Welcome to another exciting week in the world of eCommerce and retail.

✦ Deals, Acquisitions, & Legal

⚖️ Amazon is facing allegations of colluding with vendors to push retailers including Walmart and Chewy to set higher prices collectively. Emails released by California's attorney general Rob Bonta suggest Amazon employees repeatedly worked with platform vendors to inflate prices on products ranging from pet treats to eyedrops. (source)

⚠️ QVC Group, owner of QVC and HSN, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure $5.3bn (£3.92bn) in debt. The filing covers the home shopping network's portfolio of platforms. (source)

🌍 Carrefour is exiting Turkey, selling its operations to Turkish group Aydin, owner of discount chain A101. The move is part of a major overhaul of the French retailer's international portfolio. (source)

✦ Revenue & Financial Updates

📈 THG reported its strongest first-quarter revenue growth since 2021, with total revenue up 7% on a constant currency basis to £393.1m. Both beauty and nutrition delivered solid gains as the group reiterated its full-year guidance. (source)

📈 ASOS reported improved first-half results, with adjusted EBITDA up 51% to £64m and adjusted EBIT losses narrowing to £18.3m from £39.6m a year earlier. Group revenue fell 14% to £1.116bn, and the retailer is seeking to reclaim £7m in US tariffs paid during the period. (source) (source)

📊 WHSmith reported a 5% revenue increase to £748m in its first half, with North America up 10%, but profits fell as the retailer flagged uncertainty linked to the Middle East. (source)

📈 Charles Tyrwhitt reported turnover growth from £305.8m to £347m for the year to August 2025, with the menswear brand citing the accelerating back-to-office trend as a key driver. (source)

✦ International Expansion

🌍 lululemon has launched an e-commerce site for shoppers in Mexico and plans to open eight new stores in the country in FY2026. The athleticwear brand has also appointed Heidi O'Neill, former Nike president of consumer, product and brand, as its new CEO. (source) (source)

🏬 Cider has opened its first permanent store in Los Angeles, a nearly 8,000 sq ft space marking a significant investment for the online fashion brand, which has raised over $130m in funding. The LA-based brand has spent five years positioning itself as an affordable competitor to H&M and SHEIN. (source)

🛫 Waitrose is entering airport retail for the first time through a wholesale partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail at Heathrow Airport. (source)

✦ Store Openings & Physical Retail

🏬 Inditex is rolling out large-scale in-store concepts across Massimo Dutti, Zara Man and Zara Home as part of a premiumisation strategy. The Spanish group recently opened a 280 sqm Massimo Dutti pop-up in Paris that combined a library with a premium clothing collection. (source)

🏬 John Lewis is launching Pottery Barn and West Elm concessions across several UK stores this year, bringing the American home and furniture brands to British shoppers. (source)

✦ Technology

🤖 Tesco is replacing traditional barcodes with QR codes on a selection of own-brand meat products, in what it says is a UK supermarket first. The move gives shoppers easier access to product information while improving traceability, stock control and food waste reduction, with potential to unlock recipe ideas and competitions in future. (source)

🇦🇪 The UAE has launched a platform allowing consumers to compare prices of essential goods across major retailers and build customised grocery baskets to identify the lowest-priced option. (source)

✦ Partnerships & Marketplaces

👗 Gap and Victoria Beckham are launching a capsule collection this spring, described as the first step in a multi-season collaboration rooted in timeless design. (source)

📦 Uber Eats has launched a retail returns service through its app in the US, partnering with Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Pacsun and Petco. The delivery company is targeting one of retail's biggest pain points, with plans to add more partners. (source)

🛒 B&Q is trialling click-and-collect at selected Tesco stores as the DIY retailer looks to expand its delivery network beyond its own locations. (source)

🛒 Clarks has launched its first-ever online marketplace, "Brands Now at Clarks," featuring over 100 brands across womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, accessories and lifestyle. Brands include adidas, Nike, Calvin Klein and Ted Baker. (source)

📦 Klarna's in-app resell feature has seen listings grow by up to 75% over the past 13 months, as consumers increasingly turn to resale to earn money from items they already own. (source)

That's a wrap for this week! If you found this useful or if you have any feedback, hit reply and let me know, or share it with someone in the industry who'd enjoy the read. See you next Friday. 📬

Thanks - Sue