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 -20 February
Laura Ashley reports ‘disappointing’ £4m loss
Fashion retailer Laura Ashley has reported losses before tax of £4m for the half-year period ended 31 December 2019. The retailer attributed the “dissapointing” loss to lower sales in home furnishings and “Brexit uncertainty”, and said revenue disruption was also caused by changes with its Japanese franchise partner. The retailer…
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19 February
Revo calls on Government to ‘make good’ on review of business rates system
Revo, which supports businesses in the retail property and placemaking sector, has called on the UK Government to “make good” on its stated commitment to a fundamental review of the business rates system. The organisation said the review is “crucial” to ensuring that the UK remains “internationally competitive”, particularly after…
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19 February
Beales to shutter 11 remaining stores
The administrators of Beales have announced the plans to close the department store chain’s remaining 11 stores and associated stock liquidation. The company entered administration in January, and joint administrators Will Wright and Steve Absolom from KPMG, said no “deliverable offers have been received for the business to date”. In…
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19 February
Nike announces senior leadership changes
Sportswear giant Nike has announced a raft of changes to its senior leadership team, marking the first set of appointments under new CEO John Donahoe. Nike has appointed Heidi O’Neill as its president of consumer and marketplace, effective 1 April, succeeding Elliott Hill, who is retiring from the company. In…
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19 February
Sports Direct ‘partially allowed’ to withhold private documents from FRC
The Court of Appeal has ruled to partially allow Sports Direct’s appeal to overturn a High Court ruling from 2018 which ordered it to submit 40 company documents to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). It comes after the FRC attempted to gain access to the documents in relation to its…
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18 February
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos pledges $10bn to tackle climate change
Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, has pledged $10bn (£7.7bn) to help fight climate change. Taking to Instagram to announce the news, Bezos revealed he will be launching the ‘Bezos Earth Fund’ that will look help finance scientists, NGOs and activists in their work to “help save Earth”.…
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18 February
Consumer confidence reaches record-high in February
The IHS Markit Household Finance Index reached a record-high of 47.6 in February, up from 44.6 last month. IHS Markit, the global information provider which compiles the survey, said it is the highest index reading since the survey began 11 years ago. The firm added that while the figure is…
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18 February
Amazon hit by 600 warehouse accidents in past three years, GMB claims
Amazon warehouses have been hit by more than 600 “serious injuries or near misses” in the past three years, a GMB investigation has found. According to the union, the figures are the result of Freedom of Information Act requests submitted by GMB to local authorities across the UK. GMB said…
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18 February
Angling Direct profits hit by flooding despite 26.5% spike in revenues
Fishing tackle and equipment retailer Angling Direct has said winter flooding has impacted profits despite reporting a 26.5% increase in revenues. In its pre-close trading update ending 31 January, the company saw in-store sales increase by 41.3% to £27.9m, with sales up 12% on a like-for-like basis. The company revealed…
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17 February
M&S warns landlords it may close loss-making stores
Marks and Spencer has reportedly warned landlords that it will shutter loss-making stores, in a move that may see the department store close more sites than the previously announced. According to the Sunday Times, the warning came at a dinner hosted by M&S chairman Archie Norman and chief executive Steve…
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