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.
-
Mar- 2020 -20 March
Government tells supermarkets to ‘join forces’
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has told supermarkets to “join forces” as the coronavirus crisis unfolds. It announced it is “temporarily relaxing” elements of competition law as part of a new package of measures to allow supermarkets to “work together to feed the nation”. The move…
Read More » -
19 March
Next warns on coronavirus despite full-year sales growth
Fashion retailer Next has warned that sales could plummet in the coming weeks and months as the UK battles the coronavirus pandemic, despite posting strong results for the year ended January 2020. Next full price sales were up 4% during the period, and brand total sales (including markdown sales) were…
Read More » -
19 March
New bank of England boss promises fresh measures to fight Covid-19
The new Bank of England boss, Andrew Bailey, has promised a fresh set of measures to help fight the economic “emergency” faced due to the coronavirus outbreak. Bailey, who has only been in the position for three days after taking over from former Bank Of England chief Mark Carney, told…
Read More » -
19 March
Zara closes almost 4,000 stores globally amid coronavirus outbreak
The parent company of Zara has closed almost 4,000 of its stores across the globe amid the recent outbreak of the coronavirus. Inditex warned the pandemic has had a “significant impact” in certain markets resulting in temporary closures of 3,785 of its stores, as the group was forced to close…
Read More » -
19 March
Ocado sales rise as website goes dark
Ocado Retail has announced that revenue grew by 10.3% to £441.2m in the first quarter of the year. Average orders per week rose by 10.2% in the 13 weeks ended 1 March 2020, while average order size rose by 0.3%. The supermarket group attributed the increased demand for orders and…
Read More » -
18 March
2,000 Mountain Warehouse jobs at risk as coronavirus impacts sales
Mountain Warehouse is considering cutting almost 2,000 jobs following a major slump in sales as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Guardian, the outdoor clothing and equipment retailer’s CEO and founder, Mark Neale, said the company was in a “battle for survival” after footfall at its stores…
Read More » -
18 March
Retail welcomes ‘bold move’ from chancellor to support business
The retail industry has welcomed the “bold move” announced by the chancellor yesterday (17 March), which included announcing a 12-month rent holiday for all retail businesses. Last week in his maiden Budget Speech the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a one-year rent holiday for all businesses of a rateable value below…
Read More » -
18 March
Superdry to miss 2020 targets amid coronavirus outbreak
Embattled clothing retailer Superdry has said it expects its online sales to decline and to miss its 2020 targets amid “unpredictable challenges” caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Superdry reported a 25% decrease in footfall week-on-week despite stores in the UK and the US “remaining largely open”. Prior to the outbreak…
Read More » -
18 March
Morrisons ‘takes action’ amid coronavirus pandemic
Morrisons has announced its steps to take “immediate action” as the coronavirus pandemic unfolds. These include its promise for a pay guarantee for all “sick and affected” colleagues, and more flexibility around shifts and annual leave. It also announced plans to expand its online delivery capability to more than 100…
Read More » -
17 March
Laura Ashley enters administration as coronavirus claims first casualty
Embattled home and fashion retailer Laura Ashley has fallen into administration after it revealed that the coronavirus outbreak has had an “immediate and significant impact on trading”. The company revealed that, while trading had improved by 24% year-on-year for the seven weeks up to 13 March, as well as directors…
Read More »
