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 -10 March
UK retail footfall rebounds with high streets leading the way
Retail footfall rose by 1.8% overall for the week ended 7 March 2025 compared with the week before, driven by a 4.2% rebound in high street activity and by 0.1% in retail parks. However, shopping centres saw a 1.6% decline in footfall, reflecting cautious consumer behaviour ahead of Mother’s Day…
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10 March
John Lewis staff could miss out on bonus amid missed profit target
John Lewis employees could reportedly miss out on their staff bonus for the fourth time in the group’s history, amid news it could miss its full-year profit targets of £131m following weak festive sales.According to internal documents seen by The Telegraph, John Lewis said “lower consumer confidence and weaker than…
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10 March
Matalan appoints former N-Brown executive as CCO
Matalan has announced the appointment of ex-N Brown chief executive Sarah Welsh as its new chief product, brand and commercial officer. Welsh brings 30 years of retail experience and has been N-Brown’s CEO for five years. During her tenure she was credited for transforming the group’s traditional catalogue offer to…
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10 March
Asda eyes sale of car parking space to finance debt
Asda has reportedly launched a process to sell off almost 10 acres of car parking space as a way to reduce its debt, according to The Telegraph. Newsteer, which is advising Asda on the sales, has informed potential developers that Asda has identified surplus space at its stores in Slough,…
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7 March
Today’s news in brief-7/3/25
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a deal worth £23.7bn. The transaction is expected to close in late 2025 and will see WBA become a private company, delisting from Nasdaq.WBA shareholders will receive $11.45 per share in cash, with potential…
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7 March
Asda appoints new president of food and GM supply
Asda has announced the appointment of Gavin Chappell as vice president of food and GM supply from April. The appointment marks a return to Asda for Chappell, as he previously spent six years with the business across numerous roles including vice president – ecommerce and supply chain. He was previously…
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7 March
Retail parks lead the way as footfall sees small bounce in February
UK footfall edged up 0.2% in February as the performance from UK retail parks helped footfall increase for the second consecutive month, according to the latest BRC-Sensormatic data. Footfall increased by 0.1% at UK high streets, down from 4.5% in January, while Shopping Centre footfall increased by 0.1% in February…
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7 March
John Lewis invests £114m in workers’ pay
John Lewis has announced a £114m investment in pay for 65,000 employees across the business this year. Some 77% (£88m) of the pay investment is voluntary and is beyond the requirements of the National Minimum Wage. From 1 April, the minimum rate of pay for partners outside London will increase…
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7 March
HMV halts UK expansion amid rising wage costs
HMV has halted its UK expansion in anticipation of the rising wage costs due to commence next month, and will open stores in Ireland and Belgium instead, The Guardian has reported. According to managing director Phil Halliday, HMV had ambitions to open as many as 10 additional stores in the…
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7 March
Zalando sees FY24 revenues surge to €10.6bn
Zalando has reported that its revenues saw a 4.2% increase year-on-year to €10.6bn (£8.9bn) in FY 2024, despite what it called a rather “muted” macroeconomic environment. Driven by its focus on “driving profitable growth”, Zalando’s adjusted EBIT also reached €511m (£428m) in 2024, up from €350m (£293.9m) a year earlier,…
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