Millat Convenience, a subsidiary of Millat Group, has announced that it will be bringing convenience retail brand Circle K to South Africa – with its first store set to open in Gauteng in October 2022. Millat has entered into a Master Licence Agreement with the Canada-based convenience store operator, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc, to bring the... Continue Reading →

“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Julie for her very significant contribution to Burberry’s transformation, including her central role in delivering our sustainability ambitions. Julie has built a strong financial base for the next chapter of Burberry’s growth under Jonathan’s leadership,” Burberry chairperson Gerry Murphy said in a press release by Burberry. “Julie... Continue Reading →

// Mango to roll out new concept store in Bluewater shopping centre // The retailer rolled out its Mediterranean-inspired New Med concept store in Paris over the weekend Mango is set to roll out a new concept store in the UK’s Bluewater shopping centre after rolling out its Mediterranean-inspired New Med concept store in Paris over the... Continue Reading →

The Hut Group (THG) saw its 6-month (H1) revenue go up by 12.3 per cent to £ 1.1 billion though its losses widened. The adjusted H1 EBITDA was £ 32.3million, but the operating losses increased to £ 89.2million. The losses distinctly reflected THG’s consumer price protection investment strategy. However, the e-tailer said that it will... Continue Reading →

Selfridges managing director Anne Pitcher is to step down // Move follows completion of £4bn acquisition by Central Group and Signa Holding Selfridges group managing director Anne Pitcher is standing down at the end of the year after the completion of the department store group’s sale. The billionaire Weston family finalised the disposal of Selfridges to an Austrian... Continue Reading →

Ted Baker sold to Reebok-owner Authentic Brands Group // Authentic Brands Group has snapped up Ted Baker for £211 million // The new owner, which also owns Reebok, Forever 21 and David Beckham, plans to target significant growth in North American with Ted Baker Ted Baker has been snapped up by Reebok owner, US-based Authentic Brands... Continue Reading →

New Joules CEO Jonathon Brown Joules has hired former John Lewis omnichannel director Jonathon Brown as CEO. Brown, who was most recently CEO of Compare The Market, will replace Nick Jones, who revealed he would stand down earlier this year.  Brown will become CEO designate on 7 September before taking over on 30 September. The retailer... Continue Reading →

// Lego reopens flagship London store in Leicester Square // The Danish toy retailer said it is the biggest Lego store in the world Lego has reopened its store in London’s Leicester Square after four months of extensive refurbishment, creating the “biggest Lego store in the world”. The extension adds a further 300sqm to the previous... Continue Reading →

UK’s Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced that it is the official tailor to the England senior men’s and women’s football teams. Spanning three years, the partnership builds on the retailer’s longstanding relationship with The Football Association, dating back to 2007 when M&S became the Official Suit Supplier to the England Senior Men’s Team. The in-house designed collections will... Continue Reading →

Image:A Joules store at West Quay in Southampton The high street behemoth is in detailed negotiations about buying a 25% shareholding in Joules, which has seen its shares collapse during the last year, Sky News learns. The high street giant Next is in talks to take a big stake in Joules, the struggling fashion and... Continue Reading →

Greggs Plc sales grew above pre-pandemic levels as cost-conscious consumers grabbed cheap lunches on-the-go, but rising costs held profit flat at the UK’s biggest bakery chain. The British food retailer, known for its sausage rolls and steak bakes, said Tuesday that comparable sales in the first half were 12% higher than the same period in 2019,... Continue Reading →

Deal with German asset management firm Aurelius Group follows CMA concerns JD Sports has agreed a deal to sell Footasylum to the German asset management firm Aurelius Group for less than half the price it originally paid, after it was finally forced to offload the trainer chain by the UK’s competition watchdog. The £38m deal... Continue Reading →

Apple Brompton Road, Apple’s newest store in London, opens Thursday, July 28, in the city’s bustling Knightsbridge neighborhood. Photo: Apple Apple previewed its newest retail outlet in the U.K. Tuesday, Apple Brompton Road in London’s Knightsbridge neighborhood. The store, set to open Thursday afternoon local time, claims a few “firsts.” They include the first mirrored ceiling... Continue Reading →

Starbucks is eyeing a sale of its UK business // Starbucks are understood to have hired adviser Houlihan Lokey to assess interest in buying the coffee giant’s UK business // The coffee chain has been facing increased costs and competition in the UK Starbucks is exploring a sale of its UK business as costs rocket and... Continue Reading →

// Nike opens Nike West London in Westfield – a new innovative store connecting sport, London and athletes together // The two-story, 17,000 sq ft store has been designed to get consumers moving and empowered Nike has opened the doors to Nike West London in London’s Westfield shopping centre, which aims to create unique in-store experiences by... Continue Reading →

The concept will be expanded to other countries following initial launches in Korea and China. The first Nike Style store will open in Seoul on 15 July. Credit: © NIKE. US-based sports apparel brand Nike is set to launch its latest retail concept, Nike Style, with the first store due to open in South Korea. Scheduled... Continue Reading →

Adele FergusonJul 11, 2022 – 5.00am The private equity juggernaut has bought out dozens of clinics in an attempt to unite the network after two years of unrest and claims that systemic price gouging is pushing some to the wall.Investigative journalist and columnist KKR has bought out dozens of hair removal and injectables clinics that... Continue Reading →

Lush is pushing forward with the next stages of its plan to invest £7.6m for new shops, relocations and refits across the UK and Europe. // Lush is investing £7.6m in retail growth across the UK, Ireland and Europe throughout 2022 // New and expanded stores focus on the customer’s retail experience Lush is pushing forward with... Continue Reading →

Apple's UK retail arm paid less than £800,000 tax last year after using an employee stock option scheme to reduce its tax bill.  // Apple stores in the UK paid less than £800,000 tax last year // The tech firm’s UK retail business made pre-tax profits of £38.2m on sales of £971.5m Apple’s UK retail arm paid... Continue Reading →

Two of LEGO's first UK airport stores opens at Gatwick, alongside new Kidstop pop-up and return of Ted Baker and Itsu Gatwick Airport has announced two new retail offers for passengers, with LEGO stores and a Kidstop pop-up opening ahead of the school summer holidays. World famous construction toy brand, LEGO, opened a store in... Continue Reading →

Icelandic B Corp outerwear brand 66ºNorth has announced it is opening its first UK flagship on Regent Street in London. Slated to open in the second week of September, the 3,500-square-foot store will mark 66ºNorth's first outside of Iceland and Denmark and will showcase its technical outerwear, apparel and accessories for men and women. 66ºNorth... Continue Reading →

Boots’ like-for-like retail sales increased by 24% for the period, driven by its beauty business. Henry Saker-Clark7 hours ago Boots has revealed a surge in sales over the past quarter as shoppers flooded back to UK high streets amid strong demand for its beauty products. It comes just days after US owner Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA)... Continue Reading →

// New plans to transform over 200 retail units revealed as part of a “high street revival” scheme // The report is considering the introduction of a High Street Buyout Fund to help communities buy empty high street properties New plans to transform over 200 UK retail properties have been revealed as part of a “high street... Continue Reading →

The investment will be in 91 new hypermarkets and stores UAE-based hypermarket operator Lulu Group said it will invest 10.6 billion dirhams ($2.9 billion) over four years from 2020 to 2023. The investment will be in 91 new hypermarkets and stores, of which it has already opened 50 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company announced... Continue Reading →

Mulberry has reported a rise in profits for the last financial year (Image: Mulberry) The Somerset-based retailer opened five new stores in China and four in South Korea over the last financial year Luxury handbag maker Mulberry has reported a strong post-Covid recovery following a rise in revenue and profits for the last financial year. Group... Continue Reading →

RIL will continue to look for growth opportunities overseas if good opportunities arise, said company insiders Boots is the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer and since the formation of WBA at the end of 2014, the US company has significantly invested in Boots and No7 beauty company American retail major Walgreens BootsAlliance on Tuesday said... Continue Reading →

Retail group Mr Price has warned of increased cost pressures for the rest of 2022, with consumers expected to remain under financial strain as the cost of living increases. In its annual financial results published on Thursday (9 June), the group said that while this will present challenges, it also presents opportunities for ‘organisations that... Continue Reading →

Amazon's retail CEO Doug Herrington Amazon's new retail CEO Doug Herrington wrote his first email to employees on Tuesday outlining his plans as head of worldwide stores.Herrington emphasized working more closely with Amazon's operations unit as a top priority.He replaces Dave Clark, who abruptly resigned last month. Amazon promoted longtime executive Doug Herrington to CEO of Worldwide... Continue Reading →

Customers will be able to order from about 2,000 items online, including children’s clothes Primark will trial a click-and-collect service in the UK, in the budget fashion chain’s first significant move into online shopping as it confirmed price rises were on the way. The high street retailer will launch the trial at 25 stores in... Continue Reading →

New M&S managing director of food Alex Freudmann M&S has hired Alex Freudmann, boss of Australia’s leading beer, wine and spirits retailer Dan Murphy, as its new managing director of food. Freudmann replaces Stuart Machin, who became chief executive of the food business late last month. He will join M&S on 1 November and will sit on... Continue Reading →

Ornella Barra: auction at risk The protracted auction of Boots is at risk of falling apart as debt markets seize up and buyers grow nervy amid a consumer downturn. US private equity giant Apollo and Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries tabled a joint bid this month that is about £1.5 billion below the £7 billion asking... Continue Reading →

As consumer expectations of delivery times get more and more demanding, Abercrombie & Fitch has expanded its same-day delivery option to most of its UK stores.Photo: Sandra Halliday  That means 30+ branches that are able to fulfil orders from the Abercrombie & Fitch (including Abercrombie Kids), Hollister, Social Tourist and Gilly Hicks webstores.The American company is working with logistics firms... Continue Reading →

Asos has warned it will be expecting lower profits this year after a rise in shoppers returning clothes amid the pressures of higher living costs. The online giant lowered forecasts for the year, with sales anticipated to be in the range of four per cent and seven per cent, which it put down to “market volatility... Continue Reading →

June 14 (Reuters) - A South African business confidence index fell in May, hitting its lowest level since September 2020 on factors including lower trade volumes, higher financing costs and power cuts. The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) said on Tuesday that its business confidence index fell to 89.3 in May from... Continue Reading →

The region is set to open the Middle East’s first mega marketplace in a free zone that will cater to the retail and wholesale industries. Spanning 200,000sq m in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafaz), Yiwu Market will feature hundreds of warehouses and showrooms, providing businesses the opportunity to access goods at “wholesale discounts” with... Continue Reading →

“Same-day delivery supports our goals of meeting our customers where they are and delivering our product when and how they want it," - Larry Grischow. Abercrombie & Fitch has expanded its same-day delivery service to the majority of its UK stores, which will cover more than 30 Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids andHollister locations. The fashion... Continue Reading →

Sales at Morrisons slumped 9.5 per cent in the 12 weeks to May 15NATHAN STIRK/GETTY IMAGES The private equity owners of Morrisons are sounding out buyers for a portfolio of its warehouses, fisheries and food manufacturing plants that is expected to fetch more than £600 million. Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) is marketing the assets... Continue Reading →

Asos has created its first stores within Nordstrom in the US Online fashion giant Asos has launched its first in-store collection with Nordstrom, marking its first bricks-and-mortar presence anywhere in the world. Asos ranges will initially be available in 10 Nordstrom stores including in Los Angeles, New York, Dallas and Chicago, and on the US... Continue Reading →

Walgreens has been seeking a valuation of about £7 billion ($8.8 billion) for Boots, the report added. However, earlier reports had stated the bidders were valuing it much lower at £5 billion ($6.3 billion). In a move to garner footprint in the global retail space, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL) has placed a binding bid for Walgreens Boots Alliance’s... Continue Reading →

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -South African retailer Mr Price Group Ltd posted a 20.1% jump in full-year earnings on Thursday, as consumers coming out of the COVID-19 lockdowns revamped their wardrobes and homes, with acquisitions adding a boost. The largely budget clothing and homeware retailer has benefited from its lower-price model, which continues to attract financially constrained... Continue Reading →

Leading shopping mall operator Majid Al Futtaim has partnered with Binance to accept cryptocurrencies at its malls and other properties. “Majid Al Futtaim is one of the most prestigious businesses in the Middle East and has millions of customers every year,” said the CEO of Binance. Majid Al Futtaim, a leading operator of shopping malls,... Continue Reading →

HSBC launch their latest significant financial support for the country’s SMEs. HSBC’s ongoing support for the UK franchising industry has been further boosted by the news that the global banking giant has made available an extra £500m of funding for businesses across the country. Since launching their UK SME Fund in 2014, HSBC has loaned... Continue Reading →

// It recorded revenue growth of 36% to £5.73bn in the quarter to April 30 Zara owner Inditex has reported an increase in sales and profits but made a £184million provision for estimated costs arising from the impact of the war in Ukraine. The group recorded a revenue growth of 36% to £5.73 billion in the... Continue Reading →

// New Look boss Nigel Oddy has stepped down from the retailer after three years // The fashion retailer is understood to have identified its preferred successor New Look chief executive Nigel Oddy has stepped down from the business after three years at the helm. Oddy joined New Look as chief operating officer in April 2019, before... Continue Reading →

Dr. Martens shares are up more than 20% to 265p in early tradingThe iconic boot brand reported an 18% rise in revenue with profits up 43%It has raised its revenue guidance for 2023 due to price increases Dr. Martens has defied inflationary pressure and is now ‘stronger than ever’ after reporting a huge jump in... Continue Reading →

Luxury brands prefer opening their own stores in the Middle East rather than franchises, according to a report into the retail property sector by Savills. In 2021, Savills found that there was a very marked increase in the dominance of ultra-luxury with such brands accounting for 92 percent of new store openings in the region.... Continue Reading →

MAGRABi, a leading optical retailer in the region, has announced that during 2022 it will invest AED84 million ($23 million) across 57 stores in KSA, UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Kuwait. The initiative, one of the biggest investments in the company's history, consolidates MAGRABi's position as the leading optical retailer across the Middle East and includes... Continue Reading →

Frasers Group has bought Missguided // Frasers Group has bought Missguided out of administration for £20m // The Sports Direct-owner will operate Missguided as a separate business Frasers Group has bought Missguided out of administration for £20million, beating off competition from Boohoo. The retail group has also bought Missguided owned menswear site Mennace. It plans to operate... Continue Reading →

Winding-up petition issued to fashion firm by suppliers owed millions of pounds The online clothing retailer Missguided is teetering on the brink of collapse after being issued a winding-up petition by clothing suppliers who are owed millions of pounds. The fast fashion company, which made headlines with its £1 bikini three years ago, is understood to be... Continue Reading →

// Footfall on London’s Oxford Street is still 52% lower than pre-pandemic levels, new analysis suggests // Around 1.15m people visited the popular shopping street in April this year, compared to 2.41m in April 2019 Footfall on London’s Oxford Street is still 52% lower than pre-pandemic levels, making it the worst hit high street across the UK.... Continue Reading →