Today’s news in brief-7/8/24

Chris Brook-Carter, CEO of Retail Trust, highlighted an increase in calls from retail workers fearing for their safety amidst recent rioting in England and Northern Ireland. Several retail stores, including Shoe Zone and Sainsbury’s Local, were targeted by rioters. The British Retail Consortium is responding with a meeting today to address ongoing violence, emphasising the need for law enforcement to intervene against criminal acts.

Puma reported a 2.1% increase in sales to €2.11bn, driven by strong demand in the Americas. However, sales in EMEA declined due to challenging comparatives from the previous year. The company’s wholesale business saw a 3.3% decline, primarily in EEMEA, but showed improvement elsewhere. Operating expenses rose by 4.3%, impacting profitability, yet Puma remains optimistic, reaffirming its sales growth outlook and narrowing its full-year EBIT projection.

Holland and Barrett has implemented Auror’s crime prevention technology across its stores amidst rising retail crime levels in the UK. The technology, alongside body cameras and remote CCTV monitoring, aims to deter theft and ensure colleague safety. Over 7,000 incidents have been reported since its implementation, with a focus on identifying and managing repeat offenders.

Morrisons is extending its partnership with Too Good To Go to 930 Morrisons Daily stores, offering ‘Surprise Bags’ of surplus food nearing its sell-by date at discounted prices. This initiative aligns with Morrisons’ sustainability goals, having saved millions of bags of food from being wasted since 2019. The expansion reflects a broader commitment to reducing food waste and operational emissions.

White Stuff saw a 2.4% increase in sales to £155m in FY24, with EBITDA up by 23%. The growth was driven by a focus on full-price sales and expansion into new retail locations, including city centres and shopping malls. The clothing brand remains optimistic about the current financial year, citing strong early performance and ongoing brand transformation efforts.

Sephora UK announced the opening of a new store in Bluewater Shopping Centre, marking its seventh location since entering the UK market in 2022. The store will offer a wide range of beauty products and in-store services, enhancing its presence in key retail destinations across the country. This expansion underscores Sephora’s commitment to providing unique shopping experiences and curated beauty selections.