Retail News CRM

Tag: uk

  • Costa Coffee enters Japan with three stores planned to open

    Costa Coffee enters Japan with three stores planned to open

    UK coffee chain Costa Coffee has expanded its presence into Japan under a joint venture dubbed Sojitz Royal Cafe between Sojitz Corporation and Royal Holdings.

    The chain’s first location in Japan was launched in the Shibuya district, featuring the brand’s signature design that uses Costa Red and Costa Pink accents. The store opening will be followed by the brand’s second store in Otemachi in September and its flagship store’s launch in Ginza the following month.

    Sojitz Royal Cafe, established in January, acquired the exclusive franchise rights of Costa Coffee in Japan earlier this year.

    Founded in London by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971, Costa Coffee has more than 4000 stores across 45 countries.

    Further reading, Japan’s % Arabica set for franchised European expansion in next year.

    Lees ook:

  • UK carrier Vodafone achieves its fastest speeds

    UK carrier Vodafone achieves its fastest speeds

    UK carrier Vodafone has accomplished yet another milestone. In a new blog post, the mobile operator announced that it achieved its fastest-ever speed throughout the home during a trial with CityFibre — a company that owns, operates, and maintains fiber-to-the-building infrastructure in cities throughout the UK.

    Thanks to CityFibre’s upgrade of its York network to XGS-PON, which should be able to support speeds of up to 10Gbps, and Vodafone’s Ultra Hub modem and Super WiFi 6E Booster, the carrier’s Pro II Broadband plan managed to reach broadband speeds of up to 2Gbps. Vodafone stated that these speeds are twice as fast as the fastest services currently available on CityFibre’s network.

    But what does that mean for the end user? Well, with a 2Gbps Full Fiber service, you can download a 50GB game on your console in around three minutes and 20 seconds, which is more than 50% faster than Vodafone’s 910Mbps broadband. Or, if you prefer watching TV series, you can download a 3.53GB HD TV show in about 15 seconds, which is just incredible.

    However, in order to fully take advantage of such a fast broadband connection, you also need a powerful smartphone. And if you are in the market for one, feel free to check out our best Vodafone phone deals article and get one from there with a great discount. In case you are rocking with another carrier, you can see our best O2 phone deals, best Three phone deals, best EE phone deals, and best Virgin Media deals articles.

    Lees ook:

  • UK carrier Vodafone launches new refurbished phone range

    UK carrier Vodafone launches new refurbished phone range

    As many of us know, premium smartphones are powerful and, at least in theory, last longer. But one huge downside is that they also come with a premium price tag, which not everyone can afford. So, if you want an expensive phone but don’t want to spend a lot of money on a handset, and you live in the UK, you can now buy a phone from Vodafone’s latest refurbished range, which the carrier just recently launched. As the mobile operator stated in its announcement, its new offerings can help “price-conscious customers get the phone they want for less.”

    For example, clients can get a refurbished iPhone SE (2022) 64GB for £261 on a 36-month payment contract. The regular price of the phone is £451, so by buying a refurbished model, you are saving £190.

    As for the other phones that Vodafone is currently offering, you can buy a refurbished model of the iPhone 13, the iPhone 12, the iPhone XR, the iPhone 11, the Samsung Galaxy S21, and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. Furthermore, the carrier is offering a two-year warranty on every Pay Monthly refurbished phone. According to the announcement, Vodafone is the only major UK mobile operator to offer such a warranty.

    If you hesitate whether to buy a renewed phone or not, Vodafone assures that its refurbished handsets are in “Great” or “Pristine” condition. Also, every phone has passed a visual and diagnostic check, which ensures that all devices work without issue. Vodafone also stated that these phones have been deep cleaned and securely data wiped, and if there is any problem, you can take advantage of Vodafone’s 14-day no-quibble money-back guarantee.

    However, if you want to get a brand new phone with a great discount, you should check out our best Vodafone phone deals. Or, if you are rolling with another carrier, you can visit our top Virgin Media phone deals, best O2 phone deals, three phone deals, and EE phone deals.

  • Tesco Mobile introduces roaming charges for EU travel

    Tesco Mobile introduces roaming charges for EU travel

    After Brexit became a reality, UK mobile operators were quick to promise that roaming charges for calls and data from within EU countries will not make a return. But, after the EU Trade Deal was finalized in 2021, it seems things changed.

    EE was first to cave and reintroduced EU roaming charges for its customers. Three, Vodafone, and Sky followed suit. Now, Tesco joins in.

    No announcement, no fanfare, Tesco changed its Terms & Conditions to include this change. Come January of 2023, any customers that have signed a new contract with the provider after June 6th 2022 (including) will need to pay for their mobile usage from within EU countries as follows — 10p per MB of data, 20p per SMS (no MMS while roaming), 55p per minute of regular voice calling.

    If you have entered a contract with Tesco before the aforementioned date, you will not be affected by the roaming charges until you renew or upgrade your service.

    Frequent travellers will be able to make use of various roaming bundles that Tesco will have on offer, making it cheaper for those that find themselves abroad more often.
    Out of all major carriers in the UK, Virgin Media and O2 have yet to introduce roaming fees for EU countries. In fact, so much so that you may be feeling tempted to check out some phone deals on Virgin or phone deals on O2. Vodafone’s Xtra plans can also include no-fee roaming for the EU and other countries abroad, so it’s great if you can find your favorite phone bundled with the right plan (Vodafone refreshes its phone deals once per month or so).
    By this point, EU roaming fees for all UK residents seem like an inevitability, with the only question being “when” the last operators will cave.

     

  • Norton To Begin Developing Electric Motorcycles In UK

    Norton To Begin Developing Electric Motorcycles In UK

    UK based Norton Motorcycles, owned by TVS Motor Company, has announced plans for designing and developing electric motorcycles at its UK plant, after it received funding from Advanced Propulsion Centre 19 (APC), a government scheme which looks to assist companies in the automotive sector to invest in, design and manufacture low-carbon mobility options, that is electric vehicles. The team at Norton says that it will refine the traditional Norton motorcycle design DNA but offer a hint of modernity by way of innovations and digital solutions on the new electric motorcycle.

    Norton wants to manufacture an electric motorcycle that will look unmistakably like a Norton and offer exceptional performance and touring range. Norton says that the design of the new EV will not be compromised by the weight and the size of battery.

    Norton has also onboarded specialist partners for the R&D on this project. The team encompasses Delta Cosworth, HiSpeed Limited, Formaplex Technologies, M&I Materials, INDRA and academic partner WMG (The University of Warwick). Norton will work alongside these partners to develop world-class technology and products that will enhance the UK supply chain for all the critical components in electric vehicle (EV) technology including batteries, motors, chassis, cooling oils and vehicle to home chargers.

    Each partner on the project will have a specialist part to play in project Zero Emission Norton. Delta Cosworth will design the battery pack, while HiSpeed Limited bring motor design and manufacturing skills. Formaplex Technologies have expertise in precision composites manufacturing and M&I Materials will support on applications of dielectric cooling oils. INDRA specialise in vehicle to home charging technology and WMG (The University of Warwick) major on battery technology, modelling and toolchain development.

    Lees ook:

  • Singapore, UK sign MOUs on digital trade, digital identities and cybersecurity

    Singapore, UK sign MOUs on digital trade, digital identities and cybersecurity

    Singapore and the United Kingdom will work more closely to facilitate digital trade between the countries, as part of a partnership that will make digital transactions by businesses easier, safer, and cheaper.

    The partnership was deepened by the inking of three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) by the two countries on Monday (Nov 29).

    The MOUs will strengthen the digital connectivity between them, said Singapore’s Ministry of Communications and Information and the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in a joint statement.

    “In 2019, 70 percent of UK cross-border services exports to Singapore were digitally delivered,” said the government organizations. The exports amounted to £3.2 billion (S$5.8 billion) in value.

    “These MOUs will further support opportunities to grow digital delivery of cross-border services between the UK and Singapore, provide a basis for working closely with like-minded digital partners, and help set a global benchmark on high-standards digital cooperation to bring economic and societal benefits to both countries,” they added.

    The MOUs will also support the shared goals and key tenets of the UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement, which seeks to promote trusted, robust and connected digital markets for people and businesses.

    The agreement, which is being negotiated, will establish rules to enable trusted cross-border data flows and ensure high standards in data protection.

    Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo and the UK’s Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nadine Dorries signed the MOUs in London on Monday.

    Mrs. Teo is also in London to attend the London Future Tech Forum, which aims to facilitate discussion on the role of technology in supporting open societies and tackling global challenges, among other things. Participants include governments and those from academia.

    Under the first MOU, the countries will share knowledge and implementation of pilot projects in areas such as electronic trade documents and invoicing.

    This will help drive the development and adoption of digital trade facilitation solutions at a bilateral and international level, said the ministries.

    Benefits to the digitalization of trade include improving accessibility for small and medium-sized enterprises to engage in cross-border trade, among other things.

    “The sharing of best practices will also influence the creation of secure global supply chains and interoperable digital ecosystems,” added the ministries.

    Under the second MOU, Singapore and the UK will work more closely to develop mutual recognition of digital identities between the countries.

    The MOU is “an important step in the route to achieving interoperability of digital identity regimes between different jurisdictions”, which can allow for more reliable identity verification and faster processing of applications, among other things, the ministries added.

    “This would, in turn, reduce barriers in cross-border trade and enable businesses and individuals to navigate the international digital economy with greater ease, confidence and security.”

  • Nestlé calls on FMCG companies to help end recycling confusion

    Nestlé calls on FMCG companies to help end recycling confusion

    The Flexible Plastic Fund is a UK industry first and is being led by producer compliance scheme, Ecosurety, with support from the environmental charity, Hubbub.

    In collaboration with manufacturers, retailers and recyclers, the fund intends to improve flexible plastic recycling and reduce plastic pollution by giving the material a stable value. This will in turn increase the supply of recycled plastic enabling the industry to become more ‘circular’ and meet the forthcoming UK plastic packaging tax obligations. The fund should motivate investment in much-needed jobs and infrastructure to make flexible plastic recycling a financially sustainable system in the UK.

    New research from the University of Sheffield suggests there is strong consumer demand for recycling flexible plastic with 95% of participants saying they would be willing to recycle their flexible plastics1. Sainsbury’s and Waitrose have already signed up to support the initiative by hosting flexible plastic collection points in selected stores across the UK. Several other major retailers are set to follow suit. As a result, recycling this material will become increasingly accessible to consumers, as they will be able to recycle all types of flexible plastic packaging with participating retailers.

    With just 16% of UK local authorities2 currently offering a household collection of flexible plastics, the amounts of this material collected for recycling are low. Flexible plastics include plastic bags, wrappers, films, pouches, packets and sachets and is described as ‘plastic bags and wrapping’, ‘soft plastics’ or ‘flexible plastics’. The fund will guarantee a minimum value of £100 per tonne of recycled product to incentivize recyclers to process flexible plastic.

    The long-term ambition of the fund is to drive progress towards creating a circular, UK-based flexible plastic recycling market that allows flexible plastic recycling via household collections. As part of the UK’s drive to boost recycling, WRAP recently announced new recommendations to support flexible plastic recycling.

    Flexible plastic represented 22% of all UK consumer plastic packaging in 2019 but only 6% was recycled. This type of plastic must be processed in a different way to other plastics due to its unique properties – it often contaminates rigid plastic recycling and clogs up machinery – something that could be overcome by creating a separate flexible plastic recycling stream.

    The initiative will provide fully audited transparency – at least 80% of the plastics collected will be recycled in the UK – rising to 100% by 2023. Until 2023, where there are currently limits in UK capacity and technology, up to 20% could be exported to qualifying facilities in Europe only. All material will be fully traceable and tracked from the collector through to new products. Unlike many other schemes, recyclers will only be paid if the plastic is definitely recycled. The manufacturers contributing to the Flexible Plastic Fund will then be able to access the Packaging Recovery Notes (“PRNs”) generated by this high-quality, tracked recycling scheme.

    The recycled plastic will be turned into a range of products including non-food-grade plastic, non-food-grade film and food-grade film. Through its graded payment hierarchy, the Flexible Plastic Fund is actively incentivizing the development of a circular model of production where flexible plastic packaging can be recycled into plastic packaging, including food-grade, again and again.

    The Flexible Plastic Fund is calling for recyclers, manufacturers and retailers to get in touch to play their role in this vital scheme that is driving solutions to flexible plastic waste in the UK.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Vietnamese carrier announces first Vietnam-UK direct flights

    Vietnamese carrier announces first Vietnam-UK direct flights

    Bamboo Airways announced the launch of the first Vietnam-U.K. direct flight routes Sunday in the presence of PM Pham Minh Chinh, in the U.K. for the COP26 meet.

    The airline also confirmed that local firm APG UK will be its representative in the U.K.

    Bamboo Airways chairman Trinh Van Quyet said that the direct flights could commence as early as this year when the resumption of commercial flights between the two countries is allowed.

    The airline said it expects to operate six round trips a week between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and London; and increase frequency based on demand.

    Bamboo Airways’s direct flights would help cut travel time between Vietnam and the U.K. to around 12 hours, seven hours quicker than flights that require transit.

    The flights are expected to drop off and take passengers at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2, connecting Vietnam’s Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports with the U.K.’s largest airport. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will be used for flights on the Vietnam-U.K. routes, the airline said.

    Nguyen Hoang Long, Vietnamese ambassador to the U.K., said opening direct flights between the two countries would boost commerce and people-to-people exchanges and would be particularly beneficial for the Vietnamese community in the U.K.

    APG UK, a passenger and cargo representation company, will support the airline with sales, marketing, and customer support as also issues related to aviation policies and procedures.

    There are currently over 100,000 Vietnamese studying and living in the U.K., and around 60 percent of them are in London. In 2019 alone, the number of tourists from the U.K. traveling to Vietnam reached 315,000, a 105 percent increase from the same period in 2018, according to the General Statistics Office. Among European countries, the U.K. has the second-highest number of visitors to Vietnam, the office added.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Gap to close all 81 stores across the UK, Ireland

    Gap to close all 81 stores across the UK, Ireland

    The firm said it would close all its stores “in a phased manner” between the end of August and the end of September.

    This includes 19 stores that were already scheduled to close in July as their leases were expiring.

    The company has not disclosed how many employees the closures will affect, but will shortly start a consultation process with the staff.

    The firm said it was “not exiting the UK market” and would continue to offer a web-based store when all the shops had closed.

    A Gap spokesperson said the decision followed a strategic review of its European business.

    Gap was a big hit when it first opened in the UK back in 1987, famous for its hoodies and sweatshirts. But in recent years, it has struggled to stay relevant, resorting to prolific discounting to pull shoppers in. That left Gap in a weak position to withstand the turmoil of a global pandemic.

    It launched a strategic review of its entire European operations last autumn, warning that it was considering closing all its UK stores. Just a few weeks ago, 19 store closures were announced – now the rest of them will close as well.

    Gap blamed what it described as market dynamics – in other words, the huge shift to internet shopping. It’s going online-only, just like Debenhams and Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia group. It’s yet another famous name bidding a retreat from our High Streets, adding to the challenge of what to do with empty shops.

    The closure is because Gap failed to keep up with the competition by not offering enough variety or being as cheap as competitors such as Primark.

    “The brands you want to shop within physical retail have to have so much more than just products on offer, they have to have a purpose,” she says.

    The company said it was in negotiations with another firm to take over all of its French stores.

    In Italy, Gap said it was in discussions with a partner for the potential acquisition of the stores there.

    “We believe in Gap’s global brand power. We are executing against Gap’s Power Plan and partnering to amplify our global reach,” the spokesperson said.

    “We are not exiting the UK market. We will continue to run and operate our Gap e-commerce business in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.”

    A source close to the company said that it had seen rapid uptake of internet shopping for its clothes in the UK since the pandemic-enforced lockdowns.

  • LVMH’s shuttered Thomas Pink brand to be revived

    LVMH’s shuttered Thomas Pink brand to be revived

    British shirt-maker Thomas Pink is set to be revived after former JD Sports executive Nick Preston acquired the brand.

    According to the Mail on Sunday, Nick Preston has brokered a deal to take control of LVMH’s shirtmaker brand, including its intellectual property but not its website or shops.

    The retailer ceased operations last year amid the Covid-19 pandemic, as LVMH Group was seeking to sell the brand. Last December, the French luxury group removed Thomas Pink from its “Fashion and Leather Goods” website page.

    According to Retail Gazette, Thomas Pink updated its own website last month, saying “We’re excited to announce that we’re returning to our roots with the same team that has helped build Thomas Pink Shirtmakers over the years”.

    “We have some things to iron out and button-up, but will be back soon with an improved website to offer you the highest quality English shirting made for modern life that you have come to know and love.”

    Lees ook:

  • Philippine Airlines suspends all UK flights

    Philippine Airlines suspends all UK flights

    Philippine Airlines has suspended flights to and from London till the end of February 2021 as Britain battles a new coronavirus strain, said a report.

    The airline said it supports all measures that seek to curb any potential increase in Covid-19 cases during the holiday season and beyond.

    Passengers already in transit and those who arrived in the Philippines from the UK before December 24 will be allowed to enter the country, but they must undergo stricter quarantine and testing protocols, the report cited Presidential spokesman Harry Roque as saying.

    Lees ook:

  • British footwear brand Tricker’s to launch in China

    British footwear brand Tricker’s to launch in China

    The brand has held a Royal Warrant with Prince Charles since 1989 and was recently visited by the Prince of Wales to celebrate its 190th anniversary with a commemorative plaque. It manufactures its leather shoes and boots in a factory in Northampton, a town renowned for its shoe industry. A total of 260 individual processes are involved in the creation of each pair of shoes.

    Martin Mason, brand managing director, told BBC News that footwear made in Northampton was “revered” in Japan and that the brand’s products are seen as a luxury.

    “If you head into Tokyo, Northampton footwear has a really important place,” he said.

    Japan seems to be a big market for English footwear, with Northamptonshire shoemakers said to be exporting £20m worth of shoes to Japan each year.

    For Tricker’s, Japan helps boost international sales, which account for about 80% of the firm’s revenues. The brand is considering opening further stores in countries including South Korea and the United States.

    In a social media post, the brand said its new store located in the wealthy Aoyama neighborhood is an absolute replica of its Jermyn Street shop, which opened in the high-class destination noted for men’s tailoring in 1938.

    Lees ook:

  • Tesla Applies To Become UK’s Electricity Provider

    Tesla Applies To Become UK’s Electricity Provider

    U.S. electric carmaker Tesla Inc has applied for a license to supply the electricity in the United Kingdom, The Telegraph reported on Saturday.

    The purpose of the license from the energy regulator may be to introduce the company’s Autobidder platform, the report said, citing a company source. The application did not make clear why Tesla has applied for the license, The Telegraph reported.

    Autobidder is a platform for automated energy trading and is currently being operated at Tesla’s Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia.

    Shares of Tesla tumbled on Friday (May 1) after Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk tweeted that the electric carmaker’s high-flying stock was overly expensive. This report produced by Chris Dignam.

    Having built a significant battery business in recent years, the carmaker is now preparing to enter the British market with its technology, the paper said, citing industry sources.

    The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    In 2017, the carmaker built world’s largest lithium-ion battery to help keep the lights on in South Australia.

    Shares of Tesla fell 9% on Friday after Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk tweeted that the electric carmaker’s high-flying stock was overly expensive. “Tesla stock price is too high,” Musk said on Twitter.

    Lees ook:

  • Laura Ashley’s UK business collapses

    Laura Ashley’s UK business collapses

    Laura Ashley’s UK business has been placed into administration after realizing that even if it could secure funds from a third-party investor it would be too late to save the business.

    the Malaysian-controlled retailer of clothing and homewares was in negotiations with Hillco Capital in a bid to secure a £15 million emergency loan.

    In a statement reported by Retail Gazette, Laura Ashley said its “revised cash flow forecasts and increased uncertainty” mean it would not be able to secure those funds in sufficient time. The coronavirus, it said, “had an immediate and significant impact on trading, and ongoing developments indicate that this will be a sustained national situation”.

    Laura Ashley’s UK business employs 2700 staff across the UK where it operates 150 stores. The immediate consequences for Asian stores is not yet clear.

    Amy Higginbotham, a retail analyst at GlobalData, said while the company was blaming poor recent trading in part on the coronavirus outbreak, the retailer has been struggling for a while.

    “The brand has long been tired and has struggled to regain relevance in both its fashion and home divisions. Financially weak retailers, of which there are many, are likely to follow Laura Ashley into administration given the current crisis. Those retailing non-essential purchases that can easily be deferred will be particularly badly hit,” she said.

    All that aside, Laura Ashley’s UK business has reported a 24-per-cent increase in sales in the seven weeks to March 13.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Xiaomi shutting down UK Mi store

    Xiaomi shutting down UK Mi store

    Chinese smartphone brand Xiaomi shuttered its one and only UK Mi store last week in Westfield London after a mere 15 months of operations.

    In a statement, a spokesperson for Xiaomi said the adjustment to the company’s local retail strategy is a reaction to its fast-growing business in Western Europe.

    “Since our official arrival in the UK over one year ago, we have loved building relationships with our users, Mi fans and partners and thank them all for their support.”

    Though the company gave no specific reason for the closure, the UK Mi Store was notorious for stock shortages and for charging higher prices than its online channel. The store’s low patronage and an attempt to cut costs to focus on its other new Western European markets most likely attributed to the reason for its exit.

    Xiaomi entered Western Europe through Spain in 2017, followed by France and Italy shortly after.

    Xiaomi’s UK Twitter account has been deactivated since the store closed and Westfield London’s website has been updated with a disclaimer that the Mi Store is no longer trading. However, Xiaomi products are still available for purchase through UK partners including Amazon, Three and Mi.com.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook: