News
News is Retail Sector’s central hub for breaking stories, market developments and company updates from across the UK retail industry. This category delivers authoritative, timely coverage on everything from trading performance and executive changes to store openings, brand activity and supply chain developments.
Retail Sector’s news coverage focuses on the business realities behind the headlines — providing retail professionals with context on how each development impacts operations, strategy and market confidence. Readers can expect clear, accurate reporting designed to keep decision-makers informed and competitive in a fast-moving retail landscape.
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May- 2021 -18 May
Employer job optimism at eight-year high
Employers in the UK are the most optimistic about the country’s job market in eight years, according to the latest Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)/Adecco Labour Market Outlook Report. The report found the number of employers expecting to add jobs has increased to +27 for the second quarter…
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18 May
Landsec swings to £1.39bn loss amid pandemic
Land Securities has fallen to a pre-tax loss of £1.39bn in the full-year ended 31 March, 2021, in results that “clearly reflect the challenges” of the pandemic over the period. As the vast majority of its portfolio was either closed or “substantially unoccupied” amid ongoing lockdowns, revenue plummeted 39.4% to…
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18 May
Topps Tiles ‘confident’ despite 2.8% revenue decline
Topps Tiles is remaining “confident” after it saw revenues decline by 2.8% in the six months to 27 March, due to lockdown restrictions. In an update, the retailer said the results reflect “two distinct and contrasting” periods of trading – with stores originally seeing like-for-like sales up 19.9% in Q1…
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18 May
Retail footfall rises 0.5% as shoppers return to high streets
UK retail footfall rose by 0.5% last week, predominantly driven by a 3.9% increase across UK high streets, as shoppers continued to return to high streets following the easing of restrictions last month. According to the latest data from Springboard, whilst retail footfall overall increased, retail parks footfall declined by…
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18 May
Westfield owner confirms €1.25bn bond placement
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, the owner of Westfield shopping centres, has announced a successful €1.25bn (£1.07bn) bond placement. The two-tranche senior bond offering is intended to both strengthen the group’s liquidity position and extend its debt maturity. The placement features a €650m (£559m) bond with a seven-year and five-month maturity and a 0.75%…
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17 May
Mamas & Papas extends Next partnership
Mamas and Papas, a nursery and childrenswear retailer, has announced plans to extend its concession partnership with Next. The decision follows strong footfall therefore and sales performances since the easing of lockdown restrictions in April. In turn, the group has opened a 2,000 sq ft space in Next’s Brent Cross…
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17 May
Aldi to trial ‘soft plastic’ collection at select stores
Aldi has revealed that it will be trialling its first collection facilities for soft plastics in select stores in the North of England and East Midlands, with a view to helping customers recycle “problem materials”. The supermarket will provide collection bins at 20 of its stores across Yorkshire, Derbyshire and…
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17 May
Debenhams’ remaining stores close for final time
Debenhams shuttered its last remaining stores over the weekend, ending its 243-year stint on the UK high street. According to Sky News, the retailer closed its remaining 28 stores on Saturday 15 May as it completed its transition as an online only retailer as part of the Boohoo Group. It…
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17 May
Ralph Lauren offloads Club Monaco brand to private equity group
Ralph Lauren Corporation has announced the sale of its Club Monaco brand to Regent, a global private equity firm, for an undisclosed fee. Expected to close by the end of June 2021, the transaction represents a continuation of the group’s fiscal 2021 strategic realignment plan. Revealed last year, the plan…
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17 May
Sainsbury’s joins the Black British Network
Sainsbury’s has announced it is joining the Black British Network in a bid to improve the “representation and experiences” of its Black colleagues. The Black British Network was founded by campaigner Cephas Williams and was created to bring “lasting systemic change” for the Black community by working closely with UK businesses.…
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