Retail news round-up: Burberry chairman to quit; Whole Foods staff concerned about job losses amid Amazon takeover; and AS Watson eyes Holland & Barrett.

Burberry chairman to exit

Burberry chairman Sir John Peace is planning to leave the fashion group, The Guardian reports.

Peace has been the chairman of the company since 2002.

Burberry’s senior independent director Jeremy Darroch will lead the search for finding Peace’s successor.

The fashion chain is set to welcome Marco Gobbetti next month as the new chief executive.

The current chief executive and chief creative officer Christopher Bailey will take up the role of the president.

Whole Foods staff concerned about job loss amid Amazon takeover

Whole Foods’ UK staff have not received any official communication about their employee status amid the takeover deal with Amazon, according to Press Association, the Express reported.

The £10.7bn deal has raised questions that Amazon’s interest in technology may introduce automation that could threaten jobs.

Whole Foods did not comment.

However, Amazon spokesman said in a statement that the company has "no plans to use no-checkout technology to automate the jobs of cashiers at Whole Foods and no job reductions are planned".

AS Watson buys to sell Holland & Barrett

AS Watson Group, the parent group of Superdrug, is planning to buy Holland & Barrett, the UK-based Health food chain, in a £1bn-plus deal, Sky News reported.

According to sources, AS Watson has shown some interest in buying the health food chain.

However, it may not proceed for a formal takeover bid.

The company may face some competition from a number of private equity groups and other retail‎ investors.

A spokesperson for AS Watson declined to comment.

Yoox Net-a-Porter partners with Isabel Marant

Yoox Net-a Porter is partnering with Isabel Marant, a Parisian designer, to launch an ecommerce platform, Drapers reported.

The online store will debut with the autumn 2017 collection offering widest selection of Isabel Marant, Isabel Marant Etoile, bags and accessories lines.

The customers will be offered new packaging designed by German painter Katrin Bremermann in partnership with Marant.

The first 500 online store customers are set to receive a gift.

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