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 -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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10 March
Two bidders remain in running for WH Smith high street arm
Only two firms reportedly remain in the running to acquire WH Smith’s high street business, with a possible decision coming sometime this spring, according to Sky News. The news outlet revealed that Alteri Investors, which owns Bensons for Beds, and the Hobbycraft and The Original Factory Shop owner Modello Capital…
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10 March
UK retail footfall rebounds with high streets leading the way
Retail footfall rose by 1.8% overall for the week ended 7 March 2025 compared with the week before, driven by a 4.2% rebound in high street activity and by 0.1% in retail parks. However, shopping centres saw a 1.6% decline in footfall, reflecting cautious consumer behaviour ahead of Mother’s Day…
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7 March
Retail parks lead the way as footfall sees small bounce in February
UK footfall edged up 0.2% in February as the performance from UK retail parks helped footfall increase for the second consecutive month, according to the latest BRC-Sensormatic data. Footfall increased by 0.1% at UK high streets, down from 4.5% in January, while Shopping Centre footfall increased by 0.1% in February…
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7 March
HMV halts UK expansion amid rising wage costs
HMV has halted its UK expansion in anticipation of the rising wage costs due to commence next month, and will open stores in Ireland and Belgium instead, The Guardian has reported. According to managing director Phil Halliday, HMV had ambitions to open as many as 10 additional stores in the…
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