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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Jan- 2020 -27 January
Reiss reports 21% increase in Christmas sales
Fashion retailer Reiss has reported a 21% growth in sales during the seven-week Christmas trading period ending 18 January 2020. Reiss also reported an 18% increase in like-for-like sales with UK like-for-like sales also up 15% during the period and 19% on a statutory basis. Reiss revealed it now has…
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27 January
McColl’s director to step down
McColl’s operating officer Dave Thomas has “confirmed his intention” to stand down from his role from the convenience store group. Thomas has worked for the group for 23 years, initially joining as regional manager for convenience. He became operations general manager in 2000 and was made operations director in 2005.…
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24 January
Co-op faces equal pay claims from over 400 shop workers
Co-op is facing equal pay claims from over 400 employees, mostly female, who say they are underpaid compared to their male counterparts. The workers, represented by law firm Leigh Day, believe they are entitled to be paid the same hourly rate as men in the distribution centres because their work,…
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24 January
December online retail sales surge 9.4%
UK online retail sales growth spiked by 9.4% year-on-year in December 2019, according to the latest IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index. The report said online retail “defied” forecasts of poor turnouts during the festive season, with Q4 recording a growth rate of 11.3%. This was largely boosted by November’s peak…
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24 January
Tesco to remove plastic wrapping from multi-pack tins
Supermarket giant Tesco has committed to removing plastic within its multipacks of tinned food. The ‘Big Four’ grocer aims to eliminate 350 tonnes of plastic from the environment from its chains each year. Tesco has teamed up with canned food retailers Heinz and Green Giant to remove the plastic from…
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24 January
Hawkin’s Bazaar enters administration, 177 jobs at risk
Gift and toy retailer Hawkin’s Bazaar has entered administration, placing 177 jobs at risk. Tom Straw and Simon Thomas from Moorfields Advisory Ltd have now been appointed as joint administrators of the toy shop chain. Hawkin’s Bazaar was founded in 1973 and currently operates 20 stores across the UK and…
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23 January
Hotel Chocolat sales rise 11% amid costs increases
British chocolatier Hotel Chocolat has reported an 11% increase in sales compared to the prior year, in the 13 weeks ending 29 December 2019. The chocolate retailer also reported a 14% increase in revenues for the six months to 29 December. During this period, Hotel Chocolat opened nine new sites…
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23 January
Mothercare CEO steps down
Mothercare has announced that Mark Newton-Jones has stepped down as CEO of the retailer, effective today (22 January). He will continue as an executive director until July 2020, as the group works to complete its “transformation plan”. Newton-Jones also agreed to act as a non-executive director following this. The group…
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23 January
57,000 retail jobs lost in 2019
Some 57,000 retail jobs were shed in 2019, according to the latest retail employment monitor from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). In the fourth quarter of 2019, there was a 1.8% year-on-year decline in full-time retail employees, which equates to the loss of 57,000 jobs since the same period in…
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23 January
Asos sees 20% increase in group revenues
Online retailer Asos has reported a 20% increase in group revenues to £1.6bn, attributed to a “record” Black Friday and “strong” customer engagement activity. During the four month period ending 31 December 2019, Asos also saw its total retail sales increase by 20% to £1.7bn compared with £895m the previous…
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