Catch up on the latest retail news here on Retail Times and find out what’s happening in the retail sector. Keep up to speed with the latest reports and financials covering the top brands in retail right through to the smaller independents. If retail technology and innovation is your bag then we’ve got it covered be it POS, payments or back-end systems we report on the latest developments. For those who are looking for retail data and analysis check out the data time section for more information. Hear comment from both the supplier and retailer in our opinion sector ‘Why it works’ and ‘In my opinion’. And finally, if you have any retail news you’d like us to consider publishing send it across to the team via the contact page.
Starbucks has signed a deal with Barclaycard, in partnership with Visa Europe, to bring contactless payments to its coffee shops. From spring 2012, customers in selected stores will be able to pay for their coffees by holding their contactless credit
Frooly, an online marketplace for local and independent retailers to set up their own online stores free of charge, launches today. It aims to provide independent retailers with an online space to reach their local communities on a city by
Belgian chocolate brand Guylian has relaunched its website and is inviting consumers to design a new look for the packaging of its chocolate sea shells box. According to Guylian, the new website is designed to create a more interactive chocolate
Aurora Fashions, the group which owns the Coast, Oasis and Warehouse fashion chains, is claiming a first with the launch of 90-minute deliveries across all its brands. Aurora said the service was part of its strategy to provide customers with
Spar International is expanding its presence in Africa with the opening of its first store in Malawi. It is the 34th country in which the retailer is now present. Spar Malawi plans to open up to 10 more supermarkets and
Spar’s wine range has scooped a total of 98 awards in three top wine competitions. The convenience retailer won accolades for its own brand and branded wines in The International Wine and Spirits Competition, The Decanter World Wine Awards and
Loyaltynet, a company specialising in devising novel web sites has launched an unusual search engine. Wacko Search is the same as any conventional search engine in that it allows the user to enter whatever search term they wish. The difference
Timberland, the outdoor clothing manufacturer and retailer, has teamed up with Anglia Ruskin University to provide online training for its staff. According to the University, the US-based company joins existing clients including Volvo, Barclays, UPS, Ridgeons and Harrods in recognising
What on Earth, an award-winning organic food manufacturer, has launched a limited edition, organic pizza designed by and named after the winner of a Facebook competition. The Organic Primavera Lilley, which is topped with goats’ cheese, spinach, pine nuts, onion
SHS Group, one of UK and Ireland’s largest fmcg holding companies, has bought a majority shareholding in Bottlegreen, the UK’s premium adult soft drinks business. The addition of the Gloucestershire-based firm, for an undisclosed figure, grants SHS Group access to the
Renshaw, a leading manufacturer of cake coverings, fillings and toppings, is launching a range of branded consumer products. The company, which has supplied the bakery trade for over 100 years, has invested £500,000 to develop the range and is introducing
The Co-operative Group has invested £1m in creating a ‘village’ stand to showcase its businesses at a series of agricultural and other shows throughout the summer. The village incorporates Co-operative Group businesses including food, farms, travel, pharmacy, banking and funeral
Fairtrade nut company Liberation Foods is adding peanut butter to its range of Harry’s Nuts Fairtrade nutty products, which feature the comedian Harry Hill. The new Fairtrade Crunchy Peanut Butter will be listed in 190 Sainsbury’s stores from June 2011.
Old Spice, the iconic male toiletries brand, will feature in a five-month advertising and marketing campaign featuring an award-winning TV commercial. Launching on 22 May 2011, the campaign will feature the brand’s new look and a new variant and is
Spar said it is proud to be the only convenience retailer proactively supporting National Wine Month. The initiative, which is being co-ordinated by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, is launching this year for the first time and hopes to
Logistics warehouses and distribution parks provider Gazeley has completed work on an 74,000sq m distribution centre for DIY retailer, B&Q, six weeks ahead of schedule. The facility will service the company’s DIY and home stores across the south of England and,
Local shops have welcomed the Government review of the high street and the appointment of Mary Portas as an independent advisor to lead the project. ACS chief executive James Lowman, who is attending today’s High Street summit at the Department
The Co-operative is launching a Family Fun voucher scheme offering shoppers a booklet of vouchers worth £80 in savings when they spend £10.00 or more on groceries. The booklets will be on offer from 18 May to 14 August 2011
Spar Czech Republic has donated the leftover fresh products from its Fresh Food congress, recently held in the capital, to Prague Zoo. Event organisers donated leftover ice, fruits and vegetables to polar bears in the zoo. According to Spar, the event itself
Carrefour is investing €40m in new Wanzl Tango plastic trolleys for its new Planet format hypermarkets in Europe. The Tango trolley will be supplied to over 500 stores in France, Belgium, Spain, Greece and Italy over the next three years.
The Co-operative has won two gold awards for products in its premium Truly Irresistible range at the Grocer Own Label Food and Drink Awards 2011. The Co-operative’s Truly Irresistible Fairtrade Milk Chocolate with Butterscotch won gold in the Grocery Confectionery
Marks & Spencer (M&S) is launching an online campaign to help encourage UK children to walk to school. Working in partnership with charity Living Streets, M&S has created a free downloadable game for parents to play with their children, along
Leading ecommerce practitioner Practicology claims it is tackling one of the most difficult hurdles for multi-channel retailers – putting in the most effective structure and finding the right people to maximise sales online. Practicology is extending its services to offer
Google is launching a competition to find the best independent retail website in the UK. The Best of British Web Competition aims to inspire small retailers to make the most of their websites and reap the business rewards of being
Fine + Rare, the international fine wine trader, has launched a website, which provides fine wine collectors the opportunity to purchase the 2010 En Primeurs (futures). These wines will be released over the next few months to be delivered usually
