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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Apr- 2020 -2 April
The Perfume Shop shuts online operations, affecting over 1,800 jobs
Fragrance retailer The Perfume Shop has announced the closure of its online operations amid the coronavirus outbreak, affecting over 1,800 jobs. The company, which had closed its 231 stores late last month following government guidelines that all shops would have to close, except those selling essential items, said it has…
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1 April
A fifth of SMEs at risk of collapse, say experts
Almost a fifth of SMEs will not survive the coronavirus crisis, according to new findings from the Corporate Finance Network. The group predicted that the closures would take place within the next four weeks despite government support measures, as the pandemic continues to unfold and affect retail. The network, which…
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1 April
JD Sports to withhold quarterly rent amid Covid-19 lockdown
Sports fashion retailer JD Sports has announced it is withholding its quarterly rent in bid to mitigate the effects of the UK lockdown. According to The Guardian, JD Sports has not paid the rent due for its 390 stores, and is reportedly in discussions with the next bill due in…
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1 April
Laura Ashley administrators axe 268 staff, 1669 furloughed
The joint administrators appointed to Laura Ashley revealed they have made 268 members of staff redundant and have furloughed a further 1669. Last week, Rob Lewis and Zelf Hussain of PwC were appointed as joint administrators of Laura Ashley Holdings plc and since then they have continued to trade the…
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1 April
New Look appoints Stuart MacKenzue as non-executive director
New Look has announced the appointment of Stuart MacKenzie to its board of directors, as a non-executive member, amid the coronavirus outbreak. Mackenzie first joined New Look in 2015, where he held the role of non-executive chairman and became a non-executive director in 2017. As a board member, Gnodde also…
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1 April
Shop prices slide amid UK lockdown, says BRC
The price of shop goods slipped by 0.8% in March, down from 0.6% the month prior, according to the latest BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index. In the same month, non-food prices fell by 1.9%, which marked the highest rate of decline in non-food prices since May 2018. The lowered prices were…
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Mar- 2020 -31 March
WHSmith launches partnership with Sainsbury’s amid Covid-19 virus outbreak
WHSmith and Sainsbury’s has announced its partnership to help NHS staff amid the coronavirus pandemic. WHSmith will be stocking an extended range of Sainsbury’s grocery products to “support the incredible work of the NHS through this challenging time.” The partnership will be available in over 80 hospital stores to include…
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31 March
Matalan employees furloughed, ‘massive win’ for safety says GMB
Matalan has announced all warehouse staff will be offered furlough leave in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The GMB said the move was a “massive win for victory and common sense”, and came after the union and workers put “sustained pressure” on the retailer. The union said that the “massive…
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31 March
UK supermarket sales surge amid Covid-19 outbreak
British consumers made over 79 million extra grocery shopping trips in the last four weeks, with total till sales at supermarkets surging to 20.5%, according to new data from Nielsen. The uptick in sales was particularly pronounced in the week ending 21 March, which saw a “massive” 43% weekly growth…
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31 March
Online sales see mixed result during first week of lockdown
During the first week of the new pandemic guidelines, online retail sales growth was down -2.2% year-on-year (YoY), according to the latest IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index. Though fairly flat, IMRG said the result concealed a “much more tumultuous picture” at a category level. One of three standout categories, last…
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