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 →

The nationwide retailer founded on a Lancashire market stall in 1970 has hired Interpath Advisory to court potential buyers, Sky News understands. A family-owned fragrances retailer founded on a Lancashire market stall more than half a century ago has appointed advisers to explore a sale. Sky News understands that Bodycare, which trades from more than 100... Continue Reading →

Good times.Photographer: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP Andrea Felsted25 May 2022, 10:59 BST Britain’s retail stalwart emerged from Covid in excellent shape. Unfortunately, the good times are coming to an end. “Never the same again” was the name Marks & Spencer Group Plc gave to its effort to transform in the wake of Covid-19. But perhaps “Never had it so good”... Continue Reading →

Abercrombie & Fitch shares plummeted on Tuesday after the company reported a shock loss and revealed its inventories had surged from a year ago. The company posted a net loss of $14.8 million for its first fiscal quarter — compared to net income of $42.7 million a year earlier. The net loss worked out as... Continue Reading →

The Very Group called off an IPO last year due to stock market volatility // The Very Group owners, the Barclay family, is targeting floating the business in mid-2023 // The online retail group had been gearing up to an IPO last year but called off plans amid growing volatility over tech stock The Very Group... Continue Reading →

May 20, 2022 Retail CEO pay: Which bosses get paid the most? Executive pay has hit the headlines of late after it emerged that Tesco boss Ken Murphy was paid a whopping £4.74m last year. Murphy’s pay packet swelled due to a £3.21 million bonus – the highest yearly reward paid out by the supermarket since... Continue Reading →

JOHANNESBURG, May 17 (Reuters) - South African grocery and clothing retailer Pick n Pay (PIKJ.J) aims to cut costs by 3 billion rand ($187 million) in the next three years and grow its market share by 3% under a new strategy, CEO Pieter Boone said on Tuesday. One of the country's largest retail chains is seeking to... Continue Reading →

By Tatiana Walk-Morris Courtesy of Google Dive Brief: Google on Wednesday announced it is opening a retail store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, as the first of its upcoming neighborhood stores that pay homage to their surrounding communities, according to a press release. It is the company’s second store in New York City, following the opening of a flagship store in... Continue Reading →

Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance IndustriesLtd plans to submit a bid for Boots UK, a British medical retail chain, by month-end in a transaction which would cost as much as $10 billion. The acquisition would be the first big ticket overseas investment by Reliance after the company made a string of acquisitions in the American shale gas industry. The... Continue Reading →

May 15, 2022 Suitors who have thrown their hat in the ring include private equity firms Apollo, TDR Capital and Sycamore. Boots’ American owner has withdrawn over $5.3 billion (£4.3 billion) of dividends from its UK holding companies, despite raking in hundreds of millions of pounds of government pandemic support cash.The high street chemist’s UK-based... Continue Reading →

FILE PHOTO: Customers buy grocery items inside a superstore of Reliance Industries Ltd, in Mumbai By Abhirup Roy and Aditya Kalra MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's biggest retailer Reliance will acquire dozens of small grocery and non-food brands as it targets building its own $6.5 billion consumer goods business to challenge foreign giants like Unilever, two... Continue Reading →

Massmart-owned retailer Game has launched a new online store which it says forms the next step in its turnaround strategy. The store has been supported by an investment from Massmart and a dedicated support team in Walmart’s global tech hub in Bangalore, India, the group said. Game said the new website is equipped with new features, functionalities,... Continue Reading →

Made.com has acquired online platform Trouva in an effort to grow its marketplace business. Trouva’s is a sales platform for independent boutiques and brands, and provides customers with a curated range of homewares, lifestyle and fashion products. The marketplace will continue to operate as a standalone brand led by the current leadership team of chief... Continue Reading →

Morrisons buys McColl's beating Asda owners EG Group Morrisons is to snap up McColl’s after winning a battle against Asda owner EG Group to gain control of the convenience chain. The Bradford-based grocer emerged victorious with a bid that will preserve all 1,100 McColl’s stores and 16,000 staff, according to Sky News. An improved offer that... Continue Reading →

Shoppers walk past a shuttered high street shop in Halifax(Photo: Daniel Harvey Gonzalez/In Pictures via Getty) High street landlords who allow shops to lie empty for more than a year will be forced to rent them out under government plans to revive town centres. New legislation in the Queen’s Speech next week will also allow pubs... Continue Reading →

Convenience store chain McColl's is on the brink of collapse, placing thousands of UK jobs at risk. The retailer said it was "increasingly likely" it would fall into administration unless talks around a rescue deal were successful. It said that discussions about securing the future of the business are ongoing. More than 16,000 people are... Continue Reading →

PHARMACY, health and beauty retailer Clicks said yesterday that its interim retail sales increased 13.6 percent, bolstered by market share gain and a robust expansion of its stores and pharmacy network. The company said its clubcard membership grew and accounted for 81 percent of the group’s sales in the six months. In an interview, Clicks... Continue Reading →

This is the third US Apple Retail store to seek unionization. An Apple retail store located in the Towson Town Center Mall in Maryland announced today that it has filed for a union election. In a press release, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) organizer Dave DiMaria announced that the employees at the Maryland-based... Continue Reading →

Next first quarter sales up as it remains on track to deliver profits rise Next has maintained its profit guidance for the year after its sales jumped 21.3% in its first quarter. The retailer said this was in line with expectations and is still on track for pre-tax profit to hit £850 million for the year,... Continue Reading →

Daphne Howland/Retail Dive If there’s one thing that’s become predictable at J.C. Penney in the last decade or so, it’s constant change. The company has had five chief executives in that time, each with their own ideas about how to turn over its steadily declining fortunes. That included efforts like restoring and then again ending appliance sales,... Continue Reading →

Asda chairman Lord Stuart Rose has criticised the Bank of England and ministers for being too slow to react to the inflation crisis. Rose also said politicians should intervene over high food prices, warning that they could remain elevated for “quite some time”. “I think the government and the Bank of England have been slow to... Continue Reading →

A Lidl store (Image: Derby Telegraph) The German supermarket plans further expansion in the region over the coming years Lidl has named 11 North Wales towns where it wants to build new stores. The German brand published the latest list and also launched a reward scheme for anyone suggesting a site that comes to fruition. In... Continue Reading →