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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Jul- 2019 -29 July
Hammerson reports £319.8m loss
Shopping centre owner Hammerson has reported a £319.8m loss during the first six months of the year ending 30 June. Hammerson, which owns shopping centres such as London’s Brent Cross and Birmingham’s Bullring, revealed on an adjusted basis profits were down 10.5% to £107.3m. The company also reported a 6.8%…
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29 July
Ocado to create 300 jobs at new customer service hub
Online grocery retailer Ocado has signed a 15-year deal to let the top two floors of The Beam, in Sunderland, where it will base its second customer service hub. The 300 new roles at the site are expected to “provide key customer service support” for the upcoming joint venture with…
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29 July
Primark to push for reduction in rent
Fashion brand Primark is pushing for a reduction in rents at stores, after a number of competitors have secured rental reductions via CVAs this year. The retailer is pushing for a 30% reduction in rates on stores where leases have several years left to run, and is offering to invest…
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26 July
Sports Direct delay results for second time
Sports Direct has again delayed the release of its latest financial results and has asked investors for more time, insisting they may still be released by the end of the day (Friday 26 July). The results were expected to have been announced at 7am ahead of the market opening, less…
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26 July
Superdry appoints two new board members
Superdry has appointed two new members to its board, with Georgina Harvey and Faisal Galaria taking on the roles from 29 July. Harvey is an experienced non-executive director, who is senior independent director and chair of the remuneration committee of McColls Retail Group. She will also chair the remuneration committee…
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25 July
Retail employment falls 2.3%, 14th consecutive quarter of decline
Retail employment has fallen by 2.3% during the three-month period ending 30 June, marking the 14th consecutive month of decline. According to the figures from the BRC, the decline is equivalent to around 72,000 more jobs lost than compared to the same period last year. Full-time employment also saw a…
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25 July
Tesco removes plastic carrier bags from online deliveries
Tesco will stop using carrier bags to deliver groceries from its online business as part of its work to use less plastic. The move will mean that 250 million fewer carrier bags will be delivered to customers’ homes each year and nearly two thousand tonnes of plastic will come out…
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25 July
CMA launches probe of JD Sports’ acquisition of Footasylum
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has begun its inquiry into JD Sports’ acquisition of footwear retailer, Footasylum. Phase 1 of the inquiry, will look to determine if the takeover could result in “a substantial lessening of competition in any market”. The CMA also said it has “reasonable grounds” for…
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24 July
M&S announces latest store closure
Marks and Spencer has revealed its latest store set to close under its restructuring plan. As part of its plan to axe 85 full-line stores and 25 of its Simply Food outlets as it targets a return to profitable growth, the food and homeware retailer announced its Dorchester store, located…
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24 July
Wyevale to sell sale six more centres to Blue Diamond
Wyevale Garden Centres (WGC) has announced the sale of six centres to Blue Diamond, following the sale of nine centres to the operator in July and August 2018. Blue Diamond owns 36 centres, includes the sites at Blooms Worcester, Canterbury Chartham, Hereford, Lower Morden, Rake and Tunbridge Wells. All sites…
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