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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Nov- 2024 -27 November
High street should ‘look beyond retail’, says new Lords report
The high street has been advised to “look beyond retail” in order to reverse its decline, according to a new report from the House of Lords. This is one of the conclusions of a new report, ‘High Streets: Life beyond retail?’, published today (27 November) by the cross-party House of…
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27 November
DFS secures SBTi approval for emissions reduction targets
Sofas retailer DFS Furniture has announced that its near-term science-based emissions reduction target has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In the near term, the group aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55% by 2033 and, additionally, that 73% of Scope…
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27 November
Around 92% supermarket loyalty schemes offer ‘genuine’ savings, CMA finds
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found that people who are members of a loyalty scheme can almost always make a genuine saving on the usual price by buying loyalty priced products. Having analysed around 50,000 grocery products on a loyalty price promotion, the CMA found very little evidence…
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27 November
Frasers acquires South African sports retailer Holdsport
Frasers Group has expanded its global footprint through acquiring South African sporting, outdoor and recreation goods company, Holdsport.It acquired the retailer for an undisclosed sum from Old Mutual Private Equity (OMPE) and Holdsport’s management, and the transaction is expected to close in the coming months. Holdsport operates across retail, wholesale,…
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27 November
Pets at Home HY PBT up 14% to £54.5m
Pets at Home has revealed that its underlying profit-before-tax rose 14.1% to £54.5m for the half year ended 10 October 2024. The retailer stated that this was supported by the strong growth in its vet group, with retail impacted by the slower sales growth. Alongside this, its total group revenue…
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26 November
Today’s news in brief-26/11/24
AO World has raised its full-year profit forecast to between £39m-£44m after reporting a 30% rise in pre-tax profits to £17m for the six months ending 30 September. Despite adverse summer trading conditions due to wet weather, which affected cooling product sales, AO’s B2C retail revenue grew 13%. Group revenue…
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26 November
Next triples presence at Bluewater with new upsized store
Next is growing its presence at Bluewater Kent by tripling its footprint at the shopping centre. The retailer will relocate into one of its largest stores in the UK as brands increasingly look to invest in the best locations. Next is upsizing from its existing 44,600 sq ft store into…
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26 November
Sosandar HY losses narrow
Sosandar has revealed that its losses have narrowed to £0.7m, down from £1.3m, for the half year ended 30 September 2024. The brand put this positive swing down to margin enhancement and continued careful cost management. However, the company’s revenues fell to £16.2m, down from £22.2m, as the group continued…
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26 November
Halfords CEO calls for apprenticeship levy reform as sales drop 1% in H1
Halfords has called on the Government to reform the apprenticeship levy amid a 1% drop in revenues for the 26 weeks to 27 September 2024. Revenues for the retailer dropped to £864.8m in H1 FY25, compared to £873.5m in 2024. Autocentres, which accounts for 40% of total sales, reported a…
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26 November
AO raises guidance as half-year profits hit £17m
Electrical retailer AO has raised its full-year forecast to between £39m and £44m, as profits before tax rose 30% year-on-year to £17m for the six months to 30 September. Group revenues are now expected to hit between £1.09bn and £1.13bn, as AO saw half-year revenue growth of 13% in its…
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