Australia's Sigma Healthcare Drops Pursuit of UK Pharmacy Chain Boots
Sigma Healthcare, the Australian pharmaceutical wholesaler and retailer, announced it has ended preliminary talks to acquire the UK pharmacy giant Boots. The company said the potential deal did not meet its strategic and capital investment criteria after an initial review. While Sigma continues to prioritize international expansion, it will focus on other offshore markets rather than a large‑scale UK acquisition. The move leaves Boots open to other bidders.
Lululemon Opens First Romania Store, Austria and India to Come
Lululemon opened its first Romanian store at Bucharest’s Băneasa Shopping City, operating through a franchise with Arion Retail Group. The launch adds to a rapid six‑week rollout that brings the brand’s EMEA store count to eight, including new locations in...
Ami Opens Its Third Paris Boutique in the Heart of Place Des Victoires
Ami Paris has launched its third flagship in the city, opening a two‑level space at 4 Place des Victoires opposite its headquarters. The 184 sqm ground‑floor boutique and 143 sqm upper‑level showroom are designed to be modular, allowing quick reconfiguration for events and...
Remedy Science Closes Series A Funding Round Led by L Catterton
Remedy Science, a dermatologist‑founded skincare brand, closed a Series A round led by private‑equity firm L Catterton, with participation from existing backer Norwest and new investor Sonoma Brands Capital. The Los Angeles‑based company, launched in 2024, has expanded its presence across its DTC...
True Religion Taps Zara Larsson for Summer 2026 Campaign
True Religion unveiled its “True Summer” campaign for Summer 2026, starring Grammy‑nominated singer Zara Larsson. The effort introduces “The Zara Edit,” a capsule collection of statement denim, low‑rise silhouettes, crystal‑embellished sets, halter tops, graphic tees and travel‑ready tracksuits. The line...
James Perse Opens First Paris Flagship
James Perse launched its first flagship store in Paris, occupying 650 m² across three floors at 26 Rue François Ier in the Golden Triangle. The boutique blends California‑coastal relaxed style with Parisian elegance, featuring lime‑plaster walls, oak woodwork, herringbone parquet and a central private...
First Leather Bag Made From T-Rex Cells Fails to Sell at Paris Auction
A Paris auction attempted to sell the world’s first leather bag made from cultured Tyrannosaurus rex cells, a piece touted at over $500,000. The bag, derived from collagen extracted from a 25‑year‑old T‑rex femur found in Montana, fetched only about...
Frasers Group Makes Cash Offer for Hugo Boss
Frasers Group announced a voluntary public cash offer to acquire 100% of Hugo Boss AG at €38 per share (about $41), valuing the deal at roughly €1.978 billion ($2.14 billion). The proposal follows Frasers’ long‑standing stake and aims to deepen its strategic partnership while...
Polène Steps up in Japan with Openings at Hankyu Umeda and Ginza Six
Polène, the Paris‑based luxury leather label, opened an 80 sqm boutique inside Osaka’s upscale Hankyu Umeda department store, marking its second Japanese location after the 2023 Omotesando shop. A second flagship in Tokyo’s Ginza Six, inspired by the Japanese "hito‑bako" concept, is slated...
Commercial Property: Between Ultra-Discerning Site Selection and a Scarcity of New Projects
French retailers and investors are becoming ultra‑selective about location as data‑rich analytics sharpen site‑selection criteria. With scarce new retail projects, owners are pivoting to refurbish existing centres, emphasizing footfall, loyalty and mixed‑use ecosystems. Regulatory constraints and debates over car access...
LinkedIn Launches New Effort in Push to Capture Business Advertisers
LinkedIn unveiled BrandWorks, a new ad‑services team designed to boost campaign performance for enterprise clients such as SAP, IBM and ServiceNow. The unit grew 60 % in staff by hiring talent from TikTok, Meta and X, and now runs the Top...
Safilo Launches €20 Million Share Buyback Programme for 10 Million Shares
Safilo, the Veneto‑based eyewear group, announced a €20 million (≈$21.8 million) share buyback programme for up to 10 million shares, extending the initiative launched in 2025 and boosting its treasury reserve, which now holds about 5.5 % of issued shares. Purchases will be executed...
Zara Home Expands in Italy with the Opening of Its Third Shop in Milan
Zara Home opened a 510 sqm flagship store in Milan, its third location in the city, featuring a room‑by‑room layout that showcases the full homeware range. The shop integrates a digital platform for online order pickup and returns, and incorporates energy‑efficient...
Lakeside Bolsters Retail Offer with Three New Summer Signings
Lakeside, the SGS‑owned out‑of‑town retail hub, has added three high‑profile tenants—Oliver Bonas, PureSeoul and Space NK—over the summer. Oliver Bonas will occupy a 4,000 sq ft space, expanding its UK footprint to more than 90 stores. PureSeoul debuts in Europe with a 1,919 sq ft store showcasing...
Jam Industries Links with Mayfair Chippy for Clothing Launch
Jam Industries and The Mayfair Chippy have launched a limited‑edition clothing line to celebrate National Fish and Chip Day. The collection includes two T‑shirts (£39 each, about $50) and a cap (£25, about $32), available at the Mayfair Chippy, its...