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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Jun- 2018 -22 June
M&S to introduce artificial intelligence in new ‘strategic partnership’
Microsoft and Marks and Spencer (M&S) have announced the signing of a ‘strategic partnership’ which will test the integration of Microsoft AI technologies into the retailer’s customer experience, stores and wider operations. The partnership will see the two organisations work together to explore how technologies such as artificial intelligence can…
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22 June
Colliers proposes new property leasing approach to target UK retail troubles
A “radical approach” to property leasing is being proposed to help shopping environments throughout the UK by property consultants Colliers International . The five-point plan is aimed at helping retailers access viable trading space while enabling retailers, landlords and investors to find occupiers for the rising amount of empty shops…
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21 June
Moonpig appoints new managing director
The online cards retailer Moonpig has announced its decision to appoint its new managing director. Ecommerce entrepreneur Nickyl Raithatha will start from 2 July, replacing former MD James Sturrock, who doubled the size of the online cards retailer after delivering three years of double-digit growth, making Moonpig the UK’s number…
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21 June
EXCLUSIVE: Poundworld confusion as staff memo casts doubt on ‘closing down’ sale
Store managers at Poundworld are preparing to promote a ‘closing down’ sale, despite a staff memo circulated yesterday which cast doubt on whether any stores will actually shutter. The memo, which was written by administrators at Deloitte, and which a Poundworld spokesperson told Retail Sector had been circulated as an…
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21 June
MPs hit out at ‘baloney’ supermarket claims of price-cut post-merger
Neil Parish MP yesterday told Asda CEO Roger Burnley not to “give us a load of baloney” after Burnley repeatedly claimed his firm’s merger with Sainsbury’s and the product price cuts they have promised would not negatively affect small suppliers. Burnley said during a Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select…
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21 June
Amazon’s ‘Hub’ apartment delivery solution launches in the US
Amazon has announced a new delivery solution called ‘Hub’ for apartment buildings which allows packages delivered to safe lockers in residential buildings without porters. Some of the nation’s largest residential property owners and managers have signed up to the scheme, including AvalonBay, Fairfield Residential, Pinnacle, JP Morgan Asset Management,…
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21 June
Sir Philip Green seeks judicial review as PwC court battle kicks off
The former owner of BHS and current Topshop and Arcadia owner, Sir Philip Green, has requested a judicial review of the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) report into PwC’s handling of the retailer’s audit shortly after collapsed. As the hearing into the report prepares to be taken to the High Court…
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21 June
UK’s indies outperform global retailers with 20% growth
Sales volumes for Britain’s independent retailers in the past 12 months were 20% higher than the global average, according to data from retail management software provider Vend. This insight comes from Vend’s first Retail Benchmarks Report, which compared data from over 13,000 retailers and found average monthly sales volumes per…
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21 June
Dixons Carphone profits plummet 24% despite sales boost
Dixons Carphone’s profits have dropped by 24% in a year despite seeing a 3% increase in sales. In the 12-month period ending 28 April 2018, group profit before tax contracted from £500m to £382m, impacted by a negative £87m year-on-year loss from “revaluations and insurance contract terms”. However like-for-like revenue…
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20 June
EXCLUSIVE: Starbucks says ‘no UK store closures’ after US announcement
Starbucks’ recent US store closures announcement “does not affect” its UK stores, Retail Sector has learned. The clarification comes days after the US business said it would increase its store closure rate to 150 amid weak sales forecasts and a falling share price. Historically the company closes 50 underperforming stores…
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