Supermarkets fashion labels shake up internal teams

F&F, the fashion arm of UK largest retailer Tesco and Tu, Sainsbury's apparel label,

have both reported the exit of department heads, as both companies restructure their internal fashion and design teams.

F&F's head of buying for brands and concessions, Janet Baines has left the group, along with its head of buying for accessories and footwear, Nicola Perring. Baines, who was appointed in April 2013, had worked at Tesco since 2010, whilst Perring first joined the group in 2006, before taking on her former role in 2012.

Their departures from Tesco are said to be part of the group's internal team changes, which include bringing together all design functions, which were formerly separated per category.

Meanwhile, Tu's head of menswear design Richard Bakare left his role at Sainsbury's with immediate effect. Following his exit, the group decided to group its menswear and childrenswear design together and placed Aimi Williams-Smith in charge of both design teams.

“Our head menswear designer has left to pursue his own interests and our head of childrenswear design will now head up both menswear and childrenswear,” said Sainsbury's in a statement to Drapersonline. Williams-Smith first joined the group in October 2013 from George, the fashion line from supermarket chain Asda.