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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Apr- 2023 -21 April
Poor weather sees retail sales fall 0.9% in March
Retail sales in the UK fell 0.9% in March according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Some of this fall can be attributed to the poor weather in March following a 1.1% rise in February. Furthermore, non-food stores sales volumes fell by 1.3% in March 2023,…
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21 April
UK consumer confidence increases by six points, says GfK
GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index was up six points in April and is now at -30, compared to -38 in April 2022. UK consumers’ expectations for the general economic situation over the next 12 months have increased by six points as well to -34, which is 21 points better than April…
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21 April
Tesco to open Coronation-themed pub in May
Tesco will be opening its first-ever pub, The King in the Castle, next month for 4 and 5 May in celebration of the King’s Coronation. The pub, which is Coronation-themed and located in Farringdon, London, aims to encourage the nation to “do good by going to the pub”. The retailer‘s…
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21 April
Poundland owner sees revenues rise 23% in H1
Pepco Group, the owner of Poundland, has welcomed “encouraging” results in its second quarter and first half of trading despite ongoing inflationary pressures in the market. Group revenues in H1 rose by 22.8% year-on-year to €2.8bn (£2.5bn), driven by strong Pepco growth of 36.9%. In addition, like-for-like revenues were up…
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20 April
Retailers urge government for recycling reform
Retailers are calling on the government to urgently rethink its proposed recycling reforms due to concerns that the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme is fundamentally flawed. Without significant investment in recycling infrastructure in Britain, households in the UK could be footing the bill for EPR without any meaningful improvements to…
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20 April
Lush raises staff pay in line with Living Wage Foundation
Lush Cosmetics has increased wages for staff in the UK this month as an accredited Living Wage Foundation employer. The real living wage, according to the foundation and based on the true cost of living, is £10.90 per hour in the UK, and £11.95 per hour in London for all…
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20 April
Dunelm Q3 sales up 6% after moving winter sale
Dunelm has announced that its sales have risen 6% to £423m, up from £399m, for the 13 weeks to 1 April 2023. The homeware retailer has put this increase down to moving its winter sale from Q2 to Q3 after the winter sale negatively impacted its Q3 growth last year.…
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20 April
David’s Bridal enters administration
David’s Bridal UK has entered administration after its US owner filed for bankruptcy. David’s Bridal UK Ltd is a subsidiary of the “long-established” David’s Bridal LLC which is headquartered in Pennsylvania, United States of America. The US arm filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy…
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20 April
WH Smith revenues soar 41% amid rebound in travel
WH Smith has welcomed a strong performance in the first half of the year, with revenues rising by 41% to £859m, in part boosted by strong momentum in its Travel division, where revenues were up by 75% against the prior year. The group’s global Travel business benefited from a “significant”…
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20 April
Mulberry revenues in line with expectations for FY23
Mulberry has revealed that for the financial year ended 1 April trading was in line with the group’s expectations, with revenues being “slightly” ahead of last year and profitability being weighted to the second half. This comes as the group has seen an improvement in retail revenue over the second…
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