MBS Intelligence
Retail
Shopping for Spring
A subject I love talking about and debating is whether ‘retail theatre’ in supermarkets is still as relevant today as it was in days gone by. Since Covid, all of my repeat supermarket items have been bought on...
On the move: how innovation in food-to-go is driving…
The food-to-go segment has had a rollercoaster few years. Hit hard by the pandemic, sandwich sellers and manufacturers have had to navigate unpredictable trading patterns since 2020, and adapt to new, and different,...
Women to Watch in Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Retail…
The MBS Group is delighted to present the 2024 edition of the Women to Watch in Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Retail Index, produced in partnership with WiHTL and Diversity in Retail. Now in its sixth year, the...
From Cape Town to Camden: gardens with purpose
On the 1st July 2019, Dorp opened its doors to the public in Cape Town. Since then, my annual visit ‘home’ to South Africa has brought me to this hotel/home from home, on the highest hill underneath Signal Hill and...
Where will our future merchants come from?
Those who know me know that I’m passionate about the UK as a nation of shopkeepers. There’s nothing I love more than speaking to and learning from a true merchant – someone who deeply understands their customer...
Carrefour: a new sheriff in town?
In the 2000s, the global retail CEO community was dominated by alumni of ASDA and Walmart. In the 2010s, this nexus of power shifted to a generation of retail CEOs who trained at Tesco in its heyday. Now, in the past...
Franchising Folly?
Brands in the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry – together with adjacent sectors such as coffee and convenience retail – have in recent years transitioned to structures that allow, in some cases, for the...
How M&S have spearheaded the Say Pants to the…
Over the past two weeks, the retail industry has rallied together in support of M&S’ Say Pants to the Tax Campaign, which calls on the Government to slash VAT on period pants. In 2021, the Government made the...
A visit to Amsterdam’s Duikelman kitchen shop
Anyone who knows me well knows that I love stores! One of my favourite ways to explore a new city is through its shops. I always wander through the supermarkets, and in the past I made sure to visit local department...
Latest Retail News
Currys to upgrade store estate In a bid to improve customer experience, the electronics retailer has outlined plans to transform 65 of its stores. These stores will have about 90% of their space altered to "better cater to customer tech needs." Read more.
Superdrug ramps up bricks-and-mortar expansion The health and beauty retailer has announced plans to open 25 new stores in 2024. The company has committed to opening "bigger and better store formats in prime retail destinations." Read more.
Walmart beats forecasts thanks to strong customer demand The world's biggest supermarket has reported a jump in online sales and high demand among upper-income households. Revenue for the three months to end of April increased 6% to $161.5bn. Read more.
Gail’s opens first in-store bakery in tie-up with Waitrose The chain is partnering with Waitrose for its first-ever in-store bakery, which will open at the beginning of June. Waitrose already stocks Gail's products in 5% of its stores. Read more.
Store expansion drives growth at Miniso The Chinese general merchandise retailer, which has 27 stores in the UK, has reported growth in revenue and profit. The company has continued to roll-out stores internationally and in its domestic market. Read more.
Specialist retailer Angling Direct celebrates record UK peformance The fishing tackle and equipment retailer has recorded total sales of £81.7m, up 10.2% year-on-year from £74.1m. These results represent best-ever sales for Angling Direct, and a steep improvement in market share. Read more.
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