Government
This coverage examines government actions, policies, and regulations affecting the UK retail industry. Reporting highlights legislation, consultations, economic measures, and public statements with direct implications for retail operations, employment, taxation, and consumer behaviour. Tailored for executives and managers, it offers analysis to support strategic planning and compliance in a changing regulatory and economic environment.
-
Nov- 2025 -25 NovemberSupermarkets
Co-op to open record 11 stores in one week
Co-op has announced that it is set to open 11 stores this week (24 November), a record for the supermarket. The move is part of the retailer’s investment in more than 200 new and transformed stores over 2024/25, and among the 50 stores Co-op has confirmed will open this November…
Read More » -
24 NovemberGovernment
Reeves to delay end of low-value import tax break until 2029
Britain will scrap the long-standing tax exemption on low-value imports in 2029, delaying a move sought by major retailers who say the current regime hands an advantage to fast-growing overseas platforms, The Times has reported. It comes as the Treasury has confirmed it will abolish the “de minimis” rule –…
Read More » -
11 NovemberComment
Flexible working: the new norm retailers can’t afford to ignore
Flexible working changed during the pandemic and for many it offered a newfound sense of balance. But five years on, flexibility is under pressure. Across the sector, “return-to-office” mandates are on the rise. John Lewis is one example, now requiring its commercial teams to spend “at least three days a…
Read More » -
10 NovemberSupermarkets
Co-op to open 50 new stores before Christmas
Co-op has revealed plans to open more than 50 new or transformed stores across the UK before Christmas. The openings, which takes Co-op’s investment to more than £200m over 2024/25 in over 200 new and transformed stores, are a variety of formats and locations. As part of the 50, Co-op…
Read More » -
7 NovemberEntertainment
Footfall drops for sixth consecutive month as shoppers await Budget impact
Retail footfall across the UK fell by 0.7% year on year in October, marking the sixth consecutive monthly decline as shoppers remained wary ahead of a possible tax-raising Budget, according to new BRC-Sensormatic Solutions data. Although footfall continued to remain down, the four-week period to 1 November showed an improvement…
Read More » -
6 NovemberAdvice
How does installing an EV charging hub boost the value of your retail site?
The transition to EVs is not just a shift in how people purchase vehicles, it is a fundamental realignment of which businesses can profit from the expansion of transport infrastructure. Retail site owners are well positioned to capitalise on this change, as the market has shifted from the presence of…
Read More » -
4 NovemberLuxury Goods
Mulberry boss calls on govt to scrap tourist tax
Mulberry CEO Andrea Baldo has called on the government to consider scrapping the tourist tax as it looks to increase growth in the economy. Baldo told The Telegraph that reintroducing tax-free shopping for tourists would “be beneficial for the economy”. He also believes that it would help luxury manufacturers such…
Read More » -
4 NovemberGovernment
BRC urges MPs to back peers’ changes to Employment Rights Bill
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called on MPs to support amendments made by peers to the Employment Rights Bill when it returns to the House of Commons tomorrow (Wednesday 4 November). While the trade body has supported the government’s aim of tackling “unscrupulous employers”, it also warned that parts…
Read More » -
Oct- 2025 -30 OctoberGovernment
Usdaw condemns peers for voting down Employment Rights bill
Usdaw has condemned Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers in the House of Lords for voting against various parts of the Employment Rights Bill, sending it back to the House of Commons. Tory and Lib Dem peers voted against measures surrounding zero-hours contracts, unfair dismissal from day one, industrial action ballot…
Read More » -
30 OctoberHigh Street
West End festive sales expected to rise 1.3% to £1.7bn
London’s West End is expected to post a 1.3% rise in festive season sales this year, with total spending over November and December forecast to reach £1.7bn, according to the New West End Company. The business partnership said flight bookings to London across the two months were up 2.8% on…
Read More »
