Retail Gazette

We're proud to welcome Daikin UK as the sponsor of this year's Sustainable Retailer of the Year category at the RG Retail Excellence Awards 2026.🌱   This category recognises the retailers driving real change through sustainable business practices. 👀 The shortlist will be revealed exclusively across the RG newsletters. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eqyFerAP

❗ Today on Retail Gazette! ❗ Here’s your quick look at the stories shaping retail today, from Frasers’ warning over business rates and Aldi’s latest expansion targets to M&S’s electric truck rollout, a turning point in the Ocado partnership and Morrisons Daily’s delivery push. 👉 Frasers boss warns business rates are stifling investment Frasers Group chief executive Michael Murray has warned that rising business rates are discouraging retailers from investing in town centres. He said businesses were effectively being penalised for upgrading stores through higher tax bills and called for rates to be cut to create a fairer playing field with online-only rivals. https://lnkd.in/d9h-hGkP 👉 Aldi reveals priority locations for new stores Aldi has identified 25 priority locations where it is actively searching for new sites, including Bath, Guildford, Newcastle, Oxford and Walthamstow. The discounter is investing more than £370 million in its expansion this year as it works towards its long-term target of 1,500 UK stores. https://lnkd.in/d6f-5Dym 👉 M&S rolls out electric trucks across logistics network M&S is introducing ten new electric trucks across its Food and Fashion, Home & Beauty operations as part of its drive to reach net zero by 2040. One features first-of-its-kind DAF technology that allows a chilled trailer’s refrigeration unit to draw power directly from the truck’s battery, removing the need for diesel-powered cooling. https://lnkd.in/dnkNB68n 👉 Ocado drops £191m M&S payout fight Ocado has reportedly abandoned its pursuit of a £190.7 million final payment from M&S, bringing its long-running dispute with the retailer to a close without a payout. However, talks over new warehouses and additional capacity are continuing as M&S pushes for improved commercial terms, greater efficiency and technology upgrades. https://lnkd.in/dmcv7ees 👉 Morrisons Daily expands Snappy Shopper partnership Morrisons Daily is bringing hundreds more convenience stores across England and Wales onto the Snappy Shopper delivery platform. Customers will be able to order its full convenience range, with free delivery on purchases over £35, as the supermarket strengthens its local ecommerce offer. https://lnkd.in/da5CpQ5X #RetailNews #FrasersGroup #Aldi #MarksAndSpencer #Ocado #Morrisons #SupplyChain #Grocery

Reflecting on the company's incredible recent results, The Works CEO Gavin Peck tells Retail Gazette that a move back to online isn't on the cards. “At some point in the future we might look at bringing back click and collect or marketplaces or other things. But that’s not in the near term,” he says. Read more below 👇 https://lnkd.in/ddvX2eKb

❗ Today on Retail Gazette! ❗ Here’s your quick look at the stories shaping retail today, from Primark’s price push and mounting pressure at Asda to the ecommerce packaging dilemma, Levi’s DTC strategy and Shein’s tariff-driven loss. 👉 Primark slashes prices as Shein and Temu loom large Primark has permanently cut prices by up to 29 per cent across hundreds of bestselling womenswear, menswear and childrenswear products. Its new “Iconic Value” initiative is launching across all 19 markets as the retailer steps up its fight against Shein and Temu. https://lnkd.in/eAPmFbdM 👉 Pressure mounts on Asda’s turnaround Asda’s turnaround has come under renewed scrutiny as falling sales, shrinking market share and further job cuts pile pressure on the supermarket. The challenges have raised fresh questions over whether its efforts to improve prices, availability and the customer experience are gaining traction quickly enough. https://lnkd.in/ePtjWUb6 👉 Retailers confront the discreet delivery dilemma Retailers are weighing the marketing benefits of branded ecommerce packaging against growing demand for discretion, security and efficiency. Some 53 per cent now brand their packaging, while 41 per cent of shoppers said designed packaging could encourage future orders in certain categories. https://lnkd.in/eQrXaiFJ 👉 Levi’s ecommerce boss: DTC is a consumer strategy Levi’s vice-president of global ecommerce Leona De Graft said direct-to-consumer should be viewed as a consumer strategy rather than a separate channel. DTC now represents 51 per cent of the denim giant’s net revenue, while faster fulfilment means 90 per cent of UK customers can receive orders within 24 hours. https://lnkd.in/eeuznkQB 👉 Shein plunges to £74m quarterly loss Shein swung to a £74.2 million quarterly loss as Donald Trump’s crackdown on tariff-free low-value parcels hit its US business. Pre-IPO filings showed the fast-fashion giant had recorded a £296 million profit during the same period a year earlier. https://lnkd.in/etZK8kvw #RetailNews #Primark #Asda #Ecommerce #Levis #Shein

"I have no doubt when you think about Levi's, you think about denim bottoms, denim jeans. We are evolving our business now to being more denim lifestyle. We have amazing tops, dresses, outerwear," Leona De Graft, VP of global ecommerce of Levi’s, tells Retail Gazette. Read the whole interview below 👇 https://lnkd.in/eeuznkQB

Retailers are right to question stores. But many are still judging them with an incomplete picture. The easiest retail story to tell in 2026 is one about decline. Another store closes, another high street unit goes dark. In this new Retail Gazette report, we go ‘Beyond the till’ to measure the true value of stores in multichannel retail. Get your copy today: https://lnkd.in/eSjwqpVK #retail CACI Ltd

“It takes time to build a brand in the mind of the consumer,” Pip & Nut | B Corp founder Pip Murray tells Retail Gazette. “Consumers need time to trust and understand what you’re about.” Read the whole interview covering the amazing story of creating the innovative brand below 👇 https://lnkd.in/enrkRfBU

Your chance to win a taste of Venice… We’re delighted to announce Elisium Experiences as our VIP Prize Partner for the RG Retail Excellence Awards 2026. Every guest in the room on 14th October will be entered into the chance to win a 2-night Venice getaway for two, including a pasta and tiramisu cooking class with wine. 🍝🍷 The lucky winner will be revealed live on the night! Want to be there? Table bookings open soon - sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear when they launch and when our shortlist is revealed. 🔗https://lnkd.in/eqyFerAP

“People don’t think about channels the way marketers do,” Daniel 'Monty' Montalto tells Retail Gazette. “Whether someone encounters our campaign on TV, scrolling social, walking past one of our mobile out-of-home placements or opening the Etsy app, it should feel like they’re seeing the same idea, just expressed in different ways." Read the full interview by Katie Searles below 👇 https://lnkd.in/etXaAppj

Compliance, facilities and supply chain risk are not separate problems in #retail. The Vantify Annual Compliance Report 2026 covers all three. Drawing on thousands of live assessments across fire, water, asbestos and operational risk, it maps the trends that shaped the past year and the gaps that are still leaving portfolios exposed. Download the full report to benchmark your compliance position, prioritise investment, and stay ahead of the risks that matter most👇 https://lnkd.in/exYS4wrt