Which? says inconsistencies also found, with ‘meaningless’ labels making it hard for shoppers to make informed choice “Misleading” and “inconsistent” labels make it hard for shoppers to know where their food comes from, the consumer champion Which? has said, as it found supermarket chains were selling products with “meaningless” statements on their packaging. Retailers must supply the “country of origin” for specific foods including fresh fruit and vegetables, unprocessed meats, fish, wine and olive oil but the rules do not generally apply to processed meat or frozen or processed fruit and veg ..read more

Retailer says it is filling advice gap on subjects such as menstruation and hormones amid wellness-focused revamp It used to be known mainly as a destination for dried fruit and vitamin tablets but now women can get advice on period pain, mood swings and sleep while shopping in Holland & Barrett. The retailer has trained 600 staff to act as women’s health coaches after its research revealed demand for broader support on hormonal and menstrual issues, with menopause the “tip of the iceberg ..read more

Online fashion retailer says it is becoming ‘faster and more agile’, after pre-tax losses of £120m Asos has said it will take “necessary actions” to transform its fortunes after the fast fashion retailer’s first-half losses widened and sales fell by nearly a fifth. The company reported an 18% drop in sales year on year for the first six months to 3 March. This contributed to an underlying pre-tax loss of £120m, widened from the £87.4m loss recorded during the same period a year earlier ..read more

British growers and sellers fear government measures starting on 30 April could result in delays and plants being damaged Garden centres and nurseries are stockpiling plants before Brexit checks are introduced later this month, amid concerns over whether new border posts will be ready to deal with the volume of deliveries. The Horticultural Trade Association (HTA), which represents garden retailers and growers, said many of its members had been increasing orders of plants in recent weeks, to increase stocks before the checks start on 30 April ..read more

After optimistic float, the boot is on the other foot with the fifth profit warning in three years, a fall in shares and CEO’s exit Unfortunately for headline-writing purposes, the chief executive of Dr Martens has not been given the boot after issuing the company’s fifth – yes, fifth – profits warning in its three years as a listed company. Kenny Wilson has merely decided of his own accord to leave and, indeed, may take his time about it. He could be in post until next March before he hands over to Ije Nwokorie, a former Apple executive who became the chief brand officer earlier this year. Wi ..read more

British bootmaker says it does not expect to increase prices this year as it reports poor US sales Shares in Dr Martens plummeted to a new low as the UK bootmaker warned on profits and poor performance in the US, and announced the departure of its chief executive. The brand, known for its yellow-stitched thick-soled boots, warned sales would fall by a single-digit percentage in the year to the end of March 2025, compared with a year earlier. Profit before tax could be just a third of last year’s £159m in a worst-case scenario ..read more

Julian Dunkerton decided against takeover offer and company will quit London Stock Exchange Business live – latest updates Superdry is to embark on a restructuring plan including rent reductions in stores and a fundraising, backed by its boss and co-founder Julian Dunkerton, and will quit the London Stock Exchange. Trading in the company’s shares was halted on Tuesday morning after they fell 25% to just over 5p, a record low, valuingit at about £6m. At its peak in early 2018, Superdry was worth £1.7bn ..read more

Figures show sales rose 3.5% in March, the first increase above inflation since early in the crisis High street retailers benefited from a jump in consumer spending over the Easter bank holiday weekend, according to industry figures showing an increase in footfall and sales despite the cost of living crisis. Data collected by doorway sensors at thousands of shops across the UK showed footfall increased by 7% compared with Easter 2023 over the four days from Good Friday to Easter Monday, while the value of sales measured by debit card transactions increased by a similar amount ..read more

It is taking fast fashion to ever faster and ever cheaper extremes, and making billions from it. Why is the whole world shopping at Shein? For another five hours and 47 minutes, I can buy a Royal Blue Twist Front Cloak Sleeve Slit Back Dress for $5.90, a Striped Pattern High Neck Drop Shoulder Split Hem Sweater for $8.50, or a Solid Sweetheart Neck Crop Tube Top for $1.90. When today’s 90%-off sale ends at 8pm, the crop top will revert to its original price: $4. There are 895 items on flash sale. On today’s “New In” page, there are 8,640 items (yesterday there were 8,760). The most expensive d ..read more

Cheap DVDs, torrenting and streamers looked to have killed off video rentals. But a group of cinephile shop owners are keeping the flame alive A man shuffles along a royal blue carpet and props himself up against a stacked shelf of videos. Reeling off a list of films, he is handed three store-branded DVD cases. In return? A crisp fiver – plus his thoughts on South Korean horror flicks without any dialogue. This isn’t a sepia-tinged flashback from the past. Nor is it all just a dream. It is 2024 and the transaction is taking place at Snips Movies, one of the UK’s last v ..read more