Year: 2019

UK grocery market sees ‘modest’ growth despite wet start to summer

The latest grocery market share figures, published by research, data and insight consultancy company Kantar, show supermarket sales grew by 1.4% year-on-year during the 12 weeks to 16 June 2019. According to the firm, the “modest” level of current growth has been the result of a wet start to the…

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Sainsbury’s boss Coupe slammed for £3.9m bonus

Mike Coupe, CEO of supermarket chain Sainsbury’s, has been criticised by shareholders and MP for his £3.9m bonus. The bonus follows the company’s failed £50m merger with Asda and is 7% more than he got last year. At the time of the announcement, Coupe faced criticism after he was caught…

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Why experiential retail has never been more important

Picture the scene: A 400m maze with 8ft high walls and a tree-house retreat as its centrepiece, with yoga sessions held on its roof; immersive, interactive light shows that enchant young and old alike; exclusive events with global online influencers and 90s boyband popstars. These types of experiences are a…

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Game accepts £52m Sports Direct takeover

Video game retailer Game has agreed to Sports Direct’s £52m takeover offer. Prior to the agreement, the retailer’s board said it had been considering the merits of the mandatory offer and consulting with its major shareholders and advisers, whilst also actively engaging in normal course discussions with Sports Direct and…

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Pensions Regulator boss to face questions over Arcadia deal

The Pension Regulator (TPR) boss, Charles Counsell is set to appear in front of the Work and Pensions Committee, regarding the settlement with Arcadia boss Philip Green last month. The agreement, saw Green pledge an extra £25m per year to its company pension fund for three years, while in return…

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Why ‘out of town’ retailers still matter

In May, we saw the Treasury committee report recommend that banks maintain a physical presence around the country and Dave Lewis, Tesco CEO, discussing the contentious issue of business rates and how the current system doesn’t support growth, to which I completely agree. Pressure is bearing down on the high…

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Monsoon CVA offers landlords £10m profit share for reduced rents

Monsoon Accessorize has made a CVA proposal to its landlords for reduced rents at more than half of its store portfolio in return for a £10m share in profits and an £18m interest free loan. With no store closures planned across its 258 outlets, the company is asking for rent…

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Retail sales slump in May

The quantity bought in May 2019 decreased by 0.5% when compared with the previous month, with a strong decline of 4.5% in clothing sales, according to new figures from the ONS. However, in the three months to May 2019, the quantity bought in retail sales increased by 1.6% when compared…

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Sainsbury’s unveils UK’s first meat-free butchers

Sainsbury’s has opened the UK’s first meat-free butchers which substitutes meat staples for plant-based alternatives. Launched for World Meat Free Week and located in Bethnal Green, the traditional style butchers will offer customers an array of cuts and joints from the 21-23 June. ‘Meaty’ cuts, joints and strings of sausages…

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Usdaw to protest at Boohoo AGM

Retail trade union The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) is set to protest Boohoo’s AGM today, (21 June) over the company’s refusal to meet over ethical trading. The protest will take place at Boohoo’s HQ on Dale Street in Manchester, and at its AGM on Hardman Square,…

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