High Street
The latest news, updates and analysis on the the British High Street and UK retail industry. Sign up to the Daily Briefing and let Retail Sector’s business journalists keep you in the picture.
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Mar- 2025 -27 March
Campaign urges Next, M&S and JD Sports to pay real living wage
The likes of Axa and Scottish Widows are backing campaign group ShareAction in its effort to make major high street retailers such as Next, M&S and JD Sports increase their staff’s pay in line with a real living wage, The Guardian has reported. News of this initiative comes as there’s…
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25 March
WH Smith completes refinancing amid plans to sell high street arm
WH Smith has successfully completed a refinancing, which includes its first US Private Placement (USPP) as well as a new bank term loan of £120m, ahead of the group’s potential sale of its high street arm. The £200m USPP notes have a maturity of seven, 10 and 12 years and…
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19 March
New TOFS owner eyes potential CVA and store closures
Modella Capital, the owner of The Original Factory Shop (TOFS), is reportedly working with Interpath Advisory on a potential company voluntary arrangement, according to Sky News. Having acquired the retailer four weeks ago with no remaining bank debt, Modella is seeking to restructure the business and is currently “exploring options”. …
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18 March
Forever 21 files for bankruptcy in the US
Forever 21’s operating company has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US, the BBC has reported. The retailer confirmed in a statement that its stores and website in the states will keep trading as it “begins its process of winding down”. However, the bankruptcy protection filing will not impact Forever…
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17 March
Ex-Morrisons boss touted for B&M CEO role
Former Morrisons boss David Potts is reportedly among the leading candidates for the CEO role at B&M, according to The Sunday Times. Potts has reportedly been in talks with the bargain retailer for weeks about the position, which became vacant following Alex Russo’s departure last month. Sources familiar with the…
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13 March
Pets at Home puts 2,500 jobs under consultation to ‘simplify business’
Pets at Home has confirmed that it has put 2,500 jobs under consultation as it looks to streamline its store management. The company revealed that it is considering moving from three staff levels to two, pets colleagues and a new pets customer expert role. Alongside this, the company is also…
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13 March
Hobbycraft owner eyes potential restructuring
Hobbycraft owner, Modella Capital, has reportedly enlisted advisers from FRP to explore a restructuring at the crafts chain, Sky News has reported. Modella, which acquired the retailer seven months ago, is examining its options such as a company voluntary arrangement (CVA). CVAs, which are frequently used to facilitate store closures…
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12 March
ProCook appoints new retail director
ProCook has announced the appointment of Joe Pennington as its new retail director. In the past Pennington has held key roles at renowned brands such as Ralph Lauren, Topshop/Topman, White Stuff, and most recently has spent the last eight years with Charles Tyrwhitt. In these previous roles he was said…
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12 March
Cake Box to acquire Ambala Foods for £22m
Fresh cream cakes retailer, Cake Box, has conditionally agreed to acquire Ambala Foods Limited, a UK-based manufacturer and retailer of Asian sweets (Mithai), for £22m. The total sum will be divided into £16m for Ambala and £6m for its manufacturing facility in Welwyn Garden City. Founded in 1964, Ambala has…
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11 March
Convenience stores victim to over 6.2 million thefts last year, ACS finds
The UK’s local shops recorded an estimated 6.2 million incidents of shop theft last year, compared with 5.6 million in the previous year, according to the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). The ACS said this marked another “record level” of theft committed against convenience store retailers, with the total cost…
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