Retail news

• Sainsbury: cart blench

  09-01-2019 14:37 via ft.com
  Asda deal matters far more than the retailer’s subdued Christmas trading figures
  
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• Tommy Hilfiger ‘reimagines’ modern prep with new Peanuts collab

  07-08-2026 12:04
  
  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
  
  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
  
  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
  
  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
  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
  
  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.
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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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• Footfall drops 2.1% in July as heatwave hits high street visits

  07-08-2026 09:27 via theretailbulletin.com
  This year’s heatwave conditions continued to affect footfall in July, with high streets hit the hardest. According to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and…
  
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• The full RG Retail Excellence Awards shortlist revealed

  07-08-2026 09:23
  
  Retailers delivering standout services across a range of complementary categories at the RG Retail Excellence Awards 2026 have been announced this week…
  The finalists have been revealed in four articles in a bid to shine a light on the people and teams working behind the scenes to build praiseworthy brands and retailers. Today, we publish the full shortlist.
  The winners will be announced at the RG Retail Excellence Awards on 14 October 2026 at The Underglobe, beneath Shakespeare’s G
  
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• Hugo Boss names Daniel Kearns as head of design for Boss by Beckham

  07-08-2026 09:12 via theretailbulletin.com
  Hugo Boss has appointed Daniel Kearns as the new head of design for footballer David Beckham’s Boss by Beckham collections. Based in London and working closely…
  
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• Ajmal opens first European store at Westfield London

  07-08-2026 09:11 via theretailbulletin.com
  Dubai-based fragrance house Ajmal has opened its first store in Europe at Westfield London. Founded in India in 1951 by the late Haji Ajmal Ali, the…
  
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• Lidl expands Olio partnership to cut food waste across 200 stores

  07-08-2026 09:10 via theretailbulletin.com
  Lidl and Neighbourly have expanded their partnership with food-sharing app Olio to give more people  the chance to collect surplus food from Lidl stores for free…
  
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• Creative industries write to UK government to stop plans for advertising on BBC audio content

  06-08-2026 17:47
  The creative industries have called upon the UK government to stop plans that would allow the BBC to run advertising on its audio content in the UK in an letter.
  The letter was addressed to Lisa Nandy, the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport and was signed by 18 signatories including Global, Guardian Media Group, dmg media, Newsquest, News UK and Bauer.
  It aims to show the “disproportionate” impact the move would have on the country’s independent audio sect
  
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• Pandora appoints André Branch as North America president

  06-08-2026 17:45 via theretailbulletin.com
  Pandora has appointed André Branch as president of its North America cluster, one of its biggest growth markets. He will lead the jewellery brand’s next phase…
  
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• Cass Art to open new concept store at Coal Drops Yard

  06-08-2026 16:50 via theretailbulletin.com
  Cass Art is to unveil a new concept store at Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross this September. Situated in one of London’s most creative areas,…
  
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• Sainsbury’s rolls out 7,000+ Nectar price deals this month

  06-08-2026 16:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Sainsbury’s is rolling out more than 7,000 Nectar Prices this month on items customers “love and buy” the most. The supermarket said shoppers will be able…
  
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• Mike Ashley says Harvey Nichols is in a ‘death spiral’

  06-08-2026 15:38 via ft.com
  Sports Direct founder casts doubt over department store chain’s prospects even as he vies to acquire it
  
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• Diageo boss Dave Lewis stakes revival on canned cocktails and Guinness

  06-08-2026 15:15 via ft.com
  New chief unveils plans to restore growth along with suite of cost cuts
  
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• Opinion: What UK retailers need to know about the next wave of Chinese expansion

  06-08-2026 15:04
  By Mark Fergusson, Head of Client Engagement, Tritax Big Box
  In the Year of the Fire Horse, Chinese operators are entering a new phase of UK expansion. Earlier this summer, I joined Cushman & Wakefield’s Europe Unlocked conferences across China to meet retailers, alongside 3PLs and adjacent businesses planning European operations in the next 6 months to the end of the decade. One message emerged consistently: Chinese investment in the UK logistics market is evolving.
  The first wave of
  
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• Exclusive: H&M allegedly plans UK head office job cuts, hitting hundreds of employees

  06-08-2026 14:00
  
  H&M has reportedly filed for redundancies for its UK head office, in a move that could impact around 250 employees.
  The proposed changes have allegedly been communicated through a collective consultation process that began in April, according to an internal document seen by Retail Gazette, provided by an inside source with knowledge of the process.
  The filed HR1 document, a form alerting the government of advanced notification of redundancies, showed that the job cuts will occur between 2nd
  
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• Diageo boss Lewis launches aggressive cost-cutting to revive drinks group

  06-08-2026 12:15 via ft.com
  Chief executive sets out restructuring plan for maker of Guinness and Johnnie Walker
  
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• Morrisons rolls out AI-powered self-checkouts to 200 stores

  06-08-2026 11:57
  
  Morrisons has announced plans to introduce vision-based AI technology across up to 200 stores.
  The supermarket has signed a long-term partnership with retail technology firm Everseen following a successful trial of its Evercheck platform.
  The system uses real-time computer vision to identify items that may not have been scanned correctly and gives customers on-screen prompts to resolve the issue themselves.
  Morrisons said the technology would help keep queues moving, reduce the need for staff in
  
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• Melanie Sykes fronts Cubitts’ latest campaign

  06-08-2026 11:40
  British eyewear brand Cubitts has launched a new campaign celebrating Manchester which stars television personality and “Boddingtons girl” Melanie Sykes.
  The campaign sees Sykes return to her hometown, posing in locations including the Northern Quarter, the Grade II-listed Toast Rack building and the streets of Ashton-under-Lyne. The campaign marks Sykes’ first major fashion shoot since revealing her alopecia, and embracing her bald look earlier this summer.
  Tom Broughton, fou
  
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• Time Out to open global flagship market at Piccadilly Circus

  06-08-2026 11:13
  Time Out is set to open its first London food and cultural market at Piccadilly Circus, creating around 130 jobs.
  The media and hospitality group has signed a long-term agreement with The Crown Estate to launch Time Out Market London at the 10 Piccadilly development, 55 Regent Street, in summer 2028.
  The seven-figure investment will span more than 26,400 sq ft across three floors, and bring together around 15 London restaurants, bars and food operators alongside live music, exhibitions, performa
  
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• Dr Martens names Alia Gogi as non-exec director

  06-08-2026 11:03
  
  Footwear retailer Dr Martens has named Alia Gogi as an independent non-executive director of the company, effective from 1 September 2026.
  She will also be a member of the audit and risk, remuneration and nomination committees.
  Gogi most recently was the president, Asia at Sephora, where she was responsible for overseeing operations across ten markets. She was also previously managing director for southeast Asia and senior vice president for Asia and Greater China at the beauty retailer. Related
  
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• Superdrug launches K-Beauty cosmetics in 60+ stores and online

  06-08-2026 10:22 via theretailbulletin.com
  Superdrug is expanding its K-beauty offering into cosmetics, making the range available in over 60 stores and online. Brands included in the category extension are Etude,…
  
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• eBay UK general manager Eve Williams on innovations in community-building

  06-08-2026 09:58
  
  Vice-president and general manager Eve Williams explains why AI should disappear into the experience, why the strongest live-commerce hosts are experts rather than influencers, and how community is becoming one of eBay’s most persuasive forms of brand building…
  For a marketplace with billions of listings, the biggest marketing challenge facing eBay is to make an almost limitless inventory feel personal, credible and human.
  Eve Williams, vice-president and general manager of eBay UK,
  
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• Dunelm launches AI shopping assistant with Google Cloud

  06-08-2026 09:57
  
  Dunelm has launched an AI-powered shopping assistant that allows customers to search for products, receive recommendations and visualise items in their homes through natural conversation.
  The company’s new ‘Ask Dunelm’ tool is now available within its iOS app and has been developed in partnership with Google Cloud.
  Customers can use the assistant to describe what they are looking for in their own words, ask questions about products and receive suggestions tailored to their styl
  
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