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 -1 June
Over 10,000 stores predicted to close in 2018, analysts say
A new report from the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has predicted that 2018 will be the worst year on record for store closures, with more than 10,000 outlets disappearing from the high street. The ‘Retail At Bay 2018’ study also argues that the developing crisis in the retail sector…
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1 June
BHS.com to shut down just two years after relaunch
Online fashion retailer BHS.com has announced it will be shutting down its site following a review by its Qatari based owners Al Mana. The group purchased the retail giant’s brand and worldwide IP in 2016 after the company collapsed, and launched the site later that year in September. The announcement…
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1 June
ASA wants Viagogo adverts blocked as it battles with ticket vendor
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has told search engines including Google and Bing to block all adverts by secondary ticket retailer Viagogo. The move comes after the ASA said Viagogo promised on 23 March 2018 to “make compulsory fees sufficiently clear by 26 May 2018”. The ticket retailer appears to…
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1 June
Pension Regulator’s Lesley Titcomb to step down
The chief executive of The Pensions Regulator (TPR), Lesley Titcomb, is to step down at the end of her contract this February, it has been announced. Titcomb has been the head of the watchdog for the past four years and in that time has used anti-avoidance laws to force companies…
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May- 2018 -31 May
Poundland spits back at Thameslink after Twitter jibe
Train operator Thameslink and discount retailer Poundland have traded barbs after a disgruntled rail passenger tweeted innocuously about delays. Thameslink has come under heavy fire in recent weeks due to unpopular timetable changes, and another set of delays prompted a Twitter user, ‘Kevin’, to tweet an image of a departure…
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31 May
Asda profits plunge 10% due to price cuts aimed to ‘return momentum’
Supermarket giant Asda has reported a 10% drop in profits for the full-year period up until 31 December 2017 attributed to “investments in lowering prices to mitigate the impact of food inflation”. The company reported pre-tax profit of £712.6m down 9.6% from £791.7m the previous with operating profit also having…
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31 May
Ocado enters FTSE 100, M&S narrowly avoids relegation
Ascendant online supermarket delivery service, Ocado, has secured a position in the FTSE 100, while Marks and Spencer narrowly avoided being dropped. Ocado’s share price has roughly trebled over the last 12 months, in a strong performance which boosted the group onto the list of the UK’s top 100 companies…
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31 May
Card Factory reports ‘robust’ performance
Card and gifts retailer Card Factory has revealed a 3% increase in total group sales in its first-quarter trading update. Like-for-like sales decreased by 0.4%, but total and like-for-like sales over the quarter showed a robust performance. Karen Hubbard, Card Factory’s CEO, said: “We have had a solid start…
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31 May
TUC, Usdaw launch petition calling for Marks and Spencer transparency
Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw has joined with the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to launch a petition calling on Marks and Spencer to immediately open up a dialogue with the union to ensure staff are properly represented throughout its programme of store closures. Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary Elect, said: “All staff…
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31 May
World Cup boost of £1.33bn awaits
UK retailers could benefit from a £1.33bn economy boost during the 2018 World Cup this summer if England make it through the second round, according to research. A study conducted by the Centre of Retail Research (CRR) and VoucherCodes also suggested that this could rise to £2.72bn if the team…
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