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.
Mid-size retailers are being affected more than larger retailers by the economic downturn, according to Aldata Solution’s global retail CIO survey. However, they are reacting fast and investing more to get closer to their customers with close to a quarter
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), managed by The Consumer Goods Forum, has appointed Yves Rey, corporate quality general manager at Danone, as chairman elect. Rey will replace current chairman, Jürgen Matern of Metro, in February 2012 and will be
Cotswolds-based Five Valleys Cordials reports its range is flying off the shelves in local Waitrose stores and it is stepping up production to meet demand. The cordials went on sale in Waitrose stores nationally earlier this month in an exclusive
Tesco is setting up a Kids’ Board to help improve its Schools & Clubs programme in the UK. The supermarket is searching for six children aged between 9 and 12 to join the Tesco Schools & Clubs Kids’ Board in
The Co-operative Group has updated the forecourt sites it acquired from Somerfield with three technology solutions from Torex, which will enable it to process combined fuel and store transactions and accept fuel cards. The Co-operative added 142 forecourt sites to
WatchShop.com, the UK’s leading online watch retailer, has announced a partnership with Casio to help raise funds for the people whose lives have been impacted by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. WatchShop.com is offering to donate 50% of
The Consumer Goods Forum has postponed its forthcoming 2011 Tokyo Summit because of concerns about traveling to the Japanese capital following the recent earthquake. The Forum said it had the support of a Tokyo task force in its decision. The
Kitchen appliance manufacturer Breville is adding ratings and reviews from Reevoo to its web site. According to the company, the new system will replace the previous labour-intensive process of maintaining ‘Buy’ links to Breville distributors across the web. Instead, automated Reevoo links will
Spar is to supply 17 stores at 15 RAF bases across the UK in an expanded deal with ISS UK, one of the country’s largest commercial providers of facility services. The deal includes plans to develop an airport terminal shop at Spar
Spar has launched an Interspar iPhone app in the Czech Republic and is enabling Interspar customers in Hungary to pay for their shopping with their mobile phone. The free iPhone app was originally designed as a cooking application but has
Spar UK managing director Jerry Marwood has been appointed as a non-executive director at field marketing agency eXPD8, which lists Sainsbury’s, Filofax, Dyson and Sony as clients. Marwood takes up the role in April 2011. Marwood, who heads up the UK’s largest
Mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common web access device worldwide by 2013 (source: Gartner). It’s against this backdrop retailers are launching mobile-enabled web sites and apps to keep pace with their customers, wherever they may be; writes
Marks & Spencer may be found liable of trade mark infringement for using Interflora as a Google AdWord, if a European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling follows the recommendation made by the Advocate General Niilo Jääskinen. The adviser to the
Starbucks is to open 120 new outlets at US airports in a 10-year agreement with Autogrill Group, owner of the UK’s leading travel retailer, World Duty Free. The agreement also provides opportunities for development in other countries – Autogrill currently
AF Blakemore has acquired fellow Spar retailer and wholesaler Capper & Co. The merger will create the largest Spar wholesaler in the UK, serving a total of 1,096 stores, and a group with a combined turnover of £1.1bn. South Wales-based
The Co-operative is launching a money-saving web site called Save More to help shoppers save money on their shopping at Co-operative Food stores nationwide. Customers will be able to access the Save More site through www.goodwithfood.co.uk and via featured offers
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the focus on retail growth and the reduction in fuel duty in today’s Budget but has expressed concern about the implications of planning liberalisation. On the topic of growth review, the ACS
The increase in tobacco duty rates by 2% above inflation announced in today’s Budget by the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne shows a lack of joined up thinking, according to the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA). Christopher Ogden, chief executive of
Wensleydale Dairy Products, a leading cheese producer, and one of HSBC’s 2010 Business Thinking Yorkshire and the North East winners, is urging companies across the region to enter Business Thinking – an initiative from the bank, which provides funding and
Waitrose is to list contemporary drink company Five Valleys Cordials in an exclusive national deal. The Cotswolds-based company, which was set up in May 2009, has launched three flavours into Waitrose stores across the UK. The variants are: Apricot &
The Co-operative Group has been named the UK’s most responsible retailer for the fourth year running at the Oracle Retail Week Awards 2011. The judges were impressed by the depth of retailer’s commitment to being a responsible business and the
Wynsors World of Shoes has teamed up with One iota, a social and mobile commerce solutions provider, to launch a transactional and mobile Facebook ‘shop’. After reporting a steep rise in mobile visitors to Wynsors.com, the retailer selected One iota
Take-away food outlets and convenience stores may be able to claim VAT refunds going back four year following a decision by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which has ruled certain food and drinks which are freshly made (including hot
The Pallasades Shopping Centre in Birmingham has recruited Warren Greatrex as operations manager. Greatrex brings has over 15 years’ retail experience and 10 in operations and facilities management. He joins The Pallasades from the Crowngate Shopping Centre in Worcester where
The Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) has called for the Government to resist increasing tax on tobacco in the Budget on Wednesday (23 March 2011), claiming it could drive illicit sales. TMA chief executive Christopher Ogden said: “The refreshed Tackling Tobacco
