Retail news

• Sports Direct's Mike Ashley apologises for poor Covid-19 actions

  27-03-2020 09:23
  
  After trying to keep shops open, boss says emails to government were ill-judged and poorly timedCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMike Ashley has issued a public apology after his spat with the government to try to keep his Sports Direct chain open when non-essential businesses were ordered to close.Ashley’s Frasers Group, which includes House of Fraser and Evans Cycles, had intended to keep Sports Direct open as other non-essential retailers closed, on the
  
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• Bodycare appoints Charles Denton as CEO to lead UK expansion

  09-07-2026 23:06 via theretailbulletin.com
  Bodycare has appointed Charles Denton as chief executive and chairman, and announced a ramping up of its UK expansion. Founded in Lancashire in the 1970s, the... View Article
  
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• Desert Island Stores: Marisa Poster, co-founder of PerfectTed

  09-07-2026 20:04 via theretailbulletin.com
  In his latest Desert Island Stores interview, Glynn Davis chats with Marisa Poster, co-founder of matcha brand PerfectTed.  The store you remember from childhood? Eli Zabar... View Article
  
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• Waterstones signs for new 300,000 sq ft distribution centre in Staffordshire

  09-07-2026 19:57 via theretailbulletin.com
  Waterstones has signed for a new 300,000 square foot distribution centre in Staffordshire to support its expansion plans. The new site at Indurent Park Burton will... View Article
  
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• Sephora opens first Scottish store in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter

  09-07-2026 18:28 via theretailbulletin.com
  Sephora has opened its first store in Scotland at Edinburgh’s St James Quarter as part of a summer of expansion that will see four new stores... View Article
  
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• John Lewis and Specsavers top customer satisfaction index

  09-07-2026 15:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Retail has traditionally dominated the UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI), however for the first time since its inception in 2008 banks and building societies have overtaken the sector.
  Nationwide scored 87.3 out of 100, the building society was followed by John Lewis (87.1), first direct (86.0) and Specsavers (85.0).
  The Institute of Customer Service attributed this improvement in the banking sector to the growing emphasis placed on customer satisfaction, loyalty and retention.
  The best-per
  
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• Grocery’s next battle: why rivals may have to work together to survive

  09-07-2026 14:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  For decades, competition has been at the heart of the grocery industry. Retailers have fought for market share, while suppliers have protected their margins, and logistics networks have often been treated as closely guarded advantages.
  But according to IGD head of supply chain James Rothwell rising costs and growing pressure on businesses are forcing a rethink.
  The latest research from IGD argues that food supply chains are entering a new era where companies will have to “do more with less
  
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• Asda boosts Express technology with new partnership

  09-07-2026 14:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda has signed a multi-year partnership with technology firm Evolve to upgrade internet connectivity across its 500 Express stores.
  The retailer said the faster and more resilient connections will support payment, IT and security systems, with more than 450 stores due to be upgraded this year.
  The investment comes as retailers become increasingly reliant on digital systems, with Asda’s Express stores using technology to support payments, digital media and food-to-go operations.
  Evolve sai
  
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• Opinion: Poor AI Shopping experiences could put £9bn of UK retail yearly revenue at risk

  09-07-2026 14:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  by Trustpilot senior UK marketing director Steph Gillies
  Between customers finding products and services via artificial intelligence tools, brands creating AI-focused experiences, and AI being mentioned far more often in customer reviews than previously, it’s clear that AI is rapidly reshaping retail.
  However, research by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), commissioned by Trustpilot, reveals that clunky or frustrating AI experiences put roughly £9bn of UK online r
  
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• Yours Clothing launches new e-gift card returns option

  09-07-2026 12:51 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Inclusive fashion retailer Yours Clothing will enable online shoppers to receive a refund via a just launched e-gift card, with reward members receiving bonus points for doing so.
  The launch forms part of a wider customer experience investment by AK Retail Group and is being rolled out across its portfolio of fashion brands, including Long Tall Sally, BadRhino, M&Co, Evans and PixieGirl.
  A statement from the brand said: “The latest enhancement reflects Yours Clothing’s continued
  
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• JD Sports launches largest store in Scotland

  09-07-2026 12:40 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  JD Sports launched its largest store in Scotland today (9 July), based at The Centre, Livingstone.
  The sportswear retailer, which has over 350 stores across the UK, relocated in the shopping centre due to customer demand.
  The store opened with a celebratory launch, which will include a spin the wheel competition running from 10 July until 12th July, goody bags and a DJ.Related Story May and June heatwaves drive record convenience sales08/07/2026 x 11:38 AMThe Centre, Livingstone, centre director
  
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• European heatwave damps sales growth at clothing retailer Uniqlo

  09-07-2026 12:14 via ft.com
  Hot weather forces some stores to close temporarily
  
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• More than half of Levi’s revenue now D2C

  09-07-2026 12:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The latest second quarter results from Levi Strauss & Co. highlights a digital switch for the denim giant, with 51 per cent of its net revenue now coming from Direct-to-Consumer (D2C).
  Financial results, for the second quarter ending 31 May 31 2026, show net DTC revenues increased 11 per cent on a reported basis with an 8 per cent jump on an organic basis.
  The European market led the way with this digital growth, as DTC sales jumped 12 per cent across Europe. Its home market of the United St
  
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• M&S Sharry Cramond on why Silverstone was the “perfect fit”

  09-07-2026 12:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Fashion has become synonymous with Formula One. From Lewis Hamilton’s grid looks and Lando Norris’s British Vogue shoot to Ferrari’s fashion and lifestyle brand and team collaborations with fashion brands such Cadillac and Tommy Hilfiger, fashion can be found everywhere within the sport.
  And last week, British retailer M&S brought the first ever pitlane fashion show to the British Grand Prix. Part of its Summer of Love That brand platform, the show took place on Media Day (
  
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• Retailers warned shoplifting could jump +26% ahead of Quarter Final fixture.

  09-07-2026 11:47 via theretailbulletin.com
  As England’s World Cup win against Mexico prompts +16% rise in retail theft, retailers warned shoplifting could jump +26% ahead of Quarter Final fixture. Instances of... View Article
  
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• Hugo Boss urges shareholders to reject Frasers’ €2.7bn takeover bid

  09-07-2026 11:45 via ft.com
  German fashion group says offer from its largest shareholder is ‘inadequate’
  
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• Interview: Dr Beckmann is serving up clothing care to smash throwaway fashion habit

  09-07-2026 11:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  A five-metre-high pile of discarded white clothing overlooking London’s South Bank is an unlikely place to start a conversation about the future of circular fashion.
  Yet, according to international laundry and cleaning brand Dr Beckmann, this was precisely the point.
  Timed to coincide with the start of Wimbledon, Dr Beckmann’s “Murray Mound” installation, fronted by Judy Murray and created in partnership with circular fashion specialist Reskinned, was designed to make the
  
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• New Look opens largest-ever concept store at Metrocentre

  09-07-2026 10:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  New Look today opened the doors to its largest-ever concept store at Metrocentre.
  The 11,000 sq ft shop, located in the shopping centre’s Red Mall fashion hub, marks the latest step in New Look’s rollout of its omni-hub format, which brings together fashion, online services and ‘enhanced in-store experiences’.
  New Look has traded at Metrocentre for more than 20 years, with the new store marking a fresh chapter for its presence at the Gateshead destination.
  Customers will
  
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• Next to open major Bluewater anchor store this month

  09-07-2026 10:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Next will open its new 132,000 sq ft anchor store at Bluewater later this month, marking one of its biggest UK store openings.
  The fashion and home retailer will open the shop on Thursday 30 July, tripling the size of its existing Bluewater footprint.
  The new store will be the Kent shopping centre’s first new anchor since it opened in 1999.
  It will feature expanded men’s, women’s and childrenswear ranges, a larger homeware department and an in-store Costa café.
  Bath &
  
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• Jollyes Pets to double store estate after 8.7% revenue growth

  09-07-2026 10:02 via theretailbulletin.com
  Jollyes Pets has announced plans to double the size of its store estate over the next five years as it reported 8.7% annual revenue growth. In... View Article
  
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• Uniqlo owner raises profit outlook after Q3 surge

  09-07-2026 09:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing has raised its full-year profit forecast after third-quarter operating profit jumped 45.7 per cent.
  The business posted operating profit of ¥213.79bn (£1.3bn) in the three months to 31 May, up from ¥146.74bn a year earlier.
  The performance came in well ahead of analyst expectations, with the business now forecasting full-year operating profit of ¥730bn, up from its previous guidance of ¥700bn.
  Fast Retailing is on track for a fifth consecutive ye
  
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• Marks & Spencer enlists AI to sharpen online product discovery

  09-07-2026 09:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Marks & Spencer has partnered with Lily AI to improve how its products are found across Google, organic search and emerging AI-powered shopping channels.
  The business is using Lily AI’s Product Intelligence Platform to automate and improve the creation of structured product data at scale, helping it bring new items to market faster while ensuring products are correctly attributed, categorised and ready for discovery from launch.
  The technology is designed to enrich product feeds with A
  
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• Lululemon to open first India store in Delhi via Tata CLiQ franchise deal

  09-07-2026 09:29 via theretailbulletin.com
  Lululemon is to open its first store in India, at New Delhi’s DLF Promenade, as part of its franchise agreement with Tata CLiQ. Due to launch... View Article
  
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• Jollyes plots store estate doubling after revenue growth

  09-07-2026 09:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Jollyes is planning to double its store estate over the next five years after posting an 8.7 per cent rise in annual revenue.
  The pet retailer said sales climbed to £169m in the year to 31 May, while like-for-like sales, excluding new stores, increased 4.3 per cent. Transactions were also up seven per cent over the period.
  Jollyes, which currently has 123 stores, is aiming to grow to more than 250 locations as part of its five-year expansion plan.
  The retailer will open its 124th shop in D
  
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• Gymshark appoints former Boden boss as chief technology officer

  09-07-2026 09:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Gymshark has appointed Shaun Perkinson as its new chief technology officer as the fitnesswear brand looks to support its next phase of growth.
  Perkinson joins the retailer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Waha Travel Retailer, where he served as chief technology officer from September 2025 to July 2026.
  He previously spent five years as chief technology officer at Boden between 2019 and 2024, and has also held senior technology roles at Tory Burch and Burberry.
  Perkinson succeeds John Douglas, who i
  
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• Is Tesco about to offload its Central European business?

  09-07-2026 09:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco is exploring a sale of its Central European operations as the supermarket giant looks to sharpen its focus on the UK and Ireland, according to reports.
  The company is understood to be working with bankers to assess options for its business in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, the Financial Times reported.
  The operations represent Tesco’s only sizeable business outside the UK and Ireland and span 561 stores.
  A Tesco spokesperson said: “We never comment on rumour or specu
  
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• Pepco revenue up 8.5% after ‘exceptional’ performance in Western Europe

  09-07-2026 09:06 via theretailbulletin.com
  Pepco Group has announced that its revenue grew by 8.5% excluding Dealz in its third quarter, with like-for-like revenue up 5.4%. The group attributed the performance... View Article
  
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• Tesco explores sale of European operations, FT reports

  09-07-2026 08:29 via theretailbulletin.com
  Tesco is reportedly exploring a sale of its central and eastern European operations, in a move that would effectively end its ambitions outside of the UK... View Article
  
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• M&S to debut at London Fashion Week with shoppable collection

  08-07-2026 15:45 via theretailbulletin.com
  M&S is set to debut at London Fashion Week this autumn with a shoppable collection of womenswear and menswear. The move comes in the same year... View Article
  
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• Aldi changes name to Baldi ahead of Pitbull concert

  08-07-2026 15:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Aldi has temporarily rebranded to Baldi to celebrate rapper Pitbull’s return to London.
  The singer will be playing BST Hyde Park and attempting to break the world record for the largest crowd wearing bald caps.
  As part of its temporary rebrand, the supermarket has launched a Baldi merchandise stand for those attending the concert. It will be giving away free Infusionist and Stefanoff cocktail cans as well aviator sunglasses, bald caps and temporary tattoos for free outsider Hyde Park on Fr
  
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