Fashion brands told to ‘stay on the right side of the law’ amid greenwashing claims September 18, 2024 Some of the most high-profile fashion brands in the UK have been warned to be clearer on their green credentials by the UK competition watchdog as it clamps down on misleading marketing. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued a new sustainability compliance guide for retailers and told 17 brands to review their practices. [...]
Mohsin Issa to step away from Asda as search for CEO continues September 18, 2024 Supermarket giant Asda has announced that Mohsin Issa will step away from his executive leadership role to focus on his position as sole chief executive of petrol forecourts business, EG Group. Lord Stuart Rose will assume Mohsin’s responsibilities alongside TDR Capital partner Rob Hattrell, the Leeds-headquartered grocer said, while Mohsin Issa will remain a co-owner [...]
New Boots UK boss named after Seb James’ departure and aborted IPO September 12, 2024 Anthony Hemmerdinger has been appointed managing director of Boots UK and Ireland only months after the high street pharmacy chain’s US parent company once again shelved plans to sell or list the business. Current managing director Seb James, who has run the company since 2018, will pursue a new role in the healthcare sector. Hemmerdinger [...]
Grocery inflation stabilises, but Brits still concerned about shopping costs September 10, 2024 Grocery inflation has returned to its downward trend but nearly two thirds of Brits remain worried about the rising cost of their shopping, according to fresh data. Annual grocery price inflation in the four weeks to 1 September fell to 1.7 per cent, down from 1.8 per cent in the previous four-week period, according to [...]
Asda: Huge equal pay court case starts amid demonstrations September 9, 2024 A court case over equal pay involving more than 60,000 Asda workers has started amid demonstrations being staged in Brighton and Manchester. The GMB union, which has said the case is the biggest ever in the private sector, is arguing that the predominantly female retail workforce is paid up to £3.74 an hour less than [...]
Government must fix ‘antiquated’ business rates, firms and CBI urge September 6, 2024 The government must fix the “antiquated” business rates system which is dampening productivity and growth, firms and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has urged. A cross-sector panel including retail and manufacturing firms met to develop proposals to improve the current system in a bid to boost investment and supercharge the economy. CBI chief executive [...]
What’s Next: Retailer seeking appeal but does it stand a chance? August 28, 2024 Next lost a major equal pay case this week, resulting in an estimated £30m bill to foot but what does this mean for businesses? Lawyers tell City A.M. that the ruling is a "worrying precedent for employers"
Asda, Tesco and UK retailers face anxious wait after Next loses £30m equal pay claim August 27, 2024 Britain's supermarkets face an anxious wait after fashion retailer Next lost a major legal battle today over unequal pay in its UK operations.
Why are convenience stores all the rage? August 22, 2024 Earlier this week, Waitrose became the latest UK grocer to announce a big push into the convenience store market. The supermarket giant will open 100 stores in the next five years as part of a $1bn investment plan. Waitrose follows Asda, Morrisons (with its McColl’s estate), Tesco, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op in ploughing ahead with [...]
Asda continues to lose market share while grocery inflation rises for first time since March 2023 August 13, 2024 Asda and the Co-op have continued to lose market share while a rise in grocery inflation has led to overall sales increasing significantly for Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Lidl. Take-home sales at the grocers rose by 3.8 per cent in the four weeks to August 4, 2024, compared with the same period a year ago, according [...]