Retail news

• WH Smith warns on profits as coronavirus empties airport shops

  12-03-2020 12:29
  
  Trump EU travel ban likely to add to woes as big drop in air travellers slashes revenuesCoronavirus - latest newsWH Smith has become the latest company to issue a profit warning because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to a major drop in shoppers at its airport outlets.The books and stationery store chain flagged a “significant impact” on its shops at airports in the Asia Pacific region, which account for 5% of its travel division’s revenues.The World Health Organizat
  
  Read more

• Morrisons enters financial services market with insurance offering

  18-06-2026 14:35 via theretailbulletin.com
  Morrisons has entered the financial services market with the launch of Morrisons Insurance. The move will see the supermarket offer branded pet and travel insurance policies... View Article
  
  Read more

• Aldi is making a $9bn bet that it can finally crack America

  18-06-2026 12:00 via ft.com
  After 50 years of slow US expansion the German discount grocer is upping the pace. Can it win over hard-pressed consumers?
  
  Read more

• Met calls for fast-track courts after 104 shoplifters linked to 5300 offences

  18-06-2026 10:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The Metropolitan Police has called for fast-track courts after 104 repeat shoplifters were linked to more than 5300 offences in two years.
  The group carried out at least 31 offences each before they were jailed, accounting for about a third of London shoplifting cases where a suspect was identified.
  The Met said the offenders were behind 4389 shoplifting offences and 1000 other crimes over the past two financial years, with almost all continuing to offend after being charged.
  The force, the Bri
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• UK AI adoption reaches ‘tipping point’ as retailers move beyond trials

  18-06-2026 10:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  AI adoption in the UK reached a “tipping point” as businesses shifted from trials to large-scale deployment, Google Cloud said.
  Google Cloud vice president for the UK, Ireland and Sub-Saharan Africa Maureen Costello said companies and public bodies that were testing AI tools last year were now using the technology to run more complex processes and improve productivity.
  “Industry is on the cusp of a tipping point where AI adoption is accelerating quickly,” Costello told R
  
  Read more

• Tesco sales growth more than halves as Middle East uncertainty weighs on shoppers

  18-06-2026 10:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco’s UK sales growth more than halved in its first quarter as the supermarket giant flagged “ongoing uncertainty” for households.
  The UK’s largest grocer posted comparable sales growth of 1.8 per cent to £13.4 billion in the three months to the end of May, down from 4.2 per cent in the previous quarter.
  The rise was also below City expectations of 2.3 per cent growth, although group sales increased 1 per cent to £16.8 billion.
  Tesco was boosted by an 8.9 p
  
  Read more

• Tesco UK sales rise by 1.8% but growth slows from previous quarter

  18-06-2026 09:48 via theretailbulletin.com
  Tesco has posted a 1.8% increase in UK like-for-like sales in its first quarter after trading was boosted by warm weather. However, this was slower than... View Article
  
  Read more

• Ray-Ban boss seeks financing for €10bn Delfin stake move

  18-06-2026 08:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ray-Ban president Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio is reportedly exploring private debt financing for a €10 billion move to reshape his family’s Delfin holding company.
  Del Vecchio, the 31-year-old son of late EssilorLuxottica founder Leonardo Del Vecchio, was seeking funding for a deal that would make him the largest shareholder in Delfin, Reuters reported.
  Delfin is the top investor in the $100 billion eyewear giant, with a 32.4 per cent stake in EssilorLuxottica.
  The Luxembourg-based hol
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Alternative Flooring names new managing director

  18-06-2026 08:50 via theretailbulletin.com
  Alternative Flooring has appointed Stephen Brooks as its new managing director. With more than 25 years’ leadership experience gained from multinational, listed and investor-backed businesses, Brooks... View Article
  
  Read more

• Tesco’s UK sales growth slows despite rise in market share

  18-06-2026 08:42 via ft.com
  Supermarket chain maintains cautious outlook amid conflict in Middle East
  
  Read more

• Sainsbury’s freezes school uniform prices for fourth year running

  18-06-2026 08:36 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Sainsbury’s Tu clothing brand is locking school uniform prices for a fourth year in a row as it looks to help families get ahead of... View Article
  
  Read more

• Blue Diamond secures £60m Caledonia investment to fund expansion

  18-06-2026 08:20 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Blue Diamond garden centres group has secured a £60 million investment from Caledonian which will be used to fund further expansion. The deal will include... View Article
  
  Read more

• AO boss blames Labour as retailer shifts jobs to South Africa

  18-06-2026 07:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  AO World boss John Roberts has blamed the government’s employment tax and wage rises for the retailer’s decision to move jobs to South Africa.
  The electricals retailer has already offshored around 150 sales roles, saving £2 million, with annualised savings expected to reach £4 million, The Times reported.
  A further 50 workers are expected to be recruited in South Africa by next March, as AO aims to move most of its customer contact operations overseas.
  Roberts said the Ap
  
  Read more

• Matalan narrows losses as turnaround plan gathers pace

  18-06-2026 07:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Matalan narrowed its pre-tax loss to £54.7 million as stronger margins and higher investment supported its turnaround plan.
  The fashion and homeware retailer posted a 24 per cent rise in adjusted EBITDA to £69.4 million in its full-year 2026 results.
  Revenue slipped to £971.2 million from £985 million on a like-for-like basis, although the latest financial year covered 53 weeks compared with 52 weeks the year before.
  Gross profit rose six per cent to £538 million, h
  
  Read more

• Government considers speeding up Shein and Temu import tax crackdown

  18-06-2026 07:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The government is reportedly considering whether to speed up parts of its crackdown on low-value imports used by Shein and Temu.Ministers are allegedly assessing whether elements of the reform could be introduced before 2029 after pressure from UK retailers, The Times reported.
  The move would target the customs duty relief on low-value imports, which allows goods worth £135 or less to enter the UK without customs duties.
  The Treasury launched a consultation in November 2025 on removing th
  
  Read more

• Decathlon hands staff €2,000 share boost as it ramps up ownership model

  18-06-2026 06:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Decathlon is expanding its employee ownership model with the launch of a new global scheme that will hand eligible staff €2,000 in free shares or asset incentives.
  The sports retailer said The Decathlon Seed initiative was designed to widen share ownership across the business and give more of its workers a direct stake in the company’s future growth.
  The move comes as Decathlon celebrates its 50th anniversary and builds on a long-running value-sharing model that dates back to 1987.
  Mo
  
  Read more

• Morrisons sales edge up as grocer delivers fourteenth quarter of growth

  18-06-2026 06:20 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Morrisons has posted another quarter of like-for-like sales growth as the supermarket group said its value focus, fresh food offer and convenience expansion helped it trade through a fiercely competitive market.
  The grocer said group like-for-like sales rose 2.2 per cent in the 13 weeks to 26 April 2026, marking its fourteenth consecutive quarter of growth.
  Total sales increased 1.7 per cent to £4 billion, while underlying EBITDA for the first half climbed 5.7 per cent to £323 millio
  
  Read more

• The absolute best…. World Cup 2026 ads

  18-06-2026 06:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  The World Cup is back and with it comes the deluded English football fans who believe its coming home (it’s probably not coming home).
  This year the sports event is taking place in North America, with matches in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
  To celebrate (or mourn depending on how you feel about football) its return, we take a look at some of our favourite marketing drives for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
  Adidas
  Adidas’ World Cup marketing drive starred Hollywood hotshot Timothée Ch
  
  Read more

• Snapchat’s Rachel Levy: ‘Commerce is emotional as well as transactional’

  18-06-2026 06:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  According to Snapchat and Portas, 51 per cent of Gen Z prefer going in-store for the experience over buying something online, which challenges previous perceptions that Gen Z are online only.
  A new report from the pair, titled the Memento Generation, surveyed over 2,000 consumers. It suggests that Gen Z invests in “moments worth remembering” and place greater value on social, experiential and memory-making.
  The report, which was developed in collaboration with YouGov, highlighted 41
  
  Read more

• Seasalt partners with SATCoL to resell old stock

  18-06-2026 06:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Cornish retailer Seasalt has collaborated with the trading arm of The Salvation Army, Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL) as part of its plans to become a circular company.
  This follows on from the launch of its ‘Better by Design’ campaign.
  As part of the partnership, stock that can no longer be sold in Seasalt stores will be resold by SATCoL in their shops. Items the charity are not able to resell will be sold to “trusted” sorting companies.
  The retailer will also la
  
  Read more

• Primark names former Calvin Klein executive as womenswear design director

  18-06-2026 05:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Primark has appointed former Calvin Klein executive Kieron Birch as director of design for womenswear.
  Birch will shape the creative direction for all womenswear collections and products, while leading the fashion, footwear and accessories design teams.
  Primark said his appointment reflected its continued investment in womenswear as it looked to strengthen its trend-led ranges.
  Birch, a Central Saint Martins graduate, has spent the past 20 years in senior design roles at Calvin Klein, Tommy Hil
  
  Read more

• Lululemon apologises after Great Wall yoga event sparks backlash in China

  18-06-2026 05:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Lululemon has apologised after a promotional yoga event on the Great Wall of China triggered criticism over the alleged use of a Japanese drum.
  The activewear giant staged the event at the end of May, featuring Chinese actor Zhu Yilong, as it looked to build momentum in one of its fastest-growing markets.
  However, the Canadian retailer faced a backlash on Chinese social media after users claimed the drum used during the performance was Japanese, prompting the business to delete promotional conte
  
  Read more

• Matalan narrows losses and lifts EBITDA as turnaround gains pace

  17-06-2026 23:38 via theretailbulletin.com
  Matalan has narrowed its pre-tax loss in the year to 28 February to £55 million from £67 million in the previous 12 months. The fashion and... View Article
  
  Read more

• Benchmarking the store estate has become a non-negotiable for modern retail

  17-06-2026 19:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  Why many retailers still don’t know how their stores are really performing The Retail Bulletin is encouraging retailers to take a closer look at how their... View Article
  
  Read more

• Morrisons sales growth continues but slows in second quarter

  17-06-2026 19:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  Morrisons has reported its 14th consecutive quarter of like-for-like sales growth with an uplift of 2.2%. However, the second quarter growth was slower than in the... View Article
  
  Read more

• Why benchmarking the store estate has become a non-negotiable for modern retail

  17-06-2026 18:40 via theretailbulletin.com
  Why many retailers still don’t know how their stores are really performing The Retail Bulletin is encouraging retailers to take a closer look at how their... View Article
  
  Read more

• US retail sales jump in sign consumers are weathering petrol shock

  17-06-2026 16:23 via ft.com
  Data shows economy remains in robust shape as Kevin Warsh takes charge of Fed
  
  Read more

• Hush hires former Reiss exec as chief customer officer

  17-06-2026 15:58 via theretailbulletin.com
  Hush has hired former Reiss executive Sally-Anne Newson as chief customer officer. She previously worked for six years with Reiss where she was both chief customer... View Article
  
  Read more

• Footasylum reveals launch date of Trinity Leeds store

  17-06-2026 14:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Footasylum has revealed the opening date of its new store in Trinity Leeds shopping centre.
  The site will launch on 20 June, complete with competitions, goody bags, giveaways from cake shop The Savvy Baker, and a guest appearance from YouTuber Danny Aarons.
  The Savvy Baker will hand out free coffee, matcha, brownies and blondies for the first 100 people in the store’s queue when it opens at 9am.
  Additionally, goody bags will be available for its first 200 attendees, with random golden tick
  
  Read more

• Major investment to boost growth at Blue Diamond Garden Centres

  17-06-2026 14:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Blue Diamond, the UK’s largest garden centre business, is planning to raise a £60 million investment from Caledonia Investments.
  The company is set to accelerate its growth following the investment. 
  Caledonia’s backing will enable the garden centre giant to “realise its ongoing ambitions while maintaining a conservative balance sheet,” according to the business. 
  Beyond the investment announced today, Caledonia has agreed, subject to customary conditions,
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!