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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Feb- 2020 -25 February
Ted Baker in talks to offload London HQ
Embattled retailer Ted Baker is reportedly in talks to sell its ‘Ugly Brown Building’ headquarters in London to British Airways’ pension scheme. According to Sky News, in a bid to help its balance sheet after an accounting blunder revealed it had overstated its inventory by £58m, Ted Baker is “close”…
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25 February
Hammerson profits sink to £534m in full year results
Retail landlord Hammerson has reported its losses have widened to a pre-tax loss of £537.8m in the year to 31 December, up from £173.3m in 2018. Hammerson reported an 11.2% decrease in rental income to £308.5m after it revealed that 6.7% of retailers were hit by administrations and restructuring. During…
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24 February
Waitrose named top UK grocer, Asda wallows in bottom place
Waitrose has been rated the best UK in-store supermarket for the second year in a row in Which?’s annual supermarket satisfaction survey. The grocer scored a maximum five stars in almost every category – from ease of finding products and fast-moving queues, to friendly staff and the appearance of its…
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24 February
Primark owner warns of coronavirus’ impact on supply
Primark owner AB Foods has warned of the impact the coronavirus could have on supply for the retailer if disruption caused by the epidemic in China is prolonged. In a pre-close trading update, AB Foods said while the clothing retailer was “well stocked” in the short-term, if delays to factory…
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24 February
Harrods security guards’ strike suspended after renewed talks
Strike action by security officers and CCTV operators at department store Harrods has been suspended following renewed talks with the company, Unite revealed on 21 February. The union is recommending members accept a new pay offer tabled by Harrods, which the union said was reached following “constructive negotiations and hard…
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21 February
Phillip Day’s Peacocks acquires Bonmarché
Embattled high street retailer Bonmarché has been sold to Peacocks, part of Phillip Day’s Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group (EWM). According to Drapers, Peacocks has acquired around 200 stores and is in talks with landlords or whether it can acquire the remaining sites. Bonmarché has a store count of around 270.…
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21 February
Gymshark launches its first physical retail store in Covent Garden
Gymshark London has announced the opening of its first ever retail store in Covent Garden. The activewear brand’s first bricks-and-mortar store will be a pop-up open from 28 February to 29 March. The store will feature Gymshark’s specialist gym clothing range, alongside in-store fitness classes. Gymshark said in a blog…
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21 February
Hammerson offloads seven retail parks to Orion in £400m deal
Hammerson has announced it has agreed a deal to offload a portfolio of seven retail parks to Orion European Real Estate Fund V (Orion) in a £400m deal. The transaction marks the largest UK retail park portfolio sale in the past decade and follows Hammerson’s strategic decision, announced in July…
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20 February
Retail footfall buffeted by stormy weather in February
Storm Ciara, which hit the UK the weekend of 8 February 2020, saw UK retail footfall plummet by 15.3%. According to the latest figures from Ipsos Retail Performance, the most affected region was the north west of England, with footfall down 18.3% on the same period last year. Storm Dennis,…
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20 February
Lidl pledges £1.3bn to store expansion as it opens 800th UK site
Lidl has opened its 800th store in Great Britain today (20 February) and has pledged to invest over £1bn in store expansion over 2021 and 2022. The new milestone comes as the discounter will open stores in four new locations up and down the country, including Cambridge, London, Boston and…
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