Latest news with #FrasersGroup
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Iceland supermarkets make major change to checkouts that will spark controversy
Iceland supermarkets make major change to checkouts that will spark controversy The technology is being tested in two of the retailer's stores and could be rolled out further if the trials are successful Cameras embedded into the checkout process will examine shoppers' features Iceland is rolling out facial recognition technology at its tills in a revolutionary overhaul designed to curb theft and safeguard employees, with two branches already trialling the advanced system. Cameras embedded into the checkout process will examine shoppers' features and cross-reference them with a database of individuals known for causing disturbances, alerting staff when there's a match. Following successful trials, Iceland might introduce this system more broadly among its locations. Facewatch, the surveillance software, is already employed by numerous retail chains including Home Bargains, BandM, and several Frasers Group brands such as Flannels, House of Fraser, Sports Direct, and Evans Cycles. An official from Iceland expressed: "Following a robust due diligence process, we can confirm that our facial recognition trial is now live in two stores and will expand further this year." He continued: "This is part of our continued investment into tackling violent retail crime and protecting the safety of our colleagues and customers." Article continues below The early part of the year saw Iceland announce intentions to inaugurate 20 additional Iceland and Food Warehouse shops, along with the introduction of a grand new £100 million distribution hub occupying 500,000 square feet in Warrington. This large distribution centre located at Omega Park Site in Warrington began operations with GXO as a partner in February, providing goods to around 350 Iceland outlets throughout Wales, the north west of England, and the Scottish borders. In December, Iceland introduced an initiative to support the senior community by offering a 10% discount every Tuesday to those aged over 60 at both Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores, with no minimum spend required. Customers can avail of the discount by showing a valid form of identification such as a senior bus pass, driving licence, senior railcard, or freedom pass. Article continues below Iceland's managing director, Richard Walker, expressed his contentment with the success of the scheme: "We are so pleased with how well the over-60s discount has been received by the public and love hearing stories from customers who are benefiting from the discount." He further commented on the ongoing financial challenges: "The cost of living crisis continues to cause distress in the everyday lives of these customers and that's why we want to keep doing what we can to support them."
The Irish Sun
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Sports Direct knocks £75 off huge swing chair that looks straight out of 5-star resort – & is half price of The Range's
SAVVY shoppers have spotted a huge swing chair at Sports Directs for £45 - down by as much as 70 percent. The garden must-have comes as Brits prepare for barbecues and sunny get-togethers. 4 Sports Direct has knocked £75 off a huge swing chair Credit: Sports Direct 4 It is currently selling for £45 Credit: Sports Direct 4 The swing measures 170cm wide, 110cm deep and 150cm tall Credit: Facebook Sports Direct describes the "Cool down in the shade under the canopy, rocking back and forth on the swing to chill out on a hot summers day." The swing chair measures 170cm wide, 110cm deep and 150cm tall. It' s also available in different colours, including cream, grey and black. Meanwhile, home and garden retailer The Range is selling its The Range's swing may cost four times more than Sports Direct's, but it's bigger at 190cm wide and 176cm tall and it comes with a cushioned seat that converts into a bed. Sports Direct launched its garden furniture section online last year, listing over 700 products. The move aligns with the strategy of Frasers Group, Sports Direct's parent company, to broaden its product range beyond sports equipment. Most read in Fabulous Billionaire Mike Ashley owns around 73 percent of Frasers Group. Under Ashley, the company, founded in 1982, has expanded its range of brands to include House of Fraser, Jack Wills, Flannels, GAME and Evans Cycles. River Island confirms which 33 stores are shutting as a further 70 at risk in huge shake-up – is your local going? Despite its broader range, Sports Direct remains one of the UK's biggest sports retailers. In the UK alone, there are about 488 Sports Direct stores, with the majority - 394 - located in England. London has the highest number of Sports Direct outlets, with 12 stores across the city. The company has expanded rapidly across the UK and Europe, often snapping up struggling retail chains. While it's popular with bargain hunters, it has also faced criticism over working conditions and business practices in the past. Sports Direct has recently closed some of its UK stores as part of a strategic shift towards larger flagship locations. Read more on the Irish Sun The retailer shut its store inside Glasgow 's Silverburn shopping centre. It has also closed its Newmarket Road store in Cambridge and its outlet in Dundee's Overgate Shopping Centre. 4 Sports Direct is one of the UK's biggest sports retailers Credit: Getty
The Sun
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Sports Direct knocks £75 off huge swing chair that looks straight out of 5-star resort – & is half price of The Range's
SAVVY shoppers have spotted a huge swing chair at Sports Directs for £45 - down by as much as 70 percent. The garden must-have comes as Brits prepare for barbecues and sunny get-togethers. 4 Sports Direct describes the item as follows: "Relax this summer on this Royale 3 Seater Swing. "Cool down in the shade under the canopy, rocking back and forth on the swing to chill out on a hot summers day." The swing chair measures 170cm wide, 110cm deep and 150cm tall. It' s also available in different colours, including cream, grey and black. Meanwhile, home and garden retailer The Range is selling its Riviera 3 Seater Combo swing for £199.99. The Range's swing may cost four times as much as Sports Directs', but it's larger at 190cm wide and 176cm tall - and it comes with a cushioned seat that converts into a bed, along with two pillows. Sports Direct first introduced its garden furniture section on its website last year, listing over 700 products. This move aligns with the strategy of Frasers Group, Sports Direct's parent company, to diversify its product range beyond sports equipment. Sports Direct, founded in 1982, is nonetheless one of the UK's biggest sports retailers. Billionaire Mike Ashley owns around 73 percent of Frasers Group. Under Ashley, the company has expanded its range of brands to include House of Fraser, Jack Wills, Flannels, GAME and Evans Cycles. River Island confirms which 33 stores are shutting as a further 70 at risk in huge shake-up – is your local going? In the UK alone, there are about 488 Sports Direct stores, with the majority - 394 - located in England. London has the highest number of Sports Direct outlets, with 12 stores across the city. The company has expanded rapidly across the UK and Europe, often snapping up struggling retail chains. While it's popular with bargain hunters, it has also faced criticism over working conditions and business practices in the past. Sports Direct has recently closed some of its UK stores as part of a strategic shift towards larger flagship locations. It has also closed its Newmarket Road store in Cambridge and its outlet in Dundee's Overgate Shopping Centre. 4
Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Iceland is making major change to checkouts and 'will expand' to more stores
The cameras check customers faces against a database of known offenders, it then triggers an alert to staff to the store when a match is made Iceland is set to install facial recognition in stores as part of a major change to its checkouts. It comes as part of a crackdown on theft and violence against staff, with two stores already testing the technology. The cameras check customers faces against a database of known offenders, it then triggers an alert to staff to the store when a match is made. If successful, the technology could be rolled out to more Iceland stores. Facewatch is also used by Home Bargains, B&M and Frasers Group – including Flannels, House of Fraser, Sports Direct and Evans Cycles. An Iceland spokesperson said: "Following a robust due diligence process, we can confirm that our facial recognition trial is now live in two stores and will expand further this year. "This is part of our continued investment into tackling violent retail crime and protecting the safety of our colleagues and customers." It comes after Iceland closed its store in Margate, Kent, last weekend, with its store in Inverness, Scotland, following on July 12. Shoppers have reacted to the news on social media. One said: 'Wow they been there as long as I can remember they one of the original shops in that area such a shame.' Another commented: 'This is awful all the elderly people that use this and Morrisons to do the weekly shops will now suffer once again.' A third said: 'Such a shame I remember when it opened.' Iceland, which has over 900 stores across the UK, has not confirmed the reason behind the closures. The supermarket has closed a handful of stores over the last few months, including its Welling branch in London. Its shops in Shenley Road, Borehamwood and Alphington Road Retail Park in Exeter have also been shut down. But it isn't all bad news. The retailer has also opened new stores. Last month, Iceland opened a new city centre supermarket in Derby and another shop at Victoria Chambers on London Road. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to open 20 Iceland and Food Warehouse stores, and the supermarket has also opened a new 500,000 square foot £100million distribution centre in Warrington. The Omega Park Site in Warrington - which opened in partnership with GXO in February - supplies around 350 Iceland stores across the north west of England, the Scottish borders and Wales.
Fashion United
23-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Mulberry eyes 20 million pound fundraise as transformation plan progresses
British brand Mulberry is looking to raise 20 million pounds of additional capital in a fundraising to back its growth strategy as its ongoing transformation plan progresses. It comes 'in light of an even more challenging trading environment seen at a macro level', the group noted. In a regulatory filing, the luxury accessory label said, with the fundraising, its main priorities included rebuilding core stocks; investing in new accretive revenue streams, such as outlets and wholesale; select marketing spend within the UK and US; and upgrading existing customer engagement. Mulberry's majority shareholder Challice Limited said it was willing to underwrite, in full, the fundraising, which is expected to complete in July 2025. The board has also been engaging with the company's other major shareholder, Frasers Group, in order to reach a final structure and agreement of the fundraising. Mulberry has received approval for a request made to HSBC UK Bank to relax the minimum liquidity covenant for an agreed period until the fundraising is complete, releasing around 6.5 million pounds to the company. An affiliate of Challice has further entered into a cash backed guarantee matching the increased covenant headroom. Losses anticipated to marginally narrow in FY25 The news comes as Mulberry reported that it is expecting revenues in the region of 120 million pounds for FY25, down from 152.8 million pounds in the year prior, with an underlying loss before tax of around 23 million pounds, narrowing from the prior 22.6 million pounds. Trading in the first 11 weeks of the fiscal year is 'in line' with expectations. Its audited financial statements are scheduled for July 2025. Mulberry's pursuit of fundraising comes amid a wider transformation strategy, 'Back to the Mulberry spirit', which has set out to simplify and streamline operations, reduce cost base and refresh the brand platform. Since January, when the plan was introduced, the company has made changes to its management team, established new wholesale agreements in the UK and US, launched a '4 seasons' approach and reviewed its store estate, resulting in the closure of non-profitable stores. In a statement, Andrea Baldo, chief executive officer of Mulberry, said the company was 'firmly in turnaround mode – focused on rebuilding profitability and gross margin, while strategically investing in brand building initiatives'. Baldo continued: 'Following our year-end review, the board and I are confident that, with additional funding, we can accelerate momentum and deliver against our targets at pace."
