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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Jan- 2026 -9 JanuaryComment
How retailers can unlock real ROI from warehouse automation
With peak behind them and a new trading year underway, retailers are reassessing what it will take to compete in an increasingly demanding market. Warehouse space is limited, customer expectations are higher than ever, and labour shortages remain a persistent challenge. Our research shows 91% of retailers feel labour challenges…
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7 JanuaryComment
Direct-to-Consumer retail in 2026
As we enter 2026, Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) retail is poised to further reinforce its place as a driving force in the retail landscape. While artificial intelligence (AI) and automation dominate operational efficiency, the real differentiators for D2C brands are profoundly human: authentic interaction, trust-driven decision-making, and flexible entrepreneurship. These trends don’t…
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Dec- 2025 -5 DecemberFeatures
How retailers can keep staff from feeling undervalued and stressed
On a Sunday afternoon in Germany, some McDonald’s employees used to make a 45-minute trip for a task that now feels almost absurdly analogue: checking a paper rota. As Abby Guthkelch, VP Executive Advisory at Flip, recalls, there was “a crazy story of, um, people having to drive 45 minutes…
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5 DecemberOnline & Digital
Ocado to receive $350m from Kroger after US fulfilment centre closures
Ocado Group has announced that it will receive a one-off cash payment of $350m (£262m) from Kroger after the US retailer decided to close three customer fulfilment centres (CFCs) in January 2026 and halt work on a planned site in Charlotte, North Carolina. The payment compensates Ocado for the impact…
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Nov- 2025 -20 NovemberClothing & Shoes
JD Sports warns of future volatility despite Q3 sales rise
JD Sports has seen total Q3 sales rise by 8.1%, but has warned that volatility and rising unemployment may hit its full-year profits. In the UK, like-for-like sales were down by 3.3% amid a “tough consumer backdrop and unseasonably warmer weather” in September, which hit apparel sales and the group’s Outdoors…
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4 NovemberFeatures
When the cloud crashes: what the AWS outage means for UK retail
At 08:09 BST on Monday 20 October, thousands of retail websites, payments systems and logistics platforms began to stutter. Shoppers couldn’t check out and delivery apps wouldn’t load. Even customer service dashboards went dark. The culprit was Amazon Web Services (AWS), the backbone of much of the world’s online infrastructure.…
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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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