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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Mar- 2018 -9 March
New CFO appointed by Walgreens Boots Alliance
Walgreens Boots Alliance has announced the appointment of James Kehoe as the company’s executive vice president and global chief financial officer, effective 1 June 2018. Kehoe’s previous role was chief financial officer and board director of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company and was based in Tokyo. According to the group he is…
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9 March
Countrywide farmers enters administration putting 735 jobs at risk
A buyer is being sought for retailer Countrywide Farmers, which has gone into administration putting 735 jobs at risk. The Worcestershire based supplier of agricultural goods, which employs more than 700 people and has 48 stores, has appointed administrators from KPMG to handle the sale of the business. According to…
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8 March
Next faces £30m equal pay claim
Law firm Pattinson & Brewer has initiated legal proceedings against clothing chain Next, on behalf of female store workers who it alleges receive less pay than men in comparable roles. The group’s equal pay action will argue that thousands of Next store staff are owed compensation because of unequal pay…
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8 March
Co-op launches ‘pay in aisle’ mobile app technology
The Co-op has launched a new mobile app that allows customers to pay for their groceries in the aisle and avoid going to the till altogether. The ‘shop, scan and go’ initiative is being trialled at a Co-op’s store in the group’s support centre in Manchester, with a wider roll-out…
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8 March
Owner of John Lewis and Waitrose reports 77% drop in annual profits
The John Lewis Partnership has announced a 77% drop in annual profits and has cut the annual bonus given to staff. Pre-tax profit for the year to 27 January fell to £103.9m while the employee-owned partnership’s bonus scheme fell to 5% of salary – down from 6% for 2017/18 and…
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8 March
Violent crime against retail staff doubles
There has been a ‘concerning spike’ in the number of violent incidents against retail staff, according to a survey by British Retail Consortium (BRC). The trade body’s Retail Crime Survey found the rate of incidents of violence with injury has doubled since the previous year to six per 1,000 members…
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8 March
Mother’s Day spending to reach £600m
Brits are set to spend £600 million on Mother’s Day this year, an increase of 3.4% from 2017, according to new research. Mintel research found that extra spending could be attributed to advertising making most mothers pressured to be perfect. Three-quarters (73%) of mothers agree that adverts make parenting look…
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7 March
Business in the Community launches ‘healthier workplace’ toolkit
Business in the Community (BITC), in association with Public Health England (PHE), has launched a new physical activity, healthy eating and healthier weight toolkit for employers. According to BITC one in four women and one in five men in England are defined as inactive, doing less than 30 minutes of…
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7 March
New Look announces CVA proposal, 980 staff at risk
Clothing chain New Look has announced company voluntary agreement (CVA) proposal that will look to close up to 60 stores, reduce rental costs and potentially make up to 980 staff members redundant. Under the proposal, the fashion retailer has identified 60 out of its total 593 stores in the UK…
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7 March
2018 Groceries Code Adjudicator annual sector survey opens
The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) Christine Tacon has launched her fifth annual survey of the groceries sector. The annual survey allows the GCA to collect a comprehensive set of views on current code-related issues facing suppliers. The GCA is seeking experiences and views from suppliers and others in the sector…
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