Bristol
This coverage highlights retail developments in Bristol, examining store openings and closures, investment decisions, local consumer trends, and regional market performance. Reporting focuses on how retailers tailor operations and strategy to Bristol’s economic, cultural, and demographic context — providing valuable insight for executives, managers, and professionals managing retail presence in the South West.
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Jun- 2025 -9 JuneClothing & Shoes
Matalan to open 10 stores annually amid £25m investment
Matalan has announced that it is set to invest over £25m in its UK store estate following the £25m of additional funding secured from its anchor investors last month. This marks the first phase of a long-term programme to modernise Matalan’s full estate over the next three to five years…
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Apr- 2025 -25 AprilHigh Street
Hobbycraft set to close nine stores
Hobbycraft is set to close nine stores, a move affecting up to 126 jobs, as part of a restructure led by new owners Modella Capital, it confirmed to the BBC. The restructuring will also result in redundancies across its Bournemouth head office and distribution centre in Burton-on-Trent but it has…
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25 AprilHigh Street
TOFS places hundreds of jobs at risk under new revival plans
Nearly 1000 jobs at The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) reportedly could be at risk as the company embarks on a survival plan which hinges on widespread rent cuts, according to Sky News. Modella Capital, the new owner of TOFS, has reportedly drawn up plans to renegotiate rents at 88 of…
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23 AprilNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-23/4/25
THG has rejected an unsolicited takeover bid for its Myprotein brand from Selkirk, describing the offer as “undervalued” and lacking sufficient funding. The proposal, which valued Myprotein between £400m and £600m, was largely structured in Selkirk shares, with additional cash payments dependent on new equity and debt issuance. THG’s board…
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23 AprilClothing & Shoes
Outdoor & Cycle Concepts rebrands to Cotswold Outdoor Group
Outdoor and Cycle Concepts, the British company behind high-street brands Cotswold Outdoor, Runners Need and Snow + Rock, has been renamed to Cotswold Outdoor Group. Founded in the Cotswolds over 50 years ago in 1974, the company has updated its name to better reflect its business portfolio in 2025. The…
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Feb- 2025 -17 FebruaryDepartment Stores
John Lewis partners with Rough Trade to introduce vinyl records
John Lewis has partnered with music retailer Rough Trade to introduce a selection of vinyl records in stores and online. The new vinyl assortment is a curated selection of old and modern classics including albums from artists including Nirvana, Radiohead and Marvin Gaye. The selection also includes more modern artists…
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13 FebruarySupermarkets
Tesco commits to 1,500 apprenticeships by 2027
Tesco has pledged to expand its Stronger Starts Apprenticeship programme, providing 1,500 apprenticeship opportunities for young people by 2027, following National Apprenticeship Week. The initiative comes as part of Tesco’s ongoing efforts to help tackle the challenge of youth unemployment in England and remove the barriers many young people face…
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Jan- 2025 -17 JanuaryFeatures
The dynamic duo behind Charity Super.Mkt
When Wayne Hemingway and Maria Chenoweth unveiled Charity Super.Mkt, the UK’s first multi-charity shop, it was more than just a retail experiment. It was a testament to innovation, sustainability, and the power of collaboration in a rapidly evolving industry. “We wanted to create something bigger,” explains Wayne Hemingway, co-founder of…
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16 JanuaryHigh Street
High Streets UK launches to tackle key high street issues
Business representatives from the nation’s flagship high streets have come together to launch High Streets UK, a new partnership which aims to tackle the “most pressing” issues facing the nation’s flagship high streets. Founding members of High Streets UK include leading Business Improvement Districts from Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Liverpool,…
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13 JanuaryHealth & Beauty
Boots sales rise 8.1% in Q1
Boots has delivered a “strong” first quarter with total comparable retail sales up 8.1% YoY for the three months ended 30 November 2024. The UK’s leading health and beauty retailer saw growth across all categories and channels, on top of a “significant increase” in the prior year. Boots’ digital sales…
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