Guidance
This coverage focuses on trading guidance, financial outlooks, and performance updates issued by UK retail businesses. Retail Sector reports on company forecasts, profit warnings, earnings revisions, and strategic updates that shape investor sentiment and corporate planning across the retail industry. Coverage includes analysis of market reactions, executive commentary, and sector-wide trends influencing guidance from leading retailers. For retail professionals, this category provides critical insights into financial health, market expectations, and business confidence driving decision-making within the UK retail economy.
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Aug- 2020 -5 AugustTechnology
Amazon Go to launch in UK
Amazon has reportedly struck a deal to open more than 10 Amazon Go stores across the UK, with a view to opening a further 20 sites down the line. According to The Sunday Times, the first of these stores is expected to open in London before the end of the…
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Jul- 2020 -31 JulyOnline & Digital
Amazon profits double despite Covid-19 impact
Amazon has reported a massive surge in profits for the second quarter of the year as it revealed that net income doubled from $2.6bn (£1.9bn) to $5.2bn (£3.9bn), despite the impact of Covid-19. It comes after it reported that net sales increased by 40% to $88.9bn (£67.6bn) in the second…
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31 JulyCoronavirus
ScS reports ‘strong’ growth in lockdown-sales
Furniture retailer ScS has said trading has been “very strong” both in-store and online, since the reopening of its stores following the coronavirus lockdown, reporting a 92.2% increase in orders since 24 May. However, ScS reported a 92.5% drop in sales during the lockdown period as stores were temporarily closed.…
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29 JulyDepartment Stores
Next performance ‘better than expected’ in Q2
Next has announced that full-price sales in its second quarter fell by only 28%, welcoming the “better than expected” results against previous predictions that sales would collapse by 50%. The retailer said that warehouse capacity has come back faster than initially planned, while store sales have been “more robust” than…
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28 JulySupermarkets
Sainsbury’s trials virtual queuing system
Sainsbury’s is piloting a virtual queuing system to test whether the technology will help customers “stay safe, save time and shop conveniently” in stores. The trial, which will run via the app ufirst, will be live in five stores from Monday (3 August) and is the first time this technology…
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24 JulyOnline & Digital
Naked Wines chairman to step down
Naked Wines chairman, John Walden, has announced he will step down from the position. Walden has informed the board of his intention to step down as chairman of the group and leave the board after the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 6 August due to “personal reasons”. Walden said: “It…
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22 JulyDIY
Kingfisher sales boosted by e-commerce
Kingfisher has announced that like-for-like sales soared by 21.6% in the quarter ended 18 July, as it continued to experience “strong demand” across its markets. The B&Q and Screwfix owner said these results reflected “strong” e-commerce growth in the period, as well as a boost from the phased reopening of…
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21 JulyCoronavirus
Co-op outlines plans on face coverings
Central England Co-op has outlined plans for its staff to begin to wear face coverings early to promote their use ahead of them becoming compulsory for customers on Friday (24 July). Central England Co-op, which has over 400 food stores and funeral homes across 16 counties, is asking customers to…
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16 JulyCoronavirus
Usdaw welcomes compulsory wearing of face coverings in shops
Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the mandatory wearing of face coverings in shops, but warns that it can only be effective alongside existing social distancing and hygiene procedures. Earlier this week, wearing a face covering in retail shops and supermarkets was made compulsory from the 24 July. It is…
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13 JulyCoronavirus
Businesses must remain Covid-secure, warns HSE
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned businesses that they must ensure they are Covid-secure as lockdown measures ease across the UK. According to the authority, inspectors will be “out and about”, spot-checking employers that they are complying with health and safety law. HSE defines “Covid-secure” as being “adaptable…
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