Retail news

• Seasalt names Peloton exec as new CFO

  20-09-2024 15:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Seasalt has named former Peloton executive Louise Couch as its new chief financial officer.
  Couch, who will report to CEO Paul Hayes, will be in charge of the Cornish fashion brand’s business strategy, financial decisions and ongoing global expansion.
  She previously served as senior director of international financial planning and analysis at Peloton.
  Prior to this, she worked at investment banks Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan under senior roles focused on the retail sector. Related StoryUni
  
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• Boots ‘biggest ever’ Black Friday sale causes website meltdown

  13-11-2024 07:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Boots customers have been left annoyed after the high street giant’s pharmacist’s app and website crashed repeatedly during its Black Friday sales.
  Many issued complaints that they had been locked out of Boots’ website on Tuesday morning, while others said the health and beauty retailer’s app would not load, the Telegraph reported.
  Some were also shown a message admitting the service was “rather busy with Black Friday shoppers” and telling them they had been &
  
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• Morrisons to invest £7 million in Channel Island convenience stores

  13-11-2024 07:57 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Morrisons is to convert 36 recently acquired convenience stores in Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney to the Morrisons format. The estate includes 19 Morrisons Daily stores with... View Article
  
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• Ocado grows own brand range

  13-11-2024 07:36 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Ocado is expanding its range of own brand products with hundreds of new items to be introduced next year. These will have a big focus on... View Article
  
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• ‘Fart blaster’ tops Christmas toy wishlist as experts predict record sales

  13-11-2024 07:30 via theguardian.com
  
  Despicable Me 4 tie-in smells more like popcorn while a waddling duck and an interactive pet monkey also featureA “fart blaster” with a repertoire of 15 sounds that blasts “fog fart rings” and a waddling mother duck are among the toys destined to appear on Christmas lists as experts predict a “record-breaking” year for sales.At £30, the Despicable Me 4 spin-off toy promises to be a talking point on Christmas Day. It comes with two scents: banana and &ldq
  
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• Peter Mandelson’s consultancy advised Shein until early 2024

  13-11-2024 06:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Fast fashion retailer did not appear in list of clients published by Global Counsel, co-founded by Labour peerPeter Mandelson’s consultancy Global Counsel advised the Chinese fast fashion company Shein until earlier this year, the Guardian can disclose.The retail company contracted Global Counsel until earlier in 2024, though it never appeared on Global Counsel’s list of clients published by the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL). Continue reading...
  
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• Matalan strengthens senior team

  12-11-2024 14:29 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Matalan has strengthened its senior team with two new hires. In a first appointment, the fashion and homeware retailer has recruited James Dorling as director of... View Article
  
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• Shoppers bemoan UK taramasalata shortage as strike leads to dip in supply

  12-11-2024 14:20 via theguardian.com
  
  Industrial action at producer causes complaints about lack of Greek meze staple in supermarkets across countryWhen some UK supermarkets removed the lids from tubs of hummus, there were complaints from shoppers. But for many, the latest dip problem is arguably worse – a nationwide shortage of taramasalata.Industrial action at Bakkavor, a large supplier of the fish roe dip, has caused a “short disruption” to the supply and availability of taramasalata at supermarkets across the c
  
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• Matalan strengthens senior team with ex-Gymshark and Selfridges hires

  12-11-2024 13:10 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Matalan has bolstered its senior team with two new hires as it focuses on delivering its strategic plan.
  James Dorling has been named director of property at the fashion and homewares retailer and will be responsible for overseeing its network of over 220 UK stores.
  The business said Dorling will ensure that Matalan’s property strategy is optimised, forward-looking and contributing to the business’s wider transformation strategy. Related StoryIn pictures: Selfridges unveils Christmas
  
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• Asda market share tumbles as sales drop

  12-11-2024 12:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda’s hold on the grocery sector has weakened further as customers headed to Tesco and Sainsbury’s for their weekly shopping instead.
  The supermarket chain’s market share dropped one percentage point from 13.5% to 12.5% as sales fell 5.5% in the 12 weeks to 3 November.
  Meanwhile, both Tesco and Sainsbury’s saw their hold on the grocery market rise as its ongoing investment into value and its food offer wins over shoppers. Related StoryWill Aldi leapfrog Asda as the UK&rs
  
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• Majestic to open wine emporium in The Range head office

  12-11-2024 10:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Majestic Wine is set to open a new wine emporium in Plymouth inside The Range’s head office as it continues its store expansion.
  The retailer has transformed an underutilised space at the discount chain’s HQ into a new 4,400sq ft shop, stocking more than 1,200 wines, plus beers, spirits and low and no alcohol alternatives.
  The Plymouth store is the sixth new location the wine specialist has opened in the financial year and supports its overall expansion goals.
  Majestic Wine has also
  
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• Focusing on most impactful areas

  12-11-2024 09:56 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  With myriad channels through which to sell to customers, masses of marketing tools and social media options to choose from, and an array of technologies including... View Article
  
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• Läderach expands UK presence with new High Street Kensington store

  12-11-2024 09:45 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Läderach, the Swiss premium chocolatier, is continuing its UK expansion with the opening of a new store in Kensington. Situated at 135 High Street, the new... View Article
  
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• Marks Electrical profit halves despite sales rise

  12-11-2024 09:39 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Marks Electrical profits have almost halved in the six months to 30 September despite “robust first half trading” as shoppers traded down on big purchases.
  The online electrical retailer reported an underlying pre-tax profit of £820,000, down from the £1.6m it reported in 2023. Adjusted EBITDA slipped from £2.3m to £2m.
  It came as sales rose 9.3% to £58.8m, which it attributed in part to strong volume growth across major domestic appliances and consumer
  
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• Marks Electrical reports “robust” first half trading

  12-11-2024 09:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Marks Electrical has reported “robust” first half trading with revenue increasing by 9.3% to £58.8 million. The electricals retailer said there was particularly strong volume growth... View Article
  
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• Asda names ex-Tesco director as interim online boss

  12-11-2024 08:35 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Asda has appointed former Tesco director Barney Burgess as interim vice president of online while it waits for David Devany to join the business next year.
  Burgess will lead Asda.com, George.com and online operations teams with immediate effect, reporting into chief digital officer Matt Kelleher, Retail Week reported.
  He will remain in place until David Devany joins the supermarket chain from Iceland in 2025 and becomes the permanent vice president of online. Related StoryAndrew Staniland ditche
  
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• Hype acquired by Apparel Brands

  12-11-2024 08:20 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Hype kids backpack and streetwear label has been acquired by Apparel Brands. Based in Manchester and backed by True Capital, Apparel Brands specialises in designing,... View Article
  
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• Interview: What is Frasers’ grand plan for luxury retailer Flannels?

  12-11-2024 08:17 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Frasers Group has been making a lot of moves in the luxury fashion space of late – the acquisition of Matches, Coggles and an attempted Mulberry takeover to name a few – and many are curious as to what the grand plan for its Flannels brand really is.
  The Mike Ashley-controlled business raised eyebrows when it snapped up a majority share in Flannels back in 2012 when it was a six store retailer, before buying the entire business five years later. Many baulked at the prospect of the Sp
  
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• Majestic and The Range bring new wine emporium to Plymouth

  12-11-2024 07:37 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Majestic has opened its first store in Plymouth on the ground floor of fellow retailer The Range’s head office in the city. The move follows Majestic... View Article
  
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• Sainsbury’s launches new range of Pan-Asian ready meals

  12-11-2024 07:35 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sainsbury’s has launched 13 new Pan-Asian ready meals and snacks inspired by the flavours of Japanese, Korean, Thai and Indonesian cuisine. The supermarket is looking to... View Article
  
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• Coles unfairly targeted by ‘politicised’ cost-of-living attacks, chair says, while calling was/is allegations ‘significant’

  12-11-2024 03:59 via theguardian.com
  James Graham defends alleged illusory discounts, saying suppliers had asked for higher prices and then supermarkets discounted themFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastColes has hit out at “politicised” attacks on the company amid rising grocery prices, and defended itself amid allegations of illusory was/is discount prices.The supermarket’s chair, James Graham, used his address at the company’s a
  
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• Coles unfairly targeted by ‘politicised’ attacks, chair says, while calling illusory discount allegations ‘significant’

  12-11-2024 03:59 via theguardian.com
  
  James Graham defends was/is pricing, saying suppliers had asked for higher prices and then supermarkets discounted themFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastColes has hit out at “politicised” attacks on the company amid rising grocery prices, and defended itself amid allegations of illusory was/is discount prices.The supermarket’s chair, James Graham, used his address at the company’s annual genera
  
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• Watch: Tesco unveils gingerbread-filled festive advert to ‘feed your Christmas spirit’

  12-11-2024 01:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco has unveiled its Christmas advert for 2024 centred around “helping feed your Christmas spirit”.
  The grocery giant‘s campaign, created by advertising firm BBH, follows the story of Gary and explores the things that feed our Christmas spirit as well as those that might see it start to waver.
  The three minute film follows Gary as his Christmas spirit explodes after his grandfather hands him a pack of the supermarket’s gingerbread men.
  As his spirit lifts, viewers see h
  
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• Watch: Tesco unveils gingerbread-filled festive ad to ‘feed your Christmas spirit’

  12-11-2024 01:01 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Tesco has unveiled its Christmas advert for 2024 centred around “helping feed your Christmas spirit”.
  The grocery giant‘s campaign, created by advertising firm BBH, follows the story of Gary and explores the things that feed our Christmas spirit as well as those that might see it start to waver.
  The three minute film follows Gary as his Christmas spirit explodes after his grandfather hands him a pack of the supermarket’s gingerbread men.
  As his spirit lifts, viewers see h
  
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• UK shoppers hit by taramasalata shortage due to strike

  11-11-2024 19:43
  
  Workers at food manufacturer Bakkavor have walked out in a dispute over pay
  
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• UK shoppers hit by taramasalata shortage after strike

  11-11-2024 19:43
  
  Workers at food manufacturer Bakkavor have walked out in a dispute over pay
  
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• Kidswear brand Hype acquired by Apparel Brands

  11-11-2024 17:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Leicester-based kidswear and streetwear brand Hype has been sold to Apparel Brand for an undisclosed sum.
  The deal comes 18 months after Hype was rescued out of administration, saving 82 jobs.
  By leveraging Hype’s popularity with younger audiences, Apparel Brands plans to expand its reach to offer “stylish, functional and affordable” options for children.
  Under its new owners, the streetwear inspired fashion retailer said it will shift its focus to cater to a broader audie
  
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• Andrew Staniland ditches Asda move for Morrisons

  11-11-2024 17:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Iceland group buying director Andrew Staniland has ditched his impending move to Asda to join Morrisons instead.
  Originally scheduled to start in a VP role at Asda in March, Staniland will now take on the position of group trading director and executive committee member at Morrisons in February.
  He spent four years at Iceland as trading director and previously worked at fellow grocers Waitrose and Aldi.
  Back in July, the news of Staniland’s recruitment was seen as a big win for Asda, where
  
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• Lidl takes on Coca-Cola with own-brand Freeway Christmas truck tour

  11-11-2024 17:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Lidl has taken inspiration from Coca Cola’s famous Christmas truck, with its own red vehicle set to tour the UK this winter.
  The discounter’s 20-metre, 15-tonne Christmas truck, donned in its own-brand Freeway cola label, will drive through Dundee, Harrogate, Hull, Nottingham, Wolverhampton, Wrexham, Luton, Bournemouth and Southampton from 14 November to 1 December during its first tour, according to the Independent. 
  Staff are set to give away more than 2,000 present boxes from
  
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• Ocado boosts own-brand range with hundreds of new products

  11-11-2024 17:28 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ocado is adding hundreds more products to its own-brand range next year, with a focus on seasonal lines.
  The ecommerce giant has added over 100 new items to its selection in 2024 and by the end of the year, there will be over 740 items available to purchase, including new launches such as microfibre cloths and baked beans.
  Next year, the online grocer is set to widen the range once again after sales of its “own range” selection have risen 12%, with these items now making up more than
  
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