Retail news

• Retail sales growth stalls in second half of July

  31-07-2026 09:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK retail sales growth slowed sharply during the final two weeks of July as cautious consumers pulled back on discretionary spending.
  Total like-for-like sales across fashion, lifestyle and homeware rose 2.7 per cent compared with July 2025, according to BDO’s latest High Street Sales Tracker.
  However, BDO said growth was only slightly above inflation, indicating that the volume of goods sold increased marginally year on year.
  In-store sales climbed 3.8 per cent, marking their strongest pe
  
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• Oxfam sells out first eBay Live shopping event

  10-08-2026 10:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Oxfam has become the latest charity retailer to launch on eBay Live, selling out every item during its debut livestream shopping event.
  The charity, which has operated an eBay shop for 17 years, drew more than 3,200 viewers to the hour-long session, including around 200 concurrent viewers. The event generated more than 18,000 likes.
  Oxfam said the launch reflected the growing role of live selling in charity retail, with the format giving retailers the chance to engage shoppers directly while rai
  
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• Primark and Uniqlo turn to clothing repairs in bid to win over Gen Z

  10-08-2026 09:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Primark, Uniqlo and Levi’s are ramping up repair services and sewing initiatives in a push to attract younger shoppers increasingly interested in resale, sustainability and making clothes last longer.
  Retailers are increasingly offering everything from in-store repairs and alterations to workshops teaching customers how to sew buttons, patch holes and mend damaged clothing.
  Primark has expanded its free ‘Love It For Longer’ workshops, which teach shoppers basic repair technique
  
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• HMV footfall jumps 12% as K-pop and collectibles lure Gen Z into stores

  10-08-2026 09:37 via retailgazette.co.uk
  HMV and The Works are reportedly benefiting from surging demand for collectibles including K-pop CDs, trading cards and squishy toys as younger consumers increasingly head back to physical stores.
  HMV said visitor numbers across its 114 UK stores jumped 12 per cent in the first half of the year compared with 2025, putting it on track to attract around 50m store visits during 2026.
  It has revamped its shops since the pandemic to dedicate more space to pop culture merchandise, including collectibl
  
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• Mountain Warehouse founder Mark Neale steps down as CEO after 29 years

  10-08-2026 09:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Mountain Warehouse founder Mark Neale is stepping down as chief executive after almost three decades at the helm.
  Neale, who launched Mountain Warehouse in 1997, will hand over the chief executive role to long-serving executive Marcus Ward on 1 September. He will remain with the business as executive chairman.
  Ward has been at Mountain Warehouse for almost 20 years, initially joining as finance director before taking on several senior positions. He has served as chief operating and financial off
  
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• Ocado launches first automated fulfilment centre with Lotte in South Korea

  10-08-2026 09:21 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ocado has opened its first automated customer fulfilment centre with Lotte Shopping in South Korea.
  The new Busan site will serve around 4m households across the city and wider Yeongnam region and introduces several Ocado Smart Platform technologies for the first time.
  Among them is Ocado’s fully automated freezer, which extends its hive-and-bot technology into temperatures as low as -25°C.
  The group said the system is expected to deliver more than double the productivity of a traditio
  
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• CMA proposes bringing Aldi and Lidl under same land rules as UK’s biggest supermarkets

  10-08-2026 09:15 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has proposed that Aldi and Lidl be brought under the same land agreement rules as the UK’s largest supermarkets, in…
  
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• Aldi Edinburgh store named unlikely Tripadvisor attraction ahead of Fringe

  10-08-2026 09:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Visiting Aldi’s Portobello store has been listed among the city’s ‘Things To Do’ on Tripadvisor, for tourists pouring into the area for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
  Aldi said the branch has become one of only a handful of grocery stores in Scotland to feature as an attraction on the platform, putting it alongside more traditional Edinburgh visitor destinations ahead of this summer’s Fringe.
  Aldi is positioning the Portobello store as an “authentic Scottish f
  
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• M&S urges government to ditch ‘faecal bulk’ fibre guidance for simpler health messaging

  10-08-2026 09:05 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Marks & Spencer has called on the government to overhaul rules governing fibre health claims, arguing that phrases such as “faecal bulk” and “intestinal transit” should be replaced with simpler, consumer-friendly language.
  The company has joined nutritionist Emily English and Bowel Cancer UK ambassador Dr Anisha Patel in writing to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, urging ministers to review the wording retailers are permitted to use when communicatin
  
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• Retailers face crackdown on ‘fake’ discounts in Burnham cost-of-living push

  10-08-2026 08:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Retailers could face tougher rules around promotions and “was” prices as Prime Minister Andy Burnham launches a crackdown on misleading discounts and subscription traps.
  The government is planning to stamp out pricing tactics that make deals appear better than they are, including artificially inflated previous prices, invented discounts and misleading recommended retail prices.
  Ministers will launch a consultation this autumn on whether the practices should be added to those banned u
  
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• Joseph fashion brand owner explores potential sale

  10-08-2026 08:55 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Japanese owner of fashion brand Joseph has appointed advisers to explore a potential sale of the business, according to Sky News. Onward Kashiyama is working…
  
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• Virgin Media O2 retail director on its new tech refab lab

  10-08-2026 08:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) recently began trialling a new in-store experience at its Westfield Stratford City store to help shoppers “better understand technology recycling and reuse”.
  The business began piloting its “O2 tech refab lab” in July as one of the shop’s interactive discovery zones.
  Created in collaboration with the O2 stores team, the zone is designed to teach shoppers how devices can be given a second life so they don’t go to waste.
  Raising awareness
  
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• Aldi and Lidl face clampdown on blocking rival supermarket openings

  10-08-2026 08:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Aldi and Lidl could be prevented from using property deals to block rival supermarkets from opening nearby under plans unveiled by the competition watchdog.
  The Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally ruled that the discounters should be subject to the same land agreement restrictions already imposed on the UK’s largest supermarket chains.
  Under the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order 2010, major grocers are restricted from using measures such as restrictive
  
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• Harvey Nichols warns of collapse risk if no rescue deal is agreed

  10-08-2026 08:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Harvey Nichols has warned that its future is at risk without a rescue deal, as Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group closes in on a takeover deal.
  Newly filed accounts for Harvey Nichols Group, covering the year to 29 March 2025 and filed at Companies House on Friday, were prepared on a non-going-concern basis amid uncertainty over its future.
  However Frasers Group has emerged as the frontrunner to acquire Harvey Nichols from its long-standing owner Sir Dickson Poon, with a deal potentially being co
  
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• American Vintage expands London presence with new Shoreditch store

  10-08-2026 07:32 via theretailbulletin.com
  French label American Vintage has opened a new store in London’s Shoreditch as it continues its UK expansion. Situated on Redchurch Street, the store is the…
  
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• Moida to open first standalone K-Beauty store in Leeds at Trinity Leeds

  10-08-2026 07:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  Moida is to become the first standalone K-beauty retailer to open a store in Leeds. Due to launch in mid-August, the 1,400 square foot shop at…
  
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• Aldi Portobello store named among Edinburgh’s Top Things To Do on Tripadvisor

  10-08-2026 07:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  Aldi has revealed that its Portobello store has become one of the only supermarkets in Scotland to feature among Edinburgh’s Top Things To Do on Tripadvisor,…
  
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• Gucci is breaking luxury’s penny-pinching taboo

  10-08-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  Reducing overheads and reinvesting the proceeds into lowering prices will attract a whole new cohort of buyers
  
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• Burnham promises to tackle ‘rip-off’ discounts and ‘subscription traps’

  09-08-2026 23:30 via ft.com
  New prime minister vows to stop retailers from making misleading ‘pretend prices’ claims to customers
  
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• Sainsbury’s needs a dose of Big Tech’s boldness

  08-08-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  UK’s second-largest supermarket has spent the last two decades delivering distinctly terrestrial returns
  
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• The Perfume Shop MD on the future of its boutique concept

  07-08-2026 15:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Perfume Shop recently celebrated the first anniversary of its boutique concept.
  Designed to “elevate the traditional perfume shopping experience,” the concept stores combine “carefully curated premium and niche perfume brands with expert perfume consultations, personalised recommendations and an immersive retail environment that encourages customers to discover something new”.
  The fragrance retailer opened its concept stores in July 2025 at Brent Cross and Lakeside sh
  
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• Watchdog moves to stop Aldi and Lidl blocking rival UK store openings

  07-08-2026 12:52 via ft.com
  CMA proposes changes to clamp down on discounters’ use of anti-competitive property covenants
  
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• Tommy Hilfiger ‘reimagines’ modern prep with new Peanuts collab

  07-08-2026 12:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tommy Hilfiger has teamed up with American comic strip Peanuts to launch a new kids collection.
  The collaboration aims to reimagine the “modern prep wardrobe with the wit, wonder and optimism of Charles M. Schulz’s beloved characters”.
  The collection is made up of 12 pieces and features character print puffer jackets, varsity bomber jackets, cable-knit sweaters and rugby shirts. It also includes Ithaca stripped shirts, wide leg chinos and denim. Related StoryTommy Hilfiger &lsq
  
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• Lidl and Neighbourly expand Olio partnership to 200 stores

  07-08-2026 11:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Lidl and social impact platform Neighbourly have expanded their partnership with food-sharing app Olio from 20 to around 200 stores. 
  The partnership allows shoppers to collect surplus food from the grocer’s stores for free at the end of the day via the Olio app.
  The scheme works by recruiting additional volunteers, known as food waste heroes, who can step in when charities aren’t able to make an evening collection. 
  Fresh items like chilled meat, fish, poultry, and the dis
  
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• CMA moves to stop Aldi and Lidl blocking rival UK store openings

  07-08-2026 11:21 via ft.com
  Competition watchdog proposes changes to clamp down on discounters’ use of anti-competitive property covenants
  
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• Tesco cooks up second season of Tesco Kitchen series

  07-08-2026 10:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco has launched the second season of its Tesco Kitchen content series, which aims to inspire more people to “cook with confidence”.
  It was devised in partnership with social first creative agency Uncovered.
  The seven part series is hosted by broadcaster Greg James and chef Seema Pankhania and features celebrity guests including comedian Ed Gamble, rugby player Joe Marler, Youtuber Chunkz and author Bella Mackie.
  It will run on YouTube with cut downs appearing on Instagram and TikT
  
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• UK footfall hit by heatwave in July

  07-08-2026 10:48 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK footfall fell again in July as the heatwave deterred shoppers from the high street.
  Total UK footfall dropped by 2.1 per cent year-over-year (YoY) over the month from 5 July to 1 August, according to the latest BRC-Sensormatic data.
  The figures marked an increase from -3.4 per cent over June.
  High street footfall decreased by 3.8 per cent over the month, up from -6.2 per cent in June.
  Shopping centre footfall also declined by 1.4 per cent YoY in July, up from -2.5 per cent the month prior.
  Ho
  
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• Ralph Lauren calls for “optimism and aspiration” as profits jump 23%

  07-08-2026 10:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Ralph Lauren has raised its full-year outlook after posting better-than-expected first-quarter results, driven by strong trading across its retail and wholesale channels.
  Operating profit rose 23 per cent year-on-year to $342m (£254.2m) in the quarter to 27 June 2026, while net revenue climbed 14 per cent to $1.96bn (£1.45bn).
  The US fashion giant said the performance was ahead of expectations, with growth recorded across all major regions.
  North America revenue increased 13 per cent
  
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• JD Sports appoints Ikea president as chair

  07-08-2026 09:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  JD Sports Fashion has appointed Peter Agnefjäll as chair of the board, with the former-president of Ikea joining the sports retailer on 01 September 2026.
  Agnefjäll is an internationally recognised retail leader with extensive experience as a chair and non-executive director. He built his career over almost two decades at Ikea Group, rising to president and CEO between 2013 and 2017. He oversaw a period of growth, market expansion and digital transformation for the furniture giant.
  Agn
  
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• JD Sports appoints former IKEA CEO Peter Agnefjäll as chair

  07-08-2026 09:37 via theretailbulletin.com
  JD Sports has appointed former IKEA Group chief executive Peter Agnefjäll as chair, effective from 1 September. Agnefjäll has worked with the IKEA twice in his…
  
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