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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Jan- 2025 -31 January
Homebase owes over £650m to unsecured creditors post collapse
Homebase still owes more than £650m to unsecured creditors, including AO World, Halfords, and The Hut, following its collapse into administration in November 2024. According to Teneo, the DIY retailer’s appointed administrator, unsecured creditor claims totalled £657m – of which roughly £100m is owed to trade creditors. With unsecured creditors…
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31 January
Superdrug appoints new property director
Superdrug has appointed Clare Jennings as its new property director, following the retirement of Nigel Duxbury. Jennings will take over from Duxbury on 2 May 2025 and will become the third female executive on the twelve board of directors at Superdrug, following the promotions of Amy Davies to people director…
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30 January
Today’s news in brief-30/1/25
Retail crime in the UK has surged to record levels, with theft losses hitting £2.2bn in 2023/24, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The trade body warned that organised crime groups are “systematically” targeting stores, while violence and abuse against retail workers spiked by over 50%, averaging 2,000 incidents…
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30 January
Lidl to roll out micro-donation system at tills
Lidl has become the first national supermarket to introduce Pennies, a digital micro-donation system, on its tills. The move follows a successful regional trial and will allow customers to donate up to 30p per transaction at the card reader. At the end of January, Lidl will start to roll the…
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30 January
H&M FY profits rise despite weaker Q4 sales
H&M boss Daniel Ervér has said the Swedish retailer is “on track” as it revealed FY operating profits in the year to Nov 30 jumped 28% to SEK 17.3bn (£1.2bn). It comes as quarterly sales were SEK 62.19bn (£4.53bn), up 3% in local currencies but lower than analysts predicted. H&M…
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30 January
BRC: Retail crime ‘out of control’ as theft losses hit record £2.2bn
The BRC has said that retail crime is “out of control” after its Annual Crime Survey figures revealed that losses from customer theft reached a record £2.2bn in 2023/24. The association said the figures come as more incidents have been linked to organised crime, with gangs “systematically” targeting stores. This…
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30 January
Asda reintroduces ‘Rollback’ price cuts
Asda has announced the return of its Rollback proposition as part of a significant investment to begin lowering prices across its entire range on more than 4,000 products. The new programme forms the cornerstone of Asda’s mission to satisfy the needs of customers who demand value whenever they shop. The…
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30 January
Mulberry announces new CFO amid turnaround plan
Mulberry has announced the appointment of Billie O’Connor as its new CFO as it revealed its “Back to the Mulberry Spirit” turnaround plan. O’Connor qualified in 2007 and has spent her career working in the consumer and retail sectors, most recently as the CFO and CIO of Milk and More,…
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29 January
Today’s news in brief-29/1/25
Lord Wolfson, CEO of Next and Conservative peer, has leveraged his House of Lords position to propose amendments phasing in upcoming National Insurance (NI) reforms. The budget measures, effective April, will raise employers’ NI contributions from 13.2% to 15% and lower the secondary threshold to £5,000 annually. Wolfson supports staggered…
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29 January
Caledonia Park sees 8% footfall increase in 2024
Scotland’s designer outlet village Caledonia Park experienced a “record-breaking” year thanks to an 8% increase in its footfall in 2024. Standout categories included health and beauty, which saw a sales growth of 26%, as well as F&B which grew by 16%. Black Friday weekend was also “particularly successful” for the…
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