Retail news

• Staycations and World Cup boost consumer spending in July

  11-08-2026 04:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK consumer spending strengthened in July as staycations, warmer weather and England’s World Cup run helped drive growth across retail, according to new Barclays data.
  Card spending rose two per cent year on year during the month, edging up from the 1.9 per cent increase recorded in June, although growth remained below the latest CPIH inflation rate of 2.8 per cent.
  Essential spending increased 2.9 per cent, while discretionary spending climbed 1.6 per cent as shoppers reported growing con
  
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• Karen Millen to return to bricks-and-mortar after seven years

  13-08-2026 17:44 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Karen Millen is returning to the UK high street after seven years, with a rollout across concession stores throughout the UK. 
  The fashion retailer said the come-back was in response to customer demand, with its collections set to be stocked in The Foschini Group (TFG) stores.
  The brand’s return will commence on 14 August, with the first opening at Fosse Park, Leicester.
  This will be followed by two more openings on 17 August in Aberdeen Union Square and Liverpool One, with more conce
  
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• Retail parks are the real threat to the British high street

  13-08-2026 17:37 via ft.com
  Outdoor commercial complexes are hot property, with supermarkets, stores and discount chains elbowing for room
  
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• Tommee Tippee’s Sally Crossley on its first ever brand collaboration

  13-08-2026 17:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Earlier this year, Tommee Tippee launched its very first collaboration with baby brand Binibamba, which was followed up by a second collaboration with British design firm Morris and Co.
  The Morris and Co collaboration took two of Morris’ most famous prints Strawberry Thief and Acanthus and reimagines them as baby essentials.
  Sarah Crossley, senior global brand communications manager at Tommee Tippee explains that both its collaborations reinforce its strategy of partnering with brands that
  
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• What has Prime Minister Andy Burnham done for retail so far?

  13-08-2026 15:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  From fake discounts to business rates, Andy Burnham has been prime minister for less than a month but wasted little time putting the cost of living and high streets at the centre of his attention.
  A mere 24 days into his premiership, we looked into everything the new prime minister has actually announced so far for retail, and what it means for the high street, retailers, consumers, suppliers and the wider industry.
  Here is the state of play as of 13 August 2026.
  1. Fake discountsWhat is it?Burn
  
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• Bensons for Beds appoints former DFS exec John Rastall as commercial director

  13-08-2026 15:45 via theretailbulletin.com
  Bensons for Beds has appointed former DFS executive John Rastall as commercial director. Rastall joined the business on 10 August and reports to Mark Slater, Bensons’…
  
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• Has the UK food supply chain become too lean to withstand extreme weather?

  13-08-2026 14:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Today, (13 August) marks the beginning of the UK’s fifth heatwave of the summer, as UK retailers brace to reinforce a supply chain that is continuing to be hit by extreme temperatures.
  Last month, the Met Office verified the hottest-day yet of 2026, 38°C, while overall this year has consistently produced hot days, with 35°C or higher was recorded in May, June and July for the first time in the UK weather record.
  The UK is not the only country to experience such extreme conditions,
  
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• Sephora opens Glasgow store at Silverburn as it completes UK summer expansion

  13-08-2026 14:32 via theretailbulletin.com
  Sephora has opened its first store in Glasgow at Silverburn, marking its fourth and final shop launch of the summer. The opening comes a month after…
  
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• In Pictures: Burberry latest campaign showcases London commute

  13-08-2026 14:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Fashion house Burberry has unveiled its Autumn 2026 campaign which captures the daily rituals of London life.
  The campaign sees the designer label return to the city and recreates the London commute. Titled ‘Back to the City’, the marketing drive’s hero spot showcases Burberry’s models navigating the hectic transport network during rush hour and unpredictable British weather.It stars models Rosemary Ferguson, Cherif Douamba and Haojie Qi and is narrated by Matthew Streeto
  
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• Frasers buys Harvey Nichols for £40mn as Mike Ashley pushes into luxury

  13-08-2026 14:27 via ft.com
  Sports Direct owner warns of closures after purchasing department store chain through pre-pack administration deal
  
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• Frasers buys Harvey Nichols as Mike Ashley pushes into upmarket retail

  13-08-2026 14:27 via ft.com
  Retailer purchases department store through pre-pack administration deal
  
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• Shein loses UK copyright lawsuit against Temu

  13-08-2026 14:02 via ft.com
  Legal dispute between arch rivals was a test of online platforms’ responsibility for third-party merchants
  
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• ASOS relaunches ASOS Magazine as part of Autumn 26 campaign

  13-08-2026 14:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Online retailer ASOS has unveiled their new autumn campaign, giving a consumers a behind the scenes look at the fashion industry.
  According to the retailer, the campaign “celebrates the creativity, expertise and cultural influences” that shape what we wear.
  It was devised in collaboration with creative agency Baron & Baron.
  The marketing drive is made up of a series of adverts, social content and consumer experiences. At the centre of the campaign is the return of ASOS Magazine,
  
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• Gap supports ‘new talent’ in latest campaign

  13-08-2026 11:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Gap has unveiled a new campaign fronted by musician Malcolm Todd and actress Inde Nabarrette.
  Titled ‘Denim on your own’, the campaign is soundtracked to Todd’s rendition of Robyn’s ‘Dancing on My Own’.
  According to the retailer, the campaign reinforces its commitment to building partnerships and collaborations that feature new talent.
  At the centre of the campaign sits the belief that “personal style is a powerful form of expression”.
  Mark Breitba
  
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• Samsøe Samsøe launches menswear pop-up at Harrods

  13-08-2026 11:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Copenhagen-founded fashion brand Samsøe Samsøe has opened an exclusive menswear pop-up at Harrods, presenting its autumn winter 2026 collection.
  Running until the end of October 2026, the pop-up is located on the second floor of the luxury department store.
  The space showcases the retailer’s latest menswear offer and brings the collection’s “understated design language” into a “considered retail environment that reflects the brand’s contemporary
  
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• Sephora opens first Glasgow store as UK expansion accelerates

  13-08-2026 11:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sephora has opened the doors to its first Glasgow store at Silverburn as it continues to ramp up its UK expansion.
  The 4,940 sq ft shop, which opened today, marks Sephora’s second store in Scotland, following the opening of its Edinburgh St James Quarter branch last month, and takes its UK estate to 18 locations.
  Sephora UK managing director Sarah Boyd officially opened the store alongside its leadership team, kicking off four days of launch celebrations at the shopping centre.
  The Si
  
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• Levi’s joins M&S website in boost to third-party brands offer

  13-08-2026 10:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  US denim giant Levi’s has rolled out its latest men’s and women’s collections on M&S.com, targeting shoppers across the UK and Ireland.
  The curated range includes womenswear styles such as the 501, Ribcage and Barrel leg jeans, alongside dresses and skirts. The menswear edit features 501, 502 and 511 jeans, as well as T-shirts, hoodies, sweats and non-denim pieces.
  Levi Strauss & Co Europe managing director Lucia Marcuzzo said the partnership reflected the brand’s
  
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• Waitrose relaunches Jesmond store after multi-million pound refurbishment

  13-08-2026 10:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  Waitrose has relaunched its Jesmond store following a multi-million pound refurbishment. The shop welcomed back customers on 12 August after a five-week transformation. Carried out in…
  
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• Frasers Group closes in on Harvey Nichols acquisition

  13-08-2026 10:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  Frasers Group is reported to be closing in on the acquisition of the struggling Harvey Nichols department store chain. According to Sky News, a rescue deal through…
  
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• UK food inflation defies forecasts as supermarket price war keeps lid on rises

  13-08-2026 09:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK food inflation has remained significantly lower than expected as fierce supermarket competition and shoppers’ resistance to higher prices force grocers and suppliers to absorb mounting costs.
  Food and non-alcoholic drink prices rose 1.7 per cent in the year to June, down from 2.2 per cent in May and marking the lowest annual rate since August 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics. Prices in the category fell 0.2 per cent month on month.
  The figures have come in well belo
  
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• Amazon strikes global warehouse automation deal with AutoStore

  13-08-2026 09:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Amazon has struck a strategic global supply agreement with AutoStore to step up investment in robotics and automated fulfilment.
  The deal establishes a framework for AutoStore to supply its warehouse automation products and solutions to Amazon around the world, the Norwegian technology group confirmed on Thursday.
  However, AutoStore stressed that the agreement does not currently contain any purchasing commitments, meaning Amazon has not disclosed how many systems it could ultimately deploy or ho
  
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• BRC hits back after Government reveals £3bn cost of zero-hours ban

  13-08-2026 08:58 via theretailbulletin.com
  The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called on the Government to abandon its plans to ban zero-hour contracts after new Government figures revealed the move could…
  
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• BRC sounds alarm at zero-hours reforms as gov reveals £2.9bn business cost

  13-08-2026 08:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The BRC has urged the government to rethink its zero-hours contract reforms after official analysis revealed the measures could cost businesses as much as £2.9bn a year.
  New Department for Business and Trade analysis found that the package of reforms covering guaranteed hours, notice of shifts and compensation for last-minute cancellations could directly cost employers between £350m and £2.9bn annually, depending on how the final rules are designed. Its indicative central estim
  
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• West Midlands launches £10m fund to revive struggling high streets

  13-08-2026 08:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  West Midlands mayor Richard Parker has launched a £10m fund to breathe new life into struggling high streets and tackle rising shop vacancies.
  The High Streets and Growth Incubator will provide funding to a number of town and city centres, with the first locations set to be revealed at a later date.
  The scheme will focus on bringing boarded-up retail units back into use and supporting hundreds of high street businesses facing growing competition from online shopping.
  Funding will also be u
  
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• Morrisons debt pile swells to £7.5bn as lease liabilities climb

  13-08-2026 08:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Morrisons’ debt pile has climbed to £7.52bn as rising lease liabilities and preference share obligations weighed on the supermarket’s balance sheet.
  Net debt at Market Topco, the ultimate parent company of Morrisons, increased from £7.07bn to £7.52bn in the year to the end of October, according to newly filed accounts.
  The grocer’s total lease obligations jumped to £1.97bn from £1.75bn over the period, with Morrisons attributing much of the increas
  
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• Mike Ashley closes in on Harvey Nichols rescue deal

  13-08-2026 08:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group is reportedly putting the finishing touches to a rescue deal for Harvey Nichols, which could see it acquire the store through a pre-pack administration.
  Frasers is hoping to announce the acquisition as early as Thursday, following weeks of negotiations with FTI Consulting, which is advising Harvey Nichols and is lined up to act as administrator, according to Sky News.
  The Sports Direct and Flannels owner is understood to have been discussing a series of commitme
  
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• Le Creuset to open first South West boutique in Exeter

  13-08-2026 08:08 via theretailbulletin.com
  French cookware brand Le Creuset is to open its first South West boutique at Exeter’s Princesshay next month. Situated at 10 High Street, the new 1,599…
  
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• Deliveroo teams up with Lookfantastic for on-demand delivery

  13-08-2026 07:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  Deliveroo has embarked on a new, exclusive delivery partnership with Lookfantastic. The move allows customers to access over 300 of the beauty retailer’s skincare, haircare, makeup…
  
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• AO launches AO Mobile, a new SIM-only mobile network

  13-08-2026 07:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  Electrical retailer AO has launched AO Mobile, a new UK mobile network as it looks to “build on its established position as a retailer of SIM-free…
  
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• Foot Locker highlights ‘sneaker culture’ in new brand platform

  12-08-2026 16:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Foot Locker has launched a new campaign showcasing its role at the “centre of sneaker and basketball culture”.
  Titled ‘It Always Will be Foot Locker”, the brand platform features a two minute brand anthem narrated by American rapper Method Man.Crafted in partnership with creative agency Someplace, the hero film aims to showcase the influence of trainers from the original Air Jordan 1 to adidas Stan Smith and Converse Weapon.
  “For more than 50 years, Foot Locker has
  
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