Ireland
This coverage focuses on retail trends, developments, and performance in Ireland, with attention to both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Reporting includes store activity, regional economic factors, consumer behaviour, property developments, and strategic moves by local and international retailers. Tailored for executives and managers, it offers insights into operating successfully in Ireland’s retail market.
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Jan- 2025 -21 JanuaryPeople Moves
Aldi increases staff pay to highest hourly rate for supermarket workers
Aldi has announced its store assistants are set to receive a pay rise with hourly rates increasing to at least £12.71, maintaining its position as “Britain’s best paying supermarket”. The new minimum rate, which increases to £14.00 within the M25, exceeds the Real Living Wage set by the Living Wage…
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16 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-16/1/25
The UK economy experienced modest growth in November 2024, with GDP rising by 0.1% following two months of decline. This upturn was driven by a 0.1% increase in services output, primarily bolstered by a 2% rise in accommodation and food services. Consumer-facing services grew by 0.5%, while wholesale and retail…
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16 JanuaryDepartment Stores
Dunelm revenues rise due to online sales
Dunelm has seen its revenues rise 1.6% to £490m for the 13 weeks ended 28 December, and 2.4% to £894m for the first half overall. The retailer stated that this was driven by a 3% uplift in online sales across both periods. It also stated that ecommerce represented 39% of…
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15 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-15/1/25
Inflation in the UK unexpectedly fell to 2.5% in December, marking its first decline in three months, according to the ONS. The decrease, attributed to reduced hotel and tobacco prices despite rising fuel costs, exceeded expectations, as analysts had predicted inflation would remain steady at 2.6%. While inflation remains above…
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15 JanuaryElectrical
Currys raises profit outlook amid ‘strong peak trading’
Currys has revealed that it expects its profit-before-tax to land between £145-155m for the full year, 23-31% ahead of consensus expectations. It comes after the company saw its revenues rise 2% like-for-like in the UK and Ireland in the 10 weeks ended 4 January, what the company refers to as…
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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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7 JanuaryNews
B&Q acquires five Homebase UK stores for £2.5m
B&Q has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire five leasehold stores in the UK, currently trading as Homebase, for a total purchase price of £2.5 m. This follows the agreement to buy three stores currently trading as Homebase in the Republic of Ireland announced on 24 December…
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Dec- 2024 -19 DecemberNews
Miniso opens new store at London Stansted Airport
Miniso has announced the opening of its first-ever UK airport store at London Stansted Airport. The new Miniso-Go store offers a wide range of travel essentials alongside the brand’s collections, including collaborations with Harry Potter, Hello Kitty and Friends and Disney. The store also features everyday lifestyle essentials, beauty products,…
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18 DecemberSupermarkets
Aldi to invest £650m in expansion plans in 2025
Aldi is set to invest around £650m across the UK in 2025 as part of the group’s ongoing expansion plans. This includes the development of new stores in Fulham Broadway in London, Billericay in Essex, and Cheadle in Stoke-on-Trent, with the supermarket targeting around 30 new store openings next year.…
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17 DecemberPeople Moves
HG appoints Gina Slade as country manager UKI as it continues to clean up across UK & Ireland
Cleaning experts HG International b.v. have announced the appointment of Gina Slade as Country Manager for HG UK & Ireland. In this role, she will assume full responsibility for the subsidiary where the HG brand continues to experience significant growth and popularity, and having solidified its place as the second…
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