Productivity
This coverage explores productivity in the UK retail industry, focusing on workforce effectiveness, operational efficiency, process innovation, and cost control. Reporting provides insight into how retailers optimise resources and performance to remain competitive — supporting executives, managers, and professionals driving improvement initiatives.
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Apr- 2025 -1 AprilSponsored Articles
Ergonomics isn’t just about fancy chairs
We tend to associate ergonomics with equipment: standing desks, lumbar cushions, adjustable chairs. And yes, they help. But if that’s where the conversation stops, most companies miss the point. Because true workplace comfort isn’t only about what you sit on. It’s about the ecosystem around you—how spaces are set up,…
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1 AprilClothing & Shoes
M&S to invest £50m in North West stores
M&S has announced a £50m investment in stores across the North West of England for the year ahead, creating 300 jobs and 100,000 total new square footage across its store estate in the area. The investment is another step forward in M&S’s store renewal and rotation programme, focused on having…
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Mar- 2025 -31 MarchFeatures
Spring Budget 2025: what it means for the retail industry
The UK retail sector has been navigating a volatile economic landscape, with rising operational costs, shifts in consumer spending, and policy changes placing unprecedented pressure on businesses. The Spring Budget 2025, delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, was highly anticipated by industry leaders, who had hoped for measures that would alleviate…
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27 MarchClothing & Shoes
Foot Locker appoints new president
Foot Locker has announced that Franklin R. Bracken, currently executive vice president and chief commercial officer, has been appointed to the role of president, effective immediately. Bracken will continue reporting to Mary Dillon, Foot Locker chief executive officer. In his new role, Bracken will work alongside Dillon to accelerate the…
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26 MarchProperty
John Lewis housing development nears approval
John Lewis has submitted proposals to redevelop its former customer collection facility in Reading into a housing project, according to reports from the BBC. The scheme includes a mixture of 111 one-bedroom, 92 two-bedroom, and 12 three-bedroom homes. The site, which was previously used for customers to collect orders, closed…
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21 MarchEconomy
London’s store closures return to pre-pandemic levels for first time
Five stores closed each day in Greater London in 2024, with four new stores opening, according to the latest data from PwC – resulting in net closures of one store per day. The bi-annual report using data from Green Street, tracks over 200,000 chain outlets in over 3,500 locations to…
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18 MarchFeatures
Are salary increases the only way to keep retail staff happy?
In the past few weeks a number of retailers including B&Q and Currys have announced that they will be increasing staff pay. In the case of B&Q it is raising its UK minimum hourly rate to £12.71 per hour, above the National Minimum Wage which is increasing to £12.21 per…
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13 MarchNews
John Lewis staff miss out on bonus despite tripled profits
The John Lewis Partnership has confirmed its staff will not receive a bonus for the third year in a row, despite full-year profits tripling from £42m to £126m, with the group instead focusing on investment into employee pay. For the year ended 25 January 2025, overall sales rose by 3%…
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12 MarchClothing & Shoes
Zara owner Inditex sees sales and profits surge in FY24
Inditex, the owner of Zara, has hailed its “robust” full-year performance after sales rose by 10.5% to €38.6bn (£32.5bn) in 2024, following “very satisfactory” trading both in stores and online.The group, which also owns brands including Pull and Bear and Bershka, reported profit-before-tax rose by 10.3% to €7.6bn (£6.4bn) while…
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Feb- 2025 -27 FebruaryOnline & Digital
Ocado to cut R&D roles as losses narrow
Ocado has revealed it is set to reduce its research and development (R&D) workforce both in the UK and globally as part of its effort to return to profitability. This comes despite the fact Ocado posted a pre-tax loss of £374.5m for the year ended 1 December 2024, a slight…
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