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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Mar- 2025 -27 March
Lakeland becomes latest bid target for Modella Capital
Homewares retailer Lakeland has become the latest takeover target of retail investor firm Modella Capital, Sky News has revealed. The investment firm, which owns Hobbycraft and The Original Factory Shop, is among a small number of parties trying to acquire a controlling stake in Lakeland. According to retail industry sources,…
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27 March
Campaign urges Next, M&S and JD Sports to pay real living wage
The likes of Axa and Scottish Widows are backing campaign group ShareAction in its effort to make major high street retailers such as Next, M&S and JD Sports increase their staff’s pay in line with a real living wage, The Guardian has reported. News of this initiative comes as there’s…
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26 March
Today’s news in brief-26/3/25
John Lewis is close to securing approval for its housing project in Reading, transforming a former customer collection facility into 215 homes, including 49% family-sized units and 10% affordable rentals. The development, featuring shared workspaces, a gym, and communal areas, is part of an £80m investment in rental housing. A…
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26 March
Chancellor resists calls for business relief in Spring Statement
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has resisted calls from businesses for relief ahead of the upcoming tax changes this April, as part of her Spring Statement today (26 March). UK businesses had been hopeful the chancellor would raise the relief rate for retail, hospitality, and leisure after cutting it to 40% in…
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26 March
Frasers ups stake in AO World to 25%
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has revealed it has increased its stake in fashion retailer Brown to 25.01%, according to the latest holding documents filed by the company. It now holds 145,148,997 voting rights in the company. The news comes as the electrical retailer AO raised its full-year forecast to between…
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26 March
Inflation ‘unexpectedly’ falls to 2.8% in February
Inflation unexpectedly fell to 2.8% in February in much welcome news for the chancellor ahead of the Spring Statement later today (26 March). A fall in the prices of clothing had the biggest impact on inflation in February, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).…
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26 March
Virgin Wines targets £100m revenues through ‘turbocharging’ growth plan
Virgin Wines has unveiled plans to “turbocharge” its growth and deliver £100m in annual revenue over the next five years through a new growth strategy, whilst the group hailed a “resilient” performance in its H1 results. The plan, which aims to deliver this revenue growth at a 7% EBITDA margin,…
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26 March
Uniqlo’s popularity with Gen-Z boosts FY profits by 57% to €221.7m
Uniqlo’s European operations has seen its profits jump by 57.5% to €221.7m (£185.4m) in the year to 31 August 2024, thanks to the retailer’s popularity with Gen-Z shoppers. Turnover at the Japanese clothing retailer has continued to increase year-on-year by 30%, meaning that its gross profit margin has been maintained…
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26 March
Frasers expands Sports Direct in Southeast Asia and India
Frasers Group has announced the expansion of its existing partnership with MAP Active to launch Sports Direct in five new markets across Southeast Asia and India. The retailer will utilise MAP Active’s infrastructure, local expertise and distributed brands to position Sports Direct as the premier sports retailer in the region. …
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26 March
John Lewis housing development nears approval
John Lewis has submitted proposals to redevelop its former customer collection facility in Reading into a housing project, according to reports from the BBC. The scheme includes a mixture of 111 one-bedroom, 92 two-bedroom, and 12 three-bedroom homes. The site, which was previously used for customers to collect orders, closed…
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