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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Jul- 2020 -29 July
Travis Perkins reports 20% HY sales decline
DIY retailer Travis Perkins has revealed that like-for-like half-year sales declined by 20% across the group due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Overall, Travis Perkins reported group revenue for the first six months of 2020 was £2.78bn, down from £3.48bn in 2019, attributed to the “significant impact” of…
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29 July
Games Workshop profits soar in full-year results
Games Workshop saw its pre-tax profits jump to £89.4m during the year ended 31 May 2020, up from £81.3 in 2019, despite closing stores for six weeks during the Covid-19 pandemic. The retailer also reported a 5.1% increase in sales to £269.7m during the period. Some 29% of sales were…
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29 July
Next performance ‘better than expected’ in Q2
Next has announced that full-price sales in its second quarter fell by only 28%, welcoming the “better than expected” results against previous predictions that sales would collapse by 50%. The retailer said that warehouse capacity has come back faster than initially planned, while store sales have been “more robust” than…
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29 July
John Lewis appoints new executive director for people
John Lewis has appointed Nikki Humphrey as executive director for people. Humphrey joins from Virgin Atlantic where she held the position of chief people officer. She succeeds Tracey Killen to the position, who has retired after a 38 year career at the partnership. Effective 1 October, Humphrey will be responsible…
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28 July
Selfridges to axe 450 roles
Selfridges has outlined plans to cut 450 roles across its business, equating to a 14% reduction of its total headcount. Managing director, Anne Pitcher, warned staff of the proposed redundancies as the group predicted “significantly less” sales in the coming year. Pitcher reportedly told staff that those currently placed on…
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28 July
Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO to exit
Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Stefano Pessina has revealed plans to step down from the position. The board of directors said they will begin a search for a new CEO, and at the time of this appointment, Pessina will assume the role of executive chairman. At the same time, James Skinner…
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28 July
Sainsbury’s trials virtual queuing system
Sainsbury’s is piloting a virtual queuing system to test whether the technology will help customers “stay safe, save time and shop conveniently” in stores. The trial, which will run via the app ufirst, will be live in five stores from Monday (3 August) and is the first time this technology…
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28 July
Harrods boss warns tourists may not return until 2022
The managing director of the iconic department store Harrods has warned that US and Asian tourists may not return until 2022 after the store revealed a significant drop in the number of visitors to the store. According to The Telegraph, Ward, speaking to investment bank Jeffiries, revealed the number of…
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28 July
Card Factory performance ‘exceeds’ expectations
Card Factory’s performance has “exceeded” initial expectations since the reopening of its estate, with like-for-like sales down only 21.6%, against its anticipated reduction of 50% in the first month of reopening. Despite a decline in in-store transactions, the average spend has increased by 24.9% since lockdown. According to the group,…
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27 July
Arcadia on verge of launching restructuring process
Arcadia is reportedly set to launch a restructuring process just a year after it pushed from a CVA proposal, as it battles to overcome the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Sunday Times, the retail group owned by Sir Philip Green has presented a cost-cutting plan to…
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