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 -1 February
ScS ends Sofa.com talks paving way for Mike Ashley
ScS has ended its interest in acquiring rival furniture retailer Sofa.com stating it is “no longer in discussions”, leaving Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley in prime position. Both Mike Ashley and ScS had expressed interest in acquiring Sofa.com. However ScS today (1 February) said in an update: “The group confirms…
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1 February
MPs launch business rates inquiry
The Treasury Committee has launched a new inquiry into business rates to scrutinise how government policy has impacted high street businesses. The committee will examine how business rates policy has changed, including business rates retention, alternatives to property-based taxes, such as the proposed digital services tax. Nicky Morgan MP, chair…
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Jan- 2019 -31 January
Asda loses equal pay claim battle
The Court of Appeal has upheld the ruling that Asda store staff can compare their roles with those in the supermarket giant’s distribution centres in legal claims over equal pay. The Walmart owned Asda appealed the two previous rulings they lost, both of which found that lower paid shop workers,…
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31 January
Shop Direct consulting with 225 members of staff over job cuts
Shop Direct, the group which owns online retailers Very and Littlewoods, is in consultation with 225 members of staff over job cuts. The group plans to merge its businesses as part of a transformation strategy which will see teams for men’s and women’s fashion consolidated and its design team moved…
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31 January
UK consumer confidence down five points year-on-year in January
GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index decreased by five points year-on-year to -14 in January 2019. The measure for the general economic situation of the country during the last 12 months has dropped four points to -35 in January, six points lower than January 2018, with expectations for the next 12…
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31 January
Lidl opens 13th and largest UK distribution centre
Lidl UK has announced the opening of its 13th and largest Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) in Doncaster. The warehouse, which represents a £70m investment in Lidl’s expansion and logistics, will initially provide support to 53 Lidl stores across south Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the Midlands. Earlier this month, Lidl opened a…
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31 January
Arcadia fined £450k after girl fractures skull in Topshop
Philip Green’s retail group Arcadia has been fined £450,000 after a 10-year-old girl was hit on the head by a queue barrier in Topshop, resulting in a fractured skull. The incident happened at Glasgow’s Silverburn shopping centre in February 2017 when the girl, now aged 12, was shopping with her…
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30 January
January shop price inflation highest since 2013
Shop price inflation increased to 0.4% in January, up from 0.3% in December 2018 – the fourth consecutive month of price increases and the highest inflation rate since April 2013. According to the figures from the BRC-Nielsen shop price index, non-food deflation continued to decelerate, with prices falling by 0.3%…
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30 January
Mike Ashley and ScS in competition over Sofa.com
Both Mike Ashley and rival furniture retailer ScS have expressed interest in acquiring Sofa.com. ScS has confirmed via a statement its interest in Sofa.com which was put up for sale last month. It said: “The group confirms that ScS Group is in discussions regarding a potential acquisition of the business…
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30 January
B&Q found to have leaked details of 75,000 thieves
B&Q has been found to have leaked details of 75,000 shoplifters including vehicle descriptions and full names. The leak was found by security researcher Ctrlbox Information Security, which said the details were leaked on to the internet without password protection. The group said B&Q had removed the sensitive data and…
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