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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Feb- 2021 -22 February
More than half of retailers are ‘resistant’ to digital progress
More than half of retail industry C-suite executives, directors and senior managers (51%) are “resistant” to digital progress, according to a new survey by Sigma Dynamics. The firm’s ‘Connected Enterprise’ report, commissioned in partnership with applied futurist Tom Cheesewright, revealed that retailers are skeptical about the benefits of implementing new…
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22 February
Poundland owner to open 400 new stores despite dent to profits
Poundland owner the Pepco Group has announced plans to open 400 stores this year despite posting a drop in profits from €331 (£285m) to €229m (£198.2m) due to the impact of Covid-19. The group said the results for the 52-week period ending 30 September 2020 is primarily related to temporary…
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22 February
BPF names NewRiver CEO as chair of retail board
The British Property Federation (BPF) has appointed Allan Lockhart, CEO at real estate investment trust NewRiver REIT, as chair of its new retail board. The board was created in January to ensure central and regional governments could understand the views of the retail property sector, in turn driving the agenda…
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22 February
John Lewis to shutter up to eight stores
John Lewis is reportedly considering the closure of up to eight of its stores in a bid to further cut costs, according to The Sunday Times. While the exact number of closures is “yet to be determined”, the chain’s bigger and older sites are thought to be most at risk.…
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22 February
Aldi crowned UK’s favourite in-store supermarket by Which?
Aldi has been named the UK’s favourite in-store supermarket in Which?’s annual satisfaction survey. According to the consumer organisation, Aldi emerged as the top in-store supermarket in the UK after receiving a five-star rating for value for money – the only supermarket to achieve this in the survey – and…
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22 February
Shoe Zone finance director steps down
Shoe Zone has announced that Peter Foot, its finance director, has left the company with immediate effect. The board has reportedly started the search for a replacement, with a further announcement due to be made once an appointment has been selected. The departure follows the retailer’s recent FY 2020 expected…
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22 February
Asos relaunches Topshop online following sale
Asos has officially relaunched Topshop on its website after acquiring the high street fashion retailer for £295m earlier this year from Sir Phillip Green’s Arcadia Group. On the online retail platform’s homepage, a message to consumers reads “Topshop is now a part of Asos”, reminding customers to “stay tuned” for…
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19 February
NewRiver JV with Bravo Strategies acquires The Moor
NewRiver has announced its joint venture with Bravo Strategies has exchanged contracts to acquire retail estate The Moor from CEP ASI UKPF Nominee 1 Limited and CEP ASI UKPF Nominee 2 Limited, for a total consideration of £41m. The Moor estate, which is located in Sheffield city centre, is close…
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19 February
NI extends lockdown until 1 April but click and collect widened
The Stormont Executive has announced it will extend the current lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland until 1 April. However, first minister Arlene Foster did reveal that more non-essential retail businesses will be able to resume click and collect services from 8 March. The scope of those allowed to operate click…
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19 February
Sunak to delay review of business rates until autumn
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to reveal that he will delay a final report on the review of business rates until later this year. According to The Financial Times, the delay of the report, which was set to consider the introduction of an online sales tax, comes as the chancellor…
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