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.
-
Aug- 2023 -15 August
Wilko competitors consider bids for its estate
Wilko’s non-food market competitors Poundland, B&M, The Range and Home Bargains are reportedly among the companies looking to settle a deal to acquire the collapsed business, The Sun has reported. The retailers have until tomorrow (Wednesday 16 August) to register their offers with PwC, Wilko’s administrator. It is understood that…
Read More » -
15 August
L’Occitane owner considers taking group private
The owner of L’Occitane is considering taking the business private in a move that has seen shares in the cosmetics groups rise sharply. Reinold Geiger, who already controls over 70% of the group, is said to be “contemplating a possible transaction” that could see him take the group private, according…
Read More » -
15 August
Summer holidays sees high street footfall up 4.8%
Footfall across all UK retail destinations increased by 0.7%, driven by high streets where footfall rose by +4.8% from the week before, according to the latest data from MRI Springboard. The rise has been credited to the school summer holidays with coastal towns also seeing a 2.3% increase. In contrast,…
Read More » -
14 August
Bird and Blend Tea Co. to open 15th store in Edinburgh
Independent tea company, Bird and Blend Tea Co., will be opening its 15th retail store in Edinburgh tomorrow (15 August), the first of three to open before the end of the year, following the company’s launch on the high street 10 years ago. Alongside its ecommerce business, retail stores are…
Read More » -
14 August
John Lewis chief outlines buy now pay later ambition
John Lewis chief executive Nish Kankiwala has revealed that the retailer is looking into developing a buy now pay later (BNPL) scheme in the mould of Klarna. Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Kankiwala said: “I think we will develop a buy-now-pay-later product. Especially in the younger generation, people expect…
Read More » -
14 August
Tourist tax hits London spending despite rise in visitors
Despite tourist numbers continuing to recover in 2023, the spending gap has widened compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to new research from the New West End Company. The company said the data shows a situation that is “worsening quarter-on-quarter”, as awareness spreads on Britain’s tourist tax. It found that flight…
Read More » -
14 August
Basic food costs increases to more than 30% in two years
The cost of some basic food prices has reportedly seen a sharp rise of more than 30% in the past two years, according to figures seen by the Guardian. Consumer body, Which? Told the Guardian that although food inflation has slowed in recent months, costs are still much higher than…
Read More » -
14 August
Tesco to stock more own-brand items in Express stores
Tesco has announced a “major overhaul” to the range of products stocked in its Express stores, in a move that will see more than 50 products replaced with cheaper alternatives. Many of the replacement items will be from its own-brand range, with some items less than a third of the…
Read More » -
14 August
Sweaty Betty owner lowers outlook amid Q2 revenue decline
Sweaty Betty owner, Wolverine Worldwide, has lowered its revenue and earnings outlook as it experienced a decline of 17.4% in revenue to $589.1m (£463.8m) in Q2. While revenue from the ongoing business was slightly better, it was still down at $578.2m (£455.2m) – a decline of 13.8% on a constant…
Read More » -
11 August
Frasers Group to open flagship Sports Direct in Sheffield
Frasers Group has taken over 180,000 sq ft of retail space in Meadowhall shopping centre, Sheffield, which includes a former Debenhams site that will be used as a Sports Direct flagship and Frasers concept store, Drapers has reported. The space in Meadowhall, which is being let by British Land, will…
Read More »