Pandemic
This coverage examines the impact of pandemics on the UK retail industry, focusing on operational disruption, financial challenges, consumer behaviour shifts, and recovery strategies. Reporting highlights store closures, safety measures, supply chain pressures, leadership decisions, and lessons learned to enhance resilience. Tailored for executives and managers, it provides insights to navigate crisis situations and strengthen preparedness.
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Feb- 2025 -19 FebruaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-19/2/25
Inflation in the UK reached its highest level in 10 months, hitting 3% in January 2025, up from 2.5% in December 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Key drivers included rising air fares, private school fees, and food and drink prices. Air fares did not fall as…
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19 FebruaryProperty
Landsec given permission to revamp former Debenhams into city square
Landsec has secured planning permission from Cardiff City Council to transform a former Debenhams unit into a 102,000 sq ft city square. The redevelopment, designed in collaboration with over 5,000 local residents, will respond to consumer demand for high-quality leisure experiences, green spaces, and family-friendly environments. Bruce Findlay, managing director…
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17 FebruaryClothing & Shoes
West End loses out on £640m in sales due to tourist tax, NWEC says
West End retailers have reportedly lost around £640m in sales last year due to the lack of tax-free shopping for international tourists, according to New West End Company research. The losses rose by 60% last year from £400m in unrealised sales in 2023, and impacted some 600 businesses in the…
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10 FebruaryFeatures
The rising tide of crime in UK stores
2025 has dawned with a bleak reality for the UK retail sector. Once a thriving cornerstone of the high street and beyond, retailers now find themselves on the frontline of a growing crime wave. Violence, theft, and abuse are no longer isolated incidents but daily occurrences that shape the working…
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6 FebruaryFeatures
Are we in the golden age of drinking at home?
The wine retail market has shown surprising resilience over the 2024 Christmas period, with a number of wine-specific groups outperforming the broader market. With trends shifting towards at-home experiences, and with people reportedly frequenting pubs less and less outside of special occasions, it’s tempting to wonder: Are we living in…
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6 FebruaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-6/2/25
Tesco is reportedly considering a takeover of over 100 Crown Post Office branches, potentially safeguarding them from closure as the state-owned Post Office reviews its directly managed network. Post Office chairman Nigel Railton informed MPs that Tesco expressed interest in acquiring the loss-making branches, part of a broader strategic review…
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6 FebruaryPeople Moves
Asda recruits former Matalan CEO as non-exec director
Asda has announced the appointment of Jo Whitfield, the former CEO of Matalan, to the role of non-executive director. Until last year, she led Matalan’s business turnaround strategy and a refocus on value. Whitfield, who has previously spent eight years with Asda and its clothing brand George from 2008, had…
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Jan- 2025 -29 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-29/1/25
Lord Wolfson, CEO of Next and Conservative peer, has leveraged his House of Lords position to propose amendments phasing in upcoming National Insurance (NI) reforms. The budget measures, effective April, will raise employers’ NI contributions from 13.2% to 15% and lower the secondary threshold to £5,000 annually. Wolfson supports staggered…
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29 JanuaryAdvice
Makeke: The app helping independent retailers take on ecommerce giants
Jenniffer Gearheart-Tang, co-founder and CEO of Makeke, has always had an entrepreneurial streak. With a career spanning marketing, executive recruitment, and corporate innovation, she has consistently sought to bring disruptive ideas to market. Together with her husband, Drake Gearheart, Makeke’s Head of Product & Scalability, the duo have built a…
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29 JanuaryOnline & Digital
Virgin Wines revenues rise 6.7% over Xmas season
Virgin Wines has reported that revenues rose by 6.7% year-on-year during the six-week period to 27 December 2024, as sales were 9% higher than the Christmas before – the highest level since the pandemic lockdowns. According to the online wine retailer, its performance over Christmas was underpinned by initiatives to…
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