Sustainability
This coverage examines sustainability initiatives and challenges within the UK retail sector. Reporting highlights environmental strategies, supply chain improvements, energy efficiency, packaging innovation, and leadership commitments aimed at reducing impact and meeting regulatory expectations. Tailored for executives and managers, it provides insights to support sustainable decision-making and long-term planning.
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Jan- 2025 -29 JanuaryAdvice
From classroom to commerce: How Alok Ruia reinvented SockShop
Alok Ruia, Director of SockShop, did not initially set out to join the family business. The Ruia Group, founded by his father and uncles in the 1950s, started as a textile importing business in Manchester, supplying raw cloth to UK manufacturers. “It’s a family business to this day,” Ruia explains,…
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29 JanuaryAdvice
Makeke: The app helping independent retailers take on ecommerce giants
Jenniffer Gearheart-Tang, co-founder and CEO of Makeke, has always had an entrepreneurial streak. With a career spanning marketing, executive recruitment, and corporate innovation, she has consistently sought to bring disruptive ideas to market. Together with her husband, Drake Gearheart, Makeke’s Head of Product & Scalability, the duo have built a…
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27 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-27/1/25
WH Smith is exploring the sale of its high street arm to focus on its global Travel business, which now contributes 75% of revenue and 85% of profits. The potential sale, managed by bankers at Greenhill, comes amid a 9% decline in high street profits to £39m, although group revenue…
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24 JanuaryFeatures
The rise of AI-driven cosmetics retail
The world of cosmetics retail is changing at an unprecedented pace. From the rise of AI-driven shopping experiences to the growing consumer demand for sustainability, brands must now navigate a dynamic and increasingly competitive landscape. Few professionals understand this better than Felicity Gain, business development manager for Smile Science Harley…
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23 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-23/1/25
Primark has revised its sales forecast for 2025 downwards following a challenging autumn trading period in the UK and Ireland. The company reported a 6% decline in like-for-like sales in these regions, largely attributed to cautious consumer sentiment and mild weather affecting seasonal clothing purchases. Despite a modest recovery during…
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22 JanuaryComment
Simon Bell: The rise of ethical retail
Simon Bell, CEO and co-founder of Immaculate Vegan, embodies a rare combination of creative vision and strategic acumen. With a career spanning over three decades in marketing, digital innovation, and e-commerce, Bell has taken his passion for sustainability and ethics to create a premium vegan marketplace. In this feature, Bell…
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21 JanuarySupermarkets
Frozen food to see ‘meteoric rise’ in 2025, Iceland predicts
Iceland has forecast a rise in the popularity of frozen food, which will become a “big focus” in 2025 as British shoppers follow trends seen across America. According to new research from the supermarket, frozen food sales in America rose by 54% towards the end of last year, with the…
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20 JanuaryFeatures
What can the luxury retail sector expect in 2025?
As we step into 2025, the luxury retail sector finds itself at a pivotal crossroads. The industry, which witnessed a golden era of growth between 2019 and 2023, is now facing a multitude of macroeconomic headwinds, evolving consumer preferences, and an urgent need to redefine its value proposition. According to…
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17 JanuaryFeatures
The dynamic duo behind Charity Super.Mkt
When Wayne Hemingway and Maria Chenoweth unveiled Charity Super.Mkt, the UK’s first multi-charity shop, it was more than just a retail experiment. It was a testament to innovation, sustainability, and the power of collaboration in a rapidly evolving industry. “We wanted to create something bigger,” explains Wayne Hemingway, co-founder of…
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13 JanuaryNews
Tesco urges gov to deliver plan for UK agriculture
Tesco is calling on the government to provide a clear and comprehensive plan to support UK farmers transition to net zero as it announces new plans to set up two low carbon concept farms in its supply chain to trial low carbon farming methods and help suppliers accelerate innovation. Speaking…
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