The government is set to deliver a mini-Budget this Friday which it is hoped will support households and companies amid the cost-of-living crisis. Prime Minister Liz Truss previously announced plans to address and limit energy price rises, but further announcements were put on hold while Parliament is suspended as part of the 10-day period of national mourning. Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng is expected to reveal what support measures will be offered to businesses.
Workwear retailer Dickies has announced its first European standalone store on Carnaby Street. Opening on the 1st October, the store will offer clothing and accessories for men and women. Giuseppe Lapenta, EMEA senior marketing manager for Dickies, said: “The store will also serve as a physical space for customers to connect with the brand through unique programming, including experiences and workshops, rooted in our brand DNA.”
Boparan Restaurant Group is continuing to move its brands into the retail space with a new Cinnamon Kitchen range at Tesco. The partnership offers 16 items inspired by the restaurant’s menu, with main dishes, tiffins, centrepieces and sides. The group is also rolling out its Restaurant Hub concept in partnership with Sainsbury’s, and has also recently opened its first Slim Chickens restaurant in partnership with Tesco Extra. Cinnamon Kitchen founder and executive chef Vivek Singh said: “As the cost of living continues to rise, we hope our customers will find this range an accessible option for enjoying restaurant quality food at home.”
The new owners of Selfridges are interested in targeting regional cities, which could lead to the brand’s first new UK stores in 20 years. Central Group Europe and Signa Holding now operate the stores in London’s Oxford Street, Birmingham and Manchester. Central Group Europe have said that their strategy is not to stay only in capital cities, but to branch out into other locations, with new stores in the pipeline across the group’s European estate. They are “alive to opportunities” for new UK stores, but for now are focused on refurbishing parts of the Oxford Street store.