Automation
This coverage examines the role of automation in the UK retail sector, focusing on technology adoption, workforce impact, operational efficiency, and supply chain innovation. Reporting highlights how retailers implement automation to improve productivity, reduce costs, and respond to consumer expectations — offering insight for executives, managers, and professionals driving transformation in retail operations.
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Oct- 2025 -1 OctoberHigh Street
Greggs Q3 sales up 6.1% amid improved August and September
Greggs has revealed that its total sales were up 6.1% for the 13 weeks ended 27 September 2025 due to improved trading in August and September following the heatwaves in July. Alongside this, its company-managed shop like-for-like sales were up 1.5% in the period and up 2.2% in the year-to-date.…
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Sep- 2025 -24 SeptemberHigh Street
JD Sports sees PBT rise to £138m despite UK sales decline
JD Sports has revealed that its statutory profit-before-tax rose 9.5% to £138m, up from £126m, for the half year ended 2 August 2025. It comes despite a 1.7% decline in UK sales which the company attributed to tough comparatives as a result of the men’s Euro 2024 football tournament. Overall,…
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16 SeptemberFeatures
Why Inditex is betting on speed while rivals retract
Fashion retail is in a moment of reckoning. Inflation, freight costs and currency headwinds are pressuring margins across the board, while digital disruption continues to reshape how consumers shop. Many players have responded by scaling back their physical footprint, trimming overheads, or leaning heavily into online channels. But Inditex, the…
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10 SeptemberClothing & Shoes
Inditex HY profits edge up to €2.8bn
Inditex, the parent company of fashion brands Zara, Bershka and Stradivarius, has reported that revenues rose 1.6% year-on-year to €18.4bn (£15.9bn) in the six months to 31 July, with net income up 0.8% to €2.8bn (£2.42bn). Constant currency revenues jumped by 5.1% during the period, while gross profits inched up…
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9 SeptemberClothing & Shoes
Decathlon appoints new leadership team for UK and Ireland
Decathlon has appointed Elena Pecos as chief executive and Romain Gravigny as chief operating officer for its combined UK and Ireland business. Pecos takes over from Eric Mazillier as the two territories formally merge under one leadership team. She previously led Decathlon Ireland as chief executive, a role she took…
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Aug- 2025 -27 AugustHigh Street
Frasers acquires minority stake in We Do Play
Frasers Group has announced the acquisition of a minority investment in UK leisure, retail, and hospitality experts, We Do Play. The group said this strategic investment marks Frasers’ debut into the leisure market, diversifying its consumer offering through synergies with its existing ecosystem, including Sports Direct and its growing real…
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21 AugustSupermarkets
M&S to invest £340m as it doubles food business
Marks and Spencer (M&S) will open a new food hub after announcing a £340m investment in its food supply chain, the largest in its history. This multi-year investment will fund the development of an automated National Distribution Centre (NDC) in Northamptonshire as the group looks to double the size of…
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Jul- 2025 -29 JulyHigh Street
Greggs sees pre-tax profits fall 14.3% to £63.5m
Greggs has revealed that its pre-tax profit fell 14.3% to £63.5m, down from £74.1m, for the 26 weeks ended 28 June 2025. Alongside this, the company saw its operating profit fall 7.1% to £70.4m, down from £75.8m. Despite this, the company’s total sales rose 7% to £1.03bn, up from £960.6m.…
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17 JulyComment
What will separate supply chain winners and losers in the years to come
For decades, logistics and supply chain operations have been the unsung heroes of commerce—efficiently humming behind the scenes, away from public attention. But in a world shaped by pandemic shocks, geopolitical tensions, and shifting consumer expectations, supply chains have stepped into the spotlight. For Emile Naus, Partner at BearingPoint, this…
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17 JulyDepartment Stores
Frasers warns of £50m budget hit despite FY25 profit rise
Frasers has seen pre-tax profits rise by 2.8% to £560.2m in its full-year results, but has warned it faces over £50m in extra costs caused by last year’s budget. In the year ended 27 April 2025, trading was particularly strong in the second half, where profits were up by 8.3%,…
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