Retail news, week of September 7, 2026

Machine summary Food inflation is forecast at 3.9% by December and a 6.4% peak next July, according to industry warnings. A £100 January 2020 basket now costs £138.60. Industry warns that food inflation is forecast to hit nearly 4% by Christmas.

1. FDF forecasts UK food and non-alcoholic drink inflation to reach 3.9% by December 2026, down from its April forecast of 9% for year-end.
2. A £100 grocery shop in January 2020 now costs £138.60 (up 38.6%) and is forecast to reach £147.50 by July 2027, an additional £8.90 rise.
3. Commodity prices: wheat up 45%, cocoa up over 100%, rice up 60%, sugar up 27%, coffee up 22%, and UK-grown produce up almost 10% year-on-year.
4. The FDF represents 12,000 food and drink manufacturers and warns 'resilience is wearing thin' amid energy, logistics, regulatory and climate cost pressures.

Reported by independent.co.uk and mirror.co.uk.

• Food Inflation Forecast

Machine summary Apple debuted iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Pre-orders open September 12 and devices hit shelves September 18.

1. The new 48MP Fusion Main camera introduces variable aperture for the first time in an iPhone.
2. iPhone 18 Pro Max delivers the largest battery life increase ever on iPhone, according to Apple, thanks to Apple silicon and a larger battery.
3. The new A20 Pro chip and next-generation vapor chamber deliver the highest sustained performance in iPhone history, per Apple.
4. Both models are available in black, silver, glacier, and an all-new burgundy finish, and run iOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI.

Reported by Seeking Alpha and apple.com.

• Apple
• iPhone 18 Pro
• A20 Pro
• iPhone 18 Pro Max
• iOS 27

Machine summary Walmart is partnering with Inspire Brands to offer Dunkin' delivery through the Walmart app, according to the reports. At first, this service is set to begin in 150 Dunkin' outlets located within Walmart stores, and it is planned to grow to almost 10,000 Dunkin' sites across the country.

1. Walmart is partnering with Inspire Brands, Dunkin's parent company, to offer Dunkin' delivery, the reports state.
2. Customers will be able to order Dunkin' beverages and food alongside Walmart grocery purchases through the Walmart app, according to the reports.
3. According to the reports, the service will start at first in 150 Dunkin' outlets within Walmart stores.
4. The reports state plans to expand the service to nearly 10,000 Dunkin' locations nationwide.
5. According to the reports, Greg Cathey, Walmart's Senior Vice President for eCommerce Fulfillment Transformation, said that retail's future means reaching shoppers wherever they are and making their lives easier.

Reported by iHeartRadio.

• Walmart
• Inspire Brands
• Dunkin'

Machine summary Campbell reported fourth-quarter net sales of $2.137 billion, an 8% decrease, and adjusted EPS of $0.39, down from $0.62 a year earlier. The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, a 36% reduction, and announced a $500 million cost savings program targeting fiscal 2030.

1. Fourth-quarter net sales were $2.137 billion, an 8% decrease, according to the earnings call transcript.
2. Fourth-quarter adjusted EPS was $0.39, down from $0.62 in the prior year period, the transcript stated.
3. The quarterly dividend was set at $0.25 per share, a 36% reduction, the transcript said.
4. A new cost savings program targets $500 million in savings by fiscal 2030, including $350 million in incremental savings, according to the transcript.
5. Fiscal 2027 organic net sales guidance is for a decline of 4% to 2%, the transcript reported.

Reported by aol.com.

Machine summary C&C said it has agreed to buy the UK wholesale arm of Asahi for a nominal sum. C&C said the deal is expected to complete in October and that it will merge the business into its Matthew Clark Bibendum operations.

1. The deal includes Asahi UK's wholesale customer and supplier relationships and agreements, intellectual property, a leased depot, vehicles and stock, according to the reports.
2. According to the reports, all supply arrangements for the on-trade estate of Fuller, Smith & Turner will go to C&C, which is based in Dublin.
3. C&C said revenues dropped by 3% during the first half that ended August 31, while branded revenues increased 2% and distribution sales decreased 4%.

Reported by aol.co.uk and dissexpress.co.uk.

• Fuller, Smith & Turner
• C&C Group
• Magners
• Asahi UK
• Matthew Clark Bibendum

Machine summary Shoe Station's Q2 2026 results: net sales fell 7.2% to $284.3M and gross margin fell 690 bps to 31.9%. E-commerce comparable sales rose 18.8% and store comps fell 9.5%.

1. Net sales fell 7.2% year over year to $284.3M, down from $306.4M in Q2 2025.
2. Comparable store sales declined 7.1%, with e-commerce comparable sales up 18.8% and store-based comparable sales down 9.5%.
3. Gross profit margin dropped 690 basis points to 31.9%, driven by promotions, inventory liquidations, and the absence of a tariff-related pricing benefit.
4. Net income fell to $6.3M or $0.23/diluted share, compared with $19.2M or $0.70/diluted share in Q2 2025.
5. Cash and marketable securities rose $39.7M year over year to $131.6M, with zero debt outstanding.

Reported by aol.com.

• Shoe Station

Machine summary J.Jill told investors its quarterly results beat its own guidance, with net sales up 0.5% to $154.8 million and adjusted EBITDA rising to $32.8 million from $25.6 million. The company said a $13.3 million one-time tariff refund contributed to the improvement, and it raised its full-year sales guidance to flat-to-2% growth.

1. J.Jill reported net sales rose 0.5% to $154.8 million and adjusted EBITDA climbed to $32.8 million from $25.6 million, according to the source.
2. Adjusted earnings per diluted share rose to $1.24 from $0.81 a year earlier, the source reported.
3. The source stated that a $13.3 million one-time tariff refund contributed to the improvement, and excluding it, adjusted gross margin was flat at 68.3%.
4. CEO Mary Ellen Coyne said, according to the source, that the total customer file is leveling off, while acquisition of new-to-brand customers is accelerating and incoming customers are leaning slightly younger.
5. The source reported that J.Jill lifted its full-year sales guidance to growth between flat and 2%, and its Q3 comparable sales outlook to growth of 1% to 3%.

Reported by Insider Monkey and finance.yahoo.com.

• J.Jill

Machine summary A listing at Argos for Fresh 'n Rebel Code Junior headphones priced at £19.99 is a £4.81 effective purchase for new TopCashback members. The deal relies on free click and collect, with delivery from £4.95 and cashback payable within seven days.

1. Fresh 'n Rebel Code Junior On-Ear Headphones are listed at £19.99 at Argos as of 12 September 2026.
2. New TopCashback members shopping at Argos can reduce the effective price to £4.81 after a £15 cashback offer on spends over £15.
3. The headphones offer up to 48 hours of playback and have a maximum volume of 85dB to protect young ears.
4. Standard Argos delivery costs from £4.95, but the effective prices assume free click and collect.
5. For TopCashback, cashback does not arrive instantly; it may require as long as seven days before it becomes payable.

Reported by plymouthherald.co.uk and coventrytelegraph.net.

• TopCashback
• Fresh 'n Rebel Code Junior On-Ear Headphones
• Fresh 'n Rebel
• Argos

Machine summary A bankruptcy court judge in New Jersey approved Francesca's plan to liquidate and sell its remaining assets, the retailer said. The plan calls for Francesca's to sell its intellectual property to Stand Out For Good, Altar'd State's parent company, for about $7 million, according to the reports.

Reported by iHeartRadio.

• Stand Out For Good