Christmas
This coverage explores the critical Christmas trading period in the UK retail sector, focusing on sales performance, promotional strategies, consumer trends, supply chain planning, and operational challenges. Reporting highlights how retailers prepare for and execute peak season campaigns to maximise revenue and manage demand. Designed for executives and managers, it provides insights into effective planning and competitive positioning during the festive season.
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Jan- 2024 -2 JanuaryNews
Today’s news in brief-2/1/24
Central Group is reportedly considering increasing its stake in luxury department store Selfridges as co-owner Sigma faces financial issues. Central recently became the largest shareholder, converting a £317m loan into equity. Sigma’s Prime Selection unit filed for insolvency, possibly leading to liquidation of assets worth over €19bn, impacting its stake…
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2 JanuaryDepartment Stores
Central Group eyes increased stake in Selfridges
Central Group is reportedly interested in increasing its control of luxury department store Selfridges as its co-owner Sigma faces financial difficulty, according to The Sunday Times. The Thai conglomerate is looking to increase its stake after Sigma’s Prime Selection unit, the division that co-acquired Selfridges in a £4bn deal last…
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2 JanuarySupermarkets
Aldi and Lidl see record-breaking Christmas
Discount supermarkets Aldi and Lidl have both experienced record-breaking Christmas periods. Aldi posted sales over £1.5bn in the four weeks to 24 December, an 8% increase year-on-year, while Lidl sales jumped 12% year-on-year. Aldi reported that Friday 22 December was its busiest trading day with over 2.5 million customers visiting…
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2 JanuaryEconomy
Shop price inflation flatlines in December
The annual shop price rise was slower than the three-month average rate of 4.6% at 4.3%, the lowest since June 2022, according to the BRC’s latest shop price index. The index, which compiled data from the first week of December, showed that non-food price inflation picked up to 3.1% in…
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Dec- 2023 -22 DecemberNews
Tesco predicts record demand for no and low alcohol drinks
Shoppers are set to create record demand for no and low alcohol beer, wines and spirits this Christmas, according to Tesco. The prediction comes after the supermarket saw its strongest ever sales in 2023 with high demand sustained across the year. Demand for no and low alcohol beer at the…
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22 DecemberNews
UK retail sales rise 1.3% in November
Retail sales volumes are estimated to have increased by 1.3% in November 2023, from no growth (revised from a fall of 0.3%) in October 2023, according to new figures by the ONS. Non-food store sales volumes rose by 2.3% in November 2023, following a 0.2% increase in October 2023. Retailers…
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21 DecemberNews
Today’s news in brief-21/12/23
Frasers Group has confirmed its acquisition of the Matches business from MF Intermediate Limited in a deal estimated at £52m. The deal involves the purchase of 100% of the shares of six companies, along with the senior and junior debt owed by these entities. The transaction, to be settled in…
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21 DecemberNews
4,500 retailers in critical financial distress, new data reveals
Nearly 4,500 retailers are now in critical financial distress as poor consumer confidence, “sticky” inflation, and elevated interest rates force consumers to hold back from spending big, even in the run up to Christmas, according to new data from Begbies Traynor. Following its findings, which analysed the first 10 weeks…
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20 DecemberEconomy
UK inflation falls to two-year low of 3.9%
UK inflation has fallen to 3.9% in the year to November, the lowest level seen in two years, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics. The rate of inflation was lower than expected after falling from a rate of 4.6% in October, though the ONS said prices…
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19 DecemberNews
Asda opens 81 Express stores ahead of Christmas
Asda has opened a record 81 new Asda Express stores in December in a bid to bring Asda value to even more communities ahead of Christmas. The conversions of its recent acquisition of Co-op and EG UK sites, alongside the opening of eight standalone Asda Express stores, brings the total…
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