London
This coverage focuses on retail activity, trends, and developments in London, a central hub of the UK retail industry. Reporting highlights flagship store openings, property developments, regional economic factors, consumer behaviour, and strategic moves by both international and domestic brands. Tailored for retail executives and managers, it offers insights into operating and competing in one of the world’s most dynamic retail markets.
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Feb- 2020 -21 FebruarySport & Leisure
Gymshark launches its first physical retail store in Covent Garden
Gymshark London has announced the opening of its first ever retail store in Covent Garden. The activewear brand’s first bricks-and-mortar store will be a pop-up open from 28 February to 29 March. The store will feature Gymshark’s specialist gym clothing range, alongside in-store fitness classes. Gymshark said in a blog…
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20 FebruarySupermarkets
Lidl pledges £1.3bn to store expansion as it opens 800th UK site
Lidl has opened its 800th store in Great Britain today (20 February) and has pledged to invest over £1bn in store expansion over 2021 and 2022. The new milestone comes as the discounter will open stores in four new locations up and down the country, including Cambridge, London, Boston and…
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18 FebruaryAdvice
HSBC to cut 35,000 jobs, new chancellor sticks to schedule, Bezos creates $10bn ‘Earth fund’
HSBC has announced plans to cut 35,000 jobs over the next three years after a dire set of financial results. Profits have fallen by 33% year on year and that is before the impact of the coronavirus can even be fully measured in Q1 and the months to come. The…
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17 FebruaryFeatures
Book Smart: Why the independent bookshop is here to stay
The bookselling industry is subject to constant speculation. In a world where Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos reigns and tablet devices are a mainstay, one would be forgiven for assuming the end is nigh for independent booksellers’ success. But despite the rise of retail giants and fall of book…
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17 FebruaryAnalysis
The evolution of the Ikea experience: What’s next?
With the news last week that Ikea is to shut its first big UK outlet in Coventry, we can take this as a sign that the Swedish furniture retailer – the world’s largest – needs to accelerate the evolution of its customer experience. Arguably, the first of the real experiential…
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13 FebruaryHigh Street
Forever 21 rescued by landlords in £62m deal
Two of Forever 21’s largest landlords have reportedly been given the go-ahead to acquire the company out of bankruptcy in a $80m (£62m) deal. According to The Times, a bankruptcy judge has approved the deal which will see Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners link up with Sports Illustrated…
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13 FebruaryHigh Street
Retail footfall bounces back in January after quiet December
Footfall in non-food stores in the UK fell by just 0.5% year-on-year in January according to Ipsos Retail Performance’s latest Retail Traffic Index (RTI). The retail insights company had originally forecast a footfall decline of 1.9% for the month, and said that after such a “disappointing” December, January’s footfall comes…
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12 FebruarySupermarkets
Sainsbury’s Bank chairman departs after seven years
Roger Davis is to step down as chairman of Sainsbury’s Bank after nearly seven years in the role. Davis has been chair of the board since May 2013 after the ‘Big Four’ grocer bought 50% stake in Lloyds Banking Group for £248m. He is also chairman for Global RadioData Communications…
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11 FebruaryHigh Street
Administrations up 5% in 2019
The number of companies falling into administration across England and Wales increased by just under 5% in 2019, according to new analysis from KPMG. A study of notices in the London Gazette showed that a total of 1,403 companies went into administration during 2019, compared with 1,341 in the previous…
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11 FebruaryDepartment Stores
M&S appoints Eoin Tonge as new CFO
Marks and Spencer has appointed Eoin Tonge as its new chief financial officer. Tonge is currently the CFO of Greencore Group, a position he has held since 2016. Prior to this, he was the managing director of the Grocery Business for two years and was previously the chief strategy officer…
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