Everything to do with Shops

[SteveH]

Marks & Spencer has ditched ?Use By? dates on its milk, telling shoppers to sniff it instead to tell if it can still be used.

The change, being rolled out across all M&S UK stores this week, will affect its RSPCA Assured Select Farms British and organic fresh milk as part of its commitment to halving food waste by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2040.

The milk will have ?Best Before? dates rather than ?Use By? dates.

https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23575286.m-s-removes-use-by-dates-milk-across-uk-stores/

[Helig]

I know the supermarkets are keen to abandon best before and use by dates but my view is this is just another way of increasing profits. I shop in M and S quite often and have picked up fruit which no longer has dates for expiry for use, only to find it is rotten, or some of it is bad. It tends to be prepacked, either in plastic, or nets. In the past these would have been reduced in price just before the expiry date but now they leave it on sale. I have stopped buying fruit there as it is too expensive to throw away when you get it home and find it is inedible. I should have thought they would have to comply with the laws covering food unfit for human consumption, or have these been abolished too?

[Ian]

No, they haven't and yes - they do. However, it does place the onus on the buyer to return items to the store.

[SteveH]

Yesterday we heard the Craig y Don chemist was being closed in July

Boots to axe hundreds of stores in hammer blow to high street
The chain, which has almost 20 branches in North Wales, has yet to confirm which outlets will be shut

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/boots-axe-hundreds-stores-hammer-27212305

[Dave]

Yesterday we heard the Craig y Don chemist was being closed in July

Boots to axe hundreds of stores in hammer blow to high street
The chain, which has almost 20 branches in North Wales, has yet to confirm which outlets will be shut

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/boots-axe-hundreds-stores-hammer-27212305

I have to say it won't be missed by me.The service there is not up to scratch, I go elsewhere now anyway.

[Nemesis]

They all seem of a similar ilk. I worked for my Dad who was a Pharmacist for many years, and was brought up to help and serve customers when I was only small. He would turn in his grave if he saw the lax way things are handled now.

[Helig]

I agree that Boots has deteriorated significantly since it was taken over by Walgreens Boots Alliance. It is more expensive than other retailers who sell the same products. I haven't got a prescription there for years as the service is so poor.

[SteveH]

Every North Wales Wilko store at risk as homeware chain set for administration
The budget retailer which has 400 UK stores has outlets in Gwynedd, Conwy, Wrexham and on Anglesey and is on the edge of collapse

Thousands of jobs could be at risk after high street chain Wilko filed a Notice of Intention (NOI) to appoint administrators, potentially impacting 12,000 jobs and 400 stores. Just last month, it was reported that Wilko's owners were considering selling a controlling stake.

There are six stores across North Wales. They are in Rhyl, Holyhead and Llandudno, Porthmadog, Pwllheli and Wrexham

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/every-north-wales-wilko-store-27452172

[SteveH]

Wilko staff have grounds for hope, says GMB union as bidders circle
There are "genuine grounds for hope" that at least parts of Wilko will be taken over, according to the GMB union.

National secretary Andy Prendergast said he had met PwC, the firm overseeing the sale of the retailer.

He confirmed there had been expressions of interest in the business, adding that talks with potential buyers were "still at an early stage".

Wilko announced last week that it was going into administration, putting 12,500 jobs at risk.
cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66543380


Retail sales drop in July as rain dampens demand
Retail sales volumes fell by 1.2% in July after the wet weather hit summer clothing sales and the cost of living weighed on food shoppers.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it was a particularly bad month for supermarkets.

"The summer washout combined with the increased cost of living meant sluggish sales for both clothing and food," it said.

Department stores also reported falling demand for household goods.
cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66536000

[SteveH]

A UK retailer's store in a prime Llandudno location has been placed up for let. The Shoe Zone store continues to trade as normal but a 'to let' sign has been placed on the property.

North Wales Live approached Shoe Zone over the future of the Mostyn Street shop. They said they were not able to comment at this time.

The retailer has been closing stores in recent years as the sector struggled during and after the pandemic. In its last set of results it reported that it had 336 stores in its portfolio, which is 52 fewer than last year.

Its Llandudno store has gone up for let with SmithPrice. They said the high street unit was in a "100% prime location".

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/uk-retailers-store-100-prime-27529163?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Price rises in British shops have slowed to their lowest rate since October but they are still significant, new data shows.

Prices rose 6.9% in the year to August, down from 8.4% in July, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said.

Meat, potatoes and some cooking oil prices have risen less sharply.

But with grain exports from Ukraine in jeopardy, a rapid slowdown in price rises is unlikely. Ukraine accounts for almost a third of global grain exports.

Up until last month, a deal between Russia and other countries allowed the safe passage of grain out of Ukraine, but Russia has now pulled out of that deal, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

This, combined with India's decision to place export restrictions on rice, means there are now "dark clouds on the horizon", the BRC said.

The retail trade association also blamed a rise in taxes on alcohol.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66622478

[SteveH]

High Streets: One in six Welsh shops are now empty, data shows

Wales has the second highest number of vacant shops in the UK, according to new figures.

Just over one in six shops in Wales are empty, analysis from the Welsh Retail Consortium (WRC) shows.

"Clearly that's bad news for the economy because retail plays such an integral role," said Sara Jones from the WRC.

The Welsh government said its retail action plan was working to bring "vibrancy" back to town centres.

Sara Jones said Welsh retailers were "grappling with several cost challenges".

"They come from all different quarters - whether it is business rates, energy prices or local challenges like antisocial behaviour affecting footfall in shops," she said.

The rate of empty shops in Wales rose from 16.5% to 17.0% in the second quarter of 2023, according to the WRC.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66676911

[SteveH]

A BUSINESS that has been trading more than 20 years in Colwyn Bay is sadly closing its doors.

Neil Wood, who owns Wood's on Sea View Road, a shop that sells cards and gifts, has reduced his stock ahead of the closure.

He said he is shutting up shop as he feels there is little support for independent shops like Wood's. He also believes that "crime, theft and  antisocial behaviour" is putting customers off the town.

Mr Wood said: "I'm leaving because of the lack of improvement in the area and lack of support and help for independent shops by the council for shops like mine.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23764974.long-standing-business-colwyn-bay-close-doors/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Two Wilko stores in North Wales are on the full list of 52 sites that will close next week. Administrators for Wilko have announced the locations of 52 stores which will shut after failing to secure a rescue deal for the whole business.

The list includes the stores at Mostyn Champneys in Llandudno and Market Street in Rhyl. PwC, which was appointed to oversee the insolvency last month, said it remains in talks with parties interested in buying the remaining parts of the business.
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/two-wilko-stores-north-wales-27662896

[SteveH]

Rumour Tescos Express is opening in the old Mostyn st. Poundland store..............


If you can't get all your shopping done in one go or have missed something off your list, your local Tesco Express is at hand. Pop in for fresh veg, quick treats, household essentials and more.

Here are some of the everyday essentials you could find at your local Express..........
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/zone/express-stores