WH Smith
This coverage examines WH Smith’s operations and strategy within the UK retail sector, focusing on travel and high-street store performance, product range adaptations, supply chain logistics, and digital initiatives. Reporting highlights leadership decisions, market positioning, and consumer trends, offering insights for retail executives, category managers, and professionals in travel and convenience retail.
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Apr- 2020 -6 AprilCoronavirus
WH Smith to raise equity amid ongoing pandemic
WH Smith has announced its plans to issue equity in order to secure a £120m lending facility amid the ongoing pandemic. Due to the “uncertain” period of trading, the group plans to secure the loan in order to strengthen its balance sheet, working capital and liquidity position and mitigate the…
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Mar- 2020 -12 MarchHigh Street
Covid-19 could knock £130m from sales, says WH Smith
WH Smith expects that full-year results will see an ‘adverse impact’ from the effects of coronavirus, with up to £130m being wiped from its revenue. In its latest update, the stationary group predicted an impact between £100m and £130m on group revenue, while underlying profit before tax can expect a…
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Feb- 2020 -10 FebruaryHigh Street
WH Smith seeking overhaul on rent payment to landlords
WH Smith is reportedly urging its landlords to allow the retailer to delay its rent payments as it looks to improve its cashflow. According to The Sunday Times, the newsagent chain is set to ask landlords to switch from receiving rent payments in advance – which is the current industry…
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5 FebruarySponsored Articles
Customer focus and innovation at the heart of the new retail paradigm
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Jan- 2020 -22 JanuaryHigh Street
WH Smith travel division drives revenue growth
WH Smith has announced it delivered a “good performance” over the Christmas trading period, with total revenue up 7% for the 20 weeks ended 18 January. Total revenue was also up 19% in the group’s travel business, with like-for-like revenue up 3%. The retailer said its UK travel arm saw…
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Dec- 2019 -19 DecemberHigh Street
WH Smith acquires Marshall Retail Group
WH Smith investors have voted in favour of the group’s acquisition of US retailer Marshall Retail Group. In a general meeting held yesterday (18 December), 99.98% of shareholders voted to acquire the group in a $400m ( £312m) deal on a cash and debt-free basis. The approved move will now…
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Oct- 2019 -17 OctoberHigh Street
WH Smith to acquire US travel retailer in £312m deal
WH Smith has agreed a deal to acquire US-based travel retailer Marshall Retail Group (MRG) in a £312m deal. WH Smith said that the acquisition of MRG represents a “rare and compelling opportunity to accelerate its expansion in the large and fast growing US travel retail market”. The transaction is…
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May- 2019 -29 MayHigh Street
WHSmith ranked worst retailer in Which? Survey
WHSmith has finished bottom of Which?’s annual UK high street shops survey rankings of more than 100 shops, while specialist retailers came out on top. The annual survey of more than 7,700 Which? members looked at the bricks-and-mortar shops offering the best in-store experiences. WHSmith finished with a customer score…
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21 MayPeople Moves
WH Smith CEO to step down
WH Smith’s group chief executive, Stephen Clarke has announced he is stepping down from his role on 31 October 2019, after 15 years with the company. The newsagent also announced that Carl Cowling will be appointed as group chief executive as successor to Clarke, as part of its long-term succession…
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Nov- 2018 -13 NovemberGovernment
EU rules could ‘thwart’ Hammond’s business rates promise
Hammond’s plan to help high streets through a near £1bn, two year business rates cut, is set to be thwarted by European Union state aid rules, real estate agents Altus Group have claimed. The chancellor will slash business rates next April by discounting bills by a third for those retail…
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