All Policy & legal articles
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News
Co-op launches new fund for sustainable farming
The Co-op Group has launched an £820,000 fund to support sustainable farming efforts, as part of its “long-term investment in UK agriculture”.
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News
Budget is hurting part-time workers and women, warns Pets at Home boss
The boss of Pets at Home has said the changes to national insurance set out in the budget are damaging opportunities for “young, flexible workers”, part-time workers and women.
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News
Ex-Asda boss Lord Rose has called working from home ‘not proper work’
The former boss of Marks & Spencer and most recently Asda has criticised flexible working, saying it is creating a generation who are “not doing proper work”.
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Opinion
‘Why we are more downbeat on the UK retail outlook’
It’s hard to believe how the mood music of shoppers and retailers has changed since last year’s general election, observes Shore Capital’s Clive Black
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News
Lidl ditches ‘attractive’ packaging of least healthy own-brand products
Discounter Lidl has said it will ditch all packaging designs it deems “attractive to children” from its least healthy own-brand products by the middle of the year.
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Analysis
TikTok’s future remains in limbo – if a deal to save it falls through, how could UK retail be impacted?
While TikTok and its Chinese-based owner ByteDance has been given a stay of execution by incoming American president Donald Trump, the hugely successful social media app is still facing an uncertain future. How could a potential ban affect UK retailers and social commerce brands who have made TikTok their home?
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Retail Voice
The future of sustainability in the retail sector
With sustainability an ever-increasing priority for consumers, retailers must ensure they are at the forefront of all change and not left behind when it comes to the green economy. Gowling’s Jocelyn Paulley highlights the key challenges for the sector
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News
Timpson, M&S and John Lewis in the top new customer service ranking
M&S is the top retailer in the UK for customer service, according to a new survey of 15,000 consumers. The brand, which recently said that “sales records were broken across the business” for Christmas 2024, narrowly beat John Lewis in the Institute of Customer Service’s (ICS) January 2025 UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI).
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News
Poundland invests in technology as it ‘cracks down on in-store crime’
Poundland has announced that it is “investing significantly in security enhancements” and pledged to crack down on crime as it launched its ‘Against Retail Crime’ initiative.
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Interview
Interview: Bensons for Beds CEO Nick Collard on its people-powered turnaround
Bensons boss Nick Collard speaks to Retail Week about the Budget, the retailer’s transformative turnaround and the power of its people
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News
Sainsbury’s boss warns government of heaping more costs on retail with rates reform delays
Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts has joined the chorus of larger retail business bosses in warning the government its business rates reform delays will cost them more money.
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Analysis
Majority of retail finance heads are predicting price rises this year. Here is what retailers say
Two thirds of retail CFOs are planning price rises in response to changes to employer National Insurance contributions, according to new data published by the British Retail Consortium
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News
Prices will be higher in 2025 as Christmas trading fails to meet expectations
Shop prices will increase during the course of 2025 after the key festive trading period failed to meet expectations, according to the British Retail Consortium.
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News
Shein has been accused of ‘wilful ignorance’ in showdown with MPs
Fast-fashion giant Shein has been accused of showing “wilful ignorance” when struggling to answer questions about its supply chain from MPs.
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Analysis
Next lays bare added costs from Budget raid as it updates on Christmas trading
After Next gave an update on its festive performance and unveiled plans to raise prices in a bid to offset “unusually high” cost increases to the business as a result of last year’s Budget, Retail Week takes a look at what 2025 looks like for the fashion giant
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News
Uniqlo, Gymshark and Lush have stopped hiring through gig economy apps
Uniqlo, Gymshark and Lush, have stopped using freelance retail workers through apps, after facing fierce criticism from unions.
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News
Shein and Temu summoned to face MPs over employment rights
Fast-fashion giants Shein and Temu are set to be grilled by a parliamentary committee as part of an ongoing probe into employment rights.
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News
Revolution Beauty enters ‘confidential settlement’ with former shareholder
Revolution Beauty has announced that it has entered into a “confidential settlement” with a former shareholder, Chrysalis Investments Limited.
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Analysis
Buyouts and boardroom bust-ups: the stories that rocked retail in 2024
Retail looks back at 2024. From political upheavals to well-known high street brands collapsing into administration, the year was also marked by the return of iconic brand promises and a few heavyweight city clashes.