GMB Union has filed legal proceedings against Amazon in response to what it claims is the company’s latest anti-union drive. The union claims the ecommerce giant has engaged in widespread attempts to coerce its staff members to cancel their trade union memberships. According to GMB, Amazon workers can formally lodge a claim against their own employer for encouraging them to pass up their trade union and collective bargaining rights under what is known as an Inducement claim. GMB senior organiser Amanda Gearing said: “This is a company out of control. Amazon is a multi-billion-pound corpor ..read more

Wilko has launched its own collection of affordable and self-assembly kitchens. The new range consists of six styles that the retailer said “reflects the UK’s most popular kitchen aesthetics and colour schemes”. Shoppers can now redesign and create their entire kicthen, with everything from units and worktops to lighting and splashbacks available online. Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free  Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning  Wilko said the collection offers “cost-conscious consumers a quick, easy and affordable way to upgrade the focal po ..read more

The owner of Superdry’s Oxford Street flagship store is considering a challenge to the retailer’s rescue plan that is set to impose steep reductions on landlords. According to Sky News, asset manager M&G has engaged with lawyers from Hogan Lovells to review the ailing fashion retailer’s restructuring plan it launched earlier this month. The move will not necessarily result in a formal legal challenge, but property industry sources did not rule out the possibility. Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free  Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning  ..read more

Harvey Nichols reduced its losses last year as it continues its slow recovery from the impact of the pandemic. According to accounts filed on Companies House, pre-tax losses shrunk 29% from £30.4m to £21.3m in the year to 1 April 2023. Sales for the department store chain surged 13% to £216.7m during what it termed its “first full year not impacted by Covid restrictions”. The recent accounts, released by holding company Broad Gain (UK) this week, provided additional insights into the challenging period facing the retailer. Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free  Sign up here to ge ..read more

Lidl is investing £500m into the British pork sector as it doubles down on its 100% everyday fresh meat promise. The discounter said its funding commitment will ensure the continued production of high-quality British meat “at the best possible prices for customers”. As part of its investment, the supermarket chain has moved its pork producers to an open-book model that includes the on-farm cost of production and includes a fixed margin for farmers. Dubbed the Lidl Pork Producer Group, the discounter will fund research and development projects aimed at mimicking the natural behaviours of pigs t ..read more

Moonpig experienced its worst day of trading in three years as private equity backers cashed in significant stakes at a double-digit discount. The decision sent shares plunging resulting in what became the greetings card retailer’s worst day of trading as a listed company. The group of investors, led by private equity firm Exponent, sold 25m shares in the FTSE 250 retailer at 160p apiece, more than 10% below Wednesday’s closing price of 178p. Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free  Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning  The sale cut Exponen ..read more

Shoplifting in England and Wales in 2023 reached the highest level since records began in 2003, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). More than 430,000 offences were recorded last year – up by 37% in the year ending 31 December 2023, compared to in 2022, the latest Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) published shows. This is the highest figure since current police recording practices began for the year ending March 2003, the ONS said. Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free  Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each mornin ..read more

UK consumer confidence improved in April as falling inflation helped boost consumer optimism about their personal finances. The latest GfK Consumer Confidence Index rose two points to -19, marking an improvement from -21 points in both March and February. While its major purchase index also strengthened, up 2 points at -25. GfK client strategy director Joe Staton said: “While the overall index score remains negative, all of the underlying five measures this April are significantly better than they were last April. Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free  Sign up here to get the latest ..read more

Sainsbury’s stellar food performance was central to the supermarket beating expectations this week – and it has high hopes for the year ahead as it eyes £1bn of retail profit. Sales jumped an impressive 9.4% in its grocery business in its year to 2 March. CEO Simon Roberts says: “We said we’d put food back at the heart of Sainsbury’s and that’s what we’ve done. Our food business is firing on all cylinders.” “We’re determined…to become the first choice for food.”  Retail Gazette takes a look at the reasons behind Sainsbury’s booming food business below. 1. Nectar Prices “Nectar has deliver ..read more

Ted Baker’s European arm is at risk of entering administration , putting 149 roles at risk of redundancy. The businesses operating the fashion retailer’s physical retail locations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain are at risk, with the process depending on each country’s systems, Drapers reports. This includes two stores and seven concessions in the Netherlands, two stores in Belgium, one store and 15 concessions in Spain. This affects around 149 employees, who have been informed. Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free  Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox e ..read more