The retail week ahead: March 29 to April 2

Monday, March 29

Morrisons chief

Morrisons’ new chief executive Dalton Philips starts at the Bradford-based grocer. He moves from Loblaw in Canada and takes over from Marc Bolland, who will join Marks & Spencer in May.

Carphone Warehouse demerger

Carphone Warehouse officially demerges its retail and telecoms division, which will then trade as two separate listed companies.

The mobile phone retailer will spin off its TalkTalk broadband business and then run its retail business - encompassing its eponymous phone chain and its joint venture with US electrical giant Best Buy - as one. Best Buy will open its UK stores this spring.

Best Buy Europe - the joint venture in which Carphone Warehouse has a 50% stake - reported UK like-for-like sales up 6.3% in its third quarter.

Wednesday, March 31

Topps Tiles pre-close update

In its January update Topps Tiles said that it saw its improving sales performance as a signal of improving consumer confidence. In the 14 weeks to January 3, like-for-like sales in the UK

were ahead 5.5%, with total sales across the business up 3.9%. Although it said it remained cautious for 2010, its £15.4m fundraising in November has given the flooring specialist the flexibility to support growth and handle any further fall in consumer spend.

Thursday, April 1

Mothercare Q4

The nursery retailer is updating on its final quarter. In the past year Mothercare has continued to be one of the strongest retail performers with its strong domestic multichannel operation and ever-expanding international business helping to grow sales and profits.

In its third quarter UK like-for-like sales grew 4.2% with total group sales for the period up 4.6%. In its three quarters to January 8 international retail sales grew 20.4%. Mothercare now has 717 international stores in 51 countries, with 394 stores in the UK.

Friday, April 2

Good Friday

After a long, cold winter retailers will be hoping that the Easter bank holiday will bring some much-needed springtime cheer to shoppers. All eyes will be on the DIY market in its key sales period, especially as a price war intensifies.