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- 2024 -4 January
Topps Tiles first quarter LFL sales slip to 7.1%
Topps Tiles has reported that in the 13 weeks to 30 December, like-for-like sales were down 7.1%, continuing the trend seen in the first eight weeks, with sales to trade customers “more resilient” than those to homeowners. According to Topps Tiles, trading in the first quarter reflected the “ongoing challenges…
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4 January
Barbour FY23 profits fall despite healthy sales rise
Barbour has revealed that operating profits fell 15% to £34.3m for the year ended 30 April 2023, despite seeing sales increase by 20% year-on-year to £343m during the period. The retailer attributed the dent in its operating profits to “intense cost pressures” on the business. In February 2023, the luxury…
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4 January
Mamas & Papas sales rise 17%
High street nursery brand Mamas and Papas has reported sales rose by 17% in the 13 weeks to 31 December. The retailer said a record Black Friday performance, which saw year on year sales increase 18% over the three-week period, provided “significant trading momentum heading into the crucial Christmas period”,…
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4 January
Next ups guidance after Christmas trading boost
Next has raised its full-year guidance for the fifth time in eight months, after a period of strong trading over the golden quarter. In the nine weeks to 30 December, sales rose by 5.7% against last year, £38m ahead of its previous guidance of 2% for the period. In light…
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3 January
Today’s news in brief- 3/1/24
Asda has appointed Matt Kelleher, former Chief Information Officer at Morrisons, as its first Chief Digital Officer. Kelleher will be responsible for data and ecommerce functions, leading all technology functions after completing the ongoing technology transformation project ‘Future.’ This move is part of Asda’s long-term ambition to become the UK’s…
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3 January
Almost half of consumers feel less financially secure, KPMG finds
Four in 10 consumers are heading into 2024 saying they feel less financially secure than when 2023 began, according to new research from KPMG UK. Assessing confidence for 2024, KPMG’s latest Consumer Pulse survey of 3000 UK consumers shows those feeling worse about their financial security outnumber those feeling more…
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3 January
UpCircle wins £250k Sky Zero Footprint Fund 2023
Skincare brand UpCircle has won Sky Zero Footprint Fund’s £250k prize in media value to spend on TV this year with its TV commercial ‘forward thinking skincare that keeps you coming back’. UpCircle was founded by siblings Anna and Will Brightman when they discovered that more than 500,000 tonnes of…
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3 January
The O2 sales jump 31% in 2023
The Entertainment District and Outlet Shopping at The O2 has reported a record-breaking year of trade in 2023, with a 31% sales increase compared with like-for-like trading days in 2022. Across the year, The O2 welcomed over 8.9 million visitors to the destination (up 17% compared to 2022 footfall), and…
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3 January
The Body Shop first global beauty brand awarded 100% vegan certification
The Body Shop has revealed it has become the first global beauty brand retailer to achieve 100% vegan product formulations across all ranges including skincare, body care, haircare, makeup and fragrance. The entire product formulations portfolio has been certified by the Vegan Society. It comes as the retailer said the…
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3 January
Morrisons invests £15m to freeze prices across 1000 products
Morrisons has revealed it has invested £15m in order to cut the price of popular products this January in a bid to help its customers through the January squeeze after the expense of Christmas. Over 200 products are being cut by an average of 20% including cupboard essentials and breakfast…
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