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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Dec- 2018 -5 December
Boohoo found to be ‘breaking rules around sales promotions’
Online clothing retailer, Boohoo, has been found to have been “breaking rules around sales promotions” by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The ASA was alerted to the issue after an episode of the BBC’s Watchdog Live programme, which found that between August and November 2018, Boohoo had 14 sales advertised…
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5 December
Travis Perkins contemplating future of Wickes brand
Parent company Travis Perkins is contemplating the future of its Wickes brand as it seeks to “simplify its business to improve returns”. Following a comprehensive review of the business announced it July, the board of Travis Perkins concluded that the group will focus on “serving trade customers through advantaged businesses…
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5 December
Joules reveals ‘contingency plan’ for a hard Brexit amid strong H1 results
Fashion retailer Joules’ group revenue has increased by 17.6% to £113.1m for the first half 2019 financial year, covering the 26-week period to 25 November 2018. However, the retailer’s executive board anticipates that trading conditions in the UK “will remain challenging over the near term”, with continued “macroeconomic uncertainty, rapidly…
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5 December
Government clarifies details of new business rates relief
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance on the details of how business rates discounts first announced in this year’s Budget will be allocated. During the Budget on 29 October, chancellor Philip Hammond announced that businesses with a rateable value of under £51,000 would receive…
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4 December
ASOS appoints Mark Holland as chief operating officer
ASOS has announced the appointment of Mark Holland to the newly-created role of chief operating officer. A member of ASOS’ executive board, Holland has worked for ASOS for six years. His most recent position was supply chain director, where he oversaw ASOS’ global trading, customer care and supply chain functions.…
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4 December
Most ‘disability friendly’ shopping centres in Northern Ireland named
New research has found the most “disability friendly” shopping centres in Northern Ireland, with Bloomfield in Bangor coming out on top. The research by lift provider, Olympic Lifts, has looked at the accessibility features of shopping centres across Northern Ireland, and has named 10 centres as the most disability friendly.…
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4 December
Morrisons and Tesco speak out against Sainsbury’s-Asda merger
Morrisons and Tesco have become the latest grocers to speak out over the proposed Sainsbury’s-Asda merger with Tesco telling a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) hearing “extensive remedies” are needed. Britain’s current largest grocer told the competition watchdog that the “four-to-three” deal – referring to the ‘Big Four’ becoming…
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4 December
‘Tax the internet for the good of the high street’, Mike Ashley tells MPs
Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley has said online businesses should be taxed 20% in as soon as six months to save the majority of high street retailers and avoid closures. Ashley appeared in front of MPs at the House of Commons yesterday (3 December) after demanding to meet them in…
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4 December
Footfall slumps following Black Friday weekend
High street footfall slumped by 5.5% in the week following the Black Friday weekend, according to figures from retail analysts Springboard. The group said the decline was “inevitably”, given that the week followed directly on from the “furore of Black Friday and included the online focussed Cyber Monday”. Furthermore, all…
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3 December
Sainsbury’s goes ‘head-to-head’ with Holland & Barrett with new wellness range
Sainsbury’s will be strengthening its wellness and sports nutrition offer in a move that will see the retailer go head to head with the likes of Holland & Barrett and Planet Organic. With the UK’s wellness market set to reach £12.4bn by 2020, the supermarket giant said it will double…
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