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.
-
Jan- 2019 -30 January
Pets Corner opens 150th store as sales increase 4.7%
Pet product retailer Pets Corner opened its 150th store in Cobham, Surrey this month as it welcomed a 4.7% like-for-like sales increase in its first quarter. During October 2018 to December 2018, the retail chain’s EBITDA rose by 8% to £3.52m compared with the same period last year. Its in-house…
Read More » -
29 January
M&Co to cut 59 head office jobs
Clothing retailer M&Co has announced it is to cut 59 jobs from its head offices in London and Inchinnan. The majority of redundancies are said to come from the retailer’s Inchinnan offices however it says it will also cut “four or five” roles from a workforce of 120 at its…
Read More » -
29 January
Mike Ashley faces fine for late account filing of Mash Holdings
Mash Holdings, a company run by Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley, could be facing a fine as its accounts filings are six months late. The company’s filings were expected on the 23 July 2018 and have currently still not been submitted according to BBC news. As such the company could…
Read More » -
28 January
Iceland tops customer satisfaction rating for second time
Iceland has been named as the “top supermarket for delivering customer satisfaction” for the second time in a row, according to new figures released by The Institute of Customer Service. According to the group, the retailer is the highest ranking supermarket scoring 83.2, sitting above the national average of 77.7,…
Read More » -
28 January
Tesco refuses to deny 15,000 job losses
Tesco has refused to deny reports that it is to cut 15,000 jobs as part of an overhaul of its store operations in a £1.5bn cost cutting plan. A spokesperson refused to deny the reports, telling Retail Sector it was “always looking at ways to run our business more simply…
Read More » -
28 January
Philip Green ends legal challenge against Telegraph
Sir Philip Green has ended his legal action against the Telegraph over its accusations of sexual harassment, bullying and racism made against him. The accusations, which Green denies, came to light when Lord Peter Hain named him in Parliament after an injunction had prevented the Telegraph from identifying the businessman…
Read More » -
28 January
Online retail tax could be unlawful under EU rules, Treasury warns
The government has said taxing online giants, like Amazon, through a sales tax could be illegal under EU rules. Under European Union State aid rules it is illegal for EU countries to give financial advantage to some companies and not others in a way which could distort fair competition. The…
Read More » -
25 January
Smiggle to hold talks over rent reductions following poor trading experience
Australian stationer, Smiggle, is to hold talks over rent reductions following reports that some stores were not meeting expectations. In 2014, the retailer began a mass expansion in the UK and currently operates 130 stores nationwide. A source close to the retailer told Property Week that it had been “fully…
Read More » -
25 January
Clothing manufacturers are failing to pay minimum wage, inquiry finds
British clothing manufacturers have been forced to pay almost £90,000 to employees for non-payment of minimum wage, following an HMRC investigation. Data from HMRC, sent to the Environmental Audit Committee as part of its inquiry into the sustainability of the fashion industry found that a 126 workers were underpaid over…
Read More » -
25 January
Bonmarché sales slide 11.1% over Christmas
Fashion retailer Bonmarché has reported a 11.1% drop in like-for-like sales over the Christmas trading period, ending 29 December 2018. Total sales declined by 8.1% during the period, however the group recorded a 22.2% increase in online sales, although at a lower rate than in the first half of the…
Read More »
