Retail news

• Retail sales slump deepens as summer gets off to gloomy start

  26-06-2026 09:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK retail sales fell at a sharper pace in June as weak consumer confidence and rising cost pressures continued to weigh on spending.
  The CBI’s latest Distributive Trades Survey found that retail sales volumes dropped to a weighted balance of -54 in the year to June, down from -46 in May.
  Sales were also judged to be below seasonal norms to the greatest extent in more than two years, with the balance falling to -40 from -35 last month.
  Retailers expect the downturn to continue into July, al
  
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• Hydration breaks: Why all the fuss?

  26-06-2026 15:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Hydration breaks have caused quite the commotion with European football fans.
  Mandatory hydration breaks were introduced by FIFA for all 104 matches of the World Cup, regardless of the weather conditions. The breaks are three minutes long and occur in the middle of each half.
  The regulator argued that the breaks would provide the athletes with time to rehydrate during matches.
  But fans, especially European fans, are furious, believing the break implemented as an advertising opportunity rather th
  
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• Matalan given 2029 debt extension to focus on turnaround

  26-06-2026 15:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Matalan’s anchor investment group has extended its existing debt facilities until mid-2029, allowing the clothing and homeware retailer’s turnaround plan more time.
  No additional capital is involved in this latest deal. Instead Invesco, Tresidor, Man Group and Napier Park will allow Matalan longer to manage its existing debt. Therefore, cash flow can be put towards the retailer’s recovery.
  Matalan had previously secured a further £25 million in funding from this core inve
  
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• F.Hinds Chairman: ‘170 years on, we’re betting on people, not algorithms’

  26-06-2026 12:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  As the family jeweller marks its 170th anniversary, chairman Andrew Hinds reflects on supply chains, soaring gold prices, AI and why the future of the high street still depends on human relationships.
  When George Henry Hinds opened his first jewellery shop on Harrow Road in Paddington in 1856, Britain was still in the Victorian era. The Suez Canal did not exist. The telephone had not been invented. The notion of an online retailer would have sounded like science fiction.
  Photo: F.Hinds. Chairman
  
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• Oprah Winfrey wins LionHeart Award: Cannes Lions winners 2026 part 2

  26-06-2026 11:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity ran from 22 to 26 June.
  This year it has hosted multiple panels from the industry’s best and brightest, including discussions from Primark, Sephora, and Coach.
  As usual, the event has seen many of the industries top talent awarded for their hard work. With Cannes Lions coming to a close today, we take a look at some more winners from the festival.
  Cannes LionHeart Award,
  The Cannes LionHeart Award went to actress, presenter and p
  
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• Snappy Shopper VP on retail media’s power to drive conversations to action

  26-06-2026 11:21 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  With Snappy Shopper expanding beyond the UK mainland, Retail Gazette met with with the Q-commerce platform’s VP of groups & business development Greg Deacon to discuss the “huge growth” moments retail media can provide independent retailers.
  “We create an opportunity for brands to engage with the customer at the point of purchase – that moment of truth. That few minutes they’re going to spend on the app to place their order. How do we get them to engage an
  
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• Bloom & Wild co-founder on caring wildly about every gifting occasion

  26-06-2026 11:12 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  As Bloom & Wild celebrates a 100 per cent year-on-year jump in Father’s Day gifting growth, Aron Gelbard stresses that it isn’t “a big gesture” brand and now has a product range for all the small moments.
  Founded in 2013, Bloom & Wild has flourished. Over 30 million letterbox flowers have been delivered by the ecommerce business that cared enough to measure letterboxes.
  Only three years after its inception, Bloom & Wild expanded its offering to include tiny Ch
  
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• Lidl ringfences 10% of job interview slots for long-term unemployed

  26-06-2026 11:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  Lidl is to help tackle rising unemployment by ringfencing job interviews for people who have been out of work for at least six months. The move... View Article
  
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• Good news for Decathlon as sales jump and online growth drives recovery

  26-06-2026 10:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Decathlon UK has posted a 9.6 per cent rise in turnover after price cuts, online growth and store estate changes helped the sports retailer move closer to profitability.
  The retailer reported turnover of £285.5m for the year to 31 December 2025, up from £260.6m the previous year.
  Online sales surged 28.3 per cent to £85m, while operating losses narrowed from £16.7m in 2024 to £4.2m.
  Decathlon said its performance was driven by a more focused commercial strategy, inv
  
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• German financial regulator probes Zalando over €1.1bn deal disclosure

  26-06-2026 10:40 via ft.com
  BaFin says fashion retailer may have failed to provide information on a transaction linked to About You acquisition
  
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• Superdry launches first outlet store under Superdry & Co brand at Caledonia Park

  26-06-2026 10:12 via theretailbulletin.com
  Superdry has launched its first UK outlet store under its new brand name Superdry & Co at Glasgow’s Caledonia Park. The 4,500 square foot space will... View Article
  
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• Co-op Group MD Matt Hood to leave the business alongside two senior leaders

  26-06-2026 10:12 via theretailbulletin.com
  Co-op group managing director Matt Hood is to leave the business as part of a trio of senior departures. Nicole Tallant, food trading director, will also... View Article
  
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• Adidas pulls ahead of Nike in World Cup retail battle

  26-06-2026 10:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Adidas is edging ahead of Nike in the early retail battle around the World Cup, with new data suggesting the German giant is seeing a bigger sales uplift from the tournament.
  Spending on Adidas apparel jumped 70 per cent in May compared with the same month last year, according to M Science data reported by Reuters, driven by strong demand for football shirts ahead of the tournament.
  Nike’s apparel business is also growing, but analysts said Adidas was currently benefiting more strongly fro
  
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• Tefal celebrates 70 years, Patrick Lucereau reflects

  26-06-2026 10:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  French cookwear brand, known for creating the non-stick pan, Tefal turns 70 this year.
  Patrick Lucereau, marketing director for Groupe SEB UK & Ireland, Tefal’s parent company, talks about the brands Platinum anniversary plans.
  He says the huge milestone is not just about looking back: “It’s about showing that a brand with 70 years of heritage can still be innovative, relevant and lead the way. We’re incredibly proud of our history, but we’re even more excited a
  
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• EU targets Amazon and Microsoft cloud dominance in ‘Big Tech’ crackdown

  26-06-2026 09:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Amazon and Microsoft’s cloud computing businesses could be brought under tougher EU tech rules, with regulators looking to curb the power of the world’s two biggest cloud providers.
  The European Commission has informed Amazon and Microsoft of its preliminary view that Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure should be designated as “gatekeepers” under the Digital Markets Act.
  The development would subject AWS and Azure to stricter rules designed to stop dominant digital pl
  
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• Frasers tells Hugo Boss investors £1.7bn takeover bid is final

  26-06-2026 09:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers Group has said it will not raise its takeover offer for Hugo Boss as Mike Ashley’s retail empire attempts to take full control of the German fashion house.
  The Sports Direct and Flannels owner confirmed that its €38-a-share offer is final and will not be increased during the acceptance period or any additional acceptance period.
  The offer values the remaining stake in Hugo Boss that Frasers does not already own at around €1.93bn (£1.7bn).
  Frasers, which is already H
  
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• Asda to open sixth standalone George store

  26-06-2026 09:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda is opening its sixth standalone George store, with further aims to convert its Asda Living estate into dedicated fashion and lifestyle destinations.
  The supermarket giant will relaunch its Asda Living store at Cortonwood Retail Park in Barnsley as a 28,000 sq ft George store on Thursday 9 July.
  The existing branch will close from Sunday 28 June while the site is refurbished.
  The new store will stock George’s full fashion offer across womenswear, menswear and childrenswear, alongside e
  
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• Government brings forward Shein tax loophole crackdown but retailers say it is still too slow

  26-06-2026 09:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The government has brought forward plans to scrap customs duty relief on low-value imports as it looks to tackle the tax loophole used by overseas ecommerce giants including Shein and Temu.
  Goods worth £135 or less will now become subject to customs import duties from October 2028, six months earlier than the previous March 2029 deadline.
  The move is designed to reduce the advantage enjoyed by fast-growing international online retailers, which ship low-cost parcels directly to UK shoppers
  
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• H&M sales fall short as stock cuts leave stores unable to meet demand

  26-06-2026 09:14 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  H&M has missed sales expectations after admitting that its drive to tighten stock levels left parts of the business unable to meet customer demand.
  The fashion giant posted net sales of SEK 54.8bn (£4.2bn) for the three months to 31 May, down from SEK 56.7bn a year earlier.
  Sales in local currencies were broadly flat, with H&M operating around 3 per cent fewer stores than the same period last year.
  Operating profit came in at SEK 5.9bn (£463m), flat year on year and below ana
  
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• Dunelm opens major new superstore in Kingston-upon-Thames

  26-06-2026 07:52 via theretailbulletin.com
  Dunelm has opened a new superstore in Kingston-upon-Thames as it continues to expand with different store sizes and formats. The store is the retailer’s second London... View Article
  
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• Tesco’s return to broadband should be a profitable side hustle

  25-06-2026 18:53 via ft.com
  Retailer has a good chance of snagging market share thanks to its brand recognition and captive customer base
  
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• 99% of TOAST’s 2025 collections made from natural fibres

  25-06-2026 17:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Welsh clothing and lifestyle brand TOAST has revealed that 99% of its 2025 clothing collections were made from solely natural fibres, or cellulosic fibres from certified sources.
  In its latest annual Social Conscience report, TOAST championed its three key areas of focus to ensure it makes products that are responsibly made and last for years. These are Cherish Materials & Make; Minimise Waste and Enrich & Educate.
  The brand stressed that when developing fabrics it considers origin, qual
  
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• Superdry launches first UK outlet store at Caledonia Park

  25-06-2026 16:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Superdry has introduced the first Superdry & Co outlet store in the UK at Caledonia Park, a designer village in Gretna, Scotland.
  The 4,500 sq ft store has been selected to showcase the retailer’s latest rebrand, which aims to deliver a refreshed and modernised offer. Superdry rebranded to Superdry & Co in September 2025, with the brand debuting its first new store format in Nottingham.
  This latest launch represents the brand’s investment in its comeback. The store
  
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• Frontline retail staff remain least happy despite wellbeing improvement in the sector

  25-06-2026 15:39 via theretailbulletin.com
  A new report has warned that frontline retail staff remain least happy and more likely to quit than their head office colleagues. However, wellbeing across the... View Article
  
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• Samsøe Samsøe unveils Seven Dials store

  25-06-2026 15:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Danish fashion brand Samsøe Samsøe has opened its second London store, choosing a Seven Dials location to “connect more directly” with customers.
  Situated at 5 Earlham Street, the store has been designed with a Scandinavian-inspired identity, featuring clean lines and muted tones.
  This latest two-floor site joins the brand’s existing location in the capital, situated at Beak Street in Soho.
  “Opening on Earlham Street is a defining moment for our UK growth jo
  
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• Uniqlo owner: ‘Suppliers invest when they believe they’ve got a future’

  25-06-2026 14:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Uniqlo parent company Fast Retailing is to focus on further investing in long supplier relationships, stressing that “collective action is critical to progress”.
  Speaking at a London supply-chain and sustainability event earlier this week [23 June], executives from Fast Retailing argued that long-term relationships with suppliers will be critical if the fashion industry is to cut emissions, improve traceability and secure future sources of raw materials.
  The message was delivered dur
  
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• Data: Social commerce growing faster than ecommerce

  25-06-2026 14:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Social commerce is growing by around 17 per cent a year, compared with 3 per cent for the wider ecommerce market, according to new research.
  A new study by American Express, conducted with Retail Economics, looked to highlight the power social media has not only on ecommerce uplift but also in driving footfall to stores. It found one in every 20 in-person sale had been influenced by social content, in the past 12 months.
  Additionally, 46 per cent of shoppers said a physical store or ve
  
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• Boots granted Royal Warrant by Her Majesty The Queen

  25-06-2026 13:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Boots has been granted a Royal Warrant by Her Majesty The Queen, recognising its service as manufacturers and retailers of health and beauty products to the Royal Household.
  The health and beauty retailer said the honour was a “very special” moment for the business and its colleagues across the UK.
  Royal Warrants are granted to companies that have supplied the Royal Household on a regular basis for at least five years.
  Boots managing director Anthony Hemmerdinger said: “We are
  
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• Adidas picks up Grand Prix: A look at Cannes Lions winners 2026

  25-06-2026 13:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  It’s that time of year again when the entire marketing industry abandons the dreary old UK (not so dreary this year) for the South of France.
  Yes, its Cannes Lions again.
  We take a look at some of the winners from this years Awards.
  Audio and Radio Lions
  Audio and Radio Lions received 513 entries and 15 Lions handed out, 2 Gold, 5 Silver, 7 Bronze and the Grand Prix.
  Hyundai Puerto Rico’s ‘Coquí Alarmed’  won the top prize. It was created by BBDO Puerto Rico,
  
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• Opinion: The Olive Bottle and Strait of Hormuz – why it matters to grocery retailers

  25-06-2026 13:09 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  by Blue Yonder Sr Industry Strategies Director Trevor Jordaan
  Most consumers see a bottle of olive oil.
  Supply chain leaders see something very different.
  They see farming, energy, packaging, logistics, inventory, promotions and risk—all converging on a single supermarket shelf.
  That is why a geopolitical event thousands of miles away can ultimately influence the price a customer pays at the checkout.
  At first glance, the Strait of Hormuz and a bottle of olive oil appear to have very littl
  
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