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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Jul- 2025 -9 July
Lidl to trial self-scanning feature in loyalty app
Lidl GB is to test a new self-scanning feature integrated into its Lidl Plus app, as part of its ongoing investment in digital shopping tools. A friends and family trial will begin at four stores in September, with a phased national rollout planned from 2026. The feature will allow customers…
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9 July
M&S boss confirms DragonForce behind cyber attack
Marks and Spencer chair Archie Norman has confirmed to a Parliamentary select committee that hacker group DragonForce was behind the cyber attack which forced the company to halt online orders and left customers with empty shelves. Norman told MPs that he believed the group was motivated by “partly, undoubtedly, ransom…
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9 July
Secret Sales acquires Dutch brands V&D and To Be Dressed
Secret Sales, Europe’s off-price marketplace for fashion and beauty, has acquired V&D (Vroom and Dreesmann) and To Be Dressed in a deal aimed at accelerating growth in the Benelux region. The move marks the return of one of the Netherlands’ “most recognisable” retail names. V&D, which was known for its…
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9 July
Morrisons launches AI tool to help shoppers find products
Morrisons has reportedly launched a generative AI search tool to help customers locate products in store, according to City AM. Developed in-house using Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform and Gemini large language models (LLMs), the feature already handles more than 50,000 daily searches during peak periods. This is said to…
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8 July
Shein files for Hong Kong IPO
Shein has reportedly filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong after facing continued setbacks in its plans to list on the London Stock Exchange, according to The Financial Times. The Singapore-based online retailer is said to have privately submitted a draft prospectus last week to the Hong…
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8 July
Dunelm appoints Sainsbury’s chief as new CEO
Dunelm has announced the appointment of Clodagh Moriarty as its new CEO, effective 1 October 2025. Moriarty is currently chief retail and technology officer at Sainsbury’s. As a member of the operating board, she holds responsibility for all stores and their operations, alongside Sainsbury’s digital offer and strategy, customer experience…
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8 July
Retail footfall rises 1.5% amid warm weather and Oasis revival
Retail footfall rose by 1.5% week-on-week across all retail locations, primarily driven by a 2.9% increase in retail parks, followed by a 1.3% rise in high streets and a 0.9% uplift in shopping centres, according to the latest MRI Software’s data. Warmer weather, seasonal demand and the early momentum of…
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8 July
Seraphine enters administration after sales slump
Maternity fashion retailer Seraphine has ceased trading and entered administration, with most of its 95 employees made redundant. It comes after the retailer officially appointed Will Wright and Chris Pole from consultancy firm Interpath as joint administrators yesterday (7 July). According to the administrators, they are now exploring options for…
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7 July
Tesco to open 10 new stores in Ireland amid €40m investment
Tesco Ireland is to create 400 new jobs as part of a €40m (£34m) investment that will see 10 new stores open across the country in the next 12 months. The move will bring the supermarket’s permanent workforce to more than 13,500, reinforcing its position as one of the largest…
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7 July
H&M latest retailer to trial staff body cameras
H&M has started trialling body-worn cameras for its staff in the UK as retailers seek to address rising levels of theft and violence in stores. According to This is Money, the Swedish fashion retailer is testing the equipment at branches in Edinburgh, Wood Green and Beckton in London. It follows…
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