Fast Retailing has revealed Australian actor Cate Blanchett as its latest global ambassador for its Uniqlo brand.

The Japanese retail giant said the Academy-Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globe-winning actor will work with Uniqlo in “advancing” its LifeWear philosophy or “the continuous pursuit of excellence, humanitarian and next-generation support, and positive contribution to society,” according to a press release.

“Ms. Blanchett is among the greatest actors of her generation–on stage and on screen. But our admiration goes beyond entertainment,” ​​
said Tadashi Yanai, Uniqlo founder and chairman, president and CEO of Fast Retailing.

“Her passion and engagement is evident in her contributions as a role model for women and her mentorship of emerging film and theatre artists, as well as her long standing commitment to humanitarian and environmental causes. Through our partnership, we will work together to make positive changes in the world around us.”

The Tokyo-based company said further details pertaining to the 56-year-old’s ambassadorship would be unveiled shortly.

Born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1969, Blanchett is best known for movie roles in “Tár”, “Carol”, “The Aviator”, “Blue Jasmine”, and “Elizabeth”, as well as her acting on Broadway and the West End. During her career, the actress has served as co-artistic director and co-CEO of Sydney Theatre Company and as co-founder of production company Dirty Films.

Beyond her work on stage and screen, Blanchett seres as a global goodwill ambassador for the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. She’s also a member of the Earthshot Prize Council, an inaugural ambassador for Wakehurst’s Millennium Seed Bank, a board member of the UK’s National Theatre, and a patron of both the Sydney Film Festival and NIDA Foundation.

“I value the ambition of Uniqlo to make life better through its LifeWear apparel: timeless design, perfected simplicity, affordable, accessible, quality clothing that lasts,” said Blanchett.

“I am energised by the opportunity to help Uniqlo advance important aspects of its LifeWear philosophy-supporting the next generation, playing a part in highlighting and combatting the ongoing global displacement crisis, giving back to communities, and finding meaningful ways to contribute to a more equitable world. On top of that, to creatively reconnect with Clare Waight Keller and to be in dialogue with Uniqlo global brand ambassador, Roger Federer, is a privilege indeed.”

In its July trading update, Fast Retailing Co. reported third-quarter earnings that fell short of expectations, as sluggish sales in China dragged on the apparel company’s results.

For the three months ending in May, operating profit totaled ¥146.7 billion ($1 billion), below the analyst consensus of ¥150 billion compiled by Bloomberg. Net income for the quarter was ¥105.5 billion.

Author Credits- Benjamin Fitzgerald
FASHION NETWORK

With profits doubling and e-commerce booming, the brand is betting big on India’s fast fashion boom.

Japanese retailer Uniqlo, part of The Fast Retailing Group, is on track to more than double its store count and triple its revenues in the Indian market over the next three years.

This expansion is led by the company’s growing confidence from opening stores in new markets, a top executive at the casual clothing retailer said.

“In the first four years, we focused on north (India)—that’s why our expansion was so fast,” said Kenji Inoue, CFO & COO, Uniqlo India, during a virtual interview with Mint on Monday. “But now we are in the west; but we are getting into the southern market which will accelerate our expansion going forward. Our business is getting bigger and bigger. Our ambition is to keep similar growth rates of about 30 to 40% year-on-year which would lead us to approximately touch ₹3,000 crore in the coming three years.”

Uniqlo entered India in 2019 with its first store in New Delhi and now operates 16 stores in the country.

In fiscal year 2025, Uniqlo India reported a 44% jump in revenue, crossing ₹1,100 crore, per the company. The growth was led by retail expansion, rising brand awareness, and a strong e-commerce uplift. The company’s profit after tax for FY25 more than doubled to ₹178.4 crore.

“We don’t stick to a number of store openings so much because our existing stores and e-commerce are growing very fast. One of the benchmarks would be to double the number of stores compared to the current store count,” Inoue said.

The retailer largely focused on opening stores in the north, as it carries a greater proportion of winter wear. However, it has since expanded. In 2023, it entered the Mumbai market, which has shown a ‘strong’ response.

Lufthansa Cargo and online fashion retailer Shein have signed an MOU to expand the use of sustainable aviation fuels in Shein air freight deliveries, with finalized adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) offsetting solutions for Shein deliveries expected within six months.

Lufthansa Cargo will provide high-quality proof of sustainability certificates for the used SAF. These certificates are based on externally verified standards and document emission reductions, compared to conventional jet fuel, in a traceable manner.

“Lufthansa Cargo has extensive experience in driving the adoption of SAF and will provide Shein with opportunities to adopt lower-carbon air cargo options,” said Ethan Shen, Shein’s general manager of global fulfillment.

“Through this partnership, we aim to pilot and gradually expand the use of SAF where feasible, while continuing to explore additional ways to reduce the carbon footprint across our delivery network.

“While the use of SAF is one step toward reducing our transportation and distribution emissions, we recognize it as part of a broader decarbonization strategy that should also include optimizing logistics, fleet efficiency and exploring other low-carbon solutions.”

“Signing this memorandum with Shein represents Lufthansa Cargo´s commitment to implementing high-performance logistics solutions responsibly and with operational excellence. It demonstrates the importance of concrete measures and reliable implementation in the international air freight business,” said Ashwin Bhat, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo.

The companies added that they are exploring further areas of cooperation, such as knowledge exchanges and approaches to strengthen traceability and reporting of operational and environmental data, and that the MOU is the beginning of “a long-term agreement”.

Author Credits- ALASDAIR MORTON
Parcel and postal technology INTERNATIONAL

• Spinneys enters Kuwait through a joint venture with Alshaya Group, marking its expansion into a fourth GCC market.
• The retailer plans ten stores, with the first opening in 2026, holding a 51% majority stake in the venture.
• Kuwait’s strong disposable income and retail potential make it a key market for Spinneys’ premium fresh food growth strategy.

Spinneys

Spinneys, premium fresh food retailer, announced its entry into Kuwait. This is through a joint venture with Alshaya Group, a leading brand franchise operator. This marks Spinney’s entry into a fourth GCC market and is a step forwards in its regional expansion strategy.

“We are delighted to announce our entry into Kuwait, as a part of the Strategic Middle East expansion plan, a significant milestone in our strategy to bring Spinneys’ premium fresh food offering to more customers. Kuwait is a high potential market and presents strong growth opportunities for us. The first store under the joint venture is expected to open in 2026, paving the way for a long and successful presence in the Kuwaiti market,” said Sunil Kumar, Chief Executive Officer at Spinneys.

Under the joint venture, Spinneys will hold a 51% majority stake. It will also lead the operation and management of all stores under the partnership. In its initial rollout, it is planning ten stores in Kuwait with intentions for the first location to open in 2026.

Kuwait

Its entry into the Kuwaiti market aligns with its growth ambitions to be a top brand choice in the region. Furthermore, as the fourth largest economy in the GCC, Kuwait offers an incentivizing retail opportunity. Additionally, the country’s market has some of the highest levels of disposable income per-capital in the region. Thus, Spinneys aims to meet this demand through premium offerings.

“Kuwait is a dynamic market with a strong appetite for premium offerings, and we believe Spinneys’ proven brand and operational excellence will resonate strongly with local consumers,” said  John Hadden, Chief Executive Officer at Alshaya Group.

News Credits- WAYA

Consumer companies can cope with the baby bust. They just have to pivot to baby boomers. Birth rates falling to historic lows across the developed world, combined with people living longer, are reshaping the global market for the things we eat, wear and put on our skin.

Yet despite the fact that older people have more purchasing power, the consumer goods world is still far more obsessed with catering to the young. It’s time for manufacturers to pay more attention to the silver economy — where there’s a market for everything from food and personal care items to toys and fashion.

Japan has long been the epicentre for catering to an aging population, from having dedicated malls for seniors to employing robotic carers. But populations are also aging in Europe and the US.

Although children still outnumber older adults in the US, the gap is narrowing, according to the Vintage 2024 Population Estimates, released in June by the US Census Bureau.

Despite older adults spending more on travel and meals out, elderly fashion is often neglected. There is a market for clothing that is stylish yet suitable for silver fashionistas. And given that many older people have accumulated assets over their lifetimes, it’s a potentially lucrative market at a time when demand elsewhere is fragile.

Higher necklines, more pockets and looser sleeves could easily be incorporated into designs. We get shorter as we age, so more length options in dresses and men’s pants would be a relatively simple easy win, too.

For the very old, dexterity becomes more of an issue, making elasticated waists and front-fastenings necessary. Learnings from children’s wear could be valuable here. British retailer Marks & Spencer Group Plc has created a range for children with disabilities or limited mobility, including hidden openings for feeding tubes, softer fabrics and replacing buttons on shirts with Velcro fastenings. It’s not hard to see such features applied to items for the elderly. If technology — such as fabrics that help cool the body — could be incorporated, garments would be even more effective.

But perhaps the biggest opportunity for consumer companies is what trend forecaster WGSN has described as “living for longevity,” in other words preparing for our many later years throughout our lives.

The wellness and beauty industries are most obvious beneficiaries. Collagen production is already a focus for skincare brands and vitamin makers. Nestle is also working on addressing cell decline, which begins in a person’s 40s and starts to accelerate in their 60s. Creatine, which supplies energy to muscles and can also support brain health, is also coming into the longevity picture.

The consumer sector is fascinated with Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Thinking about their later years at the same time as selling them the latest frippery won’t exactly make demographic change child’s play, but it should make companies more resilient.

News Credits- FASHION NETWORK

CHENNAI – From Japan’s Shiseido (4911.T) to France’s L’Oreal (OREP.PA) global cosmetics giants are doubling down on India, betting on the world’s most populous nation as a key growth market for premium offerings while sales slow in developed economies.

India’s luxury beauty market is expected to quintuple to $4 billion by 2035 from $800 million in 2023, driven by its young, affluent, social-media savvy shoppers with rising disposable incomes, consulting firm Kearney and luxury beauty distributor LUXASIA said in a report.

WOOING INDIAN SHOPPERS

McCormick (MKC.N) said on Thursday it will raise its stake in its Mexico joint venture to 75% by acquiring 25% more for $750 million as the condiments maker seeks to expand further in Latin America.

McCormick, maker of Cholula hot sauce, said the deal should close early in the 2026 fiscal year and that the transaction should be accretive to adjusted earnings per share within the first year.

Shares in Grupo Herdez (HERDEZ.MX), the Mexican salsa seller and coffee chain operator that has shared the 50/50 joint venture with McCormick, shot up during morning trading, triggering a brief suspension on the Mexican stock exchange.

Its shares were up 25% at 8:45 a.m. local time (1445 GMT), bringing its market value up to nearly 23 billion Mexican pesos ($1.23 billion). Shares in McCormick meanwhile rose nearly 1%.

Connor Rattigan, an analyst at Consumer Edge, said McCormick’s decision was indicative of sentiment by similar firms regarding emerging markets as middle classes expand, but warned of pressures on consumer spending in the United States.

“This is likely not the end of the company’s ambitions for growth in the region,” he told Reuters.

Founded in 1947, the joint venture with Grupo Herdez, known as McCormick de Mexico, has been a dominant player in the condiments and sauces segment in Mexico, Latin America’s second-largest economy, selling a range of McCormick brand products.

The deal is subject to customary closing and regulatory conditions, McCormick said.

($1 = 18.7620 Mexican pesos)

Author Credits- Neil J Kanatt and Paolo Laudani
Reuters