Restructuring
Restructuring in the UK retail sector involves the strategic changes retailers make to strengthen their financial position, streamline operations, and adapt to evolving market conditions. Retail Sector provides comprehensive coverage of restructuring activity, including breaking news on administrations, CVAs, and refinancing deals, alongside expert analysis of the operational and strategic implications. Our reporting helps retail executives, store owners, ecommerce leaders, and supply chain professionals understand how these developments impact the wider retail landscape, offering insights into recovery plans, leadership decisions, and business transformation across physical and digital channels.
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Oct- 2018 -4 OctoberAdvice
What is an administration pre-pack, and how might it affect retail suppliers?
2018 has been a difficult year for retailers: East, Maplin, New Look, Carpetright, Carphone Warehouse, Poundworld, Mothercare, Toys ‘R’ Us, House of Fraser, and Homebase have all stumbled to varying degrees. For House of Fraser, Mike Ashley (via his SportsDirect group) arrived as a ‘white knight’, using an administration pre-pack…
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2 OctoberDepartment Stores
Debenhams merchandising director leaves amid trouble with insurers
Debenhams merchandising director Adele Calderwood has reportedly stepped down following yesterday’s news that the company’s insurers had pulled out. Calderwood, who joined the company from Arcadia in 2004 and worked for the retailer for 14 years, will now depart according to reports by Drapers. Debenhams told Retail Sector it had…
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1 OctoberDepartment Stores
Debenhams under more pressure as insurers withdraw cover
Department store Debenhams could be facing more problems as its leading insurance provider Atradius has pulled its cover for the retailer’s suppliers. The news indicates there are fears regarding the department store’s future amid speculation that it could face closures or enter a CVA after appointing KPMG to help advise…
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Sep- 2018 -13 SeptemberAnalysis
How Wesfarmers’ takeover strategy almost sent Homebase ‘down under’
There are few home comforts for Homebase right now. The DIY chain confirmed on August 31 that it will close a further 42 stores later this year, resulting in 1,500 job losses. The home improvement and garden retailer has already shut 16 stores this year, following its acquisition by restructuring…
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10 SeptemberDepartment Stores
CVA and closure rumours loom as Debenhams appoints KPMG
Debenhams has reportedly appointed audit advisors KPMG to explore restructuring plans, prompting rumours of stores closures and a CVA. The Sunday Telegraph reported that the advisory firm had been assigned to draw up a turnaround plan which could result in a number of job cuts. The department store chain recently…
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3 SeptemberClothing & Shoes
Boden reports strong sales increase of 13%
Lifestyle retailer Boden has reported a 13% rise in sales for the year ending December 2017 due to an increase in overseas customers. This increase in sales accounted for £347.1m growth.The company also saw its pre-tax profit rise to £27.3m from £26.2m; an increase of 4%. Boden attributed its strong…
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Aug- 2018 -21 AugustHigh Street
Office Outlet announces CVA proposal
Stationery retailer Office Outlet has announced a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) proposal to restructure its UK store estate as part of its ongoing turnaround strategy. The retail chain formerly known as Staples has spent the last two years performing an operational restructuring which it said has “significantly improved” its store…
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20 AugustDepartment Stores
House of Fraser woes push Mulberry into £3m loss
Designer fashion brand Mulberry has issued a profit warning following the financial woes of House of Fraser. With the company, saying it expects to absorb costs of £3m due to the chain’s restructuring, the company’s shares dropped by 30% following the announcement. Mulberry operates 21 House of Fraser concessions, employing…
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17 AugustDepartment Stores
Debenhams to axe 90 jobs
Debenhams has announced it is to cut 90 jobs as part of a restructuring plan to focus the business on key areas. The department store is also currently in redundancy talks with 200 head office workers as part of the last stage of its cost cutting plan. In a statement…
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14 AugustDIY
42 Homebase stores to face the axe
DIY retailer Homebase has announced the closure of 42 stores, resulting in around 1,500 redundancies. The DIY chain has already closed 17 stores after it was bought out by restructuring experts Hilco for £1 in May, and is said to be filing for a CVA. Insolvency advisors Alvarez & Marsal…
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