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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Jun- 2025 -17 June
Poundland to halt rent payments at hundreds of stores amid restructuring
Poundland will reportedly pause rent payments at hundreds of shops if a restructuring plan is approved by creditors later this summer, Sky News has reported. Poundland’s new owner, investment firm Gordon Brothers, which acquired the retailer last week, is proposing to halt all rent payments at ‘Category C’ shops across…
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17 June
Kering appoints Luca de Meo as CEO
Luca de Meo has been appointed chief executive of Kering and is expected to take office on 15 September, pending shareholder approval. The luxury group confirmed his appointment following a board meeting chaired by Kering chairman François-Henri Pinault. The board’s decision, based on the recommendation of the appointments and governance…
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16 June
Fortnum and Mason eyes first UK stores outside of London
Fortnum and Mason is reportedly considering opening its first ever UK stores outside of London following a surge in demand for its luxury teas, biscuits and jam. The company’s CEO Tom Athron told The Telegraph that he would be interested in having branches “up the spine of the country”. He…
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16 June
Asda to invest £10m into upgrading 180 in-store cafes
Asda has announced there will be a £10m refresh program in over 180 of its in-store cafes. The project, led by partner Compass, will begin this month and is expected to be completed by the end of October. The cafés, which are managed by Compass, will be upgraded to have…
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16 June
Liberty appoints new London flagship store director
Liberty has appointed Beverley Devonish as store director of its Regent Street flagship, as the British department store marks its 150th anniversary. Devonish joins with more than 20 years’ experience in luxury fashion and retail, having previously held senior roles at Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Dover Street Market. In her…
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16 June
Harrods plans legal action against al-Fayed estate
Harrods is reportedly planning to launch legal action against the estate of Mohamed al-Fayed, as a multimillion-pound legal bill for compensating his sexual abuse victims continues to rise. According to Sky News, the department store is set to file a passing-over application in the High Court in order to remove…
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16 June
Largest retailers to pay £600m extra in business rates from 2026
Major supermarkets and West End stores are set to pay an extra £600m in business rates from April 2026 following government reforms, according to analysis by property firm Colliers for The Times. The changes will lower the business rates multiplier for smaller retail, hospitality and leisure sites, with the shortfall recouped by…
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13 June
Primark to open standalone Home store in Manchester
Primark has announced it will open its first standalone Home store in Great Britain this summer at Trafford Palazzo in Manchester. The 11,900 sq. ft, two-floor unit is set to launch later in the season and follows the debut of the Primark Home concept in Belfast earlier this year. It…
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13 June
Sephora to open Oxford store in autumn 2025
Sephora UK has announced plans to open a store at Westgate Oxford in autumn 2025 – the retailer’s 11th in the UK and its fifth to be confirmed for the year. The 3,919 sq ft site will offer what the company describes as an “accessible and inspiring” shopping space in…
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13 June
Warm weather fails to boost footfall in May
Retail footfall across the UK declined by 1.7% compared with May 2024, spelling a sharp drop from the 7.2% rise recorded in April, according to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic Solutions. The downturn affected most retail locations, with High Streets down 2.5% year-on-year, and…
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