Westfield
This coverage examines Westfield’s role in the UK retail landscape, with reporting on shopping centre operations, tenant strategies, leasing activity, marketing initiatives, and consumer engagement. Insight focuses on how Westfield’s developments influence footfall, brand presence, and retail performance — serving the needs of executives, managers, and professionals overseeing operations and partnerships within major retail destinations.
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Sep- 2019 -10 SeptemberPeople Moves
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield appoints new MD for UK and Italy
Shopping centre operator Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URM) has appointed Scott Parsons as regional managing director for the UK and Italy. Parsons will take up the position on 13 November, reporting to Michel Dessolain, COO of Europe at URW. He will be responsible for the group’s asset portfolio and development projects in the…
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Aug- 2019 -29 AugustHigh Street
Forever 21 reportedly contemplates filing for bankruptcy
American fast fashion retail chain Forever 21 is reportedly preparing for a potential bankruptcy filing, after restructuring and debt restructure talks stalled. The retailer wants to secure a potential debtor-in-possession loan to take the company into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to Bloomberg. A source told the publication, a bankruptcy filing…
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15 AugustShopping Centres
Westfield reports footfall rise in July
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, owners of shopping centre chain Westfield has reported a rise in footfall in July, with almost eight million shoppers visiting its London centres in Stratford and White City. Westfield said it was “bucking the trend” in the retail market, as shopping centre footfall continues to fall, dropping by 3.1%…
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9 AugustComment
Halting the demise of the ‘not my department’ store
Be it House of Fraser, retail bellwether John Lewis or in-the-wars Debenhams, department stores are in the news for all the wrong reasons – whether for profit warnings, sales dips or being sued by Sports Direct. The pace of change in the retail industry is ever accelerating, and department stores…
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1 AugustShopping Centres
Westfield’s UK net rental income down 3.1% amid Brexit ‘uncertainty’
Shopping centre giant Westfield has reported a 3.1% decrease in net rental income for its UK operations, covering the half year period ending 31 July. In the trade update, the landlord conglomerate said vacancy stood at 8.7%, primarily driven by some non-renewals,the impact of retailer bankruptcies, and the delays in…
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Jun- 2019 -21 JuneAnalysis
Why ‘out of town’ retailers still matter
In May, we saw the Treasury committee report recommend that banks maintain a physical presence around the country and Dave Lewis, Tesco CEO, discussing the contentious issue of business rates and how the current system doesn’t support growth, to which I completely agree. Pressure is bearing down on the high…
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5 JuneClothing & Shoes
Forever 21 ‘exploring restructuring options’
American fast fashion retail chain Forever 21 is reportedly exploring its financial options. Sources have told the media that the company is in talks with Apollo Global Management, an American private equity firm, regarding lining up potential debtor-in-possession financing in case the company needed to seek bankruptcy. The source told…
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May- 2019 -13 MayDepartment Stores
Debenhams CVA could cost local authorities £8.5m in business rates
Colliers International has estimated that Debenhams’ CVA could affect up to 59 local authorities, who could lose out on £8.5m of the £17.3m rates bills the department store retailer should have been paying on properties. As part of its CVA proposals, Debenhams had categorised its properties into five groupings and…
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Apr- 2019 -17 AprilEconomy
Shopping centre landlords offer free space to retailers
Revo, the organisation that represents the retail community, has launched a new competition to give budding retail entrepreneurs free space in shopping centres and help with marketing. The organisation driving retail placemaking across Britain and Ireland has launched a major new campaign to find the next generation of retail talent…
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1 AprilHigh Street
Cambridge named UK’s ‘leading retail location’ for second time
Cambridge has again been named as the UK’s leading retail location according to a list scoring Britain’s best and worst retail centres. The university city topped a list of 1,000 retail centres, compiled by strategic retail property consultancy, Harper Dennis Hobbs (HDH). The HDH 2019 Vitality Index determines the retail…
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