News
News is Retail Sector’s central hub for breaking stories, market developments and company updates from across the UK retail industry. This category delivers authoritative, timely coverage on everything from trading performance and executive changes to store openings, brand activity and supply chain developments.
Retail Sector’s news coverage focuses on the business realities behind the headlines — providing retail professionals with context on how each development impacts operations, strategy and market confidence. Readers can expect clear, accurate reporting designed to keep decision-makers informed and competitive in a fast-moving retail landscape.
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Jan- 2019 -10 January
Worst Christmas for retail in a decade, says the BRC
The retail sector has seen its worst Christmas performance in 10 years, despite a number of businesses reporting positive trading for the period. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), over the festive period retail sales growth was at 0% for the first time in 28 months as “squeezed customers”…
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10 January
Debenhams suffers sales struggle over Christmas
Department store chain Debenhams has reported a 3.4% drop in group like-for-like (LFL) sales for the six weeks to 5 January. Group gross transaction value for the period declined by 3.8%, and and overall UK sales declined by 3.6%, with weak store footfall offset by growth in digital. For the…
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10 January
Tesco reports strong sales over Christmas period
Tesco has beaten City forecasts with a 2.6% increase in like-for-like sales over the six week period ending 5 January. Tesco attributed the growth to its ‘Festive 5’ vegetable offer which proved popular with customers, selling 19.7 million units over the three weeks to Christmas. It also experienced like-for-like sales…
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10 January
M&S sales drop amid ‘difficult’ market
Marks and Spencer has reported a 2.7% drop in its total sales for the 13 weeks to 29 December 2018. Its clothing and home sales saw a 4.8% decline and its food performed slightly better, but still saw a drop with a 1.2% decrease. The retailer said reducing customer confidence…
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9 January
Mothercare sales plunge 11.4% during third quarter
Embattled retailer Mothercare has reported an 11.4% drop in UK like-for-like sales in its Q3 trade update, which covered the 13 week period to 5 January 2019. According to the group the results reflect a combination of the “difficult consumer backdrop” and the “aggressive discounting activity undertaken in the prior…
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9 January
Sainsbury’s Q3 sales decline 1.1% due to ‘cautious’ customers
Sainsbury’s has reported a 1.1% decline in like-for-like sales during its third quarter which it has attributed to “cautious customer spending”. During the 15 week period ending 5 January the ‘big four’ grocer experienced a 0.4% increase in grocery sales, however this was offset by a by 2.3% and 0.2%…
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9 January
HMV ‘denied’ £3.35m tax lifeline before administration
Beleaguered music and film retailer, HMV, who officially fell into administration during the festive period, was denied a £3.35m government tax cut before it entered administration new figures have revealed. HMV blamed a “tsunami” of retail challenges, including business rate levels, saying it paid £15m on sales of £277m meaning…
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9 January
Ted Baker announces 12% Christmas sales rise
Ted Baker has announced a 12.2% retail sales rise for the five weeks leading up to 5 January 2019. The fashion label said it had achieved the positive figures despite “a backdrop of increased promotional activity”. The brand said it had also seen an increase in e-commerce sales of 18.7%…
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8 January
Footasylum issues profit warning after ‘challenging’ Christmas trading conditions
Footwear retailer, Footasylum has issued a profit warning following “challenging trading conditions” during the festive period. Footasylum said it would cut costs after it changed expectations for gross margin in the 2019 financial year, despite revenue still expected to remain as forecast. The retailer blamed “market backdrop, promotional activity and…
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8 January
Morrisons posts fourth consecutive year of Christmas growth
Supermarket giant Morrisons’ group like-for-like sales increased by 3.6% for the nine weeks to 6 January 2019, its fourth consecutive Christmas of growth. The figure comprises contributions from retail of 0.6% and wholesale of 3%, with total sales also up 4% excluding fuel (3.8% including fuel). In a statement Morrisons…
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