ThisIsRetail #12
Welcome to edition twelve of ThisIsRetail, our meticulously hand-picked collection of the most interesting ideas, innovations, and insight from the global retail, fashion, and tech industry news… and other loosely-related stuff we felt compelled to share.
So what have we got for you this week? Amongst the half-dozen or so must reads is a 2018 interview with Jamie Oliver on the rise and fall of his casual-dining empire, how the so-called 'grimmest town' in Eastern France has resurrected its high-street, image, and pride, and a piece on the complex issues surrounding the increasing role of 'social supermarkets' attempting to bridge gaps in the UK's welfare system.
Jamie Oliver: "We had simply run out of cash"
The celebrity chef on a year of redundancies, restaurant closures and public criticism [FT Weekend Magazine]
From bleak to bustling: how one French town beat the high street blues
Mulhouse has turned around its image and now boasts more shops opening than closing, thanks to smart planning, investment and community efforts [Guardian]
The rise of social supermarkets: 'It's not about selling cheap food, but building strong communities'
Millions of Britons struggle to put food on the table. Are social supermarkets, where surplus stock from big retailers is discounted, the solution? [Observer Food Monthly]
Counter culture: my life growing up in a corner shop
BBC presenter Babita Sharma on what she learned from helping out in her parents' store, and why corner shops remain an essential part of British life [Observer]
Technology platforms are facing a loss of control
The land grab for assets across media and food delivery shows their power is under threat [Financial Times]
Interview: Lush Cosmetics boss Mark Constantine
On falling out with the police, Extinction Rebellion and Jeff Bezos [Sunday Times]
Classic football shirts: The students-turned-entrepreneurs searching for rare kits
Two students who shared a love of classic football shirts have turned their hobby into a business - and it all started with a fancy-dress party [BBC]
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