Retail news

• Surviving on a bag of rice: plight of Bangladeshi garment makers

  20-06-2020 14:00
  
  Clothing factory workers in Bangladesh were hit twice by Covid-19, once when their factories closed, and again when global retailers cancelled orders Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageNazmin Nahar, a 26-year-old garment worker and mother of two in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is living on borrowed rice. She hasn’t had the wages to pay for food or rent for more than two months.Even though the hours were long and the targets relentless, Nahar had been happy working at M
  
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• Smoov named exclusive wellbeing beverage partner of Healf

  03-06-2026 15:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Partnership brings together two of the UK’s fastest-growing brands in wellbeing across events and consumer experiences.
  Less than a year after opening its first London location, Smoov has been named the exclusive Wellbeing Beverage Partner of Healf, one of the UK’s fastest-growing wellbeing platforms.
  Under the multi-year agreement, Smoov becomes Healf’s exclusive Wellbeing Beverage Partner across its experiential ecosystem, with the partnership extending across activations, ev
  
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• High Court quashes FSA slaughterhouse charging regime as unlawful

  03-06-2026 13:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  The High Court has ruled that elements of the Food Standards Agency’s charging regime for official controls at slaughterhouses and abattoirs were unlawful, in a legal case thought to change the way inspection costs are recovered from the meat industry.
  The judicial review was brought by the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers and the British Meat Processors Association, which challenged the basis on which the regulator calculates and recovers charges for food hygiene and safety contr
  
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• High Court calls FSA’s slaughterhouse charging regime unlawful

  03-06-2026 13:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  The High Court has ruled that elements of the Food Standards Agency’s charging regime for official controls at slaughterhouses and abattoirs were unlawful, in a legal case thought to change the way inspection costs are recovered from the meat industry.
  The judicial review was brought by the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers and the British Meat Processors Association, which challenged the basis on which the regulator calculates and recovers charges for food hygiene and safety contr
  
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• Baked goods continue to rise

  03-06-2026 10:50 via theretailbulletin.com
  Upon entering the historic Ackerhalle supermarket operated by REWE in Berlin you are soon met by an impressive bakery section that draws customers into shopping across... View Article
  
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• B&M posts steep drop in profits in ‘difficult’ year

  03-06-2026 10:43 via theretailbulletin.com
  B&M has posted a steep drop in annual profits after a “difficult” year with rising costs and a “challenging market”. In the 52 weeks to 28... View Article
  
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• Q&A: Som Sinha, CEO, SAI

  03-06-2026 10:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  SAI’s solutions use our Visual Language Model (VLM) to blend computer vision with GenAI to turn traditionally ‘passive’ store surveillance systems into active, operational platforms for... View Article
  
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• B&M profits drop 47% in tough turnaround year

  03-06-2026 09:56 via ft.com
  Discount retailer’s results follow series of profit warnings and finance chief’s resignation after accounting error
  
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• Currys names Fredrik Tønnesen as new group chief executive

  03-06-2026 09:50 via theretailbulletin.com
  Currys has appointed Fredrik Tønnesen as group chief executive to succeed Alex Baldock. Due to take up his role on 3 August, he has led Currys’... View Article
  
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• Home Bargains eyes rescue of historic Denby pottery brand

  03-06-2026 09:18 via theretailbulletin.com
  Home Bargains is considering a rescue of the historic Denby pottery brand following its collapse into administration. According to Sky News, the discount retailer is mulling... View Article
  
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• Retailers face surge in AI-generated fake damage claims and refund scams

  03-06-2026 09:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Retailers are being hit by a new wave of AI-powered refund fraud, as shoppers and organised crime groups use generative AI to create fake damage claims and convincing return scams.
  New data from global digital trust and fraud prevention platform Forter found that AI-generated damage claims are now the fastest-growing form of return abuse.
  The company said increasingly flexible retail policies were being exploited by both consumers and organised fraud networks.
  With generative AI tools now w
  
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• B&M profits slide as discount retailer warns over rising costs

  03-06-2026 08:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  B&M has warned of rising cost pressures in the year ahead as the discount retailer posted a sharp fall in annual profits.
  The value retailer, which sells products across grocery, home, furniture and garden, reported a 26 per cent drop in annual profit after flat UK like-for-like sales and deeper price cuts weighed on performance.
  B&M said the conflict in the Middle East was adding upward pressure to costs, creating a tougher backdrop for the business as it works through a turnaround plan
  
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• Estée Lauder says Puig merger collapsed over price concerns

  03-06-2026 08:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Estée Lauder chief executive Stéphane de La Faverie has said the cosmetics giant’s proposed merger with Jean Paul Gaultier-owner Puig collapsed because the price was not right.
  The US beauty group and Puig ended negotiations late last month over a deal that would have created a major premium beauty business better placed to compete with L’Oréal.
  Speaking at a Deutsche Bank consumer conference in Paris, de La Faverie said Estée Lauder remained open to acqui
  
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• Zara owner Inditex reports stronger-than-expected start to summer trading

  03-06-2026 08:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Zara owner Inditex has posted a strong start to summer trading, with sales growth in May coming in ahead of analyst expectations.
  The fast fashion giant said currency-adjusted sales rose 11.5 per cent in May, beating forecasts for 8 per cent growth and offering reassurance that the retailer continues to attract shoppers despite pressure on household budgets.
  For its first quarter, which ran from February to April, Inditex reported currency-adjusted sales growth of 8.8 per cent.
  The Spanish retai
  
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• Victoria’s Secret shares soar as turnaround efforts fuel forecast upgrade

  03-06-2026 08:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Victoria’s Secret shares surged to a record high on Tuesday after the lingerie retailer raised its annual outlook following double-digit quarterly revenue growth across its brands.
  Shares in the business jumped around 50 per cent earlier in the session, putting the company on track for its strongest day on record, before trading 40 per cent higher at $75.61. The stock had earlier hit a record high of $81.28.
  The rally came after Victoria’s Secret lifted its fiscal 2026 net sales fore
  
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• Retailers warn zero-hours contract reforms could hit Christmas hiring

  03-06-2026 08:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Retailers have warned that government plans to guarantee regular working hours for staff on zero-hours and short-hours contracts could make it harder for businesses to recruit part-time workers during peak trading periods.
  Under proposals set to come into force next year, employers would be required to offer workers on zero-hours or short-hours contracts a guaranteed minimum number of hours each week, based on their regular working pattern.
  The rules, which would also apply to agency workers, f
  
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• Former Prada head becomes chief executive of Alexander McQueen

  03-06-2026 08:29 via theretailbulletin.com
  Luxury group Kering has announced that Gianfranco D’Attis has become the new chief executive of Alexander McQueen. With the appointment effective from 3 June, D’Attis will... View Article
  
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• Pour Moi unveils campaign encouraging women to be more confident

  02-06-2026 18:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Lingerie and swimwear brand Pour Moi has unveiled a new campaign staring British broadcaster Ashley James highlighting women’s realities.
  Titled ‘Designed for Me, Designed for Real Life’, the campaign is rooted in the belief that confidence is something you “build and stand up for”. It was designed as a response to real pressures women face.
  Research from the brand reported that one in five British women over 30 have never felt confident. It also highlighted that on
  
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• ASOS’s Melissa Lim breaks down new AI Stylist app experience

  02-06-2026 17:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Last month online retailer ASOS launched its ASOS Stylist App in ChatGPT, which allows users in the UK and US to discover products directly on the agentic platform before completing purchases on the retailers website.
  As part of the app experience, customers can browse products and receive styling advise and recommendations.
  Head of Digital Product at ASOS Melissa Lim explains that the retailer decided to implement an AI stylist feature on ChatGPT because it had found that consumers were in
  
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• Aldi to upgrade 25 stores this summer

  02-06-2026 17:29 via theretailbulletin.com
  Aldi is to upgrade 25 UK shops this summer as part of a £300 million investment into existing stores in 2026. While changes will vary by... View Article
  
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• Nomad Foods invests £2.2m in flagship Lowestoft factory

  02-06-2026 14:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Nomad Foods is to make a £2.2m investment in its Lowestoft factory, in a bid to boost its potato waffle production capacity.
  The food manufacturer, which has a portfolio that includes Birds Eye, Aunt Bessie’s and Findus, says the investments will fund a new potato waffle production line at the Suffolk site, increasing annual output capacity to around 18,250 tonnes, equivalent to nearly 45 million potato waffles a year.
  The move forms part of Nomad Food’s wider programme to stre
  
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• PURESEOUL’s Gracie Tullio and Felicity Loftus on the retailer’s MilkTouch Foundation launch

  02-06-2026 12:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Korean beauty retailer PURESEOUL sits at the centre of a niche that is growing globally.
  K-Beauty has become increasingly popular with UK consumers and PURESEOUL is the biggest K-Beauty retailer in the UK.
  The brand has recently grown its offering and has launched MilkTouch’s liquid foundation. The foundation is the first liquid foundation from a K-Beauty brand available in the UK.
  Retail Gazette sat down with PURESEOUL’s founder Gracie Tullio and its marketing strategy & communi
  
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• Personalised promotions are reshaping loyalty strategies across multichannel retail

  02-06-2026 11:47 via theretailbulletin.com
  Retailers are transforming how they approach loyalty by shifting to personalised promotions tailored to individual shopper preferences. As customer journeys span physical stores, apps, and digital... View Article
  
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• Sports Direct makes Nordics debut with new store in Finland

  02-06-2026 07:43 via theretailbulletin.com
  Frasers Group has chosen Finland for the opening of its first Sports Direct store in the Nordics region. Situated in Helsinki Citycenter Mall, the new flagship... View Article
  
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• Sealskinz appoints Richard Edmonds as new chief executive

  02-06-2026 07:01 via theretailbulletin.com
  Sealskinz has promoted Richard Edmonds to the position of chief executive. Owned by Ted Baker founder Ray Kelvin, the outdoor clothing brand has been led by... View Article
  
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• Asda hails progress in turnaround strategy as like-for-like sales grow by 0.8%

  01-06-2026 10:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  Asda has said it is making progress in its Formula for Growth turnaround plan after delivering improvements in availability and price. The supermarket has reported that... View Article
  
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• Wed2b launches campaign starring real customers

  01-06-2026 10:28 via theretailbulletin.com
  Bridal retailer Wed2b has launched a new campaign starring real customers as it introduces its ambassador programme. The campaign challenges the idea of the “perfect wedding”... View Article
  
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• M&S to double size of frozen range in family focused push

  01-06-2026 10:28 via theretailbulletin.com
  M&S is accelerating the transformation of its food business by doubling the size of its frozen range as it looks to strengthen its family focused categories.... View Article
  
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• Toshifumi Suzuki, convenience store king, 1932-2026

  30-05-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  At the helm of the Japanese 7-Eleven, he revolutionised the country’s retail industry
  
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• Asda might help break Ocado’s supermarket stalemate

  29-05-2026 19:26 via ft.com
  Tie-up suggests the online grocery delivery group is nearing its goal after it struggled to win new partners
  
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