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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Mar- 2025 -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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26 FebruaryEconomy
One in 10 part-time retail jobs at risk, BRC says
One in 10 part-time retail jobs, up to 160,000 roles, could be at risk of being lost over the next three years as a result of the rising costs of employment, the BRC has revealed. The retail body has warned of the impact that both the budget and upcoming regulatory…
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Jan- 2025 -17 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-17/1/25
Retail sales in the UK fell by 0.3% in December, disappointing analysts who anticipated a 0.4% rise during the Christmas season. The decline, attributed to the poorest supermarket sales since 2013, was partly offset by a 4.4% rise in clothing sales. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that food…
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17 JanuaryNews
Customer satisfaction levels lowest since 2015, UKCSI finds
UK customer satisfaction levels remain near their lowest level since 2015, the twice-yearly report by The Institute of Customer Service on the state of service has revealed. The latest UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI), which benchmarks customer satisfaction of over 260 of the UK’s leading businesses and has run since…
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14 JanuaryHigh Street
Card Factory revenues rise 4.7% over Xmas period
Card Factory has revealed that total revenues rose by 4.7% in line with expectations in November and December, thanks to higher average basket values due to expanded ranges and sales of gifts and celebration essentials. For the 11 months to 31 December 2024, the retailer saw total sales rise 6.2%…
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Dec- 2024 -17 DecemberPeople Moves
Retail loses 225,000 jobs in five years
The retail industry has lost 225,000 jobs in the last five years, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). On a four-quarter average there were 40,000 less jobs in the industry compared with last year. Overall there were 2.81m jobs in retail in September 2024, although this…
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