Today's Retail Pulse
Fresho acquires Nation Wilcox to dominate UK food‑wholesale software
Fresho, the Australian‑origin order‑management platform, has acquired UK ERP specialist Nation Wilcox, creating the largest software suite for British food wholesalers. The combined platform now serves over 400 wholesalers and caterers and processes more than £2 billion (≈$2.5 billion) in annual GMV.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Spinny targets $250-300M in IPO
Exclusive: Australian Plant Proteins Enters Retail with ‘Nothing Else’ to Meet Clean-Label Demand
Australian Plant Proteins, rescued from insolvency, has launched the direct‑to‑consumer brand Nothing Else, offering single‑ingredient fava bean and yellow pea protein isolates produced in‑house with a solvent‑free process. Each 30 g scoop delivers 25‑26 g of complete plant protein and retails for A$29.99 (≈$21.35) per 300 g pouch, targeting clean‑label shoppers and GLP‑1 users needing extra protein. The company’s vertical integration—from Wimmera pulse farms to Horsham packaging—eliminates imports, chemical solvents, and third‑party processors. Recent China certification positions the brand for overseas expansion.
£36bn Abandoned at Checkout as Mystery Shop Exposes Delivery Failures
A joint study by Retail Economics and GFS found that roughly £36bn (about $45bn) of non‑food online sales were abandoned at checkout in 2025 due to delivery‑related issues. High‑value shoppers—those who spend the most online—left 29% of their carts, compared...
Blockchain Helps Brands Prove Product Authenticity without Shoppers Learning Crypto
Counterfeit trade reached $467 bn in 2021, about 2.3 % of global commerce, and U.S. Customs seized 32 million fake items worth $5 bn in FY 2024. Brands face eroding consumer trust and lost revenue, prompting a search for reliable authenticity tools. Blockchain‑based digital product...
Sari-Sari Store Sales Surge as Filipinos Stock up Amid Middle East Crisis
Sari‑sari stores in the Philippines saw a dramatic sales surge in March as consumers stocked up amid a Middle East‑driven oil price shock. Packworks reported GMV jumping from about $36 million in February to $68 million in March, an 89 percent increase. Average...
Closing the Trust Gap Starts at the Opt-In
Intuit Mailchimp’s new research reveals a widening trust gap in e‑commerce opt‑ins. While 65% of brands request phone numbers, only 28% of consumers are willing to share them, and fewer than 8% achieve conversion rates above 20%. The study shows...
Gen Z: Balancing Treats and Budgets
CouponFollow’s Treatonomics Index surveyed 1,008 Gen Z adults, revealing that small indulgences—snacks, desserts and clothing—drive most discretionary spend. While 92% treat themselves regularly, 63% view paying full price as irresponsible and 64% would switch brands for a discount. About 25% allocate...
Zong Launches Shop-in-Shop, Trade-In Offers with Samsung
Pakistani mobile operator Zong has sealed a partnership with Samsung to roll out a shop‑in‑shop concept and a dedicated trade‑in scheme. The initiative will showcase Samsung’s 5G‑enabled smartphones within Zong’s Customer Service Centers, beginning with locations in Islamabad and Lahore....
How Skin Control Turned Pimple Patches Into a Mass-Market Must-Have
Australian skincare brand Skin Control turned the niche pimple‑patch concept into a mainstream mass‑market product after launching in 2019. Founder Michael Porter credits simple, visible results and shelf‑ready packaging for rapid retailer adoption, while emphasizing education, a solid commercial story,...
The Last Mile Reputation Gap
Retailers have focused on checkout speed and product content, neglecting the post‑purchase journey, creating a "last mile reputation gap" between promised and actual delivery experiences. Customers now judge brands on reliability, transparency, and how exceptions are handled, not merely on...
Mark Foy’s Department Store Plots Return After 46 Years
Mark Foy’s, the historic Sydney department store that shuttered in 1980, is launching a digital boutique to sell European designer fashion online. The revival will feature curated collections from luxury brands such as Celine, Saint Laurent and Valentino, with discounts...
Marks & Spencer Chairman Blames Self-Service Checkouts for Rise in Shoplifting
Marks & Spencer chairman Archie Norman blamed self‑service checkouts for a rise in shoplifting, saying they remove the human link and make it easy for honest shoppers to slip items. M&S installed 800 self‑checkouts in 2023, aiming to save about...
Harvey Norman Facing Class Action for ‘Misleading’ Ads
Harvey Norman and its credit partner Latitude Finance face a new class action in Australia after ASIC successfully prosecuted the duo for misleading "no‑deposit" and "interest‑free" advertising. The lawsuit, filed by Carter Capner Law, alleges consumers were forced into credit...
Lusting for Lasting in Instant Age: Why Consumers Are Choosing Forever over Fast
Consumers are shifting from disposable purchases toward lasting investments, especially in jewellery. McKinsey‑BoF’s State of Fashion 2026 highlights a rise in self‑gifting and a focus on durability, prompting higher‑priced, lower‑volume sales. A Tenoris report shows unit spend in jewellery rose...
From the Field to the Floor: Dom Giampaolo on Leading Elite Supplements
Elite Supplements has grown from a single gym‑based shop in Canberra to a network of 151 stores across Australia, with 70 owned locations and the rest franchised. In 2019 the company abandoned a licensing model for franchising to regain brand...
When Conflict Pauses, Connection Accelerates
The recent ceasefire in the Middle East has lifted geopolitical tension but revealed a shift in consumer behavior across the UAE. While malls stayed open, footfall dropped about 15% and 66% of households trimmed discretionary spending, prompting brands to cut...
Whole Foods Market Opens Liverpool Street Store as Part of London Growth Plan
Whole Foods Market opened a 3,315‑square‑foot store at 4b‑5 Blomfield Street, Liverpool Street, targeting commuters and City workers with a grab‑and‑go format. The shop offers fresh produce, ready‑to‑eat meals, bakery items and self‑serve coffee. The launch is the first of six...
A Viral $660 Perfume and the Dupe Conversation Inspired Guerlain’s First Paid Influencer Campaign
Guerlain, the 198‑year‑old luxury house, has launched its first paid influencer campaign to promote the $660 extrait Vanille Planifolia. The perfume, an intense vanilla made from hand‑harvested Madagascan beans, became the brand’s top‑selling online product for five consecutive months after...
Musinsa to Open Matin Kim Flagship in Tokyo
South Korean label Matin Kim is launching its first standalone flagship in Tokyo’s Harajuku district on April 26, 2026, under a partnership with e‑commerce giant Musinsa. The two‑floor, 195 sq m store follows the brand’s Shibuya and Nagoya locations and will showcase the Spring/Summer 2026...
AI Turns Random Idea Into Full Desert Hotel Brand
Started messing around with a boutique desert hotel concept and put the whole thing together with ChatGPT’s new image generator. Brand identity, website, email, social, interiors, guest experience, all in one board. Kind of wild how fast a random idea can start...
Can Kering’s Comprehensive Plan Really Turn Things Around?
Kering's new CEO Luca de Meo unveiled a sweeping turnaround plan after years of sales decline, especially at Gucci. The strategy includes pausing the Valentino acquisition, selling the beauty business to L’Oréal, and cutting Gucci's SKU count by 20% while emphasizing...
Luxury Briefing: How DeMellier Is Increasing Demand While Doing Less
DeMellier, the nine‑year‑old London bag label, is boosting demand by tightening its product slate and emphasizing hand‑crafted quality. Instead of chasing volume, the brand leans on alternative, sustainable materials as a proof‑point of durability. Founder Mireia Llusia‑Lindh says this disciplined...
Casey’s Expands Partnership with SoundHound AI, Leveraging Cutting-Edge AI Agents Across More Than 2600 Stores
Casey’s, the third‑largest U.S. convenience retailer, has renewed and expanded its partnership with SoundHound AI, deploying the voice‑AI ordering agents across more than 2,600 stores. The AI agents have already handled over 21 million guest interactions, streamlining pizza and food orders....
Ethnic Wear, But Make It Cool: The 'Gen Z-Fication' Of Traditional Wear Brands
India’s ethnic wear market is pivoting from wedding‑centric, high‑ticket items to everyday, affordable fashion driven by Gen Z. Legacy brands such as BIBA, Libas and Rangita have launched sub‑brands—BIBA NXT, Gerua and a dedicated Gen Z line—priced between roughly $4 and $30 to...
Bedding Supplier Emma Sleep to Pay a Total of $15m in Penalties for Misleading Statements About Sale Prices
The Federal Court ordered Emma Sleep Pty Ltd and its Southeast Asia affiliate to pay a combined $15 million AUD (≈ $9.9 million USD) in penalties for false and misleading price representations. The company advertised 74 products with inflated "original" prices, bogus discount...
Can D2C Be ElasticRun’s Most Profitable Bet Yet?
ElasticRun, the Indian logistics unicorn, is pivoting from traditional B2B FMCG distribution to a D2C‑focused quick‑commerce model. The company now handles close to 5 million orders a day across 500+ cities, supported by 900+ delivery stations and about 100 fulfilment centres....
Jubilant in Talks to Sell India Rights of Dunkin' To Its US Owner Inspire
Jubilant FoodWorks (JFL) is negotiating with Inspire Brands to sell its India franchise rights for Dunkin' as the current agreement ends in December. Inspire, which owns Dunkin' globally, plans to pass the rights to another local partner to revive the...
The North Face Launches Adaptive "Universal Collection" For Disabled Adventurers
The North Face unveiled the Universal Collection, its first adaptive camping gear line designed with input from disabled athletes. The launch targets the growing market of outdoor enthusiasts with disabilities, a demographic that makes up more than one‑in‑four U.S. adults....
Tredence Unveils Agentic AI Suite on Google Cloud, Promising Up to 40% Cost Cuts for Retailers
Tredence announced a new agentic AI suite on Google Cloud aimed at e‑commerce and retail decision‑makers. The platform promises to cut total cost of ownership by up to 40%, automate up to 98% of manual processes, and shrink deployment cycles...
Ulta Beauty Teams with Google to Launch AI Shopping Assistant Across Web and App
Ulta Beauty and Google have launched Ulta AI, an AI‑driven shopping assistant that will roll out on Ulta’s website, mobile app and Google surfaces within the next month. The partnership extends Ulta’s trusted curation into AI, while a Harris Poll‑Quad...
NielsenIQ Launches Commerce Lab to Build AI‑driven Data Layer for Retail
NielsenIQ announced the launch of its NIQ Commerce Lab, a technology hub designed to build the data platforms, APIs and measurement systems that power AI‑driven commerce. The initiative, led by new Head of AI Commerce Lisa Lovallo Ceppos, seeks to...
EVERY Names Mario Patiño First CRO to Drive Mass Adoption After Walmart Rollout
The EVERY Company announced Mario Patiño as its first Chief Revenue Officer, a move timed with the brand’s nationwide rollout in Walmart stores. The hire aims to convert the retail breakthrough into a multi‑billion‑dollar revenue engine, leveraging Patiño’s track record...
BigAds Integrates Criteo’s Commerce Audiences Into Agentic Planner
BigAds has woven Criteo’s Commerce Audiences into its Agentic Planner, a component of the Bud HyperLocal platform. The partnership lets brands pull real‑time, in‑market shopper data from the open internet and launch campaigns in under five minutes. By moving beyond...
Tanishq Marks Akshaya Tritiya with Navya – A Tribute to Building Prosperity
Tanishq, the Indian jewellery arm of Titan, teamed with Monks India to launch the Navya collection campaign ahead of Akshaya Tritiya. The "Prosperity That’s Handcrafted" film, set in New York, spotlights a young Indian chef’s journey, linking personal resilience to the brand’s...
Peak 2026: Where Retail Performance Is Won or Lost
Retailers face a narrow window to prepare for the November‑December peak, where Black November and Boxing Day sales drive a 45% YoY surge in e‑commerce volume. Shiperoo’s new report warns that planning must begin in April‑May, not months before the...
Retention, Not Traffic, Drives Million‑Dollar Brand Growth
Many $1M+ brands mistake revenue for scale. (D2C Skincare Brand) $1.5M/month… growth flat, repeat sales weakening. More traffic wasn’t the answer. Retention was. We rebuilt LTV systems → $2.2M/month.
How Bunnings Built Australia’s Most Trusted Brand
Bunnings has topped Roy Morgan’s most‑trusted‑brand list for nine straight quarters, proving that sustained consumer confidence is more than a marketing splash. The retailer’s core promise of empowerment—being a reliable partner for DIY and professional projects—underpins every customer interaction, from...
Ridge's Homepage Overhaul Highlights Fresh Shopping Layout
Ooooooh, fun, big change to Ridge's homepage yesterday: Not just the hero product, but the rest of the shopping layout too. Love studying what y'all are doing with your sites https://t.co/H1my56MoR4
Chef Adrien Cachot Debuts Limited-Edition Sushi Line with Sushi Shop
Michelin-starred French chef Adrien Cachot has teamed up with international sushi chain Sushi Shop to release a limited‑edition sushi and mochi collection. The range, available from 23 April 2026, includes a 22‑piece box priced at £28.90 (≈$36) and individual items ranging from...
Stella McCartney Returns to H&M with Sustainable Collection Launching May 7
Stella McCartney has announced a new collaboration with fast‑fashion giant H&M, debuting a sustainable collection on May 7 after a 20‑year hiatus. The line mixes archival references with recycled fabrics, signaling a renewed high‑low partnership focused on environmental responsibility.
Formula 1 Teams up with Aeropostale on $20 T‑shirt Line to Win over Gen Z
Formula 1 has launched a budget‑friendly apparel collection with Aeropostale, pricing shirts from $16.17 to $65.97 to attract Gen Z shoppers. The move follows a broader shift toward lifestyle branding and a 75% rise in sports‑wear sponsorship spend, as the sport’s global...
Shein and Temu Hit With Lawsuits Demanding Customers Get Their Tariff Money Back
Shein and Temu are facing coordinated class‑action lawsuits alleging they overcharged U.S. shoppers after the Trump administration imposed IEEPA tariffs that later were ruled unconstitutional. Bloomberg tracked price spikes of up to 377%, far exceeding the actual tariff cost. The...
25+ Civil Society Groups Call on European Supermarkets to Rebalance Plant and Animal Food Sales
A coalition of more than 25 health, environmental and consumer groups from 12 European nations is launching the “Plant‑Rich Europe” declaration, urging major supermarkets to shift their product mix toward plant‑rich diets. The groups cite the Eat‑Lancet Planetary Health Diet...
(Update: Amazon 5%) ShopBack Shopping Portal $15+ In Signup Bonuses & More; Earn Cashback On Amazon & More
ShopBack is pushing a limited‑time 5% cashback on Amazon purchases, capped at $10 for a single order from April 24‑27, while also promoting a $15 signup bonus for new members who earn $15 in confirmed cashback. Existing users can earn an...
Grubhub Surrounds Tax Day With $100K in Credits for Delivery App Fees
Grubhub launched a "Fee Return" sweepstakes during tax season, offering $100,000 in credits to 5,000 diners who proved they paid delivery fees in 2025. Winners received $20 in Grubhub credit, and the campaign ran April 6‑15, complemented by $10.40 off $50+...
Burger King Offers Every Fast Food Franchisee in Japan ¥40 Mil to Jump Ship and Join Them
Burger King is accelerating its Japan expansion, growing from 77 to 352 stores and targeting 600 locations by 2028 after Goldman Sachs acquired the chain for roughly $506 million. To speed conversion, BK is offering up to ¥40 million (about $260,000) to...
Marco's Pizza Signs Three&Unit Development Agreement in Las Cruces, New Mexico
Marco's Pizza has signed a three‑unit development agreement with entrepreneur Yiris Hallal’s Hall Foods LLC to open its first New Mexico location in Las Cruces in July 2026. The Hallal family, seasoned in technology and retail, will manage the rollout,...
Pizza Hut’s Sales Slump: Half Quarters Negative Since 2008
Some notable insight, particularly that Yum believes that the new owner might have to own some locations but that's not something Yum wants to do, which probably makes sense. Here's something, however: Since 2008, 47.5% of Pizza Hut's quarterly same-store...
Amazon Go Gets the Short End of the Stick
Cc @mattmday @spencersoper I feel like Amazon Go got the shit end of the stick
Guzman Y Gomez Cooks up Plan for Agentic Kitchens
Guzman y Gomez is deploying HP‑supplied kitchen display units with on‑site neural processors across its 225 Australian restaurants, beginning in May. The hardware will run agentic AI algorithms that balance order flow between two production lines, fine‑tuning line openings to the minute....
New Coke's 79-Day Flop Reinforced Classic Loyalty
🥤 April 23, 1985: The Coca-Cola Company introduced “New Coke,” which was the first formula change in 99 years. It faced immediate public backlash, forcing the company to return to its original formula 79 days later and to label that...