Retail news

• Exclusive: JD Sports COO Sherilyn Paterson to step down

  01-07-2024 13:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  JD Sports COO Sherilyn Paterson is to leave the retailer after a 12 year stint at the sportswear giant, Retail Gazette has learnt.
  Paterson, who was promoted to COO last year, is understood to be stepping down for personal reasons.
  During her 12 year tenure, she has held roles including merchandising director and group operations director, before taking the COO post. Related StoryNike to launch value trainer line after weaker-than-expected sales30/06/2024 x 1:13 PMPaterson, who was previous head
  
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• The Coalition wants divestiture powers to fight supermarket price gouging. How would it work?

  03-07-2024 17:00 via theguardian.com
  Greens and Coalition back the plan, but Labor says it’s too heavy-handed. Here’s everything you need to know about the proposalGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastFor years, those who have pushed to give authorities the power to forcibly break up big businesses, including supermarkets, for bad behaviour have failed to muster enough support to enact the tough changes.But some believe their time has now come, as the pricing practices of major superm
  
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• Iceland to partner with Mumsnet on new children’s range

  03-07-2024 15:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Iceland Foods and parenting website Mumsnet are to roll out a range of children’s products as part of a new collaboration.
  According to The Grocer, Mumsnet CEO Justine Roberts and brand partnerships manager Sarah Murray-Muncila met with some of the frozen food retailer’s innovation team last week.
  While it is understood that any physical items won’t reach stores until early 2025, Mumsnet told the publication that the brand was “working on something truly special&rdqu
  
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• Avon signs deal to bring AI into its supply chain

  03-07-2024 15:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Avon International has partnered with software firm Blue Yonder to bring artificial intelligence (AI) into its supply chain. 
  The cosmetics company is using the firm’s AI to set up an “end to end next generation supply chain” to streamline its operations, surpass forecast accuracy and improve its planner efficiency.
  Blue Yonder claimed it will also widen Avon’s omnichannel capabilities, improve its service levels and optimise cash flow.
  The collaboration comes as the
  
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• Tesco staff to receive £30m pay out from shares

  03-07-2024 15:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco staff are set to receive a pay out following the strong performance of its Save as You Earn (SAYE) colleague share schemes.
  More than 20,000 of the grocery giant’s workers, who mainly comprise of shopfloor staff working across stores and distribution centres, will share in a windfall profit of over £30m now that the schemes have matured.
  The bumper pay out has been created by the strong growth of the retailer’s share price, which hit £3.06 earlier this week.
  Staff w
  
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• Co-op pulls in immediate fourfold sales hike from retail media

  03-07-2024 15:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Co-op has found that its convenience retail media has produced an “immediate positive” sales impact across both its stores and surrounding grocery shops.
  Research from the supermarket in partnership with Circana, which was unveiled at MAD//Fest today, indicated a positive halo effect for brands’ overall awareness when advertising in Co-op stores. This can lead to longer term incremental sales uplifts of up to four times the amount of the immediate sales.
  Using the site lists of
  
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• EU plan to impose import duty on cheap goods could dent Shein and Temu

  03-07-2024 15:25 via theguardian.com
  Brussels move to end tax loophole exploited by China-linked marketplaces could also hit Shein’s planned London listingThe EU is moving forward with plans to impose customs duty on cheap goods in a shift that could hit imports from online retailers and harm a hoped-for London listing by the fast-fashion seller Shein.The potential change comes amid growing disquiet among retailers based in mainland Europe, the UK and the US about rising competition from Chinese-linked marketplaces Shein and
  
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• M&S poaches Aldi MD and Morrisons commercial director to bolster food team

  03-07-2024 15:16 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  M&S has recruited senior execs from Aldi and Morrisons to bolster its food business.
  Aldi managing director for national IT, ecommerce and transformation Kara Greatorex joins as chief commercial officer, while Morrisons commercial director for ambient and non-food Jon Downes will report into her as supply chain and commercial operations director.
  Greatorex, who has spent 15 years at Aldi in roles such as buying director and managing director for stores, will replace Paul Friston who leaves t
  
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• [ WEBINAR ] JULY 4: EV Charging Hubs – An Opportunity for Landowners

  03-07-2024 13:27 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  How can landowners benefit from installing EV charging hubs on their sites? Mer are hosting a webinar for landowners interested in learning more about installing and... View Article
  
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• Australia’s largest online bookseller Booktopia enters voluntary administration

  03-07-2024 10:10 via theguardian.com
  
  Insolvency advisers are assessing the business while options for its sale or recapitalisation are exploredFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastBooktopia has entered into voluntary administration, but will continue filling orders and selling to the public under supervision from an insolvency adviser.Australia’s largest online bookseller announced the move on Wednesday, two weeks after it went into a vo
  
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• Amazon offers 50% off Prime for 18–22-year-olds

  03-07-2024 09:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Amazon is offering discounted Prime memberships to customers aged between 18 and 22.
  Younger customers can now join the online giant’s membership scheme for half the price at £4.49 a month, or £47.49 a year, for access to fast and free delivery, exclusive deals, events, savings, as well as its video and music streaming platforms.
  Members will have access to free food delivery options on both Deliveroo and HelloFresh, discounted tickets at Odeon cinemas, free games, and thousand
  
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• Topps Tiles posts decline in sales as market backdrop remains challenging

  03-07-2024 09:05 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Topps Tiles has reported a 6.9% fall in third quarter group sales as it continues to be impacted by subdued demand in the home improvement sector,... View Article
  
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• The Body Shop rescue bids due today

  03-07-2024 09:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Administrators of The Body Shop have set a deadline of today (July 3) for prospective buyers to submit bids.
  It comes amid reports that administrator FRP is keen to wrap up the sale of the retailer remaining assets after its collapse in February.
  It is understood that Laura Ashley owner Gorden Brothers is the favourite to take on the chain after rival private equity firm, Bensons for Beds owner Alteri, pulled out of the race, The Sun reported. Related StoryAmazon offers 50% off Prime for 18&ndas
  
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• Topps Tiles sales sink further amid ‘challenging’ market

  03-07-2024 08:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Topps Tiles said on Wednesday that its sales had continued to fall as challenging market conditions had persisted into the second half of its fiscal year.
  The tile specialist reported group sales in the third quarter were down 6.9% year-on-year, and 6.2% lower in the 39 weeks to June 29.
  It said that “market conditions have remained challenging overall, with subdued demand in the domestic repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) sector, especially for bigger ticket projects”. Relate
  
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• Marks & Spencer to open new flagship stores in Bristol and Bath

  03-07-2024 08:33 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks & Spencer has announced plans to open new flagship stores in the South West in Bristol and Bath. The 80,000 Bristol store at Cabot Circus... View Article
  
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• Asda hires David Devany as vice president for ecommerce

  03-07-2024 08:33 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Asda has appointed David Devany, Iceland’s group chief customer, marketing and digital officer, as vice president for ecommerce. Possessing over 25 years’ experience in ecommerce, digital... View Article
  
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• JD.com eyes bid for Evri

  03-07-2024 08:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  China’s biggest online retailer JD.com is said to be in talks about a potential bid for parcel delivery company Evri.
  The British firm, which was formerly known as Hermes UK, drafted in advisors earlier this year to explore its options, including a possible sale of the business that could value it around £2bn.
  Evri’s private equity owner Advent took out a dividend of £762m from the business two years after its acquisition and has saddled it with a debt pile of more than &
  
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• Chinese retail giant JD.com eyes bid for Evri

  03-07-2024 08:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  China’s biggest online retailer JD.com is said to be in talks about a potential bid for parcel delivery company Evri.
  The British firm, which was formerly known as Hermes, drafted in advisers earlier this year to explore its options, including a possible sale of the business that could value it around £2bn.
  Evri’s private equity owner Advent took out a dividend of £762m from the business two years after its acquisition and has saddled it with a debt pile of more than &pou
  
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• KIKO Milano expands presence at Trafford Centre

  03-07-2024 08:07 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Italian makeup brand KIKO Milan is to open a permanent store at Manchester’s Trafford Centre this month. The brand has traded at the scheme since 2015,... View Article
  
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• B&Q appoints new director of responsible business

  03-07-2024 08:07 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Home improvement retailer B&Q has appointed Joanna Gluzman as its new director of responsible business. Having worked for over 25 years in ESG and investor relations,... View Article
  
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• Sparks fly as M&S says no to a plastic loyalty card

  03-07-2024 08:00 via theguardian.com
  
  At first it told me you needed an email or smartphone to access a Sparks card – but you don’tAfter my grandfather’s death, my 87-year-old grandmother moved into a retirement home. She is happy there and one of the best things is the nearby Marks & Spencer food hall.However, when I tried to sign her up for a Sparks card, so she can access any discounts and deals, we were told she needed an email and a smartphone. It no longer issues paper or cards. To my mind this is digital
  
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• Sephora rolls out loyalty scheme to UK

  03-07-2024 08:00 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sephora has rolled out its loyalty programme, MySephora, to the UK as it “embarks on the next phase” of its business.
  The tiered points-based loyalty scheme has been designed to engage and reward the makeup retailer’s shoppers via its unique benefits.
  The scheme will offer customers exclusive benefits and rewarding experiences through its gold, silver and bronze tiers, which can be accessed through mobile, desktop, mobile and UK app.
  As well as rewarding spend, users can gain p
  
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• EU takes aim at China’s Temu and Shein with proposed import duty

  03-07-2024 06:00
  European Commission plans to scrap €150 threshold below which goods are exempt from customs duties
  
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• M&S increases stocks of smaller womenswear sizes due to higher demand

  02-07-2024 18:24 via theguardian.com
  
  Rise in sales of ranges in six to 10 suggests retailer has been successful in appealing to younger demographicMarks & Spencer is increasing its stocks of smaller sizes in womenswear after a surge in demand left gaps on shelves.Stuart Machin, the chief executive of the high street stalwart, said that three years ago about a fifth (21%) of the items sold from its main seasonal collection were size six to 10 and that had now risen to 35% as its “fashion and style ranges [were] resonating
  
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• M&S bosses: ‘We haven’t given up on the high street’

  02-07-2024 17:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  M&S bosses have stressed the retailer won’t “leave city centres” as shareholders questioned whether its decision to move some stores to out-of-town developments.
  Chairman Archie Norman insisted: “We haven’t given up on the high street. We have a very important store rotation programme but we are absolutely not trying to leave city centres – that has never been our intention.
  “We do have some older stores that are hard and costly to maintain and run s
  
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• M&S gets it right (finally) on annual meetings. Others should make an effort | Nils Pratley

  02-07-2024 16:54 via theguardian.com
  
  Last year’s ‘digital-only’ event ruffled feathers. This year’s hybrid meeting fuelled greater attendance and more opennessArchie Norman’s first attempt, a year ago, to reinvent the annual shareholder meeting for the digital age suffered from an enormous error. In designing the event as digital-only – in other words, in telling shareholders not to turn up in person and to tune in online instead – the chair of Marks & Spencer abused the well-establishe
  
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• Sainsbury’s boss says rate cuts needed to spur consumer spending; eurozone inflation dips to 2.5% – as it happened

  02-07-2024 16:35 via theguardian.com
  
  Simon Roberts says consumer caution ‘not surprising given everything households have been through in the cost of living crisis’Services is estimated to have the highest annual rate in the eurozone in June, of 4.1% – stable compared with May.This is followed by food, alcohol & tobacco at an annual rate of 2.5%, down from 2.6% in May; industrial goods at 0.7%, stable compared with May; and energy at 0.2%, down from May’s 0.3% rate. Continue reading...
  
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• 4 things Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts wants from the next government

  02-07-2024 15:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts has called out the four big things he wants to see from the next government, as the election looms this week.
  Following the grocery giant’s first results, which saw it toast “market-beating grocery performance”, Roberts insisted Sainsbury’s had been “engaging very actively before the election started with all political parties”.
  He added that he had been “encouraged” by the willingness to engage, and emphasised t
  
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• The Body Shop rescue bids due tomorrow

  02-07-2024 14:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Administrators of The Body Shop have set a deadline of tomorrow (July 3) for prospective buyers to submit bids.
  It comes amid reports that administrator FRP is keen to wrap up the sale of the retailer remaining assets after its collapse in February.
  It is understood that Laura Ashley owner Gorden Brothers is the favourite to take on the chain after rival private equity firm, Bensons for Beds owner Alteri, pulled out of the race, The Sun reported. Related StoryBoots boss insists departure is not
  
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• Boots boss insists departure is not related to axed sale

  02-07-2024 14:36 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Boots CEO Sebastian James has claimed his exit from the retailer is not related to Walgreens’ decision to shelve plans for a multibillion-pound sale of the UK business.
  The announcement of his departure came hot on the heels of Walgreens revealing it had scrapped plans to sell or Boots for a second time last week.
  James, who is leaving the business after six years to run ophthalmology company Veonet, told The Times that “any leader of business loves doing disruptive things and floati
  
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