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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Jun- 2025 -16 June
Asda to invest £10m into upgrading 180 in-store cafes
Asda has announced there will be a £10m refresh program in over 180 of its in-store cafes. The project, led by partner Compass, will begin this month and is expected to be completed by the end of October. The cafés, which are managed by Compass, will be upgraded to have…
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16 June
Liberty appoints new London flagship store director
Liberty has appointed Beverley Devonish as store director of its Regent Street flagship, as the British department store marks its 150th anniversary. Devonish joins with more than 20 years’ experience in luxury fashion and retail, having previously held senior roles at Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Dover Street Market. In her…
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16 June
Harrods plans legal action against al-Fayed estate
Harrods is reportedly planning to launch legal action against the estate of Mohamed al-Fayed, as a multimillion-pound legal bill for compensating his sexual abuse victims continues to rise. According to Sky News, the department store is set to file a passing-over application in the High Court in order to remove…
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16 June
Largest retailers to pay £600m extra in business rates from 2026
Major supermarkets and West End stores are set to pay an extra £600m in business rates from April 2026 following government reforms, according to analysis by property firm Colliers for The Times. The changes will lower the business rates multiplier for smaller retail, hospitality and leisure sites, with the shortfall recouped by…
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13 June
Primark to open standalone Home store in Manchester
Primark has announced it will open its first standalone Home store in Great Britain this summer at Trafford Palazzo in Manchester. The 11,900 sq. ft, two-floor unit is set to launch later in the season and follows the debut of the Primark Home concept in Belfast earlier this year. It…
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13 June
Sephora to open Oxford store in autumn 2025
Sephora UK has announced plans to open a store at Westgate Oxford in autumn 2025 – the retailer’s 11th in the UK and its fifth to be confirmed for the year. The 3,919 sq ft site will offer what the company describes as an “accessible and inspiring” shopping space in…
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13 June
Warm weather fails to boost footfall in May
Retail footfall across the UK declined by 1.7% compared with May 2024, spelling a sharp drop from the 7.2% rise recorded in April, according to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic Solutions. The downturn affected most retail locations, with High Streets down 2.5% year-on-year, and…
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13 June
Activist investor builds stake in WH Smith
Activist investor Palliser has reportedly acquired close to a 5% stake in WH Smith, worth about £65m at its current share price, according to reports from Sky News. Palliser is thought to hold WH Smith’s management team, led by chief executive Carl Cowling, in high regard with the move coming…
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13 June
10,000 Wilko workers to get £2m pay out
Almost 10,000 former Wilko workers have been awarded a £2m pay out after the high street retailer failed to properly consult with workers prior to going bust in 2023. It comes as the GMB union said it had won a legal case on behalf of thousands of members who lost…
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12 June
Dobbies appoints two new directors in executive reshuffle
Dobbies Garden Centre has announced the appointment of two new directors, George Hutchinson and Richard Herbert, as part of efforts to strengthen its executive team. News of the appointments comes as operations director, Nick Anderson, steps down after 12 years with the business. Hutchinson previously served as regional operations director…
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