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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Apr- 2018 -16 April
Debenhams expected to post big dent in half-year profits
Analyst consensus expects Debenhams to report a large decrease in its profits when it publishes its half-year results next week. Figures estimate interim pre-tax profits to fall within a range of £42m-£47m and almost 50% decrease from £87.7m from the same period last year. Like-for-like sales are also expected to…
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13 April
Low-skilled jobs rebadged as apprenticeships by firms, says report
Employers are relabelling low-quality, low skilled and and often low-wage roles as ‘apprenticeships’, according to a new report. As part of the Government’s wider package of reforms to apprenticeships, groups of employers have come together to write the new ‘apprenticeship standards’. Some employers have used this opportunity to generate high-quality…
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13 April
Klépierre abandons Hammerson bid after numerous rejections
Klépierre has announced that it has abandoned its attempted acquisition of Hammerson after an improved offer was rejected for the second time this week. The French firm said in a statement that it “does not intend on making an offer for Hammerson” after Hammerson’s board of directors rejected a £5.04bn…
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13 April
Retailers ‘need to invest in visualisation technology’ to boost online sales
Almost half of shoppers would spend more online if there was technology that helped them visualise and understand how products work without having to go in store, according to new research. The survey of 1,000 shoppers, conducted by full service e-commerce agency, PushON, found that 45% of people would be…
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13 April
Sanpower to introduce Chinese brands to Europe through House of Fraser
Sanpower Group has announced a new supply chain programme to introduce premium Chinese brands to the UK, Europe and rest of the world through House of Fraser. Launched at the first Sanpower Global Supplier Conference in Nanjing, China on 10 April, the global supply chain management platform aims to spur…
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13 April
Hobbycraft appoints Tesco CEO as chairman
Arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft has has appointed Tesco UK CEO Matt Davies as its new chairman. Davies is currently CEO of Tesco’s UK and Irish business, but will step down at the end of April following its merger with Booker. He succeeds Archie Norman, who is leaving after over…
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13 April
American Apparel set for UK relaunch
Retail brand, American Apparel plans to relaunch online in April in the UK. The brand will return with its basics range, as well as new additions designed to appeal to audiences of “all shapes and sizes, underpinned by a strong message of body positivity, empowerment, inclusivity and diversity.” The relaunch…
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12 April
WHSmith profits dip as high street arm struggles
WHSmith has reported a dip in its profits for the six months ending February 28, as its high street trading profit fell by 6%. The company saw a 1% fall in group pre-tax profits to £82m down from £83m in 2017. However WHSmith’s 700 travel stores, located in airports, railways…
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12 April
Mothercare reports drop in Q4 like-for-like sales
Embattled retailer Mothercare has revealed its UK like-for-like sales declined by 2.8% in the group’s Q4 results. However, online sales grew by 2.1%, with website sales growing by 7.2%. Online sales within the period represented 49% of UK sales, bringing the fiscal year to 43%. International retail sales were 3.7%…
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12 April
Carpetright to close nearly a quarter of stores, affecting 300 jobs
Carpetright is preparing to close nearly a quarter of its 300 stores in a restructuring plan as it struggles to avoid administration. Today (12 April) the company released a statement saying it had entered a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA), which if approved, would lead to the closure of 92 outlets…
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