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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Apr- 2025 -8 April
Levi’s sales and profits ‘exceed expectations’ in Q1
Levi Strauss and Co has reported a 3% increase in sales to $1.5bn (£1.17bn) and a 47% rise in adjusted EBITDA to $204m (£159m) during Q1 ended March 2, 2025, exceeding revenue and profitability expectations. The group’s DTC revenues also increased 9%, while its wholesale sales were up 3%. The…
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8 April
Sainsbury’s and Royal Mail partner on parcel locker roll-out
Sainsbury’s and Royal Mail have announced a long-term partnership which will introduce parcel lockers at the supermarket chain’s locations across the UK. A first for the supermarket group, this Royal Mail partnership aims to expand its network of parcel drop-off and collection points. It comes after Royal Mail first launched…
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7 April
Today’s news in brief-7/4/25
US President Donald Trump has defended his newly announced tariffs, describing them as necessary “medicine” to address trade imbalances. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump warned that governments would need to pay “a lot of money” to lift the sweeping tariffs, which include a baseline 10% levy on imports from…
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7 April
Dreams appoints Feather & Black GM amid expansion plans
Dreams has appointed Sarah Morgan as general manager of Feather and Black, Dreams’ luxury brand offering. Dreams acquired Feather and Black in July 2020, as part of its long-term strategy to strengthen its premium offering. Since then, it said the brand has played an important part in Dreams’ diversification. Moving…
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7 April
Entry-level job costs jump over 10% for retailers
The cost of employing people into entry-level jobs has increased over 10% for retailers as a result of the rise in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) coupled with the increase to the National Living Wage, according to the British Retail Consortium. Alongside this, the trade body has claimed that the cost…
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7 April
Trump calls tariffs ‘medicine’ amid market turmoil
US president Donald Trump has called his newly-announced tariffs “medicine” as he showed no signs of reversing them. Speaking to reporters on Sunday (6 April) aboard Air Force One, Trump warned that governments would have to pay “a lot of money” to lift sweeping tariffs. He said: “I don’t want…
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7 April
CMA to reconsider Lidl and Aldi’s restrictive land clause exemption
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is reportedly considering an overhaul of rules that currently restrict major supermarkets from opening new stores in areas dominated by Aldi and Lidl, The Telegraph has reported. The regulator’s current “restrictive” land clauses mean supermarkets must allow rival stores to open nearby without opposition…
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7 April
Co-op reopens three stores following refurb projects
Co-op has officially reopened three stores in Devon and Herefordshire before the weekend, following “extensive” programmes of improvements to the community stores. Located in Fore Street, Topsham; Newland’s Park, Scarborough, and Ledbury Road, Tupsley, the stores vary in size – with Newland’s Park, at just over 3,200 sq ft, being…
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7 April
Lidl trials middle aisle click, reserve and collect service
Lidl has announced it will be trialling a Click, Reserve and Collect service via the Lidl Plus app for the first time ever, allowing customers reserve popular Middle of Lidl products up to two weeks before they hit stores. This latest trial builds on the success of Lidl Plus since…
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4 April
Today’s news in brief-4/4/25
Manchester-based online retailer THG has successfully completed its debt refinancing, extending arrangements until December 2029. The refinancing includes a partial extension of its Term Loan B to €445m (£376.6m), a £74m repayment of Term Loan A, and the extension of a £150m revolving credit facility to May 2029. The move…
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