Breakfast briefing: Retail news on Carpetright, The Garden Centre Group, Amazon

Carpetright founder Lord Harris returns to the helm as chief executive Darren Shapland exits

Carpetright founder Lord Harris has taken over as executive chairman of the floorings specialist as chief executive Darren Shapland stands down after it issued a profits warning.

Shapland had been at the role for just 17 months.

Carpetright warned its full year profit will be “significantly below” its previous expectations this morning as UK like-for-like dipped 2.5% and total sales fell 4.1%.

Graham Harris, who joined Carpetright just four months ago as trading director, has been promoted to chief operating officer and will join the board.

The Garden Centre Group appoints new trading director replacing its purchasing director

The Garden Centre Group (TGCG) has replaced its purchasing director Steve Pitcher with Dan Zinner from South African health and beauty retailer Clicks Group.

Zinner, who joins on October 14 will be responsible for buying, pricing and supply decisions.

Prior to Clicks, Zinner worked with McKinsey & Company in London.

Amazon removes foie gras on UK website

Amazon has removed foie gras from its UK website amid criticism from animal welfare campaigners. The retailer has withdrawn100 foie gras products, which comes from ducks and geese that are force fed to make their livers grow to a large and unnatural size, on ethical grounds.

Amazon was petitioned earlier this year by the animal welfare campaigners at the Viva! group to stop selling the delicacy on the grounds of the cruelty involved in its production.

Foie gras production is illegal in the UK but the food can be imported, however Viva! is calling on the UK government to ban imports.