Newspaper retail round-up

A roundup of retail stories in the newspapers this week… JJB, Uniqlo, Debenhams, Tesco, French Connection, Greggs

The Telegraph:

Peel Holdings backs JJB’s controversial CVA

Peel Holdings, one of the biggest landlords to JJB Sports, has backed the struggling retailer’s controversial plans for a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

Uniqlo donates over £16m to tsunami relief efforts

Japanese fashion label Uniqlo donates funds and clothing to help victims of earthquake tragedy.

Debenhams warns of tough times on the high street

Department store group Debenhams has warned that consumer spending is likely to be subdued over the second half of the year because of declining disposable incomes.

Shoppers get wise to dodgy pricing

Research for furniture retailer CSL suggests consumers are no longer fooled by “dodgy pricing policies”.

Sir Terry Leahy says supermarket shoppers face a dilemma

Sir Terry Leahy believes that consumers dislike modern supermarkets for the same reasons that they enjoy using them. He says: “The thing about modern supermarkets is what people like about them is also what people worry about; the benefits that I receive as a consumer, does that come at some other price for somebody else or for me as a citizen?”

The Guardian:

Rising fuel prices and taxes challenge shoppers

Tesco UK chief executive Richard Brasher describes cost of fuel, utilities and taxes as a ’real challenge’ for his supermarket’s customers.

UK’s new shopping basket: does it reflect your buying habits?

The Office for National Statistics has updated the goods and services it uses to track inflation – including smart phones, dating agency fees and home cinema systems.

French Connection pins hopes on baffling ads

No one knows what French Connection’s You Are Woman? ads are supposed to mean but they mark the end of the retailer’s financial losing streak. It reported a pre-tax profit of £7.3m in the year to the end of January, up from £700,000.

The Financial Times:

Greggs joins coffee wars

High street baker to take on coffee operators including Starbucks by offering cut-price lattes and cappuccinos across its 1,480-store estate.

Bargain hunters turn to smartphones

Smartphones have turned consumers into ’price tarts’, with one in ten shoppers admitting they use their mobiles in shops to search for better prices online.

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