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 -7 March
Boots owner sold to Sycamore Partners in $23.7bn deal
Walgreens Boots Alliance has announced that it has been acquired by American private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a deal worth up to $23.7bn (£18.3bn). The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter calendar year 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by WBA shareholders and the…
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6 March
Today’s news in brief-6/3/25
Pepco Group is considering the sale of Poundland as part of a strategic shift to focus on its Pepco brand, which drives the majority of its earnings. Despite a 1.5% increase in group like-for-like sales in early 2025, Poundland has struggled with declining performance, exacerbated by a challenging UK retail…
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6 March
M&S invests £95m into pay increase for retail staff
M&S has announced a £95m investment in its retail pay offer, its biggest ever investment in pay and third consecutive increase since Stuart Machin became CEO in 2022. From 1 April, the rate of pay for UK customer assistants will increase from £12 to £12.60 per hour, representing a 5%…
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6 March
Temu earns high marks from top German consumer watchdog
Temu, the online marketplace, has received strong endorsements for its quality, data security, and customer-friendly returns in a recent evaluation conducted by Stiftung Warentest, Germany’s leading consumer testing organisation. Stiftung Warentest, known for its rigorous and impartial assessments, awarded Temu a “good” rating for its data handling and shopping experience.…
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6 March
Adidas confirms 500 HQ roles to be cut as it lowers profit guidance
Adidas is set to axe 500 jobs at its headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, in a bid to reduce operational costs and lower costs. The group which currently employs around 62,000 employees stated that it has worked with different departments and different processes and identified work streams how it can “reduce…
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6 March
Topshop teases Oxford Street return in new video
Fashion retailer Topshop has teased a possible return to Oxford Street in a new video posted online. On Instagram, the retailer published a video featuring London mayor Sadiq Khan urging Topshop to make a comeback to the shopping hub. In the clip, Khan reflects on his own experiences with the…
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6 March
Abercrombie and Fitch sales rise 16% amid modest 2025 expectations
Abercrombie and Fitch has revealed that its net sales increased 16% to $4.95bn (£3.85bn) for the year ended 1 February 2025. It comes as the clothing retailer also saw its operating income rise 15% year-on-year to $740.8m (£575.5m). Despite this, the company has set modest expectations for 2025 as it…
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6 March
Pepco explores potential sale of Poundland amid trading challenges
Pepco has announced that it is “actively exploring” a potential sale of Poundland amid rising pressures on the business, and instead plans to focus on the Pepco brand as a single future format. The discount retail group said its “ultimate ambition” is to operate under a single Pepco format, which…
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6 March
Currys introduces ‘inflation-beating’ pay boost
Currys has announced an “inflation-beating” boost of 6% to colleague pay thanks to an £8m investment that will see a raise in the hourly rate paid to employees, combined with the retailer’s bonus programme. This boost means that skilled hourly paid store workers will have their minimum hourly rate rise…
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5 March
Today’s news in brief-5/3/25
Walgreens Boots Alliance, owner of Boots, is in advanced talks with private-equity firm Sycamore Partners for a potential $10 billion deal to take the struggling drugstore chain private. This move comes amid Walgreens’ shares declining sharply over the past decade, from a peak market value of over $100bn in 2015…
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