
  The firm was advised by CBRE on the acquis
  
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• Tesco debuts low-carbon concept superstore in Harrogate

  09-12-2025 09:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Tesco will open its new low-carbon concept Superstore in Harrogate, today (9 December), bringing 120 jobs to the North Yorkshire town.
  The cutting-edge store incorporates a range of sustainability-led design features, including a timber frame with lower embodied carbon than steel, solar panels to generate on-site electricity, reused stone sourced locally, and the latest energy-efficient heating and lighting systems.
  The grocer said the site is a blueprint for future store builds as it seeks to r
  
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• Frasers Group acquires Swindon Designer Outlet

  09-12-2025 09:34 via theretailbulletin.com
  Frasers Group has acquired Swindon Designer Outlet as it continues to expand its physical retail portfolio. The move follows the group’s recent purchase of the 1.1.million... View Article
  
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• Celebrating retail excellence: Applications open for the Princess Royal Training Awards 2026!

  09-12-2025 09:16 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Princess Royal Training Awards proudly invite applications for 2026, encouraging innovative organisations to gain royal recognition for outstanding commitment to workplace learning and people development.... View Article
  
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• Victoria’s Secret hails ‘standout’ third quarter performance

  09-12-2025 08:14 via theretailbulletin.com
  Victoria’s Secret has posted a 9% increase in third quarter net sales to $1.472 billion. This was above the lingerie brand’s previously guided range of between... View Article
  
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• Ocado names new non-executive director

  09-12-2025 07:17 via theretailbulletin.com
  Ocado Group has appointed Cathy Graham as an independent non-executive director. Due to take up her role on 1 February, she will also be a member... View Article
  
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• UK households cut spending at fastest pace in almost five years, says Barclays

  09-12-2025 06:00
  Bank reports 1.1% drop in card spending despite Black Friday boost for retailersUK households cut back on spending at the fastest pace in almost five years last month as consumers put Christmas shopping on hold, according to a leading survey.Adding to concerns that uncertainty surrounding the budget has helped dampen consumer confidence, Barclays said card spending fell 1.1% year on year in November – the largest fall since February 2021. Continue reading...
  
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• UK consumer card spending falls by most since 2021, says Barclays

  09-12-2025 01:01
  Spending in November was hit by Budget uncertainty
  
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• Budget uncertainty blamed for sharp fall in card spending by UK consumers

  09-12-2025 01:01
  The decrease is the largest since February 2021
  
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• Matalan to upgrade 40 stores next year

  08-12-2025 22:16 via theretailbulletin.com
  Matalan has announced plans to upgrade 40 stores next year as it continues to make progress with its transformation plans. The news follows a successful first... View Article
  
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• New Look appoints Mark Matthews as retail director

  08-12-2025 19:56 via theretailbulletin.com
  New Look has appointed Mark Matthews as retail director. Matthews was previously director of format and innovation at Co-op and prior to that worked as retail,... View Article
  
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• River Island losses soar as sales decline

  08-12-2025 17:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  River Island saw losses swell in its latest annual results.
  The clothing brand’s operating loss nearly doubled (86.3%) to £65.3m for the 52 weeks to 28 December 2024.
  EBITDA nearly tripled (186.6%) from a £17.2m loss the year prior to a £49.3m loss in 2024.
  Sales declined 7.1% year on year to £537m.
  Additionally, the brand’s pre-tax loss nearly doubled (92.7%) to £64m over the period, compared to a £33.2m loss the year before.Related Story Vic
  
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• Victoria’s Secret boosts full year outlook as sales climb

  08-12-2025 16:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Victoria’s Secret has boosted its full-year outlook as sales rose in its third quarter.
  The lingerie retailer saw its operating loss narrow to £14m ($19m) for the 13 weeks ended 1 November, from £35m ($47m) the same time last year.
  Net sales jumped 9% year on year to £1.10bn ($1.472bn) over the period.
  The sales rise put the figure above the brand’s prior guidance range of between £1.04bn ($1.390bn) to £1.06bn ($1.420bn).
  Victoria’s Secret’s
  
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• Big-name US department stores take credit risk and put a bow on it

  08-12-2025 16:01
  Macy’s and Kohl’s generate surprisingly big chunks of their operating income from their store card businesses
  
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• France retracts demand for full suspension of Shein website

  08-12-2025 13:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  French authorities have scrapped demand for a full suspension of Shein’s website.
  The country demanded on Friday (5 December) a series of measures from the fashion retailer to prove items sold on its website complied with the law, France 24 reported.
  However, it retracted its previous call for a three-month suspension of Shein over its sale of banned weapons and childlike sex dolls.
  During a Paris court hearing, a lawyer for the state said that the business must implement controls on its w
  
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• Ocado appoints former Darktrace CFO as independent non exec

  08-12-2025 13:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Ocado has appointed Cathy Graham to its board as an independent non-executive director, effective 1 February 2026.
  Graham was CFO of Darktrace from 2020 to 2025 and previously spent seven years at tech partnership business 2U.
  The former cybersecurity boss, who will also join the People Committee and Audit Committee, brings financial and operational experience from high-growth technology firms in the UK and US, including significant work on major tech and R&D investment programmes.
  Chairman
  
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• New Look appoints new retail director

  08-12-2025 11:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  New Look has named Mark Matthews as its new retail director, tasking him with overseeing the store estate and accelerating the fashion chain’s omnichannel strategy.
  Matthews joins from a background spanning Co-op Food, Bonmarché, George at Asda and Selfridges, bringing experience in operations, visual merchandising and in-store digital.
  He said he was joining at “a pivotal time” for the brand and looked forward to building on its progress in delivering a seamless experie
  
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• Iceland chair Richard Walker made Labour peer

  08-12-2025 10:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Keir Starmer has appointed Iceland executive chairman Richard Walker as a Labour peer.
  Walker, who was previously a Conservative supporter, will be made a Labour peer when the party appoints a further 25 representatives to parliament’s upper house later in the month, The Sun reported.
  The supermarket boss is expected to use his seat in the House of Lords to campaign on dealing with the cost of living crisis.Related Story Asda plan to crackdown on sick days, says report08/12/2025 x 9:13 AMA
  
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