PrettyLittleThing co-founders Adam Kamani and Umar Kamani have launched a new interior design business, Kamani Rossar. The new firm from the entrepreneurial brothers, which has studios based in London and Dubai, is a business partnership with interior designer Rob Rosser, with the three holding shares in the new firm. Kamani Rossar will provide interior design services to an external base of global, luxury clients, as well as for Kamani Property Group’s portfolio of commercial, residential and industrial buildings across major cities including London and Dubai. Adam Kamani said: “It has been a ..read more

Poundland has shut nine of its former Wilko shops within months of reopening them, under a “constant review” of its estate. A spokesperson for the discount retailer said affected workers had been offered positions a nearby shops in all cases. The move comes after the business’s owner Pepco Group agreed to take control of up to 71 Wilko store leases from administrator PwC under a last-minute deal in September. Poundland began reopening the shops with its own branding within weeks and relaunched 64 of the stores, hiring 960 ex-Wilko staff members by mid-December. Subscribe to Retail Gazette for ..read more

Decathlon has expanded its BuyBack scheme to include all sports equipment following the success of its initial launch on unwanted bicycles. The initiative has been rolled out across fitness equipment, racket sports, camping gear and water sport items, such as kayaks and paddle boards. To access the scheme, customers are asked to complete a quick online assessment to register the return of their unwanted product before dropping it off in any Decathlon store nationwide to receive a voucher of up to 40% of the valued item. Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free  Sign up here to get the la ..read more

Pret A Manger has made a series of board changes, including bringing back its co-founder as ramps up its next phase of international growth. Former chief executive officer of Pret owner JAB Holdings Olivier Goudet is stepping down as chairman and will be succeeded by his colleague and JAB partner, Konrad Meyer. After spearheading the acquisition, Meyer became a board member in 2018 and also served as interim chief financial officer at the height of Covid-19 back in 2020. Meanwhile, Pret A Manger co-founder Sinclair Beecham and former chairman and board member Larry Billet are both returni ..read more

Primark has hired a trio of new executives to its strategic advisory board. The fast fashion retailer has appointed ex-Sephora CEO Martin Brok, Additionally, former Tesco and Gap executive Christophe Roussel and ex-Walmart president of digital and chief marketing officer Sona Chawla. The execs will join a team led by Primark CEO Paul Marchant and chaired by its outgoing finance director John Bason, according to Retail Week. Primark company Associated British Foods (ABF) initially announced Bason’s retirement as well as the launch of a “newly constituted” strategic advisory board in 2022. Subsc ..read more

John Lewis executive finance director Bérangère Michel has resigned from the Partnership after 16 years. Michel will step down from her post in the autumn after deciding “to pursue her future career options outside of the partnership”. Her departure is the first major change to John Lewis Partnership’s executive team since former Tesco boss Jason Tarry was named as chair Dame Sharon White’s successor. Michel joined the business in 2008 as its head of financial strategy and has held various senior leadership positions across retail, supply chain and customer operations in both John Lewis and Wa ..read more

Ocado has maintained its title as the fastest growing supermarket for the second month as total online share reached 12% for the first time since July 2022. According to the latest data from Kantar, sales for the online grocer surged 12.5% in the 12 weeks to 14 April, ahead of the online market which grew by 6.8%. Ocado accounted for 1.9% of take-home grocery sales – an increase on the 1.7% share it held a year ago. Across the rest of the sector, Tesco and Sainsbury’s both gained 0.4 percentage points of share over the period, at 27.4% and 15.3% respectively. Morrisons achieved its best share ..read more

The Cotswold Company has expanded its premium delivery service to Northern Ireland as it looks to grow its presence across the UK. The luxury furniture retailer said the online expansion will allow it to pursue new growth opportunities as it aims to become one of the nation’s leading lifestyle homeware brands. It has “carefully selected” a local delivery company to service its Northern Ireland customers and ensure that large items are taken to the right room with all packaging removed and recycled. Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free  Sign up here to get the latest news straight int ..read more

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