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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Mar- 2025 -18 MarchSupermarkets
Tesco announces £180m investment in staff pay
Tesco has reached an agreement with trade union USDAW that will increase the hourly pay rate for staff in stores, from £12.02 to £12.45 from 30 March 2025, and again to £12.64 from the end of August. This two-stage rate increase represents an above-inflation increase of 5.2% builds on the…
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18 MarchDIY
Ikea to open Oxford Street store in May
Ikea has revealed that it will open the doors of its Oxford Street store on 1 May following an extensive environmental upgrade of the Grade II listed building in central London. The new Oxford Street store will offer the traditional “Ikea experience”: a showroom packed with roomsets, a market-hall filled…
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18 MarchFeatures
How will the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street benefit retail in the UK?
In the last few months, London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced that the city will be pushing ahead with long-discussed plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street. Long regarded as the shopping hub of the capital, Oxford Street has suffered in recent years with a number of retailers closing their doors on the…
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14 MarchNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-14/3/25
Shein, the fast-fashion giant, has confirmed its plans to go public, targeting a listing on the London Stock Exchange. Executive chairman Donald Tang emphasised the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability as it transitions to a public entity. However, no specific timeline or valuation was disclosed, with Tang stating the…
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14 MarchOnline & Digital
Shein chair publicly confirms IPO plans
Shein executive chairman Donald Tang has confirmed that the fast-fashion giant has plans to float on the stock market for the first time, with the London Stock Exchange being the company’s target. In an interview with The Times, Tang said he wanted the company to “embrace the…accountability and transparency of…
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10 MarchNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-10/3/25
WH Smith is nearing a decision on the sale of its high street business, with two bidders, Alteri Investors and Modello Capital, remaining in the race. The retailer, which has seen its Travel business outperform high street outlets, confirmed in January it was exploring strategic options, including a potential sale.…
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10 MarchHigh Street
UK retail footfall rebounds with high streets leading the way
Retail footfall rose by 1.8% overall for the week ended 7 March 2025 compared with the week before, driven by a 4.2% rebound in high street activity and by 0.1% in retail parks. However, shopping centres saw a 1.6% decline in footfall, reflecting cautious consumer behaviour ahead of Mother’s Day…
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7 MarchNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-7/3/25
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a deal worth £23.7bn. The transaction is expected to close in late 2025 and will see WBA become a private company, delisting from Nasdaq.WBA shareholders will receive $11.45 per share in cash, with potential…
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7 MarchSupermarkets
John Lewis invests £114m in workers’ pay
John Lewis has announced a £114m investment in pay for 65,000 employees across the business this year. Some 77% (£88m) of the pay investment is voluntary and is beyond the requirements of the National Minimum Wage. From 1 April, the minimum rate of pay for partners outside London will increase…
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6 MarchNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-6/3/25
Pepco Group is considering the sale of Poundland as part of a strategic shift to focus on its Pepco brand, which drives the majority of its earnings. Despite a 1.5% increase in group like-for-like sales in early 2025, Poundland has struggled with declining performance, exacerbated by a challenging UK retail…
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