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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Apr- 2021 -8 April
Debenhams to reopen its stores one last time
Debenhams has announced that it will reopen its stores in England and Wales on 12 April to complete its final closing down sale. The sale will offer limited-time bargains, with up to 70% off fashion and home products and up to 50% off beauty and fragrance lines. The reopening is…
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8 April
Co-op to repay £15m furlough relief as profits rise to £77m
The Co-op has revealed it will repay £15.5m of the Covid relief it received from the government’s furlough scheme but will retain what it received in business rates support. The news comes after it reported a bumper rise in profits after tax and discontinued items for the year to £77m.…
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8 April
Dunelm to ‘outperform’ expectations thanks to click and collect
Dunelm has said it expects to “outperform” analyst expectations this financial year, as the group prepares to reopen its stores again on 12 April. The statement, which was published in its Q3 trading update, revealed that its FY21 profit-before-tax is estimated to be between £120m-£125m. This is a figure the…
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8 April
Barbour sees pre-pandemic profits fall 8.4%
Global lifestyle brand J Barbour and Sons saw its profits fall 8.4% year-on-year to £28.5m for the year ended 30 April 2020. This occurred despite the group’s turnover increasing from £225.2m in FY 2019 to £242.8m the following year. Barbour also saw its operating profit decrease £3.3m to £35.1m during…
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8 April
Asos profits rocket 253% amid lockdown
Asos has announced that its pre-tax profits rocketed 253% to £106.4m in the half-year ended 28 February 2021, as customers continued to turn to online shopping amid the pandemic. The group witnessed a sales growth of 25% across the period, reflecting a strong performance underpinned by “excellent” operational delivery, whilst…
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8 April
Retailers rally behind hospitality and reject Covid status certificates
Retailers have rallied behind pubs and clubs in their rejection of Covid status certificates, according to The Guardian. The news follows on from the announcement made by the prime minister last Sunday to confirm the reopening of shops in England from 12 April 2021. In his announcement, Boris Johnson suggested…
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8 April
M&S outlines lockdown reopening plans
Marks and Spencers has announced its plans to reopen ahead of the retail sector’s return in England and Wales on 12 April 2021. From 12 April, the supermarket chain will reopen its clothing and home spaces to customers for the first time since the most recent outline. As part of…
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7 April
Aldi to donate 400,000 meals to charities during Easter break
Aldi has revealed that it will be donating almost 400,000 meals to people in need during the Easter school holidays. The supermarket has paired its stores up with local charities, community groups and food banks to around 149 tonnes of food throughout the UK, with more than 250,000 meals expected…
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7 April
Frasers Group calls for Peacocks sale inquiry
Frasers Group has reportedly called for an investigation to be launched into the sale of fashion chain Peacocks to an international consortium backed by chief operating officer, Steve Simpson. According to the Guardian, Mike Ashley, owner of Sports Direct and House of Fraser, was beaten in his Peacocks takeover bid…
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7 April
UK supermarkets see clothing and confectionary sales boost
British consumers spent £439m on confectionery ahead of Easter in the four week period ending 27 March 2021, a +34% increase in sales compared with the same period in 2020. The new data released by Nielsen also reveals that as non-essential retail remained closed, consumers turned to supermarkets to “treat…
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