Breakfast briefing: Retail news on Apple, Sainsbury's and online retail

Apple to launch research and development centre in UK

Apple is to open offices and an R&D centre at 90 Hills Road in Cambridge, where it wants to employ around 20 staff and hire an additional 20 people. If the company goes ahead with its Cambridge research centre, it will join Apple’s corporate office in London. The company also has R&D centres in Shanghai, Israel and Taiwan.

Sainsbury’s appeal against Tesco’s ‘Price Promise’ dismissed

Sainsbury’s appeal against Tesco’s ‘Price Promise’ campaign has been dismissed by Britain’s High Court. The retailer had complained to the Advertising Standards Authority about Tesco’s campaign, which compares the cost of a basket of Tesco’s branded, own-label and fresh food against equivalent products from Sainsbury’s and other main competitors. The supermarket insisted that it was not a fair comparison when comparing own-brand items on price alone and not taking into account provenance and other ethical issues.

UK online retailers gear up for Christmas festive sales

UK based online retailers are gearing up with Christmas promotions. A survey of 300 SMEs found that price is the most persuasive tool in attracting cost conscious consumers to their websites, both at home and abroad, with 57% plumping for that technique. Royal Mail’s study of UK’s SME online retailers reveals that price promotions are the key approach for online retailers as well as offering free delivery and returns to their shoppers.