M&A
-
Comment & OpinionPoundland politics: who should decide the retailer’s fate?
Few tears will be shed for Gordon Brothers as it faces an onslaught of criticism for the way it has handled the Poundland crisis, but calls for government intervention in the affairs of a private business should be treated with caution
-
NewsTesco flogs Czech and Slovak operation to Ahold Delhaize for £1bn
The sale does not include the business in Hungary, which continues to be owned by Tesco
-
NewsUnion demands talks with Poundland owner as collapse fears mount
Gordon Brothers, which took majority control of Poundland for £1 last year, is understood to be against selling the business as a whole
-
NewsRD Johns switches buying groups from Unitas to TWG
The business said the decision followed a review of its buying group arrangements, describing it as the “best fit for the future direction of our business”
-
NewsMorrisons ends AI smart trolley trial as partner Instacart abandons the tech
Instacart said that while its Caper Carts are “a great product, the business reality is that retailer adoption has not scaled quickly enough to justify our continued investment”
-
NewsUnilever sells off kids’ first aid brand Welly
Welly’s sale to Forward Consumer Partners is expected to close in Q4 2026
-
NewsAllplants sold to France’s Fleury Michon
Managing director Kerry Atack will continue to lead the business under its new ownership, with Ella Mills remaining as a brand ambassador
-
NewsSainsbury’s to sell all Northern Ireland petrol stations
As part of the deal, Go Forecourts will ‘invest significantly in the sites’
-
Comment & OpinionWho are Boots’ new owners and what will they do?
While the Westons in the UK control ABF and Fortnum & Mason, Boots’ new owners are the separate Canadian branch of the family. So what can they bring to the 177-year-old British retailer?
-
NewsDavid Wood Baking rebrands as lender completes buyout
David Wood Baking will undergo a brand refresh as its lender completes a buyout to take the own-label bakery out of family ownership, The Grocer has learned
-
NewsDavid Milner eyes global growth as boss of Crosta-EPG combination
David Milner has told The Grocer of his ambitions “throughout Europe and beyond” following Crosta Mollica’s tie-up with Nestlé spin-off the European Pizza Group
-
NewsBoots owner agrees $9bn sale to Weston family
The deal includes Boots’ retail operations in the UK and Ireland, Boots Opticians, its No7 Beauty Company, and its Thailand and franchised businesses
-
Comment & OpinionSainsbury’s, Morrisons, Tesco & Majestic: inside grocery’s consolidation rush
Sainsbury’s explored a Morrisons merger before walking away and Tesco is circling Majestic Wine. What does it tell us about where the grocery sector is heading?
-
NewsSainsbury’s and Morrisons held multibillion-pound merger talks
The early stage talks between the two supermarkets took place over a three-month period from November last year to February before Sainsbury’s walked away
-
NewsParson’s Nose buys Farmison in bid to revive DTC brand
Upmarket butcher’s Parson’s Nose will revive Farmison after securing a deal to buy the shuttered brand from Vestey Holdings
-
NewsSainsbury’s targets 17.5k additional staff in Christmas recruitment drive
The seasonal staff will fulfil demand for roles across Sainsbury’s stores and warehouses, as well as Argos stores and its online fulfilment operations
-
NewsJapanese tuna giant snaps up Sealaska’s £270m operation in sushi bid
Sojitz has earmarked Europe and the US as strong potential markets for white fish and value-added products such as sushi
-
NewsTesco in the race to buy Majestic Wine
The UK’s biggest retailer is among a list of bidders weighing up an offer in an auction of Majestic, according to Sky News this weekend
-
NewsKitwave acquires First Choice Foodservice
First Choice will join Kitwave’s foodservice division alongside its other acquired businesses Creed, Total, WestCountry, Fife Creamery and Charles Saunders Foodservice
-
NewsBoots’ owner ‘close to securing £7bn deal to sell the retailer’
A deal to sell Boots to the Weston family could be reached as soon as next week, according to reports