Neil Saunders
@neilretail.com
Managing Director at GlobalData. Retail analyst.
🇬🇧 New Look raids Co-op for new retail director
New Look raids Co-op for new retail director
New Look has named Co-op director of format and innovation Mark Matthews as its new retail director.
www.retail-week.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:55 AM
🇬🇧 New Look raids Co-op for new retail director
🇬🇧 Late Budget dampens Black Friday spending
Late Budget dampens Black Friday spending
Retailers missed out on a big Black Friday boost last month as pre-Budget jitters put a dampener on spending, the British Retail Consortium said.
www.retail-week.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:50 AM
🇬🇧 Late Budget dampens Black Friday spending
🇬🇧 Balloons containing up to six times legal limit of carcinogens on sale in UK
Balloons containing up to six times legal limit of carcinogens on sale in UK
Which? found eight out of 21 balloons contained concentrations of potentially carcinogenic chemicals significantly above the UK’s permitted limit.
www.standard.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 8:45 AM
🇬🇧 Balloons containing up to six times legal limit of carcinogens on sale in UK
🇬🇧 ‘No plans’ to withdraw controversial nitrites report, says government
‘No plans’ to withdraw controversial nitrites report, says government
The DHSC described a controversial review by the watchdog as an "important piece of work" and said there were no plans for it to be withdrawn
www.thegrocer.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 8:40 AM
🇬🇧 ‘No plans’ to withdraw controversial nitrites report, says government
🇬🇧 River Island losses almost double pre-restructuring
River Island losses almost double pre-restructuring
River Island's operating loss almost doubled (86.3%) to £65.3m for the 52 weeks to 28 December 2024, months before its restructuring plan received the green light in August.
www.drapersonline.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:30 AM
🇬🇧 River Island losses almost double pre-restructuring
🇬🇧 Ocado appoints new independent non-exec
Ocado appoints new independent non-exec
Ocado Group has appointed Cathy Graham as an independent non-executive director.
www.retail-week.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:20 AM
🇬🇧 Ocado appoints new independent non-exec
🇬🇧 Magnum only scoops €8bn valuation on stock market debut
Magnum only scoops €8bn valuation on stock market debut
Unilever's demerged Magnum Ice Cream Company netted a €7.8bn (£6.8bn) valuation on its stock market debut, undershooting analyst expectations
www.cityam.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:10 AM
🇬🇧 Magnum only scoops €8bn valuation on stock market debut
🇬🇧 Matalan reveals results of first phase of store refresh programme
Matalan reveals results of first phase of store refresh programme
Matalan has shared an update on the first phase of its store refurbishment programme as it makes progress on its business transformation.
www.retail-week.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🇬🇧 Matalan reveals results of first phase of store refresh programme
🇬🇧 Turnbull & Asser appoints creative director
Turnbull & Asser appoints creative director
Turnbull & Asser has named former Burberry creative director Roberto Menichetti to oversee all creative direction including bespoke shirting, tailoring, outerwear and accessories.
www.drapersonline.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:40 AM
🇬🇧 Turnbull & Asser appoints creative director
🇬🇧 Unilever’s ice cream spin-off doesn’t hit the sweet spot
Unilever’s ice cream spin-off doesn’t hit the sweet spot
Demerger of Magnum may have left some cold but it could be a taste that comes to grow on investors
www.ft.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:20 AM
🇬🇧 Unilever’s ice cream spin-off doesn’t hit the sweet spot
🇬🇧 Parents ‘typically spending £117 per child on clothing this winter’
Parents ‘typically spending £117 per child on clothing this winter’
Some 16% of grandparents will be contributing to the bill for children’s clothes, according to Clearpay.
www.standard.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 7:00 AM
🇬🇧 Parents ‘typically spending £117 per child on clothing this winter’
🇬🇧 Rates cut for Harrods as Reeves hammers pubs with a painful rise
Rates cut for Harrods as Reeves hammers pubs with a painful rise
Businesses were left seething by Budget reforms that will see small venues pay an extra £318m in the property tax over the next three years.
www.thisismoney.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 6:40 AM
🇬🇧 Rates cut for Harrods as Reeves hammers pubs with a painful rise
🇬🇧 As Plastics Pact 2.0 launches, can Wrap win over wary industry?
As Plastics Pact 2.0 launches, can Wrap win over wary industry?
Several big names have yet to sign up to Wrap's new scheme, citing the failure of the first Plastics Pact, intangible goals and increased costs
www.thegrocer.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 6:20 AM
🇬🇧 As Plastics Pact 2.0 launches, can Wrap win over wary industry?
🇬🇧 River Island sets sights on profit after losing almost £125m
River Island sets sights on profit after losing almost £125m
River Island lost almost £125m in the year before being saved from the brink of administration, it has been revealed.
www.cityam.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:00 AM
🇬🇧 River Island sets sights on profit after losing almost £125m
🇬🇧 Aldi chief expects ‘record Christmas sales’ but stops short of predicting like-for-like growth
Aldi chief expects ‘record Christmas sales’ but stops short of predicting like-for-like growth
'Shoppers are prioritising value, as they always do, but more than ever this Christmas,' said Aldi chief Giles Hurley
www.thegrocer.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 5:40 AM
🇬🇧 Aldi chief expects ‘record Christmas sales’ but stops short of predicting like-for-like growth
🇬🇧 Pre-Budget shopper ‘jitters’ dampen Black Friday sales
Pre-Budget shopper ‘jitters’ dampen Black Friday sales
Total retail sales across the UK increased by 1.4% year on year in November – the weakest growth in six months, BRC and KPMG figures show.
www.standard.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 5:20 AM
🇬🇧 Pre-Budget shopper ‘jitters’ dampen Black Friday sales
🇬🇧 Budget uncertainty blamed for sharp fall in card spending by UK consumers
Budget uncertainty blamed for sharp fall in card spending by UK consumers
The decrease is the largest since February 2021
www.ft.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM
🇬🇧 Budget uncertainty blamed for sharp fall in card spending by UK consumers
🇬🇧 Pubs outraged as Selfridges and Harrods see business rates slashed
Pubs outraged as Selfridges and Harrods see business rates slashed
A new shake-up of business rates will cause the tax bill of luxury stores like Selfridges to fall, while smaller venues face hikes.
www.cityam.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:40 AM
🇬🇧 Pubs outraged as Selfridges and Harrods see business rates slashed
🇬🇧 Retail boost as government unveils £725m apprenticeship overhaul
Retail boost as government unveils £725m apprenticeship overhaul
The government has unveiled a £725m overhaul of the apprenticeship system, promising 50,000 more placements over the next three years.
www.retailgazette.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 4:20 AM
🇬🇧 Retail boost as government unveils £725m apprenticeship overhaul
🇬🇧 Ocado appoints former Darktrace CFO as independent non exec
Ocado appoints former Darktrace CFO as independent non exec
Ocado has appointed Cathy Graham to its board as an independent non-executive director, effective 1 February 2026.
www.retailgazette.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 4:00 AM
🇬🇧 Ocado appoints former Darktrace CFO as independent non exec
🇬🇧 Iceland boss to be made Labour peer
Iceland boss to be made Labour peer
Iceland chief executive Richard Walker is to be nominated for a seat in the House of Lords.
www.retail-week.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:40 AM
🇬🇧 Iceland boss to be made Labour peer
🇺🇸 ‘You have to stay curious’: Michael Kors on his inclusive brand’s global rise www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...
‘You have to stay curious’: Michael Kors on his inclusive brand’s global rise
With a return to thinness in the fashion industry, catwalks spanning size, age and race may be the secret of the Kors appeal
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:08 PM
🇺🇸 ‘You have to stay curious’: Michael Kors on his inclusive brand’s global rise www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...
🇺🇸 The K-shaped Christmas: wealthy few drive holiday spending splurge while many struggle to get by www.theguardian.com/business/202...
The K-shaped Christmas: wealthy few drive holiday spending splurge while many struggle to get by
A soaring stock market rewards the already well-off but Trump’s handling of the economy has caused his approval ratings to plunge
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:07 PM
🇺🇸 The K-shaped Christmas: wealthy few drive holiday spending splurge while many struggle to get by www.theguardian.com/business/202...
🇺🇸 Bras, beauty push up Victoria’s Secret in ‘standout’ Q3
Bras, beauty push up Victoria’s Secret in ‘standout’ Q3
The lingerie giant, which grabbed back market share in the quarter, raised its outlook for the year.
www.retaildive.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM
🇺🇸 Bras, beauty push up Victoria’s Secret in ‘standout’ Q3
🇺🇸 Diners flocking to happy hour, ordering appetizers and skimping on entrees as affordability hits US restaurants nationwide
Diners flocking to happy hour, ordering appetizers and skimping on entrees as affordability hits US restaurants nationwide
Appetizer sales across the US this year surged 20% through August – blowing past typical growth in the low-to-mid-single digits, according to Buyer’s Edge.
nypost.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:20 PM
🇺🇸 Diners flocking to happy hour, ordering appetizers and skimping on entrees as affordability hits US restaurants nationwide