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 -15 January
Rigby and Peller loses royal warrant after revealing Queen’s bra measurements
Luxury lingerie retailer Rigby and Peller has lost its royal warrant after releasing a book containing the Queen’s bra measurements. The warrant was withdrawn after bra fitter and business owner, June Kenton, released a book called ‘Storm in a D-Cup’ . According to the BBC Kenton said there was “nothing…
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15 January
BHS.com continues online revival with sales increase
BHS.com, the online-only reincarnation of collapsed department store chain BHS, has seen a 43% increase in sales for the final quarter of 2017. The increase was boosted by strong performances in its home accessories, lighting and women’s sleepwear divisions, which saw sales increase by 43%, 57% and 107% respectively. The…
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15 January
Kering offloads 70% stake in Puma
Luxury goods group Kering has announced plans to sell a 70% stake in sportswear brand Puma amongst its shareholders. Post transaction, Kering would retain approximately 16% of Puma shares outstanding. Artémis, which holds 40.9% of Kering’s shares, would become a long term strategic shareholder of Puma with an ownership of…
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15 January
High street sees sharpest footfall decline in four years
New figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Springboard show footfall in the month of December suffered its sharpest decline since March 2013. Total UK retail footfall fell by 3.5% compared with December 2016, while the high street saw a sharper drop, down by 4.6%. Shopping centres suffered a…
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12 January
HMRC report names retail gender-pay-gap culprits
An HMRC report listing gender pay figures for period 2016-17 has revealed the names of 39 companies in the retail and wholesale trades which it says failed to pay female workers the same rate as men in equivalent roles. Among the firms studied, on average women were being underpaid by…
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12 January
Shoppers make 80% of retail purchases online
Online shoppers in the UK make 80% of their retail purchases online, up from 74%, according to a new report. The Royal Mail’s ‘Delivery Matters’ report found that the proportion of money being spent online has increased year on year. The average online shopper spends £40 each month on clothes…
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12 January
GAME reveals first sales growth in two years
Video game retail store Game has posted its first positive sales growth in over two years. The retail group provided a trading update ahead of its annual general meeting, revealing that gross transaction value (GTV) was up 5.2% over the Christmas trading period and up overall by 3.8% for the…
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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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