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- 2019 -21 February
Laura Ashley issues fresh profit warning amid sales slump
Fashion and homeware retailer Laura Ashley has said its performance for the 2018 will “fall short of market expectations”, after posting an 8.7% sales slump for the 26 weeks to 31 December. The group announced that it broke-even in profit before tax and exceptional items for the last six months…
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21 February
Footasylum removes ‘stab-proof vest’ from stores
Footwear retailer, Footasylum has removed a “stab-proof vest” from its shelves after a youth worker suggested it could attract unwanted attention. Damian Henry, who works with young people involved in gangs or who have been involved in gangs, told the BBC he was “appalled” when he saw the item in…
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21 February
UK and Ireland retailers warn of no-deal tariffs
With just 36 days until the UK leaves the EU the leading retail bodies in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom have said a no-deal Brexit could have “devastating consequences”. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) and Retail Ireland have issued a joint statement highlighting…
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21 February
MPs call for business rates reform to save high street
The housing, communities and local government committee has said “dated policies” and an “unfair tax regime” needed reforming to allow high streets and town centres to flourish in its report into the future of the UK high street. The report highlighted the disparity between taxes paid by bricks-and-mortar retailers and…
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20 February
F Hinds to save Chapelle stores
Family owned retailer F Hinds, which has 116 stores across England & Wales, has reached an agreement to take on 12 Chapelle stores in top outlet centres. Chapelle was founded in 1979 by Paul and Margaret Mortimer as a retail business that offered discounted watches and jewellery. It trades in…
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20 February
Retailers ‘trying to water down’ bottle deposit scheme
Environmental groups have accused retailers of trying to ignore calls for a catch-all deposit of more than 15p on plastic drinks containers. The deposit scheme is currently being discussed by ministers who are trying to decide which bottle sizes would be included in the plans. Environmentalists say both large and…
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20 February
Asda reports seventh consecutive quarter of sales growth
Asda has reported a 1% increase in like-for-like sales for the three months to the end of December, its seventh consecutive quarter of growth in this area. However, growth was slower when compared with the 2% increase the ‘Big Four’ grocer experience in the three months prior. Commenting on Asda’s…
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20 February
Sainsbury’s-Asda merger at risk over ‘extensive competition concerns’
The Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) said it has provisionally found “extensive competition concerns” as part of its in-depth investigation of the proposed merger between Sainsbury’s and Asda. Shares in Sainsburys dropped by 12.89% in early trading this morning (20 February), after the CMA said the proposed deal could lead…
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20 February
Footfall drops at Intu shopping centres
Footfall at Intu shopping centres have seen a 1.6% decrease according to the group’s full year results for 2018. However, the company said it demonstrated a “resilient operational performance” despite a “challenging environment” as it claimed to outperform the national ShopperTrak retail average of a 3.5% decline in footfall. Intu’s…
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19 February
JD acquires 8% stake in Footasylum
Sportswear retailer JD Sports has acquired an 8% stake in footwear retailer Footasylum. JD said it had purchased the stake “for investment purposes”. The company said it was prepared to take on an interest of 29.9%, hovering just below the limit for a mandatory takeover bid, however it added it…
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