Sainsbury’s chief executive officer, Simon Roberts, is among those who were celebrated in His Majesty’s The King’s New Year’s Honour List today. Source

After a whirlwind 2025, the retail industry looks towards 2026. In the second of a two-part series, Retail Gazette hears from seven more industry experts who share their thoughts on what the industry can expect over the next 12 months. Catering for humans and bots Mike Fantis, VP managing partner of marketing agency DAC Group UK,……

Waitrose has introduced higher welfare standards for its own-brand continental meat. Source

M&S has unveiled a new range of salads, snacks and meals to make it easier for consumers to eat their recommended amounts of fibre and vitamins. Source

A new study from Waitrose, which surveyed 2,000 adults, found that 30% of respondents believed that not being able to cook would be a dealbreaker when looking for a romantic partner. Source

WHSmith saw profits decline in its annual results, amid a “difficult” end to the year. Source

The quantity of goods brought in the three months to November 2025 had risen 0.6%, when compared to the three leading up to August 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Source

Birkenstock saw profits rise in its latest annual results as sales jumped. Source

The Retail Trust and AlixPartners have been tracking the well-being of people working in our sector for three years, and 2025 looks set to be the toughest year for the industry recorded by the Retail People Index, writes the chief executive of the Retail Trust, Chris Brook-Carter. Source