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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Jan- 2024 -5 January
Today’s news in brief-5/1/24
Asda and Usdaw have signed a collective bargaining agreement, enabling the union to represent hourly-paid employees in convenience stores and Leon restaurants acquired from EG Group. Usdaw will negotiate on pay, hours, and holidays annually for employees across 356 convenience stores and 77 Leon restaurant sites. Asda’s Chief People and…
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5 January
Tesco and The Entertainer announce extended partnership
Tesco and The Entertainer have recently announced they are extending their partnership to cover the entire Tesco UK business, and the Republic of Ireland from March 2024. Tesco customers will be able to shop The Entertainer’s range of brands such as Barbie, Nerf, LOL and Paw Patrol, as well as…
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5 January
Northern Ireland records investment volumes of £338m, CBRE finds
Northern Ireland’s commercial investment sector held steady in 2023 despite economic challenges, recording total investment volumes of £338m, CBRE NI has revealed. Investment sales were accumulated across 31 transactions, exceeding 2022’s tally of £330m and marking the investment sector’s strongest performance since 2015. The standout transactions of the year included…
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5 January
Next boss warns of stock delays due to Red Sea attacks
Next chief executive Lord Simon Wolfson has warned of stock delays as a result of the attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea. Wolfson told The Guardian that while the current situation is a “minor inconvenience” it could become a major problem this year if it continues. Attacks from…
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5 January
Ann Summers secures £8m funding to bolster growth
British retailer Ann Summers has secured £8m in asset-based funding from Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance, Retail Week has revealed. The deal will help the retailer bolster its physical and online retail offerings, on top of “boosting working capital across the business.” Ann Summers chief financial officer John Boyle said:…
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5 January
Boots Q1 driven by record-breaking Black Friday
Boots has revealed it delivered a strong performance in its first quarter of the year, ended 30 November 2023, as retail sales jumped 9.8% aided by a “record-breaking” Black Friday. The retailer, owned by Walgreens Boots Alliance, also revealed it secured its 11th consecutive quarter of market share growth, with…
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5 January
Asda and Usdaw sign collective bargaining agreement
Asda and Usdaw have signed a collective bargaining agreement that will see the union represent hourly-paid employees in the convenience stores and Leon restaurants that Asda acquired from EG Group. Following the agreement, Usdaw will negotiate on pay, hours and holidays annually for those employed in 356 convenience stores and…
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5 January
Zalando direct-to-consumer VP steps down
Carsten Keller, Zalando’s direct-to-consumer vice-president and CEO and founder of the group’s Connected Retail division, has decided to leave the company after eight years. Keller joined Zalando in 2016 to to build the brand’s marketplace ecosystem. In 2018, Keller founded Connected Retail for brick-and-mortar stores. With the launch of Connected…
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5 January
Sainsbury’s invests £200m to raise wages by 9%
Sainsbury’s will be investing £200m to increase colleague pay to £12 per hour – £13.15 in London – from March. The move is the biggest investment made by the retailer into staff pay and will benefit some 120,000 colleagues, giving them an extra £1,910 a year nationally and £2,290 a…
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4 January
Today’s news in brief-4/1/24
UK retail footfall rose by 6.1% in December driven by a festive shopping surge. Shopping centres led with an 11.1% increase, followed by retail parks (5.9%) and high streets (3.7%). Compared to 2022, footfall edged up by 0.2%, primarily in high streets (+1.2%). However, shopping centres saw a decline of…
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