Retail

Bloomberg H&M’s chief technology officer is trying to make smart clothing mainstream, at a time when clothing manufacturers are struggling with complex supply chains and environmental pressure. Alan Boehme is examining how H&M’s clothes could monitor your heart rate or hydration levels, and how artificial intelligence could shrink H&M’s supply chain, potentially decreasing the company’s carbon footprint. H&M couldn’t keep …

Bloomberg The owner of Coach says its strong sales in China aren’t under threat from President Xi Jinping’s push to narrow his country’s wealth gap because the brand’s customers are mainly middle class. “We do think we’re at an advantaged position with the policies,” said Joanne Crevoiserat, the CEO of Coach’s parent, Tapestry. “We see further strengthening of the middle class.” …

Bloomberg Future Retail Ltd’s independent directors have urged India’s antitrust body to revoke its approval of a 2019 deal between one of its group companies and an Amazon.com Inc unit, saying the American retailer lied to the regulator. Amazon obtained the Competition Commission of India’s approval for its purchase of 49% of Future Coupons Pvt with an option to buy …

Bloomberg Sweden’s biggest grocery chain, ICA Gruppen, plans to go private at a $12.5 billion valuation, the latest in a wave of dealmaking to sweep through the European supermarket industry. ICA’s majority owner, comprising an association of 1,500 retailers, is looking to acquire all the shares it doesn’t already own, according to a statement. The group sees leaving the stock …

Bloomberg Discount clothing chain Primark is sticking to its guns as a bricks-and-mortar retailer with plans to increase the store count by about a third, largely in the US, while most rivals focus on e-commerce. Parent company Associated British Foods Plc said it aims to raise the store total to 530 worldwide over the next five years, from 398 currently. …

Bloomberg FSN E-Commerce Ventures Ltd, the entity that operates the Indian beauty startup Nykaa, rose as much as 89% on debut, even as the broader equity market dipped. The Mumbai-based firm was trading at 2,063 rupees ($28) as of 10:13 am in Mumbai on Wednesday, after pricing its initial public offering at 1,125 rupees per share, the top of a …

Bloomberg Selfridges & Co held discussions with potential investors about splitting off its e-commerce business while also considering a potential sale of the department store group, according to people familiar with the matter. The luxury emporium, best known for its giant department store on London’s Oxford Street, considered spinning off Selfridges.com from its lucrative property holdings, which are far larger …

Bloomberg Bed Bath & Beyond Inc soared in late trading after announcing accelerated share buybacks and the launch of a new digital marketplace for merchandise from third-party producers. The company said it expects to complete its $1 billion share repurchase plan by the end of its fiscal year in February — two years ahead of schedule. There is $400 million …

Bloomberg Purplle, the Indian online beauty products retailer backed by Goldman Sachs Group Inc, is raising funds at a valuation of $630 million just as rival Nykaa is executing its initial public offering. Kedaara Capital led the fresh $75 million funding round, Purplle said in a statement. The startup will use the funds to boost innovation in beauty products and …

Bloomberg China’s plan to reform its consumption tax system will likely entail a hike in rates on luxury goods and products that use high energy or generate significant pollution, according to analysts at China International Capital Corp (CICC). The changes will be focused in areas aligned with China’s goals of reaching carbon neutrality and “common prosperity,” CICC analysts led by …