Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon is celebrating a successful partnership with local children’s hospice, Julia’s House, having raised more than £22,000 over the past three years and confirmed to continue supporting the charity in 2026.

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Consumer card spending declined -0.1 percent year-on-year in April – the first fall since November 2024 (-0.5 percent) and below the latest CPIH inflation rate of 3.4 percent. Non-essential spending declined (-0.3 percent), after a 1.1 percent increase in March, but essential spend grew 0.3 percent, as fuel surged 10.4 percent – its greatest rise since December 2022.

Confidence in the global economy fell to 20 pe cent last month – its lowest level since April 2025, when Trump announced ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs. Confidence in the UK economy, however, recovered marginally to 22 percent (from 21 percent in March).

Resilient consumers manage ongoing uncertainty 

Consumers’ confidence in their household finances and job security both remained largely on par with March, dipping by one percentage point to 64 percent and 43 percent respectively. Confidence in non-essential spending dropped to 49 percent, its lowest level since March 2023 (48 percent).

Almost seven in 10 (72 percent) say they expect tensions in the Middle East to impact the cost of living throughout 2026, with energy bills (85 percent), inflation (84 percent) and food prices (84 percent) the greatest causes for concern.

However, the majority remain resilient; 52 percent feel able to manage their day-to-day finances without significant stress and the same proportion feel confident in their ability to make good financial decisions in uncertain times.

Three in five (62 percent) report making financial adjustments in response to current uncertainty. Of this group, the most cited actions are cutting discretionary spending (45 percent), limiting energy usage at home (43 percent) and delaying major financial decisions (26 percent). A further 34 percent report reviewing their household budget, while 51 percent say they are trying to build a precautionary savings buffer in case of future cost increases.

Travel spending stalls

Travel spending declined -5.7 percent in April, after a -3.3 percent fall in March, with airlines down -8.3 percent. This comes as consumers cite concerns about travel costs (70 percent), and travel disruption (62 percent) in light of the Middle East conflict. One in six (16 percent) say they’re putting off holiday decisions until they feel the outlook has stabilised.

However, 13 percent say despite cost pressures, they’re still prioritising travel/holidays this year. One in five (19 percent) are planning a “staycation”, with saving money (43 percent), reducing the risk of uncertainty (35 percent), and avoiding air travel (24 percent) contributing to their decision.

Spending on public transport was down -3.5 percent, after 52 percent of Londoners said they were impacted by the month’s tube strikes, which took place between 21^st-24^th April. Of this group three in 10 avoided non-essential trips (29 percent) and changed their mode of transport (28 percent).

Streaming sidesteps slowdown, while London enjoys marathon boost

Digital content & subscriptions remained in growth, up 9.2 percent, led by streamflation and helped by the popularity of TV seriesEuphoria, The Testaments and The Pitt. Beauty spending was up 4.6 percent, however this was a slowdown from the 6.3 percent growth in March, and below the sector’s 9.1 percent 12-month average.

Spending on eating and drinking flatlined in April, at 0.2 percent, however the London Marathon contributed to a welcome lift for the Capital, with pub transactions up 35.5 percent week-on-week on Sunday 26^th April, and food & drink transactions up 22.5 percent. This comes as 55 percent of Londoners say they are in favour of a two-day marathon in 2027, with 53 percent agreeing it would provide London and its businesses with a boost.

Jack Meaning, Chief UK Economist at Barclays, said: “This data shows consumers are already adapting in response to the shock from the Middle East, for instance, by building up a savings buffer. With uncertainty high both at home and abroad, it is unsurprising to see confidence falling. The key unknown for the UK outlook is how long this uncertainty will last. If confidence remains subdued for too long, and consumers continue to limit their spending as a result, it will be a challenge for households and businesses to weather the storm.”

Karen Johnson, Head of Retail at Barclays, said: “In April, we saw consumers taking precautionary action in response to renewed cost-of-living concerns – cutting non-essential spending, building their savings and looking for ways to reduce their outgoings. There’s no doubt people will continue to pay close attention to their budget amid ongoing uncertainty, however it’s reassuring to see that the majority feel confident in their ability to manage their day-to-day spending and to make sound financial decisions.”

Image courtesy of Unsplash. Photo credit: Eduardo Soares.

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Ribble has partnered with British outdoor retailer Cotswold Outdoor to launch a new in-store concept in Leeds.

The partnership brings together two brands with a shared mindset. Helping people get more from the outdoors, by providing honest, expert advice when it comes to buying the right kit.

Located inside Cotswold Outdoor’s Leeds city centre store on Albion Place, the dedicated Ribble space will give customers hands-on access to a range of Road, Gravel, Hybrid and Electric bikes, supported by expert guidance from the Ribble team.

Every Ribble is designed and built to order in the UK. Tried, tested and proven in British conditions since 1897. By the riders who know them best, from everyday cyclists to Yorkshire-based champions like Jenson Young and Harry Tanfield.

>Customers will be able to explore the Ribble range, get advice on sizing and fit, and build a bike that’s right for how they ride, from componentry to bespoke CustomColour combinations. All Ribble bikes come complete with a lifetime frame and fork warranty, a 30-day free test ride, and in-store collection option with the bike set up and ready to ride.

To mark the opening, Ribble has created a one-off ULTRA-AERO SL R LS1 Edition using its CustomColour service. Finished in white, yellow and blue, the design draws on the city’s sporting identity and will take pride of place in the store window.

For Ribble, the launch marks a new approach to its in-store presence. One that combines its direct-to-customer model with a trusted retail partner, creating a more accessible way for riders to discover the brand.

For Cotswold Outdoor, it expands its specialist service offer into cycling, adding a premium category that naturally complements its audience of outdoor enthusiasts.

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As the city’s second Lindt Chocolate Shop – the first being in Manchester Arndale Centre – the new opening marks a milestone for the Swiss chocolatier and its expanding UK footprint as its 30^th store.

The new boutique Lindt store will captivate chocolate lovers and tourists alike with its irresistibly unique chocolate experiences. Visitors to the 1,200 sq ft store will be enchanted by indulgent offerings and exclusive features, including:

• Lindt’s iconic Pick & Mix selection: 34 different chocolate varieties, from exclusive flavours to classic favourites like Choco Wafer, Popcorn, Cherry Blossom, Marc du Champagne, Stracciatella, Giandujotto and many more you can only find in store!
• Exclusive gifts and personalisation: discover a curated range of gifts perfect to treat a loved one. For that extra special touch, custom gift tags and bespoke ribbons are available from Lindt’s expert gifting concierge team.
• MyLindt Rewards: become a member for free to enjoy rewards and special offers in store and online, including a welcome perk of 10 percent off your first purchase.

With summer around the corner, explore the brand’s latest launches in store. From Lindt Tokyo Style Chocolate Matcha and Strawberry bar exclusive to Lindt stores and crafted with ceremonial grade Chamei Minami matcha, to Lindt LINDOR Cherry Blossom, a delicate Sakura-flavoured truffle inspired by Japan’s iconic blossom season.

To celebrate the brand-new opening for the ultimate chocolate lovers, a host of LINDOR delights will be handed out to visitors as well as extra special goodie bags for the first 250 customers who make a minimum purchase of £15, filled with iconic Lindt treats to enjoy.

Faythe King, Retail, D2C and eCommerce Director commented: “We’re thrilled to be opening our 30^th Lindt Chocolate Shop to bring the exquisite taste of Lindt to one of the nation’s major shopping destinations. Visitors can enjoy a premium chocolate paradise with a feast for all the senses and unique offerings from our exclusive Pick & Mix flavours and personalised gifts for that extra special touch, only available in store. Opening just in time to explore our irresistible limited-edition products for spring summer!”

Kate Pearson, Director of Portfolio Leasing at Pradera, Trafford Centre’s asset managers, said: “We are pleased to welcome Lindt to the dynamic mix of retailers at Trafford Centre with its new boutique store. It will deliver a distinctive chocolate experience to the scheme, showcasing Lindt’s renowned range of premium chocolates and beautifully curated gifting options, perfect for customers to explore and enjoy.”

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The internationally recognised retailer is to launch in a prominent 1,700 sq ft unit on the Lower Mall, introducing its distinctive offer of fragrance-led body care, indulgent home scents and seasonal collections to Nottingham for the first time.

Renowned for its trend-driven product innovation and immersive in-store experience, Bath & Body Works has cultivated a highly engaged global following. Its arrival at Victoria Centre not only reinforces the appeal to leading international brands, but also reflects sustained retailer confidence in the destination’s strong trading performance, high footfall and regional dominance.

Rebecca Milnes-James, Asset Management at Pradera, commented: “Securing Bath & Body Works is a significant milestone for Victoria Centre, and a strong endorsement of the destination’s performance and positioning within Nottingham. We remain focused on curating a best-in-class retail mix that drives unrivalled footfall and customer engagement, and Bath & Body Works is a natural fit, bringing a highly experiential offer that will resonate strongly with our visitors.”

A representative from Bath & Body Works added: “Victoria Centre is the perfect location for our East Midlands debut, with the destination’s strong reputation and high footfall making it an obvious choice as the next step in our UK expansion.  We are excited to introduce our iconic fragrances and luxurious products to a new audience, and becoming a key part of Nottingham’s retail landscape.”

JLL and FHP Property Consultants are Victoria Centre’s retail leasing agents, and Metis leads the leisure leasing.  Pradera asset manages Victoria Centre on behalf of SGS UK Retail.

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OurCoop has been recognised for its ground-breaking work to promote social mobility, which it delivers through a number of initiatives and partnerships.

In 2017 the Society was a founding partner of Bright Future Co-op, which supports survivors of modern slavery into employment through a network of 35 partner organisations. Since launching, 107 survivors have been supported, with 72 now in permanent roles.

Inspired by this impact the Society then created Fairer Futures, which launched at its Walsall food store in 2023 in partnership with social enterprise Miss Macaroon. The initiative aims to create meaningful employment opportunities for young people aged 19–29 facing significant barriers such as disability and social anxiety – helping to break cycles of generational unemployment and deprivation. The 12-week programme offers tailored mentoring, counselling, work experience, leadership skills, access to further education and six months of follow-up support. Of 60 participants, 39 are now in sustained employment.

In 2024 the Society also launched Fairer Access to Work in Oxfordshire in partnership with Aspire, offering work experience and mentoring for adults who have experienced homelessness or displacement.

The King’s Awards for Enterprise – previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise—were renamed in 2023 to reflect His Majesty The King’s commitment to continuing the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II in celebrating exceptional UK businesses. Only 185 businesses across the UK have received the recognition.

Debbie Robinson, Chief Executive of OurCoop, said: “Receiving the Kings Award for our work to promote opportunity is an incredible honour. These initiatives are rooted in our values as a cooperative and demonstrate our commitment to supporting our communities and creating a more sustainable future for all.

“A huge number of our colleagues, partners and members have been involved in shaping and delivering these initiatives and this award is a testament the incredible impact they continue to have. I want to thank every single person who has a played a part in this and know that, together, we will be inspired by this recognition to go even further in the future.”

Now in its 60th year, the King’s Awards for Enterprise remain the UK’s most prestigious business accolades. Successful organisations may use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years, signalling excellence to customers, partners, and global markets. The Society will be formally presented with the Award by the Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire and will also be invited to attend a formal reception for all winners at St James Palace in the coming weeks.

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Returning after a five year hiatus, the awards – presented by BBC Radio Leicester’s Ady Dayman – honour 140 stores, kiosks, leisure venues and restaurants at the centre, in addition to individuals that make up the team, both at Highcross and its retailers.

This year’s awards, hosted at Showcase Cinema and welcoming over 150 guests, were evaluated across 15 different categories, including Best Health and Beauty Retailer, Best Café/Takeaway and Best on the Mall Retailer.

Among the most prestigious awards of the night, were ‘Retailer of the Year’, which went to Hotel Chocolat, for its team’s personable and knowledgeable customer service as well as its experience-led space.

Representing the independent, local brands, Spirit Crystals was crowned ‘Newcomer of the Year’, thanks to its unique environment and product selection where, inside its ‘magical cave’, shoppers can buy healing crystals, smash geodes and make potions.

Opened in April by former DMU student-turned-entrepreneur, Jelle Hoefnagel, the space features an immersive, cavern-inspired store that transports shoppers from the mall into a tranquil, naturalistic retreat. Since its opening, the shop has proven to be an early fan-favourite, with regular queues out the doors.

East Midlands-born, Tamatanga, scooped Highcross’ top dining spot, as ‘Best Restaurant of the Year’; loved for its Indian-style cuisine and cocktails. Despite opening in the centre almost seven years ago, the restaurant remains one of its most popular destinations.

Other notable mentions include:

• MenKind, receiving the ‘Best Toys, Gifts and Cards Retailer’ award
• ‘Best on Mall Retailer’ went to kiosk, Mobilise, for its good quality repairs service
• ‘Best Tech Retailer’ was presented to Apple—the only one of its kind in the East Midlands
• Preparing to celebrate its first anniversary at Highcross, beauty giant, Space NK, took home ‘Best Health and Beauty Retailer’
• John Lewis & Partners took home ‘Best Large Store’
• Goldsmiths received the ‘Best Jewellery Retailer’ award
• Next won for its commitment to community as a result of its support to local charity, LOROS
• Greggs secured the ‘Best Café/Takeaway’ category, thanks to its value for money, customer service and famous pastries
• ‘Best Footwear Retailer’ went to JD Sports
• ‘Best Fashion Retailer’ went to Luke1977, on the lower mall, for its memorable staff and impressive online presence.

As well as honouring food and retail offering, the awards also shone a light on the centre’s standout individuals, including Highcross’ Technical Services Coordinator, Mark Tunaley, who took home the ‘Employee of the Year’ award, while the ‘Store Manager of the Year’ award went to Natalie Harty from Urban Outfitters.

Commenting on the return of the awards night, which included an exclusive performance by local soul jazz band, Cashmere FM, Centre Director at Highcross, Michelle Menezes, said:

“I joined Highcross in January 2025 with a clear ambition: to drive positive change and meaningful impact—for our visitors, occupiers, our own team and for the wider city that we’re proud to live and work in.

Having started my own career in retail, I understand first-hand the dedication, resilience and passion that retail demands. That’s why it fills me with such pride to celebrate the talent, hard work and commitment of everyone who calls Highcross ‘home’ at this year’s Retailer Awards. Thanks again to everyone involved for bringing to life such a fantastic evening.”

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The new Chapelle Jewellery store is scheduled to open on 12th June, marking the brand’s only location in Scotland. The opening reinforces Livingston Designer Outlet’s position as the destination of choice for retailers looking to establish or expand their presence within the Scottish market.

The new store will offer customers access to exclusive luxury brands across watches, rings and necklaces, alongside specially sourced certificated natural diamonds and a premium lab grown diamond collection.

Nicky Lovell, Head of Outlets and Retail Business and Development at Global Mutual said: “Chapelle Jewellery is a welcome addition to the scheme’s increasingly diverse brand mix that reflects the continued demand from established brands looking to secure space at Livingston Designer Outlet. Its arrival aligns with Global Mutual’s vision to bring a curated high quality brand mix to the destination, offering customers a strong and varied retail experience.”

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Already in London Bridge and St. Pancras stations in the capital, the latest 500 sq ft store due to open in early May will offer a range of Hamleys plush bears and other animals to pocket money toys from slime and magic tricks to mini-vehicles and a selection of travel friendly products from card games and sticker books to compact board game packs.

Already in Heathrow T4 and Stansted airports, the new T2 store in Heathrow – set to open in mid- June will cover 1,000 sq ft and carry Hamleys signature bear range, novelty gadgets, pocket money toys, travel-friendly games and puzzles alongside tech toys, dolls and action figures and small and medium construction sets from Lego and Playmobil.

“Our travel estate performs consistently well for us around the world and we are very excited to enter Liverpool Street and expand our presence at Heathrow. Our formats have been tested and refined over many years in stations and airports – they are built for grab-and-go speed, fun and bright gifting ideas and we know they will do well this summer and beyond,” said Keane Herman, Hamleys UK Head of Retail.

In addition to the iconic Regent Street toy shop in London, Hamleys is a global brand currently operating in 13 countries with 175 shops with locations including Italy, India, UAE, China, Philippines and Mexico.

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Vamoosh is one of only 185 organisations nationally to be recognised with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in 2026. Announced today (Wednesday 6th May), the Award acknowledges the company’s outstanding achievement in International Trade, following a period of exceptional global expansion and export growth. This most recent award follows Vamoosh receiving the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation in 2022.

Employing a growing team, Vamoosh was founded in 2016 and has become a globally recognised innovation business redefining performance within laundry and household cleaning. Developed by Cares Laboratory and inspired by a real household problem, removing stubborn pet hair from fabrics, the brand launched its breakthrough Pet Hair Dissolver in 2017, creating an entirely new sub-category within laundry. The Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver is the world’s first and only product of its kind, patent-protected in over 30 countries, with the brand creating a new market segment internationally which has enabled them to create new global categories.

Since then, Vamoosh has expanded into a multi-product range including washing machine cleaners, fabric care solutions, and problem-solving household innovations, all underpinned by its science-led technology. The brand is now stocked in over 5,000 UK retail outlets across grocery, pet, DIY and value channels, and has sold millions of units, building strong consumer loyalty and retailer demand.

International growth has been a key driver of success, across the past 18 months export partners have grown 100 percent from 4 to 12 globally. Exports began in 2018 and have since increased by 440 percent over three years, with products now sold in more than 30 countries including Australia, Germany, South Africa, the Nordics and most recently the USA. Transformational wins for the brand include major retailers including Target (USA), Aldi (Australia), EDEKA (Germany), and DM (across Europe), with many exciting new opportunities in the pipeline.

At the core of the Vamoosh business is partnerships, which underpin everything the work they do.  Vamoosh select distributors who bring deep local expertise, retail relationships, and logistical capabilities. The brand invested in making themselves “global-ready”, which included redesigning packaging with simplified text and infographics, producing multilingual marketing assets, and creating subtitled video campaigns, ensuring their products are instantly recognisable, understandable and compliant across diverse markets.

These exports come from the brand headquarters Barnsley, South Yorkshire, giving Vamoosh complete oversight of quality, stock, warehousing, and logistics. All manufacturing is carried out under their proprietary specifications, with all third-party suppliers rigorously vetted, ensuring products meet our high standards across every market.

In the past 12 months alone, export growth reached 103 percent year-on-year, supported by an expanded distributor network and a landmark retail listing with Target in the United States, launching initially in 600 stores nationwide, positioning North America to become the company’s largest export market within three years.

“We’re absolutely delighted to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade. To see the growth of Vamoosh recognised in such a prestigious way is an honour for the whole team.  Over the last few years, we’ve worked incredibly hard to grow the brand internationally, bringing our patented innovations to households around the world, so it’s so it’s fantastic to see those ecorts recognised with the UK’s highest business award. This achievement is a real reflection of the passion, dedication and innovation across the entire Vamoosh team, and we’re excited for what the future holds.” – Tom Abbey, founder.

The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed in 2023 to reflect His Majesty The King’s commitment to continuing the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II in celebrating exceptional UK businesses.

Now in its 60th year, the King’s Awards for Enterprise remain the UK’s most prestigious business accolades, with thousands of companies applying for the awards yet only 20 percent of applications successful. Winning organisations may use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years, signalling excellence to customers, partners, and global markets.

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