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 -22 July
The Works PBT jumps 20% to £8.3m
The Works has revealed that its profit-before-tax rose 20.3% to £8.3m for the year ended 4 May 2025, up from £6.9m in the previous year. Alongside this, the company delivered total revenues of £277m, a decrease of 2% from the prior year, which benefitted from an additional trading week. The…
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22 July
Spending power falls for 40% of UK households, Asda finds
Some 40% of UK households have seen their spending power growth fall in June, according to the latest Asda Income Tracker. The decrease comes as inflation rose to a near 18-month high of 3.6% in June, driven in part by the rising cost of transport and food. According to the…
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22 July
Charlotte Tilbury to open flagship store on Carnaby Street
Charlotte Tilbury will open a new flagship store on London’s Carnaby Street later this year, Shaftesbury Capital has announced. The 4,200 sq ft store will occupy a prominent location at one of the busiest entrances to the shopping destination. It will offer the brand’s range of makeup, skincare and fragrance…
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21 July
M&S opens its first ever airside stores at Heathrow Terminal 5
Marks and Spencer has opened its first airside stores at Heathrow Terminal 5, offering food and gift products ahead of the summer holiday period. The launch marks Marks and Spencer’s first move into airside retail, with a food-focused store at Gate A and a separate gifting outlet at Gate B.…
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21 July
TFG London appoints new chief brand officer
TFG London, owner of Hobbs, Whistles, Phase Eight and White Stuff fashion brands, has appointed Julia Monro as chief brand officer, with immediate effect. Reporting to the CEO, Monro will work closely with brand and cross-functional teams to define and implement marketing strategies that give TFG London’s house of brands…
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21 July
Burberry CEO calls for VAT-free shopping return
Burberry CEO Joshua Schulman has called on the government to reinstate VAT-free shopping for international visitors claiming it will help Britain become Europe’s top shopping destination once again. Schulman told The Times that international consumers were “still not shopping in the UK to the extent that we would like” as…
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21 July
Lakeland owner Hilco in race to acquire Claire’s
Hilco Capital, the high street investor behind Lakeland and a former backer of HMV and Superdry, is considering a takeover of Claire’s UK business, according to Sky News. Banking sources have told the outlet that Hilco Capital, who was a recent contender to acquire Poundland, is among the potential bidders…
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21 July
John Lewis workers could receive bonus for first time in four years
John Lewis workers could reportedly receive their bonus for the first time in four years if the company beats its £200m profit target amid turnaround plans, The Financial Times has reported. In an internal update seen by the paper, the employee-owned company said that if profits exceeded the target then…
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21 July
Retail insolvencies hit 72,000 as risks mount for firms
More than 72,000 UK retail businesses are now technically insolvent, with over half at imminent risk of closure, according to analysis by accountancy firm Price Bailey. The firm said exactly 72,625 retailers, which represents about 15% of the sector, have negative net assets on their balance sheets. Of these, 37,332…
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21 July
UK profit warnings jump 20% in Q2 as retailers feel the strain
Profit warnings issued by UK-listed companies rose by 20% in the second quarter of 2025, as policy and geopolitical uncertainty weighed on business confidence, according to new figures from consultancy EY-Parthenon. Companies issued 59 warnings between April and June, up from 49 in the same period last year. Nearly half…
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