Retail news

• Supermarkets ‘blatantly disregarding’ HFSS rules

  04-12-2023 09:26 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Some UK supermarkets are “blatantly disregarding” rules aimed at tackling childhood obesity by placing restrictions on where products high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) can be placed.
  According to a report from the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) and Food Active, a quarter of the 25 stores they had visited had put sweets, crisps, fizzy drinks or other “less healthy” items in parts of the shop that include near checkouts or on end-of-aisle displays.
  The stores “were sho
  
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• Iceland bolsters retail media with ‘UK first’ sensor technology

  23-01-2026 16:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Iceland Foods is rolling out “UK first” sensor-based technology throughout its retail media network, as it seeks to bolster its in-store advertising.
  Iceland Retail Media, operated through Iceland and The Food Warehouse, has partnered with software development firm Stratacache to provide in-store digital signage and analytic sensor technology across 766 locations.
  The initiative makes Iceland and The Food Warehouse the first European retailer to use Stratacache’s Walkbase solut
  
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• Amazon to axe thousands more corporate roles, says report

  23-01-2026 15:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Amazon is reportedly planning to cut a second round of jobs next week, under a wider plan to slash roughly 30,000 roles from the company.
  The retail giant axed 14,000 jobs from its global corporate workforce in October.
  The total number of redundancies is expected to be around the same as last year, with many roles reportedly being cut due to the rise of AI software. The cuts could potentially start as soon as Tuesday (27 January), Reuters reported.
  Roles at the retailer’s Amazon Web Servi
  
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• Poundland shuts 149 stores, cuts 2,200 jobs and focuses on £1 items

  23-01-2026 13:26
  Discounter relaunches Pep & Co clothing brand after a switch to ranges supplied by its former parent group hit salesPoundland has shut 149 stores with the loss of 2,200 jobs under a rescue shake-up launched after challenging trading conditions and unpopular clothing ranges sent it into the red.The company, which was itself bought for £1 from Pepco Group by the US restructuring specialist Gordon Brothers in June last year, said it had refocused on £1 items, with 60% of its stock n
  
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• Watches of Switzerland snaps up Deutsch & Deutsch

  23-01-2026 13:21 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG) has acquired Deutsch & Deutsch, an authorised distributor of brands such as Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer and Breitling.
  WOSG is the UK’s largest luxury watch retailer and has stores and showrooms in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Sheffield.
  Deutsch & Deutsch has four showrooms in Texas, USA, and two of the sites have recently undergone “significant expansion and refurbishment,” with planning underway for similar upgrades to i
  
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• King’s Cross reports sales growth driven by Coal Drops Yard retailers

  23-01-2026 12:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  London’s King’s Cross shopping area has posted double-digit sales growth across the estate.
  The retail destination, which is near to King’s Cross Station, reported the Coal Drops Yard space has posted a 20% year-on-year increase in sales as demand for its retail and leisure offer continued to grow.
  Recent openings including Uniqlo, Joe & The Juice and Midnight Pantry helped boost footfall and customer spend.
  Across the wider King’s Cross estate, total sales rose by 13
  
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• Watches of Switzerland acquires US family-owned retailer

  23-01-2026 12:42 via theretailbulletin.com
  Watches of Switzerland Group has acquired Deutsch & Deutsch, the US family-owned luxury watch and jewellery retailer. The group has purchased 88% of the business and... View Article
  
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• Retail Brand Monitoring: Protect Your Reputation

  23-01-2026 11:48 via theretailbulletin.com
  In our highly connected digital world, a retailer’s brand reputation can change in a matter of minutes, and a single social media crisis can reshape a... View Article
  
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• UK business activity stronger than expected in January

  23-01-2026 11:32
  Retail sales also rebounded in December, driven by online jewellery purchases
  
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• Retail sales rise boosted by online jewellery demand

  23-01-2026 10:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Retail sales rose in December despite falling over the fourth quarter (Q4), new Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures have revealed.
  Retail revenues were estimated to have dropped 0.3% over Q4 (October to December 2025) compared to Q3, as supermarkets and non-store retailers’ revenues both declined.
  However, retail sales were forecast to have grown 0.4% in December, after a 0.1% fall in November and a 0.8% decline in October.
  Non-store retailers saw volumes increase 4.2% in Dec
  
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• Poundland ends store closure programme as it relaunches clothing and value push

  23-01-2026 10:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Discount retailer Poundland confirmed the end of its restructuring-related store closure programme and the return of in-house designed PEP&CO clothing to stores across the UK and Ireland.
  For the financial year, ending 28 December, Poundland delivered earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of £17.3m, £8.4m ahead of the same period last year and in line with the budget shared with suppliers.
  The business said progress is already visible follo
  
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• British retail sales jump as online jewellery firms offer surprise Christmas sparkle

  23-01-2026 10:11
  Sales volume rise of 0.4% in December confounds forecasts as new survey shows sharp rebound in consumer confidenceDavos: Global economic outlook in focus, as gold approaches $5,000 – live updatesUK retail sales were stronger than expected last month, as the nation’s shops received a surprise boost during the crucial Christmas trading period.Sales volumes across Great Britain rose by 0.4% in December, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), with internet sa
  
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• Poundland hails turnaround progress

  23-01-2026 09:42 via theretailbulletin.com
  Poundland has reported an improved performance in its Christmas trading period as it works through its recovery plan. In its first quarter ending 28 December, EBITDA... View Article
  
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• UK retail sales rebound in December as online jewellery spending jumps

  23-01-2026 09:13
  Volumes rose unexpectedly in December, beating forecasts as demand for gold and silver strengthened
  
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• Consumer confidence edges up in January as December retail sales show small uplift

  23-01-2026 09:05 via theretailbulletin.com
  Consumer confidence has edged up in January despite people “remaining unconvinced” about the economic outlook. GFK has reported that its long-running Consumer Confidence Barometer has risen... View Article
  
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• Waterstones enjoys healthy sales both in-store and online

  23-01-2026 07:38 via theretailbulletin.com
  Waterstones’ sales increased by 7% to £565.6 million in the 53 weeks to 3 May 2025. On a like-for- like basis sales were up 5%. In... View Article
  
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• Executive shuffle dominates annual LVMH showcase

  23-01-2026 05:00
  The Milan launch event sought to reinforce the conglomerate’s lagging watch division
  
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• Asda transfers 2,000 security guards to Mitie

  22-01-2026 18:21 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Asda is outsourcing its store security to facilities services Mitie, amidst rising crime.
  The facilities management business has obtained a new multi-year security contract with Asda, to deliver services across more than 1,100 locations nationwide including Asda superstores, supermarkets, living and express stores. 
  Mitie is set to support Asda in “transitioning to a data-driven, outcome-focused security model” which “places the safety of both customers and colleagues at t
  
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• Tesco trials crime reporting platform

  22-01-2026 16:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Tesco is set to pilot a new crime reporting platform, designed to deter retail crime and keep staff, customers and local communities safe. 
  From Monday (26 January), the UK’s biggest supermarket retailer will test the Auror platform across 40 of its stores.
  The 10-week trial will be carried out across Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, with the aim of reducing retail crime, protecting workers and increasing collaboration with the police and the wider retail industry.
  The Auror platfo
  
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• Morrisons Travel launches in partnership with Expedia

  22-01-2026 13:04 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Morrisons supermarket chain has launched Morrisons Travel, a new travel booking service in partnership with Expedia Group. Available via Morrisons.com and the Morrisons More app,... View Article
  
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• Morrisons Travel launched with Expedia Group

  22-01-2026 12:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Supermarket chain Morrisons has launched Morrisons Travel, in partnership with technology company Expedia Group. 
  The service enables customers to book hotels, flights, car hire and activities while earning Morrisons More Points.
  It is available via Morrisons.com and the Morrisons More app.
  Through the partnership, Morrisons Travel customers can browse flight deals from airports around the world and choose from a global selection of hotels. They can also hire a car and book tours or activit
  
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• B&M and The Works hit by tough Christmas trading

  22-01-2026 11:56
  Retailers report weaker sales over festive period amid ‘subdued consumer confidence’• Business live – latest updatesThe discount retailer B&M cut its profit forecast, while the value books and crafts chain The Works reported a fall in sales, highlighting a difficult Christmas trading period for British stores.B&M’s UK sales fell by 0.6% on a like-for-like basis in its third quarter to 27 December, though it said sales improved in December after it reduced pri
  
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• Primark owner confirms lowered outlook and festive revenue fall

  22-01-2026 10:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Primark’s parent company Associated British Foods (ABF) has confirmed its reduced outlook and revenue decline for the 16 weeks to 3 January.
  The business said Primark revenues dropped 2.7% on a LFL basis, with LFL sales in its European arm falling 5.7%.
  UK revenues rose 1.7%, with combined UK and Ireland sales growing 1.1% on a LFL basis.Related Story Schuh hires new CMO21/01/2026 x 12:02 PMTotal sales in the fashion brand’s US arm rose 12% over the period.
  The update comes afte
  
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• B&M cuts profit guidance as it steps up investment in pricing and stock reset

  22-01-2026 10:34 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Discount retailer B&M has lowered its full-year profit guidance despite reporting positive sales momentum in December, as it increases investment in areas such as pricing and stock clearance.
  The business said UK like-for-like sales returned to growth, rising 3%, following declines earlier in the quarter.
  Early January trading has continued to show a positive trend, supported by strong seasonal sell-through and clearance activity.
  However, B&M said deeper investment in price, partic
  
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• The Works hails strong in-store performance

  22-01-2026 10:32 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Works said its stores delivered strong growth in the 26 weeks to 2 November, as the retailer of screen-free activities benefited from new strategic initiatives.... View Article
  
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• The Works posts improved interim performance

  22-01-2026 10:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Book and craft retailer The Works has reported improved profitability and resilient in-store trading in its interim results.
  The business said, for the 26 weeks ended 2 November 2025, total like-for-like (LFL) sales increased by 0.3%, underpinned by a strong performance in stores, which account for more than 90% of group revenue.
  Store LFL sales rose 4%, significantly ahead of the wider UK non-food retail market, which recorded growth of 0.6% over the same period.
  Total revenue edged down 0.3% y
  
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• Wickes sees H2 volume-driven growth

  22-01-2026 09:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  DIY and trade retailer Wickes has reported continued sales growth across all areas of the business.
  In a trading update for the six months ending 27 December 2025, which was released today (22 January), the business said Group revenue rose 6.3% year-on-year in the second half, taking full-year revenue to £1.64bn, up 5.9%.
  Like-for-like (LFL) Group revenue increased by 5.3% in H2 and by 4.9% over the full year.Related Story Matalan posts strong Q3 as digital growth and store investment driv
  
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• Wickes boosted by strong performance in TradePro

  22-01-2026 09:39 via theretailbulletin.com
  Wickes has reported that revenue increased by 6.3% in its second half after a strong performance in retail. In the six months to 27 December, retail... View Article
  
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• B&M issues profit warning

  22-01-2026 09:17 via theretailbulletin.com
  B&M has seen its third quarter group revenue increase by 2.9% as it became sharper on price to reinforce its value credentials to customers. However, the... View Article
  
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• B&M cuts full-year outlook as new chief clears old stock

  22-01-2026 09:00
  UK discount retailer reduces inventory as part of turnaround plan under Tjeerd Jegen
  
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