Retail news round-up: Lidl to add 60 new shops in the UK; MPs ask Sainsbury's to retain Fairtrade label; and Superdrug owner to create 1,000 jobs in the UK.

Lidl plans to expand with 60 new shops in the UK

Lidl is planning to open approximately 50 to 60 new supermarkets in the UK as part of a £1.5bn investment, This Is Money reported.

Lidl’s UK chief Christian Hartnagel said he wants to ensure that the supermarket remains the fastest-growing grocer in Britain.

MPs ask Sainsbury’s to retain Fairtrade label

Sainsbury’s is facing pressure from 40 MPs to support the Fairtrade ethical mark instead of experimenting with its own Fairly Traded scheme, The Telegraph reported.

A parliamentary motion backed by a cross-party group said that the House "deeply regrets the decision by the supermarket Sainsbury's to drop the Fairtrade mark for its own-brand tea and develop its own certification scheme".

An online petition calling for Sainsbury's to support the Fairtrade mark has more than 85,000 supporters.

Sainsbury's chief executive Mike Coupe said: "Our Fairly Traded tea pilot aims to build on the Fairtrade model, providing a guarantee that our farmers will continue to receive all the funding currently in place – with additional safeguards built in to ensure this crucial funding reaches those it is intended for.”

Superdrug owner to create 1,000 jobs in the UK

AS Watson, owner of Superdrug, is planning to create 1,000 jobs in the UK amid expansion of its stores, The Telegraph reported.

The company, which also owns The Perfume Shop and Savers, will open 88 new stores, 30 of which will be part of the Superdrug franchise that will hire around 600 staff.

The health and beauty brand Savers will add 45 new stores with an addition of 450 staff.

About 78 people will be hired to run 13 new branches of The Perfume Shop.

Burberry criticised by investors over pay

Burberry is still being criticised by investors over its “chaotic response” to remuneration issues, The Times reported.

It has issued supplemental information on why the shares had been awarded to its executives.

Ashley Hamilton Claxton, who holds a £33.2m stake in the fashion house, said: “Poor oversight has led to the board publishing additional clarifications and evidence to supplement the disclosure in the annual report, which does little to instil confidence in the board.

“Therefore we are voting against the firm’s pay report for this year and the re-election of the remuneration committee chair.”

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