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 ‘high street revival’ plans revealed to rescue UK retail
// 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 →
UAE’s Lulu Group plans $2.9bln investment in retail network through 2023
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 sees profits leap as shoppers return to stores post-Covid
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 →
Walgreens defers Boots UK sale; Reliance to look for other opportunities
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 →
Mr Price says there are opportunities in South Africa’s tough times
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 new retail CEO makes clear his top priority in first email to employees. Read the full memo here.
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 →
Primark to trial UK click and collect in move into online sales
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 →
BREAKING: M&S names new managing director of food
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 →
Boots takeover in doubt as banks stop lending on deals
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 →
UK Abercrombie & Fitch stores get same-day delivery option
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 names new CEO and chair as it warns on profits
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 →
South Africa business confidence index hits lowest since Sept 2020
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 →
Dubai to Open Mega Marketplace | Retail & Leisure International
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 →
Abercrombie & Fitch expands same-day delivery service to all UK stores
“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 →
Morrisons to sell £600m of fisheries and food factories
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 →
In pictures: Inside Asos’ first-ever physical stores in Nordstrom
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 →
Boots buyout: Reliance Industries-Apollo make binding offer
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 →
S.African retailer Mr Price annual earnings jump on rebound from COVID lows
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 →
Dubai’s Retail Giant Majid Al Futtaim Accepts Crypto at 29 Shopping Malls and 13 Hotels in Partnership With Binance
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 →
Funding boost for UK’s franchising sector
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 →
Inditex profits up 80% but Ukraine war led to £184m costs
// 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 resigns as retailer sets eyes on successor
// 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 soar 20% after record sales and price hikes see iconic British footwear brand boost revenue guidance
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 Middle East rather than a franchise
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 to invest $23m across 57 stores in the Middle East
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 →
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group buys Missguided for £20m
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 →