News
The latest news, updates and analysis on the the UK retail industry. Covering every segment of the market, Retail Sector’s business journalists keep you in the picture.
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Jan- 2018 -12 January
Ocado tests robotic assistant for use in its warehouses
Online home delivery supermarket Ocado has revealed the first prototype of a robot to assist staff in its warehouses. The project, dubbed ‘SecondHands’, is designed to maintenance technicians working in Ocado’s automated warehouses, and will learn through observation how to complete tasks that require a level of precision or physical…
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12 January
B&M reports sales increase of 22%
Discount retailer B&M has reported an increase in total sales of 22.7% on a constant currency basis, which were boosted by record Christmas trading. On an actual currency basis, total sales climbed by 22.9% to £969.8 million. UK sales revenue for the B&M store estate in the 13-week period…
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12 January
Diageo signs with UberEATs for convenience store alcohol deliveries
Alcoholic drinks giant Diageo has signed a new partnership with delivery app, UberEATs, to begin delivering its drinks brands to consumers from local convenience stores. Retailers will be invited to work alongside Diageo as supply partners to fulfil orders of its beverages, as well as mixers and snacks, via the…
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11 January
John Lewis issues profit warning despite ‘most successful trading day ever’
The John Lewis Partnership has reported an increase in sales for the six-week period ending December 30, but a competitive Christmas season characterised by heavy discounting across the retail industry will hit profits, it said today. Group sales were (which include John Lewis and Waitrose) were up 2.5% year-on-year, totalling…
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11 January
Carphone Warehouse fined £400,000 for security data breach
Carphone Warehouse has been fined £400,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), after a data breach allowed unauthorised access to the personal data of over three million customers and 1,000 employees. The compromised data included names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, marital status and, for more than 18,000 customers,…
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11 January
Train station Christmas shopping brings 9% sales growth
Figures released by Network Rail show total train station retail sales for the festive period grew by 9% this year. The figures, which span 18 November to 23 December, suggested a growing desire for convenience retail, Network Rail said. Station retailers saw a total of over £110m in sales during…
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11 January
Marks and Spencer sales take a hit over Christmas
The all-important festive season yield disappointing results for Marks and Spencer at the end of 2017 as sales fell 1.4% during the period. Like-for-like revenues fell 1.4% in the 13 weeks to 30 December, with clothing and homeware down 2.8% and food down by 0.4%. Steve Rowe, chief executive said:…
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10 January
Mayor greenlights £1.4bn Croydon regeneration scheme
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has approved a major development as part of long-term plans to regenerate Croydon town centre. The redevelopment of the Whitgift shopping centre by a joint venture of Westfield and Hammerson will create nearly 1,000 homes, and provide the local community with new leisure facilities…
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10 January
Plastic bag charge set to affect all retailers
The 5p plastic bag charge could be applied to all retailers as part of new government plans to protect the environment. Prime Minister Theresa May is set to announce the 25-year environment plan on Thursday 11 to tackle “throw-away culture”. Currently, large businesses which have 250 or more employees are…
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10 January
‘Serious concerns’ over CFD retail investment tool
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said it has ‘serious concerns’ over the way CFDs (contracts for difference) are sold to retail investors. The speculative tool has become popular with investors despite roughly 76% of users losing money through it in 2016. CFDs are being marketed as an alternative to…
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