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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Mar- 2021 -31 March
H&M swings to £92m pre-tax loss in Q1
H&M has announced it has swung to a pre-tax loss of SEK 1.1bn (£92m) in its first quarter trading update ending 28 February 2021. As the group continues to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, at the most, it saw around 36% of its total number of stores (1,800 stores)…
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31 March
Retail leaders call for ‘Shop Out to Help Out’ scheme
The Save the Street campaign, supported by the British Fashion Council and retail expert Mary Portas, is calling for the government to adopt an incentive scheme similar to its ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ initiative last summer. Founded by Ross Bailey, CEO and founder of Appear Here, the campaign represents…
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31 March
Carpetright owner acquires Carpet and Flooring
Nestware Holdings Limited (NHL) has announced it has acquired Carpet and Flooring (C&F) for an undisclosed sum. NFL, which is part of Meditor Holdings Limited also owns a number of flooring businesses including Carpetright and FlooringSupplies.co.uk, an ecommerce flooring business. C&F was established in 1992, it distributes floor covering products…
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31 March
Chairman of Eve Sleep to step down
Paul Pindar, the chairman of Eve Sleep, has announced his decision to step down from the role. Pindar, who has held the position as chair for five years, will be replaced by Mike Lloyd, the group’s current chief operating officer (COO). Lloyd has held executive director roles at leading consumer…
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31 March
Asda ends George sale rumours
Asda has reportedly revealed that it will not sell off its George clothing division, as it instead intends to invest in the brand. According to Drapers, despite rumours that had surfaced regarding the potential sale, owners Zuber and Mohsin Issa are intent on keeping hold of the clothing department. To…
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30 March
Watches of Switzerland signs lease for new Trafford Centre store
The Watches of Switzerland Group has announced it has signed a new 10-year lease with The Trafford Centre, for a flagship store in a new location, which is expected to open in the summer. The retailer will relocate its Goldsmiths store to The Trafford Centre’s Main Dome on the upper…
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30 March
Grocery sales growth slows in Q1 2021
Grocery sales reportedly rose 7.4% during the 12 weeks to 21 March 2021, representing a slowdown in growth as sales are annualised against 2020 spending. According to research conducted by Kantar, sales across the most recent four weeks marked a 3% year-on-year decline. The study found that although shopping had…
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30 March
Relaxing of restrictions boosts retail footfall by 6.6%
Footfall across UK retail destinations increased by 6.6% last week from the week before, according to the latest data from Springboard. Last week, Springboard found that footfall was 68.1% higher than in the same week in 2020, but remained 57.3% lower than in the same week period for 2019. Footfall…
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30 March
Studio appoints new CEO
Studio Retail Group has announced the appointment of Paul Kendrick as its new company CEO. The group manages market leading businesses in the UK digital retailing and education supplies markets, mainly being a retailer and distributor, handling and supplying specialist products manufactured by third parties. Kendrick took on the role…
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30 March
Former M&S CIO joins Asda
Asda has confirmed that Marks and Spencer’s chief information officer (CIO) Carl Dawson will join its team, also as CIO. Dawson has spent the last six years at M&S delivering “technology modernisation and digital transformation programmes”. The appointment comes after former CIO Phil Tenney left the business in December to…
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