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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Oct- 2018 -8 OctoberEconomy
Footfall continues to fall in September
Footfall continued on its decline in September, according to the Ipsos Retail Performance Weathermap. All regions saw a year-on-year drop in footfall, with Scotland and Northern Ireland recording a 3.3% decline and northern England seeing 5.5% less retail visitors. The Midlands, south west England and Wales and London and the…
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5 OctoberSupermarkets
New Waitrose scheme lets drivers ‘put away’ shopping while homeowners are out
Waitrose & Partners has announced a new scheme which allows drivers to deliver groceries to customers inside their homes and put them away while they are out. The retailer will initially test demand for the new service, which is called ‘While You’re Away’, with 100 customers located within the delivery…
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3 OctoberOnline & Digital
Amazon bows to pressure, boosts wages for US and UK staff
Amazon has increased the minimum wage for US staff to $15, after founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said he had “listened to our critics” and “thought hard” about his firm’s response to sustained criticism about its pay levels. Bezos’ announcement means more than 250,000 US and 17,000 UK staff, as…
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2 OctoberHigh Street
M&S launches checkout free ‘Mobile, Pay, Go’ service
Marks and Spencer has launched a new “checkout free” service called ‘Mobile, Pay, Go’ at six London stores ahead of Christmas, allowing customers to pick up lunch in “under 40 seconds”. The retailer will roll out the service, previously trialled in its Edgware Road and Waterside stores to West Hampstead,…
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2 OctoberDepartment Stores
Sports Direct ousts entire House of Fraser management team
Sports Direct has announced it has dismissed the entire management and executive team of House of Fraser following the department store’s collapse and subsequent takeover by Mike Ashley. In a short statement released to the London Stock Exchange, the company said this was due to “calls for an investigation” regarding…
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1 OctoberGovernment
New West End Company calls for £5bn business rate reduction
The New West End Company, which represents retailers in London’s West End has called for a £5bn reduction in business rates, financed by a 1% tax on online retailers. This week’s Conservative Party conference has seen representatives of the organisation lobbying for the reduction. Businesses across the West End will…
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Sep- 2018 -28 SeptemberHigh Street
Coroner calls Pret a Manger labelling ‘inadequate’ in allergy death
Pret A Manger’s allergy labelling has been deemed “inadequate” by the coroner investigating the death of a 15-year-old girl who died of an allergic reaction to a baguette she purchased from the store. Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, went into cardiac arrest on board a flightn to Nice after buying a sandwich…
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27 SeptemberEconomy
One in four UK small retail businesses ‘fearful’ of Brexit, research finds
A quarter of small UK retail businesses admit they are “fearful” of Brexit, data from YouGov analysed by Vend has revealed. The retail software management company accessed a research sample of over 1,000 senior managers in the retail sector, working at organisations with fewer than 20 staff, on YouGov’s ‘profiles…
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25 SeptemberDepartment Stores
Three further House of Fraser stores to shutter due to ‘greedy landlords’
House of Fraser has announced it is to close three further stores in Hull, Edinburgh and Swindon, with new owner Mike Ashley saying he was unable to agree terms with “greedy landlords”. The retailer is currently in consultation with staff at the affected stores, and said its Bath store was…
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24 SeptemberHigh Street
B&M fined record £480,000 for selling knives to children
Discount retailer B&M Bargains has been fined a record amount of £480,000 after two of its stores were found selling knives to children. The company was found to be selling the knives during an undercover investigation conducted by police and trading standard officers in east London. The retailer was said…
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