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.
-
Aug- 2020 -28 August
Pret a Manger to cut 2,800 jobs
Pret a Manger has confirmed it is to cut 2,800 high street jobs as part of a restructuring following almost two months of consultations with team members. The high street chain said that although sales and footfall have started to show “clear signs of recovery”, Pret sales over the last…
Read More » -
28 August
Screwfix to open 40 new stores, 400 jobs created
Screwfix is set to open 40 stores this year, in a move that will create around 400 new jobs in local communities. According to its parent company, Kingfisher, the new openings “demonstrate continued growth of the business and a growing demand for convenience, despite the challenges of Covid-19”. Some 30…
Read More » -
28 August
H&M Group appoints new chief technology officer
H&M has appointed Alan Boehme as the business’s new chief technology officer as it continues to accelerate its digitalisation work. Boehme, along with chief product officer Daniel Claesson, will co-lead the new Business Tech organisation that is designed to strengthen the business’s development and innovation, as well as ensure an…
Read More » -
27 August
Majority of retail office workers feel unsafe returning to work after Covid-19
Only 28% of office workers in the retail, catering and leisure sector feel safe returning to work after the pandemic, despite new health and safety measures that have been put in place. This is according to new research from insurance provider Protectivity, which asked office workers around the UK how…
Read More » -
27 August
The Hut Group unveils £4.5bn IPO plan
Online retailer The Hut Group (THG) has confirmed its intention to launch a stock market flotation that values the company at around £4.5bn. The group plans to raise £920m through the sale which, according to Sky News, could lead to its founder Matthew Moulding receiving up to £700. It cites…
Read More » -
27 August
DFS offloads The Sofa Workshop
DFS has announced an agreement to sell the entire issued share capital of The Sofa Workshop Limited to Halo Furnishings for a total of £300,000m. The gross assets of Sofa Workshop at 30 June 2019 were £10.2m, while the pre-tax loss in the 48 week period ended 30 June…
Read More » -
27 August
Younger Brits drive corner shop lockdown revival
Younger UK consumers have been the “driving force” behind the revival of the corner shop, according to research carried out by Paypoint. In the survey of 2,000 UK adults, just over half said they visited their local corner shop for the first time ever during lockdown, with this number rising…
Read More » -
26 August
Retailers tap into ‘back to school’ feeling to boost sales
Retailers have been advised to tap into the “back to school” feeling to help sales as the recession hits, according to research carried out by eBay Advertising It comes as one in four consumers plan to set ‘‘fresh intentions’’ in September to mark the start of the new school year,…
Read More » -
26 August
Frasers Group to review Bob’s stores after Nike ends deal
Frasers Group has announced it has placed its US subsidiary Bob’s Stores under review after sportswear giant Nike ended its distribution deal. Frasers confirmed that Nike has notified the company that it will end its agreement with the outlet that operates from 24 stores in the US in MArch 2021.…
Read More » -
26 August
Retail jobs in sharpest fall since 2009
Retail employment fell at the fastest rate since February 2009 in the year to August, with an even sharper decline anticipated in the year to September, according to the CBI’s latest monthly Distributive Trades Survey. The survey – which featured 63 retailers among its 128 respondents – also showed a…
Read More »
