Supply Chain
This coverage examines supply chain strategy and performance within the UK retail industry. Reporting highlights logistics innovation, inventory management, sourcing practices, supplier relations, technology adoption, and responses to disruption. Focused on efficiency, resilience, and commercial impact, it provides insights for retail executives and managers optimising operations and ensuring continuity.
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Apr- 2025 -7 AprilEconomy
Trump calls tariffs ‘medicine’ amid market turmoil
US president Donald Trump has called his newly-announced tariffs “medicine” as he showed no signs of reversing them. Speaking to reporters on Sunday (6 April) aboard Air Force One, Trump warned that governments would have to pay “a lot of money” to lift sweeping tariffs. He said: “I don’t want…
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4 AprilClothing & Shoes
New Look to ‘supercharge’ digital growth with £30m investment
New Look has secured a £30m investment from shareholders to accelerate its digital transformation and optimise its online experience for customers. Over the last five years the brand has invested significantly to elevate its digital capabilities: upgrading its website and app, building a social media community of 7m followers, and…
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3 AprilFeatures
Is going private the next big trend in retail?
Walgreens Boots Alliance was acquired by the American private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a deal valued at up to $23.7bn (£18.3 billion). Around the same time, Pepco Group, owner of Poundland, received interest from potential buyers for its 825-store Poundland business in the UK. With major retailers opting for…
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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
Tesco’s free food trial: a game-changer in tackling food waste?
Tesco’s new initiative to give away close-to-expiry food for free is making waves in the UK’s retail and sustainability circles. With an increasing focus on food waste reduction, this trial could signal a significant shift in how supermarkets might handle surplus products. But could this move from the UK’s largest…
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31 MarchFeatures
Topshop’s comeback: a boon for the high street?
Topshop is back. Once a beacon of British high street fashion, the brand has teased its return to reclaim its position in the retail landscape. But in an era dominated by digital-first brands, resale platforms, and evolving consumer habits, does Topshop have what it takes to thrive again? The journey…
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25 MarchFeatures
Why does Games Workshop never lose money?
Games Workshop was founded in 1975 and last posted a loss in 2007. This came after it had licensed the rights to make miniatures and a game using characters and stories from The Lord of The Rings but saw a decline in interest for the franchise. Since that point the…
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25 MarchFeatures
How hard is it to turnaround a legacy brand?
Britain has a long and storied history with retail having a number of companies which have been established for well over a century. However, in recent years many of these legacy brands have struggled, especially as retail has become so much about online. Many of these brands have had to…
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24 MarchFeatures
Are consumers stuck in an endless cycle of ‘aesthetic’ dupes?
The retail landscape is increasingly defined by a relentless cycle of “aesthetic” dupes – fast, trend-driven products designed to mimic high-end styles at a fraction of the cost. From Pinterest and Primark’s new trend-inspired collection to Temu’s staggering 77% product overlap with Amazon – where every tenth item is identical,…
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24 MarchFeatures
Lessons from Forever 21’s decline
The collapse of once-iconic brands like Forever 21 serve as a stark warning for fast fashion retailers globally. Having filed for bankruptcy for the second time in the US, the news highlighted Forever 21’s failure to adapt to the needs of its customers, take note of its competitors and move…
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