Latest news with #retailers
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Disposable vapes ban: What you need to know as changes come into effect nationwide
A ban on disposable vapes will come into force on Sunday as the government attempts to crack down on youth nicotine addiction as well as the litter they create. The crackdown on the devices, also known as single-use vapes, makes it illegal for any retailer – ranging from corner shops to supermarkets – to sell them. The ban follows the soaring use of disposable vapes in schools and a flood of plastic rubbish from the discarding of the devices. 5.6 million adults were vaping in Great Britain in 2024, according to charity Action on Smoking Health (ASH). Here, The Independent looks at the reasons behind the ban and what it means for you: What vapes are being banned? The government is banning the sale of single-use disposable vapes in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A vape is single-use if it either has a battery that cannot be recharged or is not refillable. To be reusable, a vape must have a rechargeable battery and a refillable container that holds the vaping e-liquid. Why are they being banned? The government has provided two main reasons for the disposable vape ban. Firstly, to protect the environment. Nearly five million disposable vapes were littered or discarded every week in 2024, according to Material Focus. Most end up in general waste or as litter rather than being recycled. These vapes are hazardous during disposal, with built-in batteries posing a fire risk in bin lorries and recycling centres. They must be dismantled by hand to recycle, and if littered, can leak harmful chemicals into soil and waterways. Secondly, to reduce the number of young people vaping. The introduction of a new generation of disposable vapes in 2021 coincided with a significant increase in youth vaping. The new single-use vapes are relatively cheap, have bright and attractive packaging, are easy to use and are widely promoted. Although the rise in youth vaping has levelled off, disposables continue to be the most popular product among young people who vape, according to ASH. Can I keep using disposable vapes? The ban only applies to businesses selling disposable vapes, not to those who use them. However, the Local Government Association urged people to think twice before hoarding disposable vapes, warning that stockpiling them could pose life-threatening risks. There are concerns that some people are stocking up on single-use vapes, with research by online nicotine retailer Haypp finding 82 per cent of disposable vape users are planning to stockpile. The LGA has warned that the lithium batteries contained inside disposable vapes could cause fires and pose a risk to life if not stored correctly. Lithium batteries present a serious risk of fire, as there is the potential for them to enter into thermal runaway. Thermal runaway occurs when a battery reaches up to 600C, releasing toxic gases and creating a fire, according to charity Electrical Safety First. The ban applies to both online and in-store sales across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and all disposable vapes whether or not they contain nicotine. It applies to all businesses and organisations that sell or supply single-use vapes in the UK. This includes: Retailers – such as convenience stores, market stalls, petrol stations, specialist vape shops and supermarkets Manufacturers Wholesalers Importers Healthcare settings and stop smoking services Retailers are still allowed to sell reusable vapes. Rogue traders who continue to sell them risk a fine of £200 in the first instance, followed by an unlimited fine or jail time for repeat offending.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ulta sees signs of improvement in Q1, but stays cautious
This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter. After a year of mixed performance, Ulta Beauty showed some positive momentum in the first quarter, with net sales up 4.5% to $2.8 billion. Comps in the quarter also increased 2.9% in the period, per a company press release. Ulta is seeing improvement in the performance of stores that were hit by competitive openings, like Sephora's Kohl's shop-in-shops, CEO Kecia Steelman said Thursday on a call with analysts. The retailer's stores recorded their first positive comps in more than a year. The executive added that Ulta's efforts to improve operations, including store cleanliness, appropriate staffing and fully stocked inventory, have helped as well. Total inventory was up more than 11% in the quarter, helping Ulta's in-stock positioning. Though Ulta executives expressed confidence in the beauty retailer's strategy and raised guidance slightly as a result, the company remains cautious about how consumer spending will shape up for the rest of the year. Steelman referenced beauty's recession-proof qualities, as well as shoppers' view of the category as a 'comfort and escape' from the stress of the current macro environment, as positives for Ulta. At the same time, though, she said customers are prioritizing value and warned that they may not follow through on their planned spending. 'While they tell us that they intend to prioritize beauty and wellness — that's what they say — but they could also do something very different depending on the environment,' Steelman said. 'So we're being really prudent.' CFO Paula Oyibo also stressed that while beauty is usually resilient, it's not 'immune to consumer pressure,' especially given the chaos and uncertainty caused by the Trump administration's tariff policies. 'One quarter doesn't make a trend,' Oyibo said as an explanation for why Ulta's guidance remains relatively conservative. Nevertheless, Ulta is seeing some green shoots from its operational initiatives as well. During the quarter, the retailer invested in higher staffing in stores, added more newness to stores and tweaked its marketing approach. In particular, Ulta cut back on less productive sales offers and made more distinct calls to action in communicating with shoppers. The retailer is on track to launch its marketplace in the second half of the year and will open its first stores in Mexico City, Kuwait City and the United Arab Emirates' Dubai later this year. Ulta said last year it planned to expand to Mexico. Less tangibly, Steelman also noted that Ulta is making progress on 'reenergizing our culture,' which she described as a competitive advantage. Steelman took over as CEO for Dave Kimbell in January and has since announced several leadership changes, including naming a chief merchandising and digital officer last month. This quarter marks the 'first time in a while' that Ulta drove share across the category, according to Steelman. The retailer lost share in beauty for the first time last year. 'It seems like everything the team is doing is showing signs of effectiveness, and in a fairly quick manner,' Piper Sandler analysts led by Korinne Wolfmeyer said in an analyst note. 'This undoubtedly builds on our optimism around the [long-term] opportunity here, but we still want to be prudent around competition, market volatility, and margin risks that could come.' Recommended Reading The Weekly Closeout: Coty to cut 700 jobs, Adidas sports double-digit growth Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Reason Even Retailers That Raise Prices Want to Keep Your Grocery Bills Down
General retailers, such as Walmart and Costco, want to avoid raising grocery prices as they adjust prices in response to tariffs, executives said on recent earnings calls. Lower food prices can offer retailers steady food traffic, and may be a way to build loyalty using a category that relies less on imports than some other types of merchandise, experts said. Higher food prices can have a pronounced impact on brand perception and consumer sentiment, consumer research experts retailers say they need to raise prices. They'd rather not do it in the grocery aisle. Executives at several big chains have lately said they want to keep food prices manageable, and experts say there's a good reason for that: While groceries are must-buy goods, shoppers who don't like the prices they see could look elsewhere. Walmart (WMT) executives have said fighting food inflation is top-of-mind. BJ's Wholesale (BJ) leaders want to keep their food prices 25% lower than those at grocery stores. Target (TGT) and Costco Wholesale (COST) executives on recent conference calls said they're selling seasonal fare and kitchen staples at bargain rates. General retailers have traditionally treated food as a 'loss leader,' experts said, meaning companies may set prices meant to draw in people who might pick up other, higher-profit items. 'The psyche of the consumer could be: I just saved on my groceries, so I can splurge,' said Sally Lyons Wyatt, global executive vice president and chief advisor at Circana, a market research company. This may pave the way for purchases of items that have seen price increases, Lyons Wyatt said, such as tech gadgets or pet products. Groceries are vital to 'a retailer's business plan, providing essential goods that encourage frequent visits and foster customer loyalty,' said Steve Zurek, vice president of advanced analytics thought leadership at market research firm NielsenIQ. Companies that sell food have some flexibility, experts said. Many—though not all—grocery items are sourced domestically, meaning they're less likely to become more expensive due to tariffs, said Stewart Samuel, director of retail futures at IGD, a food industry insights group. Retailers are mindful that Americans are still acclimating to food prices that surged during the pandemic. Given how frequently people buy food, higher grocery prices can have a dramatic impact on brand perception and consumer confidence, experts said. 'We've been through a number of years here where prices have gone up on food, and our customers have felt that,' Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said during an earnings call earlier this month. 'They don't want any more food inflation.' Walmart won't let pressure on general merchandise bleed into the grocery section, McMillon said. Low food prices are a priority, he said, while acknowledging that the retailer may raise prices on foods that are difficult to source domestically, such as bananas, avocados and coffee. 'A lot of retailers take Walmart's lead,' said R. J. Hottovy, head of analytical research at a firm that measures retailers' foot traffic. 'A lot of chains are going to try to do that, but not every retailer is going to have the same ability.' Perishable items have propelled recent growth at BJ's, CEO Bob Eddy said on an earnings conference call this month, adding that the company wants to use competitive prices to 'gain market share in these times of disruption.' 'Our advantaged structure allows us to consistently offer up to 25% off grocery store prices, and we are committed to maintaining this edge,' Eddy said, according to a transcript made available from AlphaSense. Target is adding seasonal food and beverages to sections stocked with $1 to $5 items, while Costco is getting comfortable with the idea that it may have lower profit margins on pineapples and bananas, executives at those companies said recently. Costco started charging more for flowers sourced from Central and South America, but held off on doing the same for fruits from that region, CFO Gary Millerchip said on an earnings conference call this week. 'They are key staple items for the member,' Millerchip said, according to a transcript. 'We felt it was important to really eliminate the impact there.' Read the original article on Investopedia Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
NHK
a day ago
- Business
- NHK
Expert sees little effect on rice prices from release of reserves
The agriculture ministry started distribution to retailers nationwide through fixed contracts. An expert says this may not be enough to bring down sky-high prices.
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Farm ministry starts accepting applications for older rice from small buyers
The agriculture ministry on Friday started accepting applications from smaller retailers and rice shops to purchase older batches of the government's stockpiled rice through no-bid contracts after more than 1,000 companies expressed interest. Smaller retailers that sell between 1,000 and 10,000 metric tons of rice annually, along with rice shops with their own rice millers are eligible to apply for 80,000 tons of rice stockpiled from the 2021 harvest. Farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the ministry will aim to make the rice, which is expected to carry a retail price tag of ¥1,800 ($12.50) per 5-kilogram bag, available throughout the nation. Koizumi said that his ministry intends to sell stockpiled rice 'without limit' under the no-bid method and may release more than the initially planned amount: 200,000 tons of rice harvested in 2022 — already sold out, with 61 major retailers placing purchasing orders — and another 100,000 tons of rice from the 2021 harvest for smaller retailers. Applications for smaller retailers opened on Friday after the first batch of stockpiled rice sold through no-bid contracts was delivered to major retailers a day earlier via rapid shipment. This first batch is expected to hit stores as soon as Saturday. Home appliance company Iris Ohyama will start selling the 10,000 tons of stockpiled rice that it has purchased from the government at its stores in Chiba and Miyagi prefectures on Saturday at ¥2,160 per 5-kg bag. It will start offering the rice at its outlet in Kanagawa Prefecture on Monday at the same price. Major supermarket chain operator Aeon will start selling the stockpiled rice at the same price at its Shinagawa outlet in Tokyo on Sunday, followed by three others in Chiba, Osaka and Aichi prefectures on Monday. This is about half the average price of ¥4,285 for a 5-kg bag at supermarkets in the week through May 18. Rice prices have been rising since last summer due to various factors, including a rising number of foreign visitors consuming more of the staple grain and speculative buyers entering the market. Critics also blamed farmers for not producing enough rice to meet demand. But farmers produced 6.79 million tons of rice last year, up 180,000 tons from the previous year, according to the farm ministry. In 2025, Japan is projected to yield 7.19 million tons of rice, which would take the harvest 400,000 tons higher compared with last year's and make it the largest in five years, the ministry said. Koizumi told parliament on Wednesday that prices had surged due to a sharp drop in shipments made to the National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations and other distributors despite higher production. Experts have suggested that speculative buyers may have bought rice directly from farmers and are holding on to them until prices rise. Koizumi said on Friday that to lower rice prices, he needs to assure people that there is enough rice to go around.
