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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Apr- 2025 -4 April
Carphone Warehouse founder to invest £5m in Jigsaw
Carphone Warehouse co-founder, David Ross, is reportedly investing about £5m in Jigsaw, which will result in him becoming the fashion retailer’s majority shareholder, according to Sky News. The multi-million pound investment comes seven years after Ross’ first cash injection, and it is understood that this financing will see him replace…
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3 April
Co-op FY profits soar sixfold but warns of cost pressures ahead
Co-op has seen its full-year pre-tax profits rise by nearly sixfold, soaring by £133m to £161m, up from £28m the prior year, despite facing over £200m of new headwinds and investment costs across the group. The surge in profits was driven by increased operating profits, which rose by £34m to…
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Mar- 2025 -31 March
Majestic agrees to acquire Enotria&Coe
Majestic, the UK specialist wine retailer, has entered into a formal agreement to acquire the premium wines and spirits supplier, Enotria&Coe for an undisclosed sum. Majestic said the combination will accelerate its strategic ambition to become the UK’s pre-eminent supplier of wines, beers and spirits, and improve value, choice and…
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31 March
Pets at Home warns of profit drop in FY26
Pets at Home has revealed that it expects its retail profits to drop in FY26 to within a range of £115m to £125m, as a result of the uncertain economic backdrop for both demand and inflation. The retailer also stated that it expects increased costs of around £30m following changes…
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28 March
WHSmith agrees sale of high street arm to Modella Capital in £76m deal
Modella Capital has announced that it has acquired the UK high street operations of WHSmith, business based on an enterprise value of £76m. The acquisition covers around 480 stores on high streets, shopping centres and retail parks across the UK. As part of the deal, the high street stores will…
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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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