Northern Ireland
This coverage focuses on retail developments in Northern Ireland, including store openings and closures, local consumer trends, investment initiatives, and regional market performance. Reporting examines how retailers adapt strategy, site selection, and operations to the region’s economic, cultural, and demographic context — providing insights for executives, managers, and professionals overseeing retail activity across Northern Ireland.
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Feb- 2025 -6 FebruarySupermarkets
M&S backs Starmer’s bid for closer EU relations
M&S has backed Keir Starmer’s call for closer ties with the EU and an end to “Brexit bureaucracy”, The Telegraph has reported. Speaking to the paper, M&S head of food Alex Freudmann urged the prime minister to “move with pace to remove the red tape governing trade across the Irish…
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4 FebruaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-4/2/25
Shein’s planned £50bn London IPO is under threat due to potential US tariff reforms and ongoing allegations of forced labor in its supply chain. Former President Donald Trump’s proposal to eliminate the ‘de minimis’ tax rule—which allows duty-free imports of small packages under $800 from China, Canada, and Mexico—could significantly…
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4 FebruaryClothing & Shoes
Mango to open 20 new UK stores in 2025
Mango has announced that it is aiming to open 20 new UK stores in 2025 as part of its 2024-2026 Strategic Plan. The plan will concentrate in London, with six openings, as well as central England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the arrival in Cardiff. One of the company’s six openings…
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Oct- 2024 -4 OctoberNews
UK footfall jumps 3.3% in September
UK footfall has risen by 3.3% in September, up from 0.4% in August, as shopper numbers return to increase for the first time in over a year. According to the BRC, retail parks enjoyed the biggest boost with a 7.3% increase during the month, up from 2.6% in August. Shopping…
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Aug- 2024 -30 AugustSupermarkets
Sainsbury’s acquires 10 Homebase stores
Sainsbury’s has announced that it has acquired 10 stores from HHGL Limited, trading as Homebase, for conversion into Sainsbury’s supermarkets. The acquired stores are in key target locations that will grow Sainsbury’s supermarket coverage across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Once they are converted, the shop floor area of the…
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9 AugustHigh Street
Riots deter shoppers as footfall falls 4.8%
UK high streets appear to be feeling the full force of ongoing disorder over the past week with footfall declining by an average of -4.8% week on week from Sunday (4 August) to Wednesday (7 August) compared with an average decline of -2.7% in all UK retail destinations. The latest…
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7 AugustNews
Today’s news in brief-7/8/24
Chris Brook-Carter, CEO of Retail Trust, highlighted an increase in calls from retail workers fearing for their safety amidst recent rioting in England and Northern Ireland. Several retail stores, including Shoe Zone and Sainsbury’s Local, were targeted by rioters. The British Retail Consortium is responding with a meeting today to…
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7 AugustHigh Street
Store staff ‘fear for their safety’, says Retail Trust boss
The Retail Trust has seen a spike in calls from retail workers “fearing for their safety” amid rioting across towns in England and Northern Ireland, according to its chief executive Chris Brook-Carter. Brook-Carter stated that the charity has seen an increase in the number of calls to its 24-hour helpline.…
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2 AugustHigh Street
Footfall falls for 12th consecutive month
Total UK footfall decreased by 3.3% in July (YoY), down from -2.3% in June, marking the 12 consecutive month of decline. It comes as high street footfall actually increased by 2.7% in July (YoY), up from -3.1% in June. However this was offset as retail Park footfall decreased by 0.8%…
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Jul- 2024 -24 JulyHigh Street
NI retail staff and employers call for shop worker protection
Usdaw and employers’ organisation Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) have jointly called for urgent action to protect retail workers from violence and abuse, amid a recent “epidemic” in retail crime. The call comes as recently recorded crime statistics from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) show that shoplifting had more…
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