The Retail Bulletin
UK retail news and industry events coverage.
Retail Sales Pick up in January
UK retail sales rose 2.7% year‑on‑year in January, edging up from 2.6% a year earlier. Food sales jumped 3.8%, propelled by health‑focused product launches. Non‑food sales grew 1.7% overall, with online sales up 1.3% and in‑store sales up 2%. BRC chief Helen Dickinson linked the lift to post‑Christmas spend‑delay and strong bargain hunting.
How Retailers Are Thinking of Duty of Care Beyond Clock-Out
Retail workers face safety anxiety not only on the shop floor but also during commutes and unsociable hours, prompting HR concerns about wellbeing beyond the workplace. A recent study shows over 40% consider quitting after violent incidents, and 62% feel...
Conversation with… David Gebhardt, Head of Enterprise – Merchant Services at Wordline
David Gebhardt, Head of Enterprise – Merchant Services at Worldline, outlines the evolution from hardware‑centric POS to service‑focused merchant solutions and introduces the One Commerce platform. He emphasizes that improving acceptance rates by just a few percent can unlock massive...
Dunelm Strengthens Executive Team with Two Senior Hires
Dunelm announced the appointment of Laura Harricks as chief customer officer and Caroline Angell as chief people officer, both slated to start in March. Harricks arrives from Ocado Retail, where she led customer‑centric digital transformation and loyalty programmes. Angell joins...
Ocado Cost Saving Drive Puts 1,000 Jobs at Risk
Ocado Group is weighing a reduction of up to 1,000 jobs, roughly 5% of its staff, as part of a cost‑saving initiative after a challenging year for its automated warehouse operations. The potential redundancies would focus on head‑office functions such...
Freemans Hails ‘Exceptional’ Growth over Golden Quarter
Freemans reported an "exceptional" 12% sales surge in the four weeks to Christmas, driven by a first online‑only holiday advert that ran on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Over the 12‑week period to 2 January, total sales rose 9% after a 16%...
Waitrose Acquires Surrey Shopping Centre to Secure Future of Store
Waitrose has bought the freehold of the 54,000‑square‑foot Hersham Green Shopping Centre in Surrey, securing the future of its 27,000‑square‑foot store that has operated there for two decades. The purchase also makes Waitrose the landlord of 16 additional retail units...
Combining Heritage with Contemporary at Pashley Cycles
Pashley Cycles, a century‑old British bike maker, appointed former Ribble CEO Andy Smallwood to spearhead a brand revival. Smallwood has consolidated manufacturing, showroom and sales under one roof, emphasizing fully UK‑made frames built from Reynolds steel. The company shifted its...
M&S Unveils New Flagship Store in Bath
Marks & Spencer opened an 83,000‑square‑foot flagship in Bath’s SouthGate, replacing its former city store. The four‑storey venue houses a 14,000‑square‑foot market‑style food hall, a 1,600‑square‑foot beauty hall featuring Estée Lauder and other brands, and a top‑floor homeware collection including the...
Gymshark Appoints Carly Natalizia as Chief Commercial Officer
Gymshark has promoted Carly Natalizia to chief commercial officer after four years as vice president of marketing and most recently chief digital officer. Natalizia previously led marketing at The Very Group and held senior roles at Virgin Money, MBNA, Bank...
American Golf Acquired by Peter Jones and His Investment Group
Peter Jones and his investment group have acquired American Golf from private‑equity owner Endless. The specialist retailer, which generates £135 million in annual revenue and employs over 1,000 staff, operates more than 80 stores across the UK and Ireland alongside a...
Watches of Switzerland Group Raises Full Year Sales Guidance
Watches of Switzerland Group lifted its full‑year sales guidance to 9‑11% in constant currency after a robust third quarter, with demand for luxury watches outpacing supply in both the UK and US. The company highlighted broad‑based growth across categories and...
Aldi Invests £22 Million in Price Cuts
Aldi has committed £22 million to slash prices on hundreds of items, ranging from fresh produce to household essentials. The discounts include staples such as red lentils, porridge sachets and organic oats, as well as meat and cheese products. By lowering...
Q&A with Ashley Burkle, Director of Business Development at Identiv
In a February 2026 interview, Ashley Burkle, Director of Business Development at Identiv, outlined the company’s push to embed secure digital identities into consumer packaging through NFC, BLE and UHF RFID technologies. Identiv’s solutions turn everyday products into connected data sources,...
Wingstop UKI Appoints Former Ocado Executive as Group Finance Director
Wingstop UKI has appointed Alistair Fraser as its group finance director, adding to recent senior hires that include a chief growth officer and a chief brand officer. Fraser previously led finance at BKUK, Ocado, and Whitbread, bringing extensive strategic and...
Cornish Bakery Reports ‘Record’ Trading as It Announces Brand Extension Concept
Cornish Bakery announced record trading for the year to May 2025, with sales up 24% to £36.4 million and EBITDA climbing 32% to £4.5 million. The company opened six new bakeries in the past six months and plans eight more by April, while...
Primark to Expand Into Three New Markets in the Middle East
Primark is set to open five new stores across the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar in 2026, extending its partnership with franchise operator Alshaya Group. The three Dubai locations – Dubai Mall, City Centre Mirdif and Mall of the...
Sephora UK Gears up for Belfast Opening
Sephora UK announced the opening of its 13th UK store in Belfast on 12 February 2026, occupying a 2,550 sq ft space at Victoria Square. The launch will feature the brand’s own Sephora Collection alongside exclusive “Only At Sephora” labels and a roster of...
Primark Launches New Youth-Focused Label
Primark has introduced a new youth‑focused label called The Primark Scene, aimed at Gen Z shoppers who feel underserved by traditional kids’ ranges and adult fashion. The line, shaped over an 18‑month research period with direct input from teenagers, features low‑rise...
Conversation with… Nina Daniels, Founder of Nina D
Swedish designer Nina Daniels founded Nina D in early 2020, turning a personal ritual of buying placemats into a handmade tableware brand. Launching weeks before COVID, she pivoted to an online‑only model, emphasizing luxury‑grade gift‑wrapping and handwritten notes to create a...
Quiz Seeks New Financing After Disappointing Christmas Sales
Quiz, the UK‑based apparel retailer, is pursuing new financing after a disappointing Christmas period. The company, founded in Glasgow in 1993, now runs 40 stores and employs roughly 1,000 staff following a February pre‑pack closure of 23 loss‑making locations. Founders...
Ocado Partner Sobeys to Close Alberta Warehouse
Ocado Group announced that its Canadian partner Sobeys will shut the Calgary customer fulfilment centre, citing slower‑than‑expected e‑commerce growth in Alberta. The closure will shave roughly £7 million from Ocado's FY26 fee revenue, but the company expects an £18 million compensation payment...
Naked Wines Peak Trading in Line with Guidance
UK online wine retailer Naked Wines reported that its peak‑season trading through the 13 weeks to 29 December 2025 was in line with internal guidance. Revenue fell 19 % year‑on‑year on a constant‑currency basis as the company sharpened its focus on a...
On Appoints Frank Sluis as Chief Financial Officer
Swiss sportswear brand On announced the appointment of Frank Sluis as chief financial officer, effective May 1. Sluis arrives from Ahold Delhaize, where he served as CFO for Europe & Indonesia, and previously held finance roles at Reckitt Benckiser, Unilever and Hoogwegt Group. He...
Lululemon to Open First Birmingham Store
Lululemon announced its first UK store in the Midlands, opening a 5,700‑square‑foot location at Birmingham’s Bullring. The flagship will carry the brand’s full activewear range for women and men, spanning yoga, running, tennis, golf and more. Lululemon plans to embed...
Gordon Brothers Acquires LK Bennett Brand Out of Administration
Gordon Brothers announced the acquisition of the UK fashion label LK Bennett out of administration. The heritage brand, famed for its shoes, bags and ready‑to‑wear, will be transitioned to an asset‑light model similar to the firm’s recent Laura Ashley revival. Gordon...
Toolstation Launches New Small Format Store Concept
Toolstation has unveiled Toolstation GO, a new small‑format store aimed at high‑street locations. The first outlet opened in London’s Battersea, offering plumbing, electrical, power tools and DIY essentials both in‑store and via click‑and‑collect. Self‑service kiosks let customers bypass queues, while extended...
Debenhams Group Reports Trading Above Expectations
Debenhams Group raised its full‑year adjusted EBITDA outlook to £50 million after trading outperformed expectations through 28 February 2026. Momentum in the flagship Debenhams stores and a clear uplift in its youth labels, especially Pretty Little Thing, drove the results. The retailer accelerated its transformation...
Card Factory Festive Trading Impacted by Lower Footfall
Card Factory reported that its Christmas trading was hampered by a challenging consumer environment and reduced footfall on the UK high street. While total group revenue rose 4.3% in the final two months of 2025, store sales fell 0.8% and...
Pets at Home Says Performance in Line with Expectations as It Works Through Turnaround Plan
Pets at Home reported third‑quarter results that met expectations, with group consumer revenue edging up 0.8% to £472 million. The vet‑group saw a 5% revenue rise driven by higher transaction values and Care Plan uptake, while retail consumer revenue slipped 1.1%...
Edikted to Open First UK Store
US‑based fashion label Edikted announced the opening of its first standalone store in the UK and Europe on London’s iconic Carnaby Street. The 4,800 sq ft flagship will showcase women’s apparel and accessories that blend streetwear, runway trends, and contemporary style. Edikted’s...
Virgin Wines Reports Strong Christmas Trading
Virgin Wines UK posted a 5% year‑on‑year revenue increase during the Christmas period, driven by a 40% surge in new customers. In the six months to 2 January, total revenue rose 2% to £34.7 million, with commercial partnerships and corporate gifting outperforming...
Dr Martens Boosted by Turnaround Progress
Dr Martens reported progress in its turnaround, with full‑price direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) sales up 2% year‑to‑date, while overall group revenue fell 2.7% to £253 million in Q3. The company’s wholesale channel rebounded, growing 9.3% as DTC revenue slipped 6.5% due to a...
Aligne Appoints Ellie Dickinson as Global DTC Director
Aligne, the London‑based contemporary womenswear label, has named Ellie Dickinson as its global Direct‑to‑Consumer (DTC) director. Dickinson arrives from a commercial director role at Australian brand Dissh, where she oversaw the UK, EU and US markets since September 2024. Her...
Digital Wallets vs Traditional Payments: Which Drives Faster Checkouts?
UK payment habits in 2026 show digital wallets now used by 57% of adults, overtaking cash for everyday purchases. Contactless and mobile payments account for over half of in‑store card transactions, delivering faster checkout through biometric and tokenised authentication. Traditional...
Conversation with… People in Retail Awards Judge Giles Smith
Former Selfridges digital head Giles Smith discusses his return as a judge for the People in Retail Awards. He emphasizes the importance of celebrating frontline employees and unsung innovators rather than solely focusing on commercial metrics. Smith, now a technology...
SportsShoes.com to Open Flagship Experiential Store in Shoreditch
SportsShoes.com will launch its flagship experiential store, House of SportsShoes, on Shoreditch High Street in early March. The 5,000‑square‑foot venue blends digital‑first retail with a “no bags, no hassle” model, allowing shoppers to try over 100 running shoes and complete...
Beauty Bay Appoints Advisors to Undertake Strategic Review
UK‑based online beauty retailer Beauty Bay has engaged advisory firm Interpath to conduct a strategic review. The review aims to explore fresh capital options, including attracting an investment partner or pursuing a sale. Sources say the process to secure new...
French Connection Announces New US Licensing Partnership
French Connection Group has signed a long‑term licensing agreement with G‑III Apparel Group to develop and distribute its menswear, womenswear and accessories across North America, effective 1 February 2026. The partnership leverages G‑III’s design, sourcing and distribution capabilities and its established retail...
N Brown Group Chief Customer Operations Officer Leaves the Business
N Brown Group’s chief customer operations officer, Clare Empson, announced her departure after two years in the role. Empson, who previously spent 24 years at Ted Baker, oversaw the launch of a new distribution centre and an enterprise‑wide efficiency system during her tenure. Her...
The $42.8B Retail Media Playbook
Retail media generated $42.8 billion for Amazon in Q1 2025, driven by a server‑side ad serving architecture that delivers native ads without latency or privacy trade‑offs. The eBook outlines a modern retail media stack featuring sponsored products, zero‑impact loading, full reach, built‑in...
The Future of Delivery: Key Trends Shaping 2026
Delivery logistics face a convergence of pressures in 2026, including AI-driven automation, stricter CO₂ emissions regulations, rising cross‑border demand, and the shift to zero‑emission fleets. Retailers and carriers must adapt to consumers who will abandon orders if delivery options are...
Watches of Switzerland Acquires US Family-Owned Retailer
Watches of Switzerland Group has bought an 88% stake in Deutsch & Deutsch, a family‑owned luxury watch and jewellery retailer operating four Texas showrooms. The acquisition, with an option to purchase the remaining shares, adds $67 million of annual revenue and expands...
Retail Brand Monitoring: Protect Your Reputation
Retailers face instant brand reputation shifts as social media amplifies reviews, influencer posts, and viral content. Distinguishing brand monitoring (mention tracking) from reputation monitoring (sentiment and impact analysis) is essential for omnichannel consistency, product refinement, and crisis prevention. The article...
Waterstones Enjoys Healthy Sales Both In-Store and Online
Waterstones reported a 7% sales increase to £565.6 million for the 53 weeks ending 3 May 2025, with like‑for‑like sales up 5%. Growth was broad‑based across regions and channels, driven by strong fiction titles and higher demand for stationery and children’s educational toys....
Morrisons Travel Launches in Partnership with Expedia
Morrisons has introduced Morrisons Travel, a new travel‑booking platform built with Expedia Group and accessible via Morrisons.com and the More app. The service lets shoppers reserve hotels, flights, car hire and activities while earning 10 More Points for every £1...
Wickes Boosted by Strong Performance in TradePro
Wickes posted a 6.3% rise in half‑year revenue, powered by a 6.2% increase in retail sales and an 8% year‑on‑year jump in its TradePro channel. DIY sales delivered mid‑single‑digit growth as customer transactions climbed, while the Design & Installation division...
B&M Issues Profit Warning
B&M reported a 2.9% rise in third‑quarter group revenue but issued a profit warning as near‑term earnings are pressured by strategic investments. UK revenue grew 1.9% while like‑for‑like sales slipped 0.6%, whereas the French operation posted 8.5% total revenue growth...
B&Q to Launch New Trade-Exclusive Store Concept for TradePoint
B&Q will launch its first standalone TradePoint store in Barking next month, targeting trade professionals with a dedicated retail experience. The new concept complements B&Q’s ambition to grow TradePoint into a £1 billion business, after the segment posted a 6.9% sales...
Merry Hill Hails ‘Record’ Performance in 2025
Merry Hill reported a record 2025 performance, with sales up 4.3% and footfall rising 5% year‑on‑year. The growth was driven by a £20 million asset‑management‑focused investment programme that added a 100,000‑sq‑ft M&S flagship and attracted new international retailers such as Apple...
