National Insurance
This coverage explores the impact of National Insurance policies and changes on the UK retail sector, focusing on employer contributions, payroll costs, regulatory compliance, and workforce planning. Reporting highlights how retailers adjust strategies to manage costs and meet obligations — providing insight for executives, managers, and HR professionals overseeing financial and operational planning.
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Oct- 2025 -9 OctoberHigh Street
Shoplifting surge a ‘low-level war’ on high streets, warns Iceland chair
Britain’s rise in shoplifting has become a “low-level war going on every day”, Iceland chair Richard Walker has said, urging retailers and the government to treat the problem as a serious threat to the high street. Speaking at the Financial Times’ Future of Retail conference, Walker said that thefts were…
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2 OctoberHigh Street
Reeves set to scale back business rates plans for large retailers
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly planning to scale back plans to raise business rates on big retailers after warnings it could push up food prices, according to the Financial Times. The news comes after the Treasury had planned to put properties worth more than £500,000 into the highest tax band…
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2 OctoberSupermarkets
Tesco ups FY guidance as market share rises
Tesco has raised its full-year profit outlook after reporting strong sales across the business in its half-year results, which have seen it increase its market share over the period.Group sales, excluding VAT and fuel, rose by 5.1% to £33.1bn. The supermarket also saw adjusted operating profit hit £1.67bn for the…
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1 OctoberDIY
Topps Tiles welcomes ‘record’ year as sales hit £265m
Topps Tiles has welcomed a “record” year of turnover, with full-year sales up by 6.8% to £265m, following a strong trading performance in its second half. This means the group has now achieved record years for sales in four out of the last five years. Including CTD, total group sales…
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Sep- 2025 -25 SeptemberSupermarkets
Co-op falls to £75m HY loss after cyber attack disrupts trading
Co-op has reported a £75m underlying pre-tax loss for the six months to 5 July 2025, after a cyber attack disrupted its trading . The result compares with a £3m profit in the same period last year. The attack also contributed to a 2.1% decline in revenues to £5.48bn, with…
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23 SeptemberHigh Street
BRC warns food inflation could stay above 5% until 2026
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that food inflation could remain above 5% well into 2026 if the retail industry faces further tax rises in the Autumn Budget. The trade body said around 4,000 large shops could see higher bills under a government proposal to impose a new business…
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18 SeptemberHigh Street
Modella Capital leads race to acquire Claire’s UK arm
Modella Capital is leading the race to acquire the UK arm of Clire’s, after reportedly agreeing the outline of a deal with Ames Watson, the new US-based owner of Claire’s, Sky News has reported. The London-based investor, which bought WH Smith’s high street business earlier this year, is said to…
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17 SeptemberEconomy
Inflation holds steady at 3.8% but food prices on the rise
Inflation held steady last month, with a reported rise of 3.8% in the 12 months to August 2025, unchanged from July’s figures. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the August and July figures mark the joint-highest recorded since January 2024, when the rate was 4.0%. It comes as…
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16 SeptemberSupermarkets
Autumn budget could hit festive spending, warns Aldi CEO
The UK chief executive of Aldi has warned that the timing of the government’s late November budget could dampen consumer spending in the run-up to Christmas. Speaking to The Guardian, Giles Hurley said uncertainty around the measures chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce to address the fiscal gap in public finances…
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11 SeptemberDepartment Stores
John Lewis H1 losses widen amid tax and budget costs
The John Lewis Partnership has fallen to a £34m loss in the first half of the year, up from a £5m loss the same period last year, attributing the widened loss to a new packaging tax and the effects of the budget. Excluding exceptional items, losses almost tripled from £33m…
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