The chocolate supply chain and conditions on cocoa plantations are still not sufficiently transparent, according to the Belgian television programme Factcheckers. A guarantee that no child labour takes place cannot be given.

The British supermarket chain Morrisons will allow its employees to work four days a week instead of five for six months. It is supposed to be better for the well-being and the environment. However, the regulation only applies to the head office.

Opening a store in Greenwich, London, Aldi is the first discounter to offer the 'just walk out' shopping experience in the UK.

Ahold Delhaize subsidiary Bol.com has launched a French-language version of its website and is increasing the number of local sellers, to fuel its Belgian offensive. Until now, Bol.com was only available in French through an app.

2021 was "an exceptional year" for Dutch retailer Albert Heijn: the Ahold Delhaize subsidiary lifted its market share in the Netherlands to 35.9 %, and its Belgian turnover over one billion euros.

"2021 was a highly successful year for Hugo Boss", said CEO Daniel Grieder. In the fourth quarter, the German fashion label's turnover grew by half, proving to the company that its renewal strategy is catching on.

Brand manufacturers Nestlé and Ad van Geloven (Mora) are currently no longer supplying products to supermarket chain Albert Heijn. The reason for this is disagreement about price increases that the producers want to implement.

Luxury brand Prada has published strong results. After the difficult pandemic year of 2020, sales of handbags and clothing rebounded, with revenue growth of 41%.

With the launch of Vuna, a plant-based alternative to tuna, Nestlé is taking a new step in its protein transition. Vegan substitutes for shrimps and eggs will soon follow: "We want to be part of the solution."

Walmart, too, is preparing itself for the metaverse: the American retail giant wants to launch its own cryptocurrency and sell virtual products as NFTs. It has made seven trademark applications to enable this.

Unilever has set its eyes on the consumer division of pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). It could be the largest acquisition ever for the multinational, but a deal is by no means certain.

How can retailers respond to the NFT hype? Selfridges has the answer: it is the first physical retailer to sell NFTs: in this case, digital editions of the optical illusion art by Hungarian artist Victor Vasarely.

Hunkemöller has opened an official webshop in the United States. American customers will be able to access the entire Dutch lingerie brand's collection.

Lidl continues to grow strongly internationally, thanks to store openings and the roll-out of new services. Profit is also increasing. However, the discounter does not yet seem ready for further steps in e-commerce.

The Dutch branch of Friends of the Earth (also known as Milieudefensie) is giving 29 large companies, including Ahold Delhaize, FrieslandCampina and Unilever, three months to present a well-developed and viable climate plan. If they fail to do so, the Dutch climate organisation threatens with lawsuits.

The shelves at the first British store of Russian discounter Mere remain remarkably empty. Even in the run-up to Christmas, most of the everyday products were unavailable.

In the last four months of 2021, Asos saw its sales growth slow down significantly, due to ongoing logistical constraints and increased uncertainty caused by the Omicron variant.

The rapid growth of quick commerce may significantly impact the business model of traditional supermarkets. Analysts anticipate a wave of consolidation and more joint ventures.

Ikea starts a tailored interior design advice in Belgium. The price depends on the chosen package, starting at 29 euros for a one hour session.

Uniqlo's holding company Fast Retailing saw its quarterly profits grow again, as growth in Europe and elsewhere was bigger than a disappointing evolution in Japan and China.

A European directive should protect customers better against 'sales fraud', the artificial raising of prices just before a discount is calculated. Any discount shall have to be compared to a 'reference price', being the lowest price the product has been on sale for in the latest thirty days.

Very Group, owner of Very and Littlewoods, has appointed Dirk Van den Berghe to the role of non-executive president. He brings tons of experience in retailing from his former employees like Delhaize, JD and Walmart.

Peek & Cloppenburg is returning to the Belgian market: the German fashion retailer will be an anchor store of the newly renovated Westland Shopping Center in Brussels.

Growth at Just Eat Takeaway has slowed down considerably over the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, the meal delivery company is gradually pedalling towards profit: the margin will still be negative this year - but only just.

French property manager Esset gets off to a flying start in Belgium, with the acquisition of property management companies Codabel and Cushman & Wakefield Asset Services in Belgium. Shopping centres Docks Bruxsel and Basilix have subsequently come under French management.

Ten years after leaving Greece, Carrefour makes a new attempt to get a foothold in the Hellenic Republic through a local franchise partner.

What does one possess when they pay over 27,000 euros for an 'NFT' of a secret sauce recipe? And what exactly are these NFTs? But above all: what can retailers and brands do with them?

Retail Concepts is closing its six Yaya branches in Belgium and Luxembourg by August. The group wants to focus entirely on its own concepts, A.S. Adventure and Juttu.

Ochama has arrived in the Netherlands: the subsidiary of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com has opened its webshop and two robot pick-up points today, with a month's delay.

Kanye West (Ye), Gap and Balenciaga are joining forces: in June, retailer Gap will stock garments by the luxury house Balenciaga, designed for Ye.

The metaverse will not be a 3D reproduction of our existing world. It will be all about consumers seizing power, according to Piers Fawkes, founder of US retail trend agency PSFK. Therefore, in 2022, resilience will once again be vital for retailers.