Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Retail veteran drops plan to join Asda

Gary Mills, a former Tesco and Morrisons executive, backed out of joining the troubled supermarket chain, just days after being appointed

Retail veteran drops plan to join Asda

WHILE Asda is witnessing a flurry of departures at the top, it recently faced a setback while hiring a senior executive.

Gary Mills, a former Tesco and Morrisons executive, backed out of joining the troubled supermarket chain, just days after being appointed, The Telegraph reports.


Asda had last month internally announced that Mills would join as the supermarket’s new interim retail director, but now he seems to have changed his mind.

Recently Mark Simpson left Asda as chief transformation officer and Paul Gillow relinquished his role as commercial director for food.

Simpson is an Asda veteran, having joined in 1997 and held several senior roles. Gillow has also been with Asda for 21 years.

As Gillow's replacement, Iceland’s group director Andrew Staniland is understood to have been appointed.

The changes form part of a radical management overhaul being pursued by Asda co-owner Mohsin Issa as he attempts to arrest an alarming slump in sales.

According to industry analysis firm Kantar, sales at Asda were down 4pc in the 12 weeks to June 9 and its market share has shrunk to 12.8 per cent from 13.7 per cent last year.

It is the only supermarket chain where sales are falling and its gap with rivals such as Tesco and Sainsbury's has widened.

The supermarket has struggled to lure shoppers since its £6.8 billion debt-fuelled takeover by the billionaire Issa brothers and private equity firm TDR in 2021.

Last month, TDR Capital took majority control of Asda by acquiring Zuber Issa’s 22.5 per cent stake.

TDR now owns 67.5 per cent of the supermarket while Mohsin Issa and Walmart hold 22.5 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.

Asda's plans to alter the working week pattern for managers were recently shelved amid a backlash from staff.

It had recently announced that it would outsource more than a hundred employees to Indian software major Tata Consultancy Services to cut costs.

Those affected are from the company’s Leeds headquarters, where more than 5,000 employees work.

More For You

single-use vapes-iStock

Analysis by Material Focus estimates that 8.2 million vapes are discarded or littered each week in the UK—equivalent to 13 every second. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Shops told to clear single-use vapes before ban starts on June 1

SHOPS across the UK have until 1 June 2025 to sell off remaining stocks of single-use vapes before a nationwide ban comes into force.

The legislation, confirmed last year, follows a government consultation that showed strong support for restricting their sale and supply.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump’s Promise: TikTok Deal Before April 5 to Avoid Ban

This is not the first time that TikTok has been under scrutiny in the United States

Getty

Trump promises TikTok deal before April 5 to prevent ban

As the clock ticks towards the April 5 deadline, the future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain, with President Donald Trump promising that a deal to resolve the app's ongoing issues will be struck before the deadline. The central issue at hand is whether TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, will be forced to divest the popular social media platform or face a ban in the U.S.

In a statement made aboard Air Force One late on Sunday, Trump confirmed that there was "tremendous interest" from potential buyers looking to acquire TikTok. He expressed his desire for the platform to "remain alive" and emphasized that multiple buyers were keen on striking a deal, suggesting that a solution would be reached before the deadline.

Keep ReadingShow less
Primark-London-Getty

During his 15-year tenure, Marchant expanded Primark’s store network to more than 450 locations across 17 countries in Europe and the United States. (Photo: Reuters)

Primark chief Paul Marchant steps down after misconduct probe

PAUL MARCHANT, the head of fashion retailer Primark, has resigned with immediate effect after admitting to an "error of judgment" in his behaviour towards a woman in a social setting.

Associated British Foods (AB Foods), Primark's parent company, announced his resignation on Monday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jaguar’s bold gamble: Can it woo young, wealthy drivers with a £123k EV?

Jaguar’s bold gamble: Can it woo young, wealthy drivers with a £123k EV?

JAGUAR’S ambition to seduce younger, richer drivers was on full display in Paris with a presentation of its newest prototype, the Type 00, which promises all-electric luxury... at a steep price.

The low-slung, muscular-looking concept car presented to European reporters last Friday (21) prefigures a production model expected mid-2026 at a base cost of €150,000 (£123,472.8).

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Trump-Getty

Trump has suggested the possibility of a 'great' trade deal that could help the UK mitigate the impact of tariffs he has pledged to introduce. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer, Trump talk trade deal progress in 'productive' discussion

KEIR STARMER and Donald Trump spoke on Sunday about ongoing UK-US trade negotiations, with Downing Street describing the talks as "productive."

Since leaving the European Union, the UK has been working to secure a trade agreement with the United States. Successive British governments have pursued a deal, but it has remained elusive.

Keep ReadingShow less