Search results

10 retail companies list on UK markets this year compared to just three in last three years!

Published on 12 Jan 2022. By Karen Hendy, Partner, Head of Corporate

Rise fueled by e-commerce as eight online retailers go public this year

Number of UK retail M&A deals up 28% in last year

Published on 25 Oct 2021. By Karen Hendy, Partner, Head of Corporate

The number of M&A deals targeting UK retailers has increased by 28% to 37 in the last 12 months (year-end Sept 30), up from 29 in the previous year, shows new research from RPC, the international law firm.

Recalls of food products due to undeclared allergens drop 10% in year

Published on 11 Oct 2021. By Mamata Dutta, Partner

The number of food products recalled from the market due to allergens that were not declared on the label has dropped 10% in the past year. In 2020-21, 88 in 2019-20 to 79 to 2020-21, says RPC, the international law firm.

RPC’s Retail Compass Autumn edition: What challenges do retailers face post-pandemic?

Published on 21 Sep 2021. By Kimberley Nanson, Senior PR & External Communications Manager

RPC, the international law firm has launched the Autumn edition of its Retail Compass, which explores legal and policy changes that are set to impact the retail industry.

Sales at UK’s leading online only retailers jump 22% to hit record high

Published on 20 Sep 2021. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial

Sales at the UK’s Top 20 online only retailers have reached a record £16.4bn in the last year*, rising 22% from £13.2bn the previous year, shows research by RPC, the international law firm.

Influencers and retailers remain under intense ASA scrutiny

Published on 01 Jun 2021. By Joe Lippitt, Partner

Influencers, and the retailers whose products they are advertising, continue to be put under the Advertising Standards Authority's (ASA) microscope for failing to comply with ad rules. The ASA has put influencers and brands on notice after a monitoring sweep of influencer posts carried out last year revealed widespread failures to adequately disclose ad content. Following the monitoring sweep, the ASA has also released practical guidance to help educate influencers and ensure any ads they post are CAP Code compliant.

Rise in retail M&A – takeovers of distressed retailers represent 39% of all transactions

Published on 17 May 2021.

The number of M&A deals in the retail sector increased from 25 in 2019 to 28 in 2020, shows new research by RPC, the international law firm.

Value of UK stock market fundraisings by retail companies jumps tenfold in a year

Published on 12 May 2021. By Kimberley Nanson, Senior PR & External Communications Manager

Funds raising turns from repairing balance sheets to funding M&A opportunities

Brexit and Beyond panel discussion

Published on 11 Dec 2020.

Top tips for the food and drink sector

Furlough, Act Now to Avoid the Knock

Published on 23 Sep 2020. By Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG strategy lead

As we leave behind the curious summer of 2020, both HMRC and the SFO are readying themselves for the new term. First order of business: combatting corporate misuse of furlough and Covid-19 bail-out funds. According to official statistics released on 18 September, furloughing of staff in the wholesale and retail sector peaked on 24 April at 1.85 million employees - by 31 July, initial figures show 789,000 retail jobs furloughed– a decrease of more than a half since the peak for the sector. Some furloughed employees in the wholesale and retail sector have been returning to work as lockdown restrictions eased, others have, sadly, faced redundancy. As the furlough scheme winds down to a close next month, some employers may be faced with HMRC insisting that their furlough claims amounted to a misuse of – or even fraud against - the scheme.

CBD products no longer ex-hemp from regulation

Published on 02 Sep 2020. By Sarah Mountain, Partner

In recent years, there has been a surge in demand for food and drink products containing cannabidiol (CBD). Popular items have ranged from oils with added CBD to CBD-infused chocolate and kombucha. With the market experiencing double digit growth year on year and a recent spike in demand during 'lockdown', UK consumers continue to demonstrate ever greater interest in CBD products. But with new regulatory requirements on the horizon, are things about to change?

Retail Compass Summer edition 2020

Published on 28 Jul 2020. By Jeremy Drew, Partner and Karen Hendy, Partner

Welcome to the Summer 2020 edition of Retail Compass – our guide to key upcoming legal and policy changes affecting Retail and our thoughts on the need-to-know issues.

RPC Bites #13

Published on 21 Jul 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!

RPC Bites #12

Published on 08 Jul 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!

'Nosecco' is a no-no, says the High Court

Published on 01 Jul 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Sarah Mountain, Partner

In recent years, health and wellbeing has been big business in the UK. The COVID-19 outbreak has only further stoked the desire to obtain and maintain healthy minds and bodies and the trend looks set to continue, across the retail sector.

RPC Bites #11

Published on 24 Jun 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!

Beware the desire to "make hay while the sun shines" – the ASA warns marketers to "think very carefully" before making COVID-19 claims

Published on 17 Jun 2020. By Sarah Mountain, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate

There is no denying the recent popularity of health and wellness trends: As at the end of 2018, the market had an estimated global value of $4.2 trillion. During the current climate, it has understandably gathered even more traction, with consumers increasingly concerned about obtaining and maintaining healthy bodies and minds.

RPC Bites #10

Published on 10 Jun 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure.

Return of the MAC (clauses): renegotiating or exiting your supply chain contracts

Published on 12 May 2020. By David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

As more challenges arise from the current pandemic, suppliers and customers in the retail supply chain will be looking at their contracts to see how best to navigate the challenges they face. This may involve reviewing existing supply chain arrangements and seeing if there is a way to renegotiate or exit existing contracts.

The ASA bites back – Burger King 'Rebel Whopper' ads ruled to be misleading and in breach of advertising rules

Published on 07 May 2020. By Ben Mark, Partner

At the start of the year, Veganuary hit the headlines, with the British public challenged to ditch animal by-products in favour of a plant-based diet for the month of January.

And the winner is... that pre-loved dress

Published on 03 Mar 2020. By Ela Broderick-Basar, Associate

The recent awards season has seen a new dress-code emerging on the red carpet - wearing clothing either rented or previously worn, in an aim to project a message of sustainability. This reflects trends in the wider fashion world, where sustainability models like rental and resale are emerging fast as brands and consumers look to minimise their impact.

Vegans: a new protected group?

Published on 31 Jan 2020. By Joanna Holford, Senior Associate and Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG strategy lead

Retailers would be forgiven for thinking that 2020's Veganuary coincided with a new law protecting all those who participate. Much of the press coverage of a recent employment tribunal case appeared to suggest just that. The true picture is a little more nuanced. Munch on that kale while we fill you in...

BrewBlog: Sober ad campaign leaves brewery with an unwanted hangover.

Published on 14 Jan 2020.

In response to complaints about an advertisement published by BrewDog Plc the ASA found that the advertisement had breached CAP code (Edition 12) rules 1.3 (Social responsibility) and 4.1 (Harm and offence) and ordered BrewDog not to run the ad again.

Unpacking Christmas Ads: A British Retailer's Christmas Miracle?

Published on 20 Dec 2019.

This blog discusses what makes Christmas ads "successful" both through the eyes of the public at large and from the perspective of the British retailers themselves. In some cases, popular Christmas ads lead to an increase in sales over the festive period. However, as some retailers have experienced, festive ads are not always a retailer's Christmas miracle and come with their own limitations.

The Future of Retail is Green

Published on 12 Dec 2019. By Harpreet Kaur, Associate

2019 has been a year of environmental awareness, aptly demonstrated by David Attenborough's Glastonbury appearance and Greta Thunberg's speech to world leaders at the UN Climate Action Summit.

Can retail drones deliver the goods?

Published on 03 Dec 2019. By Jon Bartley, Partner

A recent flurry of patent registrations provides an insight into how this futuristic technology could soon become a reality for consumers.

Queen's speech spells out major environmental changes for retailers

Published on 05 Nov 2019. By Steven Aitken, Senior Associate

The recent Queen’s speech laid out major environmental regulatory changes including plans, for the first time, to enshrine environmental policies in law. A new regulator will also be set up to police environmental standards. At a more granular level, retailers will be impacted by the government's plans for a major extension of the carrier bag charge, among other proposed changes.

Avatar Alert! ASA uses child avatars to tackle irresponsible ads targeted at children

Published on 15 Oct 2019. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

The ASA is proactively using avatars (which mimic child-like behaviour) to identify when age-restricted ads (gambling, alcohol, HFSS etc) are being irresponsibly targeted at children. The introduction of this new technology has already had an impact on ad monitoring and enforcement.

FCA introduces 18-month grace period for two-factor authentication for online transactions

Published on 16 Aug 2019. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial

The Financial Conduct Authority this week agreed an 18-month "implementation plan" for Strong Customer Authentication (also known as "two-factor authentication").

What next for the Energy Performance of Retail Buildings?

Published on 29 Jul 2019.

After the initial success of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the widespread introduction of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) into property transactions, what can we expect from the proposed revisions of the EPBD?

Shop til' you Pop: Amazon's Electric Avenue

Published on 27 Jun 2019.

Amazon is opening 10 pop-up shops in the UK, as a platform for over 100 small online brands to start selling via bricks and mortar. The pilot will run throughout the UK for around a year, with each pop-up opening for between six to eight weeks.

Retailers: beware the ban on gender stereotyping

Published on 19 Jun 2019. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) has introduced a new rule, accompanied by Guidance, to combat negative gender stereotyping in ads. The test now (or rather from 14 June 2019 when the new rule comes into force) is whether the ad is "likely to cause harm" – a far lower threshold than the previous test of "widespread or serious offence".

Who was best dressed at the Oscars?

Published on 27 Feb 2019.

Always popular, often outrageous, and unfortunately sometimes sexist; the best and worst dressed lists have been must-have articles for publishers around award season since 1940. But does success or failure on these lists have any impact on the brand of the celebrity, or the designer?

Government consultation on airport alcohol sales risks unnecessary red tape and costs for retailers

Published on 21 Jan 2019.

The Government’s potential restriction on sales of alcohol at airports risks adding unnecessary red tape and costs to one of the UK retail and leisure industry’s biggest success stories, says RPC, the City-headquartered law firm.

Artificial Intelligence, collaboration with online platforms and tackling the 'Wild West': How the ASA plans to make its impact online over the next 5 years

Published on 11 Jan 2019. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

Given that online adverts made up 88% of all adverts where action was taken by the ASA in 2017, it is unsurprising that the regulation of online advertising is central to the ASA's strategy for the next 5 years.

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 – Under Review

Published on 13 Sep 2018. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial

Earlier this summer the Home Office announced plans to launch an independent review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The Act came into force in October 2015 and established the UK as a world leader in the fight against the crime of modern slavery.

The ‘Meghan effect’: its impact on retailers

Published on 18 May 2018. By Emily Saffer, Associate

The right people endorsing a brand can have a significant impact on its popularity. For example, brands that have been associated with Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have seen a huge surge in their profile.

Our latest set of retail law 'Snapshots' are now available

Published on 15 Jan 2018. By Jonathan Greenway, Senior Associate

Each Snapshot focuses on the key questions: What's the development? Why does it matter? And what should you be doing about it.

Luxury brands: The tale of selective distribution systems and online platform restrictions

Published on 19 Dec 2017. By Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

In the much awaited Coty preliminary ruling, the European Court of Justice (the "ECJ") has confirmed that, subject to certain conditions, luxury goods manufacturers can employ selective distribution systems to preserve the luxury image of their products and can prohibit their authorised distributors from utilising third-party online sales platforms.

Retail sales are bright as summer comes to a close

Published on 12 Sep 2017.

Retailers make hay while the sun shines

Published on 17 Jul 2017.

Retailers make hay while the sun shines

Business rate hikes about to hit retailers

Published on 08 Feb 2017.

Retailers are bracing themselves for increased property costs in the form of newly calculated business rates which take effect in April 2017.

Post-Christmas blues

Published on 06 Jan 2017. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial

On Wednesday 3 January Next issued a profit warning which triggered a dive in the retailer's share price and revived concerns that 2017 could be a challenging year for some high street retailers.

Mobile marketing – lessons learnt from Optical Express

Published on 15 Jan 2016.

Mobile marketing is an essential part of the marketing tool kit of most retailers.

Don't blame it on the sunshine – the impact of weather on the retail industry

Published on 30 Oct 2015.

The Met Office has recently published a report that considers the impact of weather on the retail industry (a copy is available here).

Can omni-channel deliver a retail experience?

Published on 16 Oct 2015.

Greater competition for a hassle-free retail experience is on the agenda for both internet only and bricks and mortar retailers.

'Stand Up and Deliver' - the competition for same day delivery hots up

Published on 12 Oct 2015.

Argos has become the first UK bricks and mortar retailer to offer shoppers same day delivery up to 10pm.

Feast your eyes on this! ASOS and Wall's collaboration a trade mark success?

Published on 29 Jul 2015.

Back in December 2014 Retail Therapy featured an article on the surprising collaboration between McDonalds and Moschino.

Can concessions heal the high street?

Published on 02 Jun 2015.

Typically, concessions are used by retailers to incorporate third party brands into their retail space and broaden the range of products on offer to their target consumers.

Fashioning a market – the impact of London Fashion Week on high street retailers

Published on 05 Mar 2015.

London Fashion Week (LFW) has closed its doors once again for another 6 months before fashion's greatest and most celebrated designers return to showcase their S/S16 collection on 18 September 2015.