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On this episode of Talking Shop I’m joined by Alain Bejjani—former Group CEO of Middle East retail giant Majid Al Futtaim, and author of the definitive new book, NEXT: Leading Through the New Realities. Drawing on his childhood in war-torn Beirut, and his experience steering a $9.5bn dollar retail and lifestyle empire through a global pandemic, Alain brings an unmatched perspective on leadership under pressure. Today, we break down his crisis survival playbook for retailers operating in distress. We discuss why resilience must always outpace efficiency, the four assets a brand must protect at all costs, and how to turn macro-turmoil into a long-term direction that scales.

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Matalan has reported a 38% increase in earnings to £27m for the quarter ended 28 November 2025. The growth was supported by a 2% rise in like-for-like sales.

The retailer recorded its highest ever online sales day outside of the pandemic during the Black Friday period. Digital like-for-like sales grew by 11% following investment in the channel and the development of a new mobile app.

Trading during the nine weeks to 2 January 2026 also saw like-for-like sales increase by 1%. The company reported market share gains in menswear and womenswear, with high demand for outerwear and formalwear.

Management confirmed that 40 stores will be upgraded during the next financial year. This follows data showing that refreshed locations outperformed the rest of the estate by 12%.

The retailer also confirmed that new chief executive Henrik Nordvall will join the business on 2 February 2026.

Executive chair Karl-Heinz Holland said: “Our business transformation continues to deliver tangible results, with another strong quarter of EBITDA performance, alongside a return to sales growth. This reflects our relentless focus on delivering better quality, style and value, underpinned by sustained investment in product, stores and digital.

“This has enabled us to outperform the market, despite a challenging trading backdrop. Looking ahead, we look forward to welcoming our new CEO Henrik next month and remain confident in the business delivering sustainable profitable growth.”

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