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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May- 2020 -5 May
Government launches £6.1m fund to help high streets through pandemic
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are set to receive a £6.1m funding boost to help high streets and town centres through the Covid-19 pandemic. According to high streets minister Simon Clarke, hundreds of local business partnerships across England will share the fund to spend on projects that will help their local…
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5 May
J.Crew files for bankruptcy protection
J.Crew has become the first major US retailer to officially file for bankruptcy protection amid the global lockdown. As per the terms of the new filing agreement, the fashion retailer’s main creditors will take control of the group in exchange for cancelling debts of $1.65bn (£1.3bn), converting them into equity.…
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5 May
JD Sports blocks director appointment at Boohoo
Sportswear giant JD has reportedly blocked non-executive director Kath Smith from joining online fashion retailer Boohoo in the same role. The online fashion group announced the appointment of Smith last month, effective from 1 May. Boohoo’s group CEO Mahmud Kamani had said: “Her commercial insight will be a great asset…
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4 May
Sports Direct managers say firm asked them to work while on furlough
Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct and House of Fraser firms reportedly asked store managers to work one day a week despite being furloughed. According to The Guardian, store managers allege that they had been asked to come into stores and prepare stock ready to be distributed to its Shirebrook warehouse to…
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4 May
Government announces new £617m scheme for SMEs in shared office spaces
The Business Rates loophole which meant small businesses in shared office space missed out on a £10,000 cash grant has been plugged with a new £617m funding scheme. The Department for Business, Energy, Innovation & Skills (BEIS) confirmed the new £617m scheme to support businesses in shared spaces, regular market…
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4 May
Hotel Chocolat: Online sales fail to mitigate effect of store closures
Hotel Chocolat has announced that its boost in online sales has failed to “fully mitigate the total sales loss in the key three-week Easter trading period of 2020. In its latest trading update, the group noted the nationwide lockdown on 23 March has had a “material impact on trading”. However,…
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4 May
Bira releases ‘life after lockdown’ strategy
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has released its 10-point “life after lockdown” strategy, calling on the government to consider lifting restrictions on smaller retailers first. In an open letter, CEO Andrew Goodacre’s survival plan encourages retailers to consider sustainable retail, customer focused experiences and multi-channel sales to survive post…
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4 May
Homebase reopens UK sites amid Covid-19 pandemic
DIY retailer Homebase has reopened all of its UK stores amid the Covid-19 crisis. Despite being classed as an essential retailer, last month the retailer temporarily closed its stores and started operating online with Homebase saying the safety of its customers and team was its “first priority.” In a statement…
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1 May
Iceland boss hits back at HMRC over minimum wage probe
The boss of Iceland has hit back at HMRC for “harassing” the business in regards to a previous minimum wage tax dispute amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to the Times, Sir Malcom Walker, who founded the businesses over 50 years ago, said in a letter that HMRC should be…
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1 May
Quarter of retail SMEs will need up to two years to recover
Nearly a quarter (22%) of SMEs in the retail sector believe it will take up to two years to recoup the financial losses caused by Covid-19, according to research from law firm Buckworths. The firm surveyed over 500 UK SME owners and decision-makers to gauge attitudes towards the Government’s response…
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