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.
-
Feb- 2021 -16 February
Virgin Wines set to float £100m for next month
Virgin Wines has announced plans to float on the London Stock Exchange for around £100m. The online wine retailer is known for its “award-winning and largely exclusive premium wines” through its premium subscription based service for customers. The company was founded in 2000 as part of the Virgin Group owned…
Read More » -
16 February
Amazon infiltrated by fake review sites, Which? report finds
A Which? investigation has uncovered a “thriving” industry of review manipulation businesses targeting Amazon, despite ongoing measures to combat fake reviews on its platform. Amid growing competition between sellers, Amazon, which sold an estimated $295bn (£212bn) worth of products worldwide in 2020, has seen a rise in sellers “turning to…
Read More » -
16 February
Cox and Cox sees FY sales up 75%
Homeware retailer Cox and Cox has reported a “strong” Q4 that saw sales up 85.4% up on the previous year, rounding off another year of growth for the firm with sales up 74.5% for the full year. While exact sales figures were not given, in its latest trading update the…
Read More » -
16 February
Asda to donate 150,000 meals to children over half-term
Asda has announced that it will donate 150,000 meals to children over half-term break to help fight holiday hunger. The grocer is also extending its ‘kids eat free’ policy in its cafes, which will allow children under the age of 16 to access a ‘nutritious meal’ when their guardian spends…
Read More » -
16 February
Almost half of consumers shift to online shopping due to covid-19
Almost half of consumers (46%) in 2020 made an online purchase that would have previously been made in-store amid the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a new report by Retail Economics and Natwest, online sales in the retail sector saw five years of growth in just 12 months in 2020 as…
Read More » -
16 February
Dunelm deputy chair raises £192m from share sale
Dunelm has announced that Will Adderley, deputy chairman at the home furnishings retailer, has sold 15 million shares in the company, totalling £192m. Placed at 1,280 pence per share, the £192m sale represents 7.4% of the issued share capital of the firm. Adderley now directly holds 17.8% of Dunelm’s shares,…
Read More » -
16 February
UK frozen food sales rise by £872m
The pandemic has resulted in a massive sales boost for frozen foods of over £870m, according to a recent report by the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF). Retail frozen food sales in the UK have increased by £872m, and the value of frozen food sold in the UK stores is…
Read More » -
15 February
Coventry Ikea to become national cultural centre
Coventry City Council has announced it is purchasing a former five-storey Ikea story in the centre, with plans to transform it into a multi-purpose collections and cultural facility. The new National Collections Centre will contribute to the economic and cultural legacy from Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture, which…
Read More » -
15 February
Year-on-year online gift cards and e-vouchers increase by 117%
Year-on-year sales of online gift cards and e-vouchers have increased by 117% during the second half of 2020 as Covid restrictions affected consumer trading. According to the latest analysis by the Gift Card & Voucher Association (GCVA) and KPMG UK, there was strong growth in the online channel for both…
Read More » -
15 February
Government eyes third rent moratorium extension
The government is reportedly drawing up plans to extend the current rent moratorium that bans landlords from being able to pursue commercial tenants for unpaid rent or evict them. According to The Sunday Times, the business department and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have been in discussions…
Read More »
