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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Oct- 2025 -10 October
Very Media Group names Paul Stafford as head of retail media
Very Media Group, which is operated by The Very Group, has bolstered its senior leadership team with the appointment of Paul Stafford as head of retail media. Stafford, who helped launch Superdrug’s retail media network Optimo, joins the Liverpool-based retailer to lead its retail media proposition. Bringing with him over…
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10 October
Wilko owner returns to profit as revenues rise 13.5%
Norton Group Holdings, owner of retail brands including Wilko, The Range and Homebase, has returned to profit, reporting pre-tax profits of £10.5m for the 53-week period ended 2 February 2025. Group revenue also rose 13.5% to £1.47bn, up from £1.3bn the previous year. The £176m increase was driven by growth…
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10 October
Gen Z spending to top £26bn in 2025, report finds
Gen Z’s spending is set to drive over £26bn of retail spending in 2025, rising to almost £40bn over the next decade, according to research by RSM UK and Retail Economics. While this cohort’s spending power is forecast to keep climbing, it is also expected to keep prioritising saving and…
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9 October
Kingfisher appoints Deba Sen as chief commercial officer
Kingfisher has appointed Debarati (Deba) Sen as chief commercial officer. She will join the international home improvement group in December and become a member of its group executive team, based in London. The news comes after Kingfisher confirmed that Henri Solère, chief offer and sourcing officer, will step down from…
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9 October
Shoplifting surge a ‘low-level war’ on high streets, warns Iceland chair
Britain’s rise in shoplifting has become a “low-level war going on every day”, Iceland chair Richard Walker has said, urging retailers and the government to treat the problem as a serious threat to the high street. Speaking at the Financial Times’ Future of Retail conference, Walker said that thefts were…
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9 October
Asda appoints JD exec as new loyalty boss
Asda has announced the appointment of JD Sports executive Chris Chalmers as vice president – customer data and loyalty effective from January 2026. Chalmers will lead the strategic development and execution of the Asda Rewards customer loyalty programme, as well as digital and performance marketing for Asda.com and George.com.…
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9 October
Fred Perry FY profits rise 12.5% to £14m despite fall in turnover
Fred Perry has seen its operating profits rise by 12.5% to £13.93m in the year to 31 December 2024, despite a fall in gross profit from £76.9m to £75.3m. During the period, the British clothing retailer reported a 5.4% rise in profit before tax to £17.1m compared with £16.3m in…
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9 October
UK retail footfall records first annual decline since 2019
UK retail footfall declined in September, marking its first annual fall since 2019 and the sharpest month-on-month drop in more than a decade, according to MRI Software’s latest figures. Total footfall was down 0.2% year on year, led by a 1.1% drop in high street visits. Shopping centres saw a…
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8 October
Mulberry to open autumn pop-up at Gunwharf Quays
British luxury brand Mulberry will open a temporary store at Gunwharf Quays later this month as part of landlord Landsec’s strategy to grow the outlet’s premium retail offer. The pop-up will launch on 16 October, occupying 1,466 square feet of space at the waterfront shopping destination in Portsmouth. It will…
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8 October
Merry Hill adds trio of brands to its offering
Merry Hill has completed lettings across its retail park with the opening of new stores from B&Q, Costa Coffee and Bensons for Beds, introducing 33,800 sq ft of additional space as part of a wider refurbishment of the now fully let site. The new 23,000 sq ft B&Q store, located…
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