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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Dec- 2024 -11 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Zara owner Inditex misses expectations despite 7% surge in revenues
Inditex, the owner of fashion brands Zara, Stradivarius and Berksha, has seen its shares slide 6% in trading after its performance in the first nine months of the year came in below analysts expectations. Inditex reported revenues for the period of €27.4bn (£22.6bn) up 7.1% YOY and revealed that sales…
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5 DecemberNews
Card Factory enters US market with £20m Garven Holdings acquisition
Card Factory is set to enter the US market after announcing the acquisition of Garven Holdings for $25m (£20m). The acquisition is a step in the UK retailer’s growth ambitions, thanks to the acceleration of its partnerships strategy in one of its “key” international target markets. The celebration essentials market…
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Oct- 2024 -30 OctoberComment
How does a turnaround specialist help retailers improve their performance?
Erin Brookes’ journey into the world of retail consultancy is a testament to how passion, experience, and adaptability can shape a career in an ever-evolving industry. Now managing director and head of Retail at Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), Brookes’ career has spanned across operational and consulting roles, from working on…
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28 OctoberAdvice
Behind the curtain of retail logistics at DHL Supply Chain
Most consumers think of the shopping experience as the final click online or the moment they walk out of a store with bags in hand. But what happens behind the scenes to ensure that products are on the shelf, or that parcels arrive at our doorsteps on time, is a…
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Sep- 2024 -23 SeptemberNews
Today’s news in brief-23/9/24
Frasers Group is facing audit issues with two brands, I Saw It First and Choice, revealing significant payroll data discrepancies. Auditors struggled to verify £7m in payments for I Saw It First due to lost data during system transitions. Similarly, Hart Shaw encountered missing crucial information for Choice. These revelations…
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23 SeptemberClothing & Shoes
Hugo Boss profits drop to £12.3m in FY23
Hugo Boss has reported a 50% decline in profits to £12.3m and a 39% decrease in operating profit to £19.7m for the year ended 31 December 2023. Its turnover also decreased by 3% during the year to £392m. Retail sales decreased from £206.9m to £204.2m, while wholesale turnover dropped from…
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6 SeptemberNews
Today’s news in brief-6/9/24
Burberry, a fixture in the FTSE 100 for the past 15 years, has been demoted to the FTSE 250 following a steep decline in its share price, which has plummeted by around 50% over the last six months. The luxury fashion house has been hit hard by a slowdown in…
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6 SeptemberGovernment
CBI boss calls for gov to fix ‘antiquated’ rates system
CBI CEO Rain Newton-Smith has called on the government to fix the “antiquated” business rates rules in England to boost investment and grow the economy. Ahead of the Autumn Budget, the CBI convened firms from 12 sectors, including retail and manufacturing, to develop cross-economy solutions for a competitive and transparent…
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Aug- 2024 -19 AugustSupermarkets
Morrisons hit by raft of senior staff departures
Morrisons has been hit by an “exodus” of senior staff after seven directors left the supermarket over the summer, including convenience director Miles Foster, property director Mark Nowak and productivity director Jonathan Bell, according to the Sunday Times. The news comes after almost a third of the top 60 employees…
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8 AugustOnline & Digital
Asos secures three-year Microsoft deal to expand AI use
Online fashion retailer Asos has signed a new three-year agreement with Microsoft in a bid to enhance its operations, efficiency and “data-driven” decision making. The news comes as Asos has already taken advantage of AI features integrated into Microsoft solutions, including process automation through Power Automate, Teams Premium, and Microsoft…
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