Retail

Bloomberg The cost of baby clothes could rise in the UK if the country crashes out of the European Union without an agreement, according to retailer Next Plc. Few sleep-suits and other newborn items are made in the UK, leaving these clothes exposed to tariffs under a temporary regime unlike some women’s garments, Next Finance Director Amanda James said in ...

Bloomberg Ocado Group Plc‘s retail business keeps steaming ahead as the UK online grocer counts down a year to the launch of its partnership with Marks & Spencer Group Plc. Retail revenue grew 11 percent for the 13 weeks through September 1, even though the average order size was down slightly. The company kept its projection for 10 percent to ...

Bloomberg Holiday retail sales will increase by 4.5 percent to 5 percent to more than $1.1 trillion this year as a strong US job market offsets concerns about an economic slowdown and the trade war with China, according to Deloitte. “Near record-low unemployment rates, coupled with continued monthly job creation, may encourage people to spend more during the holiday season,” ...

Bloomberg Forever 21 Inc is in discussions to give a stake in the company to its two largest landlords as part of a restructuring that would allow co-founder Do Won Chang to retain a share, according to people familiar with the matter. The ailing fast-fashion retailer is in talks with Simon Property Group Inc and Brookfield Property Partners LP about ...

Bloomberg Walmart Inc’s quest to go upmarket has now taken the red-state retailer to the streets of Manhattan. The company has revived the defunct Scoop label and will position it as a private fashion brand, Walmart’s online fashion chief Denise Incandela said in a statement. Walmart’s website and some stores will carry more than 100 items including tops, shoes and ...

Bloomberg Hennes & Mauritz AB’s sales growth slowed in the key July and August months, hampering the Swedish retailer’s attempt to end a three-year slump in earnings. Sales growth probably slowed down to 6 percent in those two months from 12 percent in June, Berenberg analysts said, based on calculations from figures H&M reported. The shares dropped as much as ...

Bloomberg Walmart Inc, looking to generate more profit from its online unit, wants to start storing and shipping products for third-party vendors for the first time, just as rival Amazon.com Inc has done for years. The world’s largest retailer is testing a fee-based service called “Fulfilled by Walmart,” US e-commerce chief Marc Lore said at an industry conference. Lore didn’t ...

Bloomberg Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc’s sales slumped in its second quarter as the grocer faced a tough comparison with 2018, when unseasonably warm weather, the World Cup and a royal wedding boosted spending. But it predicted an improvement in the second half, lifting the shares. Comparable group sales fell 1.9 percent for the quarter, slowing half-year growth to 0.2 percent. ...

Bloomberg China Mengniu Dairy Co agreed to buy organic infant formula maker Bellamy’s Australia Ltd for A$1.5 billion ($1 billion), securing a premium brand in one of the fastest-growing segments of the dairy market. The Hong Kong-based firm offered A$13.25 per share for Bellamy’s, a sizable 59 percent premium to the stock’s last closing price. The Launceston, Tasmania-based company’s board ...

Bloomberg Amazon.com Inc-owned Whole Foods Market is changing medical benefit eligibility requirements next year that could leave as many as 1,900 part-time workers without coverage. Employees will have to work at least 30 hours a week to qualify for a healthcare plan beginning January 1, up from the current eligibility requirement of 20 hours, the company said in an emailed ...