Tesco is gearing up to introduce over 70 new Express stores throughout the UK following the acquisition of former Amazon Fresh locations.
The transition will involve rebranding and converting numerous Amazon Fresh sites into Tesco Express stores by March of next year. Notable locations set to reopen under the Tesco banner include Kensington High Street, Hounslow, Moorgate, Aldgate East, and Wembley, all situated in London and expected to be back in operation before the summer. Amazon had closed its remaining 19 Fresh stores in September last year.
Nick Johnson, Tesco Group Property Director, expressed enthusiasm about expanding the store network to better serve communities across the UK. He stated, “As one of the UK’s leading retailers, we support jobs and local economies up and down the UK, and as we grow our store network we’re delighted to have the opportunity to serve even more people, in even more communities. We are hugely excited about the year ahead and looking forward to meeting our customers where they are with great quality, exceptional value, and brilliant customer service.”
Struggling households are encouraged to check their eligibility for up to £500 in energy bill support provided by Worcestershire County Council, limited to residents within Worcestershire. To qualify, individuals must reside in Malvern, Worcester, Wychavon, Bromsgrove, Redditch, or Wyre Forest District, with a gross household income of £24,570 or less annually for single individuals without children, while the income threshold for other households is £31,000, excluding any received benefits. Additionally, applicants must have no household savings and meet one of five vulnerability criteria, such as receiving DWP benefits, being of state pension age, or having young children under four years old.
Nurseries have been cautioned against charging parents additional fees for utilizing their free childcare hours. Children aged nine months to four years are entitled to 15 to 30 free childcare hours per week during term-time. Some parents have reported being asked to pay extra costs beyond the free hours for items like toys, rent, and utilities. Updated guidance from the Department of Education emphasizes that free hours should come without hidden or mandatory charges. Childcare providers can request payment for optional extras such as meals, snacks, or trips as long as they are genuinely optional, transparently priced, and parents have the choice to opt out without losing their free place.
Parcel locker group InPost has agreed to be acquired by a consortium led by delivery giant FedEx and private equity firm Advent for £6.8 billion. InPost will continue operating under its brand as a standalone entity, with its headquarters in Poland and founder and chief executive Rafat Brzoska retaining leadership. The acquisition, anticipated to finalize in the second half of 2026, aims to expand InPost’s presence in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Benelux, and the UK. In the UK, the group plans to increase locker points to 30,000 from the current 14,000, in addition to having 5,500 pick-up and drop-off points.
Superdrug has disclosed intentions to open 30 new stores this year, generating approximately 600 jobs. New store locations in England include White Rose Leeds, Crawley, Waterlooville Retail Park, Newport Retail Park, and Isle of Wight. Additionally, Superdrug will establish new stores in Scotland at Dundee Gallagher Retail Park, Kilmarnock Retail Park, East Kilbride, Strathkelvin Retail Park, Linwood Phoenix Retail Park, and in Wales at Cwmbran Retail Park. These stores will feature Superdrug Beauty Studios offering services like ear piercing, manicures, and eyebrow threading.
Wetherspoon’s Tim Martin has voiced support for Nigel Farage’s proposal to “save” pubs, suggesting it could lead to a reduction in pint prices to below £3. The wealthy founder and chairman welcomed efforts to lower costs for the struggling pub sector, although Reform UK’s plan is contingent on reinstating the two-child benefit cap if it gains power. Meanwhile, Labour’s proposal to abolish the limit has garnered support from campaigners aiming to lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty.
NatWest Group has agreed to acquire wealth management firm Evelyn Partners for £2.7 billion. Evelyn, with approximately £69 billion in assets, provides financial planning and investment management services, operating the consumer platform BestInvest. NatWest reportedly outbid Barclays for the takeover, with expectations that the deal will enhance NatWest’s fee income by around 20% and expand its private banking and wealth management division. NatWest’s chief executive Paul Thwaite highlighted the opportunity to offer financial planning, savings, and investment services to a broader segment of the UK population, contributing to economic growth and investment.