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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Sep- 2018 -20 September
Online retail sales stay steady; mobile growth hits ‘all time low’
UK online retail sales held steady this August, as shopper spending reached 12.8% growth year-on-year (YoY) according to the latest IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index. The growth was in line with the three and 12 month rolling average increases of 12.8% and 12.9%, but below the three-month average 15.3% growth.…
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19 September
Orla Kiely ceases trading as parent company enters administration
Eponymous handbag and homeware retailer Orla Kiely has ceased trading as of Monday 17 September 2018. Its parent company Kiely Rowan has entered into administration and the group’s retail stores in London and Kildare and its online business have now been closed. However its home and design licensing business will…
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19 September
Tesco launches new discount brand ‘Jack’s’
Tesco has officially launched its new discount brand ‘Jack’s’ inspired by and named after Tesco founder, Jack Cohen. The launch of Jack’s is part of Tesco’s centenary celebrations which will see the business mark 100 years of delivering “great value to British shoppers”. Over the next six months Tesco will…
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19 September
B&Q owner Kingfisher sees 15% profit slump with H1 results
Kingfisher, which owns DIY retailers B&Q and Screwfix, has reported a 14.8% drop in H1 pre-tax profits, dragged down by “significant weaknesses” with its French operations. Underlying pre-tax profit dropped to £375m in the six months to 31 July 2018, compared with £440m the previous year, and total sales remained…
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19 September
CMA refers Sainsbury’s-Asda merger for further investigation
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced the proposed merger of Sainsbury’s and Asda is to be referred for an in-depth ‘Phase 2’ investigation, after finding it raises “sufficient concerns”. The CMA said concerns arise from both grocery retailers in the UK possessing stores that overlap in hundreds of…
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19 September
Waitrose & Partners trials two-hour ‘rapid delivery’ service
Waitrose and Partners has launched the trial of a two-hour delivery service in selected London postcodes today (19 September). The supermarket has teamed up with startup retail delivery firm, On The Dot, to launch ‘Waitrose Rapid Delivery’ in the SW5, SW6 , SW10, WC1, WC2, EC1, CR5 and CR8 areas…
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18 September
Former BHS owner warned not to ‘rewrite history’ in court
Dominic Chappell, the former owner of collapsed retailer BHS, has been warned against making a “cynical attempt to rewrite history” in an appeal hearing against his conviction earlier this year. In January, Chappell was found guilty of three charges of neglecting or refusing to provide information and documents, without a…
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18 September
H&M posts 9% sales increase
H&M’s group sales have increased by 9% according to the fashion chain’s Q3 financial update. Performance exceeded analysts’ expectations, resulting in the company’s highest share increase in 17 years. The firm attributed to the results to investment in its online offerings and logistics systems. Investors rallied to what seemed to…
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17 September
Sports Direct denies Mike Ashley will block Debenhams’ Magasin du Nord sale
Sports Direct has denied the claims which emerged over the weekend that Mike Ashley will attempt to block a sale of Debenhams’ Magasin du Nord business. Reports had suggested the Sports Direct boss could block Debenhams attempt to raise cash through the £250m deal, in order to buy the store…
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17 September
Boohoo appoints Primark COO John Lyttle as its new CEO
Online fashion retailer Boohoo has appointed current Primark COO John Lyttle to become its new CEO with effect from 15 March 2019. According to the group Lyttle’s appointment is a “key constituent” of the group’s positioning for its next stage of growth and will be accompanied by a number of…
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