Retail Week
George MacDonald

George MacDonald is currently acting editor of Retail Week.

Follow George on twitter: @GeorgeMacD

Mothercare’s new man is a sign of the times

February 10 2012
George MacDonald has written for Retail Week for more than 10 years, covering various sectors. He is a frequent TV and radio commentator on retail trends and issues.
Own-brand rules

February 10 2012
There are calls for the rules on copycat brands to be tightened up across the EU. How will the changes affect British retailers?
Store stocks rise as retailers refocus

February 10 2012
Store stocks were on the up over the week as food and general merchandisers rose with the market, although the former still lagged the All Share index while the latter outperformed.
Expect sparks to fly in electricals market

February 3 2012
George MacDonald has written for Retail Week for more than 10 years, covering various sectors. He is a frequent TV and radio commentator on retail trends and issues.
General retail flat as food groups suffer

February 3 2012
General retailers trod water over the week in a flat market, but food groups underperformed as investors continued to fret about supermarket prospects and Kantar data showed the grocery market growing below the rate of food price inflation.
‘Service will set us apart’, says new Dixons boss

2-Feb-2012
Sebastian James is taking the helm at Dixons as John Browett leaves for Apple.
Dixons boss Browett leaves to join Apple

31-Jan-2012
Dixons chief executive John Browett is to leave the electricals group to become technology giant Apple’s senior vice-president of retail.
Christmas updates boost store stocks

January 27 2012
As the Christmas trading season drew to an end, retailers of all sorts were in fashion.
Primark is proving its value as others struggle

January 27 2012
George MacDonald has written for Retail Week for more than 10 years, covering various sectors. He is a frequent TV and radio commentator on retail trends and issues.
Former Dixons boss Clare to become Comet chairman

26-Jan-2012
Former Dixons chief executive John Clare will take over as chairman of electricals retailer Comet following completion of its sale to private investor OpCapita next week.
Ocado makes boardroom changes as finance boss departs

23-Jan-2012
Ocado chief financial officer Andrew Bracey is to make a surprise departure from the online grocer to join recruitment company Michael Page.
Argos cuts or freezes 11,000 prices

20-Jan-2012
Argos has frozen or cut 11,000 prices in its new catalogue, which will be distributed from tomorrow.
Tesco has tripped up but it will fight back

January 20 2012
George MacDonald has written for Retail Week for more than 10 years, covering various sectors. He is a frequent TV and radio commentator on retail trends and issues.
Comet suffers Christmas sales slump

19-Jan-2012
Sales plummeted at electricals retailer Comet over Christmas and net debt rose.
Retailers hold firm as Tesco tailspins

19-Jan-2012
George MacDonald has written for Retail Week for more than 10 years, covering various sectors. He is a frequent TV and radio commentator on retail trends and issues.
Bonmarche stores to close as part of rescue deal

18-Jan-2012
Up to half of Bonmarché stores are likely to closed or be offloaded as part of a rescue deal to salvage the heart of the business.
Dixons' like-for-likes fall over Christmas

17-Jan-2012
Electricals group Dixons’ like-for-like sales slid in its core UK market over Christmas but the retailer said it performed better than rivals.
Food retailers slide as sentiment worsens

January 13 2012
As the Christmas trading statements started to come thick and fast, general retailers just about held their own against the market.
Hard work begins as retail fortunes diverge

January 13 2012
One “dazzling” week’s trade in December gave the impression that retailers’ Christmases had all come at once.
Sainsbury's market share highest since March 2003

10-Jan-2012
Sainsbury’s has achieved its biggest market share in eight years and the conversion of Netto stores has boosted Asda’s share, the latest Kantar data showed.
Majestic Wine posts seasonal sales rise

10-Jan-2012
Drinks specialist Majestic Wine has posted fizzy seasonal sales over Christmas.
Food sales drive M&S Christmas performance as general merchandise suffers

10-Jan-2012
Marks & Spencer has posted a strong food performance from its food arm over Christmas but general merchandise sales fell and margins were hit by promotions.
Yeomans owner Granite buys outdoor brand Gelert

6-Jan-2012
Dealmaker Jason Granite has bought camping brand Gelert and will merge it with his Yeomans outdoor goods retail chain.
Christmas sales climb at Robert Dyas

6-Jan-2012
Hardware retailer Robert Dyas has posted a leap in like-for-like sales in the run-up to Christmas.
Tesco non-food boss Per Bank to leave

6-Jan-2012
Tesco UK non-food commercial director Per Bank is to leave the top grocer to become chief executive of Scandinavian food retailer Dansk Supermarked.
Blacks to be put into administration

6-Jan-2012
Outdoor gear specialist Blacks Leisure is to be put into administration ahead of the sale of its assets.
Next shows how to weather the new year

Janaury 6 2012
As far as retailers are concerned, Father Christmas seems to have got stuck in the chimney.
Morrisons raids Sainsbury's for marketing director

5-Jan-2012
Supermarket group Morrisons has poached a senior Sainsbury’s staffer to become marketing director.
Microsoft launches piracy action against Comet

4-Jan-2012
Software giant Microsoft has begun legal action against Comet, the Kesa-owned electricals retailer that is being sold to private investment firm OpCapita, over alleged counterfeiting of product.
Best Buy big-boxes to close on January 15

3-Jan-2012
Best Buy’s 11 UK big-box stores and website will shut on January 15, marking the end of its attempt to transform the electricals market.
Blacks Leisure sale edges closer

30-Dec-2011
The future of outdoors specialist Blacks Leisure could be secured as early as next week when second-round bids will be submitted.
Hawkin's Bazaar owner faces administration

30-Dec-2011
Tobar Group, owner of toy specialist Hawkin’s Bazaar, has become the latest victim of harsh trading conditions and filed notice of intention to appoint administrators.
Retail spending to rise only 1.2% in 2012

29-Dec-2011
Retail spending in 2012 is likely only to rise by 1.2%, the third lowest rate in almost four decades.
Fashion retailer D2 collapses into administration

29-Dec-2011
Fashion retailer D2 has collapsed into administration after falling victim to “extremely difficult” trading conditions.
Online shopping spree leads to delivery chaos

23-Dec-2011
A seasonal online shopping spree resulted in delivery logjam after leading courier company Yodel failed to cope with demand, but the carrier has insisted it has addressed the issue.
John Lewis sales rise 21% as shoppers come out to spend

23-Dec-2011
Hopes are rising that a long-awaited Christmas spending spree has at last got under way after sales rose strongly at John Lewis department stores.
Tomorrow to be busiest shopping day of the year

22-Dec-2011
Tomorrow is expected to be the busiest shopping day of the year as consumers stock up on last-minute Christmas gifts.
Barratts Priceless administrators make 170 redundancies

21-Dec-2011
The administrators of shoe specialist Barratts Priceless will shut 18 shops on Friday with the loss of 127 jobs.
Consumer confidence falls to 'chilling' level

21-Dec-2011
Consumer confidence fell in December to the lowest level in three years.
Selfridges launches last-minute Christmas shopping services

20-Dec-2011
Department store group Selfridges has brought forward the launch of a mobile-optimised website to help last-minute Christmas gift buyers make their purchases and is introducing an in-store SOS shopping service.
HMV considers sale of live music arm after first-half loss

19-Dec-2011
Entertainment group HMV is considering selling its live music business and has posted a first-half loss.
Waitrose weekly sales rise on demand for festive season drinks

16-Dec-2011
Food retailer Waitrose has reported a 6.3% weekly sales rise, assisted by shoppers stocking up with drinks ahead of the Christmas holiday.
Like-for-likes rise at Laura Ashley

16-Dec-2011
Home and fashion retailer Laura Ashley has posted a rise in like-for-like sales as it progressed with plans to shut unprofitable shops.
New year brings no joy for store stocks

December 16 2011
At the end of the year general retailers had sadly underperformed the All-share index, while food groups were also down but not by as much as the market.
Tesco results top off another tough week

December 16 2011
As Christmas loomed, store stocks headed south. Food specialists and general merchandisers alike underperformed the All Share index and were sharply down over the year.
Headhunter Shipley to join Miles Partnership

15-Dec-2011
Headhunter Sue Shipley is to join search firm the Miles Partnership after leaving Odgers Berndtson, where she was global practice leader for retail.
DFS invests in growth despite earnings fall

15-Dec-2011
Sofas giant DFS has posted a fall in quarterly sales and earnings but is continuing to invest in expansion and confident in longer-term prospects.
Big retailers are acting on Portas’s best idea

15-Dec-2011
If the Portas review were a high street it would look quite familiar – a cheek by jowl mix alternately appealing or a turn-off.
Headhunter Shipley to leave Odgers

9-Dec-2011
Sue Shipley, one of the best known retail headhunters, is to leave search firm Odgers Berndtson at the end of the year.
Amazon rewards shoppers who walk out of stores

9-Dec-2011
Online giant Amazon is to reward consumers who leave bricks-and-mortar stores without making a purchase.
Weekly sales rise 5.7% at Waitrose

9-Dec-2011
Sales at Waitrose rose 5.7% to £112.6m last week, when home and leisure was the best performing category.
Ex-Uniqlo man becomes Body Shop UK boss

December 9 2011
Cosmetics specialist Body Shop has hired former Uniqlo director Simon Coble as its new UK boss.
Sale on cards as profits rise at food specialist Abel & Cole

December 9 2011
Profits have surged at grocery home shopping specialist Abel & Cole and the retailer could be put up for sale next year.
Bleak sales growth adds to retail woe

December 9 2011
It was another frustrating week for investors in retail companies as food and general merchandise groups put in a lacklustre showing versus a wider market advance.
Grocery price rivalry is no marketing trick

December 9 2011
In the week that investigative TV programme Panorama attempted to pick apart the big grocers’ promotional practices, industry data told a different story on supermarket prices and their effect.
Record online demand at John Lewis

8-Dec-2011
Sales at John Lewis department stores are up 3.7% so far this week, helped by the biggest ever day of online demand on Monday.
Kesa chiefs confident of Comet sale

7-Dec-2011
Directors of electricals group Kesa are confident that the sale of UK business Comet will go ahead as planned.
For sale sign raised over Blacks

7-Dec-2011
Outdoor specialist Blacks Leisure has put itself up for sale after concluding that previous fundraising plans were unrealisable, but investors may get nothing from a disposal.
Big Price Drop affects Tesco market share

6-Dec-2011
The impact of Tesco’s Big Price Drop has resulted in less cash going through the grocery giant’s tills but more shoppers, market monitor Kantar has reported.
Building a global empire

December 2 2011
Fashion tycoon Sir Philip Green is seeking out new growth opportunities despite harsh trading conditions at home. George MacDonald reports.
Look hard enough, and retail’s glass is half full

December 2 2011
The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement will have prompted a brief sigh of relief from retailers.
Store stocks tick up as consumers fret

December 2 2011
Store stocks of all types ticked up over the week as the market overall improved, but general retailers still significantly lag the All-share index over the year.
Public sector strike prompts surge in shopping

1-Dec-2011
Yesterday’s public sector strikes brought retailers a fillip as many people took advantage of a day off work to go shopping.
B&Q third quarter profits surge, helped by Indian summer

1-Dec-2011
Profits at DIY giant Kingfisher, owner of B&Q, surged in the third quarter as the group benefited from self-help measures such as more direct sourcing and common ranging.
Jacques Vert warns on profits

28-Nov-2011
Occasionwear specialist Jacques Vert has warned on profits after unseasonably warm weather and weak consumer confidence took a toll.
Blacks warns on profits as consumers cut spending

25-Nov-2011
Embattled specialist retailer Blacks Leisure has issued a profit warning but insists it still has the support of its bankers.
Arcadia takes margin hit as it shoulders VAT rise

25-Nov-2011
Topshop-owner takes heart from young fashion, online and overseas despite fall in profits
Retail needs a break from the politicians

November 25 2011
When is a plastic bag not just any old plastic bag? The answer apparently is when its purpose is to protect what’s inside rather than simply to carry stuff home.
Store sector suffers as market plummets

November 25 2011
Store stocks took a pummelling over the week although they did not fall as steeply as the wider market.
Rivals woo M&S fashion boss Bostock

24-Nov-2011
Marks & Spencer’s general merchandise executive director Kate Bostock is in the frame for top jobs with other retailers who are attempting to woo her away from the high street giant.
John Lewis reports rising spend on Christmas goods

18-Nov-2011
Sales of Christmas lines have soared at John Lewis department stores this week but the retailer warned that trading conditions generally remain harsh.
Healing the high street

November 18 2011
There is widespread worry about the future of the UK’s high streets. George MacDonald considers what needs to be done, and looks at why there is cause for optimism.
No room for error as promotions drive retail

November 18 2011
You know it’s Christmas when Debenhams goes on Sale – the department store group’s seasonal spectaculars have become as traditional as mince pies.
Mothercare chairman launches review after first-half losses

17-Nov-2011
Mothercare chairman Alan Parker marked his first 100 days in office by reporting an interim loss and launching a review of the ailing UK business.
Risk of retail insolvencies rising, property chief warns

11-Nov-2011
The boss of property giant Land Securities has warned that more retailers are in danger of hitting the buffers as a result of tough trading conditions.
Price-matching drives weekly sales rise at John Lewis

11-Nov-2011
Sales at John Lewis department stores climbed 4.4% last week lifted by an “outstanding” fashion performance as the retailer price-matched a rival’s promotion.
Comet to focus on value under new ownership

11-Nov-2011
The new owners of electricals retailer Comet intend to restore its value credentials as they prepare to fight against the dominance of Dixons in a rapidly changing market.
Bolland and King highlight changing shopper behaviour

11-Nov-2011
M&S and Sainsbury’s aim to ensure consumer demand for quality and value is effectively met.
All change in electricals but Dixons is still on top

November 11 2011
In the space of a week, the electricals retail landscape has been transformed.
Drama dominates as Kesa sells Comet

November 11 2011
Stores shares advanced across the board in a week dominated by dramatic corporate action and results from some of the industry’s biggest names.
Comet sold to OpCapita for £2

9-Nov-2011
Turnaround private investment firm OpCapita has bought electricals retailer Comet from owner Kesa for £2.
Best Buy UK big box stores to shut

7-Nov-2011
Electricals group Best Buy is to close its big boxes in the UK and partner Carphone Warehouse’s will instead focus on developing its ‘connected world’ store model.
John Lovering board appointment sparks speculation over Peacocks

4-Nov-2011
Serial dealmaker John Lovering has joined the board of Peacocks owner Henson No 1, sparking speculation that he will exert a powerful influence over the embattled value retailer.
First M&S Food on the Move store to be trialled in London

4-Nov-2011
Standalone shop will sell hot and cold food from the retailer’s existing ranges targeted at commuters.
M-commerce sales to reach £2.5bn by 2016

4-Nov-2011
Mobile retail is expected to grow by 42% per year for the next five years to be worth £2.5bn by 2016.
In focus: Frozen Value

November 4 2011
The northern-based frozen food specialist has struggled to capitalise on customers trading down.
M&S steady in rough seas

November 4 2011
Amid renewed economic gloom and relentlessly downbeat consumer sentiment, next week brings a chance to gauge the sector’s temperature as some of retail’s biggest beasts report.
Uncertain outlook knocks retailers hard

November 4 2011
General retailers had a bad week as their stocks declined by twice as much as the wider market, which took a knock as the eurozone crisis dragged on and pundits argued over the UK’s economic prospects.
Rose mobile commerce venture goes live

3-Nov-2011
An innovative mobile payment system fronted by Sir Stuart Rose that launches tomorrow will play a pivotal role in the development of m-commerce, the former Marks & Spencer boss has claimed.
First-half sales edge up at Boots

3-Nov-2011
Health and beauty powerhouse Alliance Boots is on track to meet its financial targets this year despite tough trading conditions.
Directory sales power third quarter sales growth at Next

2-Nov-2011
A strong third quarter performance from Next’s Directory business helped compensate for weak store sales and full-year profits are expected to be up.
In pictures: Darth Vader to star in Dixons ads

1-Nov-2011
Electricals group Dixons is to reprise its Star Wars-themed TV advertising , this time featuring arch-villain Darth Vader.
Scottish government to bring in alcohol pricing bill

1-Nov-2011
The Scottish government is preparing to introduce minimum pricing on alcohol in a bid to improve the nation’s health – a policy that some retailers believe is misguided.
Profits plunge at JJB

31-Oct-2011
Sports retailer JJB has suffered a slump in interim profits and poor second half trading has forced a re-budgeting.
Ocado hit by delivery "blips"

28-Oct-2011
Warehouse “blips” have affected deliveries by online grocer Ocado today, but the retailer insisted only a comparatively small number of shoppers have been affected.
Consumer confidence falls in October

28-Oct-2011
Consumer confidence slipped in October to one of its lowest ever levels.
Burberry bolsters senior management team

28-Oct-2011
Luxury retailer and brand Burberry has bolstered its senior management team with the creation of the roles of senior role vice-president, customer insight, and chief technology officer.
Sales rise at John Lewis as Christmas buying begins

28-Oct-2011
Signs of early Christmas shopping were evident last week at John Lewis department stores and sister supermarket business Waitrose.
Argos will have to fight in China

October 28 2011
Back in the summer, at the time of Home Retail Group’s full-year results, I asked Terry Duddy whether international expansion might make sense for Argos.
Retailers feel the heat as consumers save

October 28 2011
Store stocks nudged up over the week, but analysts and retailers alike wrung their hands about trading prospects and consumer health as the countdown to Christmas continued.
Retail sales down year-on-year, CBI reports

27-Oct-2011
Retail sales fell in the year to October, the CBI Monthly Distributive Trades Survey showed, and sales volume was the lowest since May 2009.
Morrisons ad banned for targeting children

26-Oct-2011
Grocer Morrisons has been rapped over a television advert after viewers complained that it targeted children.
Tesco sets up emergency hubs in wake of Thai floods

25-Oct-2011
Supermarket group Tesco has had to shut some of its stores in Thailand because of flooding affecting the country, and the retailer is helping with the relief effort.
Argos launches TV shopping on Freesat

25-Oct-2011
Multichannel retailer Argos’s TV shopping operation has extended its reach through a tie-up with satellite TV firm Freesat.
Netflix to launch in UK next year

24-Oct-2011
Netflix, the on-demand film specialist, is to launch a streaming service in the UK and Republic of Ireland in 2012.
Peacocks bolsters board with key appointments

14-Oct-2011
Value fashion group Peacocks has made two senior appointments in key roles.
UK sales growth slows at Asos

14-Oct-2011
Online fashion specialist Asos has posted a sharp slowdown in UK sales but overseas revenues continue to soar.
Brand expertise key for new Mothercare chief

October 14 2011
Maternity specialist likely to go beyond traditional retail skillset as it seeks Gordon’s successor.
Shoppers’ budgets reach ‘tipping point’

October 14 2011
Consumers feeling squeeze but it is not all about price, IGD hears.
Mothercare suffers but retail improves

October 14 2011
While retailers rose over the week, Mothercare’s shares went in the opposite direction as desperate trading in the UK claimed the scalp of chief executive Ben Gordon on Tuesday.
Supermarket price wars: Battle of the baskets

October 14 2011
Sainsbury’s Brand Match is the latest in what has been a barrage of price promotions to entice hard-pressed shoppers. Are the grocers marshalling their forces for a price war? George MacDonald reports.
Ted Baker is no ordinary retailer

October 14 2011
“Better product, better design. It’s that simple.” That was the explanation given by Ted Baker chief executive Ray Kelvin to analysts last week as he unveiled a 12.7% increase in first-half profits.
WHSmith claims e-reader first with Kobo partnership

13-Oct-2011
Bookseller and stationer WHSmith has struck a deal to launch Kobo wifi touchscreen e-readers in the UK.
War of words over Asda own-label market share claims

12-Oct-2011
Supermarket group Sainsbury’s has rejected a claim made by Asda chief executive Andy Clarke at yesterday’s IGD Convention about the pair’s respective own-label market shares.
New owner Granite bolsters Yeomans management

12-Oct-2011
Yeomans, the 82-store outdoors specialist acquired in July by former Deutsche Bank distressed debt trader Jason Granite, has hired former Go Outdoors head of buying and merchandising Chris Boardman.
Asda overtakes Sainsbury's in own brand market share, claims Andy Clarke

11-Oct-2011
Asda has overtaken rival Sainsbury’s in private label market share according to the Walmart-owned grocer’s chief executive Andy Clarke.
Rival grocers 'can't get near Morrisons on pricing' says Dalton Phillips

11-Oct-2011
Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips said Sainsbury’s exclusion of his business from its Brand Match programme is testament to Morrisons’ price-competitiveness.
Sacrifice profits to help cash-strapped shoppers, says Tesco boss

11-Oct-2011
Tesco chief executive Philip Clarke told the IGD Convention that sometimes it is right to sacrifice earnings in order to help hard-pressed shoppers.
Sainsbury's to launch Brand Match nationwide on Wednesday

10-Oct-2011
Supermarket group Sainsbury’s is to launch its Brand Match price initiative across the UK from Wednesday as grocery competition hots up.
Pets at Home chief Matt Davies to stand down

10-Oct-2011
Pets at Home chief executive Matt Davies is to stand down from the role next spring after seven years in the role.
Sainsbury's poised to extend Brand Match across UK

7-Oct-2011
Supermarket group Sainsbury’s is to launch its Brand Match price promise nationwide after testing the idea in Northern Ireland.
Asda posts full-year profit rise

7-Oct-2011
Asda’s operating profit rose almost five per cent to £998.6m last year, excluding charges such as royalties to parent Walmart.
Big grocers avoid worst of price falls

October 7 2011
Store stocks were down across the board over the week but food and general merchandisers’ declines were limited versus the wider market, although that was ahead of a Mothercare profit warning.
Chinese whispers hit Burberry

October 7 2011
For evidence of shareholder short-termism, look no further than luxury goods retailer and brand Burberry.
Officers Club set to help Blue Inc to sixth year of record growth

October 7 2011
Fashion specialist Blue Inc expects a sixth year of record growth in 2011, despite punishing trading conditions.
World Retail Congress: The view from the top

October 7 2011
The industry’s biggest names from across the globe met at the fifth World Retail Congress to tackle the big issues of the day. George MacDonald and Rebecca Thomson report from Berlin.
More Sunday street closures envisaged to boost West End

6-Oct-2011
Top retail streets in London’s West End, the country’s premier shopping destination, should close to traffic on a frequent basis to draw in more custom, it has been proposed.
Retail sales fall at Halfords

6-Oct-2011
A second quarter like-for-like sales fall at car parts and bikes specialist Halfords’ retail division was counterbalanced by a strong showing from the Autocentres service business.
Waitrose launches 'biggest ever' value campaign

5-Oct-2011
Supermarket group Waitrose has launched its “biggest ever” value campaign to emphasise its competitiveness as shoopes keep a close eye on spending.
Thorntons reports first-quarter sales fall

5-Oct-2011
Chocolatier Thorntons has posted a first-quarter sales fall at all its main divisions but directors are confident in a strong Christmas product line-up.
Warehouse woes to hit SuperGroup profits

5-Oct-2011
SuperGroup, owner of the Superdry brand, has warned that full-year profits will be hit by as much as £9m after warehouse problems.
Shop price inflation stable in September

5-Oct-2011
Shop price inflation was unchanged month-on-month in September, when the overall rate remained 2.7%.
Marks & Spencer to recruit 200 graduates

4-Oct-2011
Marks & Spencer aims to recruit 200 people as part of its 2012 graduate and business placement programme.
Marks & Spencer asks suppliers for contribution to store overhaul programme

4-Oct-2011
Marks & Spencer is seeking a contribution from suppliers towards the cost of its £600m store revamp programme.
Former Dixons boss Clare advises on Comet deal

3-Oct-2011
Former Dixons chief executive John Clare is advising private equity firm OpCapita on its potential takeover of number two electricals retailer Comet, it is understood.
Retailers call on London Mayoral candidates to back West End

3-Oct-2011
Retailers in London’s West End have called for urgent action to cut the number of buses running along Oxford Street and Regent Street in a 10-point ‘manifesto’ aimed at the capital’s mayoral candidates.
New Look loses ecommerce director McBrien to M&S

3-Oct-2011
New Look ecommerce director Dom McBrien is to leave the retailer and join Marks & Spencer.
Tesco expected to post sales fall

3-Oct-2011
Top grocer Tesco is expected to provide evidence of how tough retail trading conditions are when it issues first-half figures on Wednesday.
Consumer confidence rises in September

30-Sep-2011
Consumer confidence improved in September for the first time since May.
Sales climb at Theo Fennell

29-Sep-2011
Jeweller Theo Fennell has posted a 9% sales rise for a six-month period but remains cautious ahead of the peak trading period.
Cut bag use or face legislation, Cameron tells retailers

29-Sep-2011
Prime Minister David Cameron has raised the prospect of introducing laws to force store groups to slash the number of plastic bags they distribute.
Musgrave takeover of Superquinn approved

29-Sep-2011
Irish grocer Musgrave’s acquisition of Superquinn has been given the green light by the country’s Competition Authority.
'Authenticity' key to celebrity branding, says Tommy Hilfiger

28-Sep-2011
The ubiquity of celebrity culture and emergence of social media means the basis of tie-ups between stars and fashion firms has changed, legendary designer Tommy Hilfiger told the World Retail Congress.
Aurora to extend 90-minute delivery to 90% of UK

27-Sep-2011
Fashion group Aurora, owner of brands including Oasis and Coast, intends to extend its offer of 90-minute delivery to most customers by next February.
In focus: French Connection

26-Sep-2011
As profitability improves the retailer is eyeing expansion in emerging markets.
10 ways to counter the gloom

September 23 2011
A raft of updates has revealed that many well-known retailers have successfully faced tough conditions. We pick out some of the ways they have achieved it.
Brian Brick

September 23 2011
If anyone could smarten up Moss Bros, it’s Brian Brick. Ahead of next week’s update George MacDonald reports on how he is tailoring the retailer for success
Dunelm done well

September 23 2011
In these times of tough trading and hard-to-come-by bank lending, you don’t often read this sort of thing in a preliminary results statement.
New Look to launch click-and-collect service into 600 stores

September 23 2011
New Look is poised to launch the most extensive click-and-collect service in fashion retail, an initiative that is expected to transform the way customers shop with the retailer.
Success stories help sector to outperform

September 23 2011
The bad retail news of the last week from retailers ranging from Alexon to Kesa was counterweighted by success stories from store groups including Debenhams and Kingfisher.
David Riddiford named chief executive of Links of London

22-Sep-2011
Former Selfridges and Arnotts director David Riddiford has been named chief executive of jeweller Links of London globally and the UK business of Folli Follie.
Digital deal takes Game into instant-play market

22-Sep-2011
Entertainment group Game has formed a strategic partnership with on-demand and ‘cloud’ gaming specialist OnLive to provide the latter’s service to UK consumers.
Debenhams to refit Oxford Street store

22-Sep-2011
Department store group Debenhams will transform its Oxford Street store when its planned head office move releases space.
Debenhams veteran Nigel Palmer to leave

21-Sep-2011
Debenhams veteran retail operations director Nigel Palmer is to leave the department store group after almost 30 years at the business.
Tesco speculation prompts price war fears

21-Sep-2011
Speculation is mounting that grocery and general merchandise giant Tesco is preparing to launch a price offensive next week, sparking concern of a new price war.
Debenhams to beat profit expectations after strong final quarter

20-Sep-2011
Department store group Debenhams expects to report profits ahead of consensus expectations after a strong finish to its financial year.
New Look m-commerce sales rocket

19-Sep-2011
Fashion retailer New Look has revealed surging sales through its m-commerce site.
Banks call in KPMG over Peacocks debt fears

19-Sep-2011
Lenders to value fashion group Peacocks have called in KPMG to conduct an independent business review as fears grow that the retailer is in danger of breaching its banking covenants.
French Connection sets sights on overseas growth as profits rise

19-Sep-2011
Fashion group French Connection has posted a first-half profit after tax for the first time since 2008 and has flagged potential for further international expansion.
Debenhams extends m-commerce offer

16-Sep-2011
Department store group Debenhams has laid claim to being “the first on the high street to offer a complete mobile package across all mobile technologies” after launching a mobile-enabled site.
Blacks finance director to step down

16-Sep-2011
Blacks Leisure finance director Marc Lombardo is to the leave the retailer at the end of this year.
General stores win out over the grocers

September 16 2011
As hordes of shoppers flocked to the opening of Westfield Stratford City, showing that willingness to spend has not entirely evaporated, general retailers ended the week up overall.
The global shopping centre

September 16 2011
Tuesday’s thronged opening of Westfield Stratford City showed that the right stores in the right locations will continue to seduce shoppers.
Mackays beats tough conditions to post profits rise

15-Sep-2011
Mackays Stores, one of the UK’s biggest privately owned clothing retailers, has posted an increase in profits despite having to cope with rising commodity prices.
Riots cloud picture on August retail sales

15-Sep-2011
The value of retail sales rose year-on-year during August but was flat month-on-month in a period when rioting disrupted trading.
HMV plans for further Christmas pop-up stores

15-Sep-2011
Entertainment specialist HMV is to open more pop-up shops this Christmas after last year’s success.
Comet deal uncertain as like-for-likes nosedive

15-Sep-2011
Electricals retailer Comet suffered a 22.1% like-for-like sales plunge in its second quarter after suffering a double-whammy of harsh trading conditions and tough comparatives.
Next signals end of price inflation as profits rise

14-Sep-2011
Fashion giant Next has reported a 8.5% rise in first-half profits and signalled an end to price inflation.
High level of promotions pushes down grocery spend

13-Sep-2011
A high level of promotions has resulted in a lower average spend per visit at the big grocers, despite inflation.
'Empty shelves' fear unless delivery restrictions lifted for Olympics

13-Sep-2011
Industry body the BRC has expressed concern to London mayor Boris Johnson about potential transport disruption during next year’s Olympics and Paralympics which could leave store shelves empty.
CPI inflation rate reaches 4.5%

13-Sep-2011
The rate of inflation rose to 4.5% in August from 4.4% in July as clothing prices climbed, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) showed.
Morrisons and Sainsbury's winners in latest Kantar data

13-Sep-2011
Morrisons and Sainsbury’s emerged as the market share winners among the big four grocers according to latest industry data, which also showed consumers buying fewer items and making more shopping trips.
In pictures: M&S shows off first new-look store

12-Sep-2011
Marks & Spencer has unveiled the first in-store changes initiated by chief executive Marc Bolland designed to better present brands, showcase the retailer’s exclusivity and make stores more easily shoppable.
Waterstone's to launch e-reader

9-Sep-2011
Bookseller Waterstone’s intends to launch an e-reader next year, managing director James Daunt has revealed.
Topshop opens in Chicago

9-Sep-2011
Fashion giant Arcadia took another step forward internationally with the opening of a flagship Topshop/Topman store on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue.
Bank holiday boosts John Lewis weekly sales

9-Sep-2011
Shoppers turned out in force over the August bank holiday, enabling department store chain John Lewis to generate sales up 7.1% to £61.1m.
HMV confident of turnaround despite sales fall

9-Sep-2011
Entertainment specialist HMV has posted a like-for-like sales fall of 15.1% in the first quarter but insisted that measures being taken to improve the business are bearing fruit.
Investor worry grows as trading stays tough

September 9 2011
Grocers, led by Tesco, bucked a gloomy market, but it was a poor week for general retailers as investors continued to wring their hands about general prospects, not helped when fashion group Alexon warned on profits.
Kingfisher turns the page

September 9 2011
The collapses of furniture retailers such as Floors2Go in the last month served to show that the furniture and home sectors are in a run-down state – a verdict reinforced by the BRC retail sales data this week.
Michael Sharp

September 9 2011
After almost 15 years at Debenhams the new chief executive is well placed to pick up where Rob Templeman left off. George MacDonald reports
Sales slide at Argos

8-Sep-2011
Argos suffered another big sales decline in its second quarter, but the retailer is confident that consumers will spend this Christmas.
Jessops confident as it posts full-year figures

7-Sep-2011
Cameras specialist Jessops posted a gross profit of £87.7m last year and is confident of renewal of banking facilities in November.
Shop price inflation slows in August

7-Sep-2011
Shop price inflation slowed in August to 2.7% compared to 2.8% in July.
Like-for-likes slide 7% at Dixons

7-Sep-2011
Electricals group Dixons, owner of Currys and PC World, has posted a 7% fall in group like-for-like sales but will meet full-year profit expectations
Harsh trading conditions prompt redundancies at Arcadia

6-Sep-2011
Fashion giant Arcadia expects to make redundancies at its head office to improve efficiency and make best use of resources in tough trading conditions, but the retailer will continue to invest in growth.
Sainsbury's poaches group property director from Dixons

6-Sep-2011
Sainsbury’s has poached Dixons group property director Philip Bell-Brown to become its director of property development.
Marks & Spencer strengthens brand marketing team

6-Sep-2011
Marks & Spencer has bolstered its marketing team to help achieve chief executive Marc Bolland’s aim of turning some of its ‘labels into real brands’.
Retail sales hold up in August, despite riots

6-Sep-2011
Last month’s riots in English cities had little impact on retail sales, which edged down 0.6% like-for-like during August.
John Lovering named chairman of Maplin

5-Sep-2011
Veteran dealmaker John Lovering has been appointed non-executive chairman of Maplin, the electricals specialist owned by Montagu Private Equity.
Debenhams claims retail world-first with smartphone innovation

5-Sep-2011
Department store group Debenhams has claimed a retail world-first after deploying innovative smartphone technology to bring print ads to life.
Clinton asks landlords to stagger September rent

5-Sep-2011
Greetings cards specialist Clinton Cards has asked landlords if it can pay its September rent in stages to ensure smooth cashflow.
Leahy: 'no danger of double-dip recession'

2-Sep-2011
Britain is not heading for a double-dip recession, former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy believes.
Electricals drive weekly sales rise at John Lewis

2-Sep-2011
Sales at department store chain John Lewis rose 1.4% last week to £58.6m, when electricals and home technology was once again the top performing category.
Templeman exits Debenhams as Sharp takes over the hot seat

September 2 2011
Rob Templeman formally hands over the reins at department store group Debenhams on Monday, when he will be succeeded as chief executive by Michael Sharp.
Analysts confident the only way is up for retail shares

September 2 2011
Analysts believe store stocks are unlikely to crash further, despite big-name retail shares plunging last week, when specialist Topps Tiles also issued a profit warning.
Big names suffer amid tough trading concerns

September 2 2011
Shop stocks were out of favour in the wake of a profit warning from Topps Tiles, with bearish notes on some of the sector’s biggest names and general heebie-jeebies about trading.
Morrisons downgraded despite outperforming

September 2 2011
Broker Oriel has downgraded Morrisons ahead of the grocer’s interims next Thursday.
Time to make a judgement call

September 2 2011
Two of the retailers most mauled by the bears update next week, electricals group Dixons and Argos owner Home Retail.
Topps’ tumble spells trouble for sector

September 2 2011
Analysts warned that Topps Tiles’ profit warning last week could signal weak trading for the wider home-related retail sector.
Burberry switches marketing spend into digital media

1-Sep-2011
Luxury fashion group Burberry now allocates 60% of its marketing budget to digital media – more than three times the average.
Countrywide launches own-brand value offer

1-Sep-2011
Rural specialist Countrywide is to launch a value range to enhance its appeal to shoppers and protect margin during tough trading conditions.
Consumer confidence slides to recessionary low

31-Aug-2011
Consumer confidence fell in August back to its level in April and only matched during the turbulent periods of 2008/09 and in early 1990.
In pictures: M&S drafts in new celebs to front brand ad campaigns

30-Aug-2011
Marks & Spencer has drafted in new celebrity faces to front print, in-store and online campaigns which focus for the first time on brands including Autograph.
Ocado urged to shelve plans for second fulfilment centre

30-Aug-2011
Online grocer Ocado should abandon plans for a £210m second customer fulfilment centre until it proves that it has a viable business from its first, according to a leading broker.
Credit insurers put value clothing retailers on watch list

30-Aug-2011
Value clothing retailers are coming under increasing scrutiny from credit insurers as trading conditions remain tough.
Tesco looks East for funds with 'dim sum' bond issue

26-Aug-2011
Grocery giant Tesco has become the first international retailer to raise money in China with the issue of a ‘dim sum’ bond.
Sales of tablets outstrip desktops for first time at John Lewis

26-Aug-2011
Tablet computers outsold desktop PCs for the first time last week at department store chain John Lewis, which posted a total weekly sales rise of 2.6% to £53.4m.
Peter Williams

August 26 2011
At home with both the glamour of Selfridges and the gloom of turnarounds, Peter Williams’ latest challenge is working with Blacks. George MacDonald finds out what drives him
Preparing for the golden quarter

August 26 2011
After the dog days of August, the sector springs into action again in early September.
Retail shares slide along with market

August 26 2011
General retailers were on the slide along with the market during the week, although the fall in grocers’ share prices was much less marked.
SuperGroup hires supply and sourcing experts to boost team

August 26 2011
Fashion retailer SuperGroup has made two key appointments to support continued rapid growth.
Countrywide seeks acquisitions as sales rise

25-Aug-2011
Rural specialist Countrywide is on the look-out for acquisitions after maintaining retail profitability and increasing sales last year.
CBI reports fall in August retail sales volumes

25-Aug-2011
Retail sales volumes fell year-on-year in August at the fastest pace for more than a year
Floors 2 Go collapses into administration

25-Aug-2011
Specialist retailer Floors 2 Go has been put into administration and part of the business has been bought by a new company.
Topps warns on profits as shattered consumer confidence takes toll

25-Aug-2011
Topps Tiles has issued a profit warning after a steep trading downturn in recent weeks.
Garden Centre Group buys Country Homes and Gardens

24-Aug-2011
Garden Centre Group has bought 12-store counterpart Country Homes and Gardens for an undisclosed sum.
Primark sees scope for 300 store openings in Europe

24-Aug-2011
Value fashion giant Primark sees scope to more than double store numbers as it considers its next phase of overseas expansion.
Ocado launches 'shopping wall' at top shopping centre

23-Aug-2011
Online grocer Ocado is to enable shoppers to order goods by scanning from a window display in an experimental venture reminiscent of an innovation tried by Tesco in Korea.
Retail Week On The Road: Ireland

23-Aug-2011
We visit Dublin, Belfast and Cork
No pay rise for SuperGroup's Dunkerton

23-Aug-2011
Directors of fashion retailer SuperGroup, including founder Julian Dunkerton, will not take a pay rise this year
UPDATED: A-wear 'will not go into examinership'

22-Aug-2011
A-wear, the Irish fashion retailer controlled by private equity firm Alchemy, is not at risk of going into examinership sources familiar with the situation told Retail Week.
Tesco extends Irish market share lead

22-Aug-2011
Irish grocery sales were flat in the 12 weeks to August 7 as shoppers kept a tight rein on spending.
Tommy Hilfiger to open flagship on London's Brompton Road

22-Aug-2011
Fashion retailer and brand Tommy Hilfiger is to open its biggest UK store in November this year on London’s Brompton Road.
JD Sports hires property advisor to drive expansion in France

22-Aug-2011
Fashion group JD Sports has hired property advisers to guide on expansion in France.
M&S becomes exclusive fashion partner for The X Factor

19-Aug-2011
Marks & Spencer has been named the exclusive fashion partner of The X Factor, the search-for-a-star TV show.
Plus-size women's fashion sales to reach £5.7bn by 2016

19-Aug-2011
The plus-size clothing market is expected to generate sales of £7.9bn by 2016 after rapid growth over the last five years.
John Lewis beats rioters with weekly sales rise

19-Aug-2011
Department store chain John Lewis generated a sales increase of 2.9% to £52.9m last week, despite riot disruption. Excluding VAT, the rise was 1.3%.
Mark Horgan

August 19 2011
Sainsbury’s new marketing director will play a key role as the grocer begins to prepare for the post-Jamie Oliver era. George MacDonald reports
Retail bearing up but grocery volumes weak

August 19 2011
Although retailers bore the brunt of last week’s riots, the sector kept its head above water despite lagging the All-share index.
Signet shares may yet sparkle

August 19 2011
Unlike what it sells in-store, the shares of jewellery Goliath Signet haven’t been sparklers lately – there’s a been a distinct lack of bling.
M&S names partner to build multichannel platform

18-Aug-2011
Marks & Spencer has appointed technology firm SapientNitro to create its own multichannel platform as it bids to increase multichannel sales to between £800 and £1bn by 2014.
Asda accuses WHSmith of 'ripping off' back-to-school shoppers

18-Aug-2011
Asda has accused WHSmith of “rip-off” stationery prices as the battle for back-to-school sales heats up.
Shopper footfall resilient last week despite riots

16-Aug-2011
Shopper traffic remained resilient last week, despite widespread rioting and looting during which retailers were targeted.
Convicted rioters to be banned from Manchester city centre

15-Aug-2011
People convicted of participating in riots and looting in Manchester last week are to be banned from the city centre.
Dixons offers £50,000 reward for looter information

12-Aug-2011
Electricals group Dixons has created a £50,000 reward fund for information leading to the arrest of looters following widespread rioting this week.
Weekly sales slip at John Lewis

12-Aug-2011
Sales at John Lewis department stores slipped 1.4% last week to £51.8m as warm weather and the peak holiday period took a toll. Excluding VAT the decline was 3.3%.
Crisis of confidence continues

August 12 2011
Although the BRC was able to report “modest” retail sales growth in July, there was little for store chiefs’ comfort in the latest data.
Resilient retail stocks flagged up as stock markets plunge

August 12 2011
Plunging stock markets have created buying opportunities among retailers and prompted brokers to seek out resilient stocks.
Store stocks bear up despite wave of riots

August 12 2011
Despite the wave of rioting, including shop-burning and widespread looting, stores were down but outperformed other stocks in a week when the global markets were undermined by renewed financial fears.
Halfords promotes Bill Duffy to head Autocentres

11-Aug-2011
Halfords has promoted Bill Duffy to become chief executive of its Autocentres business.
BRC urges business rate suspension for riot-hit retailers

11-Aug-2011
Industry body the BRC has written to Prime Minister David Cameron asking for a temporary suspension of business rates for riot-hit retailers and other measures to support traders disrupted by this week’s disorder.
Peter Williams parachuted into Blacks as interim chairman

11-Aug-2011
Former Selfridges chief executive Peter Williams has been appointed interim chairman of outdoor goods specialist Blacks Leisure until a permanent replacement is found.
Riots calculated to have cost retailers £80m in lost sales

10-Aug-2011
The mayhem caused by rioters has so far cost retailers £80m in lost sales, equating to £2.5m per working hour, as stores shut early and shoppers avoided trouble-spots.
Sainsburys names Mark Horgan as marketing director

10-Aug-2011
Supermarket group Sainsbury’s has named MasterCard executive Mark Horgan as marketing director.
Hilco still in the running for control of Comet

10-Aug-2011
Restructuring specialist Hilco is reportedly still in the running as a bidder for electricals retailer Comet.
BRC tells Home Secretary to deal with "escalating lawlessness" after rioting

9-Aug-2011
Industry body the BRC is to seek “urgent reassurances” from Home Secretary Theresa May that everything possible is being done to address “escalating lawlessness” on the streets of London and other cities after three nights of rioting resulting in the destruction and looting of stores.
'Modest' retail sales growth in July, BRC reports

9-Aug-2011
Retail sales edged up 0.6% like-for-like in July, when total revenues advanced 2.5%.
Met holding briefing for retailers hit by riots

8-Aug-2011
The Metropolitan Police is holding an emergency briefing for major UK retailers to update them on the riots taking place in London, Retail Week has learnt.
Tesco blames technical glitch for pricing error

8-Aug-2011
Supermarket group Tesco has blamed a technical error for lower prices on some products in Scottish stores, in breach of an industry agreement.
In pictures: stores ransacked in London rioting

8-Aug-2011
Many shops in London have been looted and some destroyed during two nights of rioting in the capital.
Weekly sales 'slack' at John Lewis, but first-half ends well

5-Aug-2011
Sales growth at department store chain John Lewis slackened last week as the good weather put consumers off visiting stores, but the retailer said it has had a good first-half.
Blacks rise continues in spite of retail’s fall

August 5 2011
Outdoor specialist Blacks bucked a general retail share price dive to be the biggest riser for the second week running.
From coffee to cards

August 5 2011
The appointment of Darcy Willson-Rymer as chief executive of Clinton Cards could not be a more definitive sign of change at the retailer, which for the first time will be run by someone from outside the founding family.
Argos tunes in to new Emmerdale ad tie-up

4-Aug-2011
Argos is to promote its new catalogue on TV tonight through an innovative tie-up with broadcaster ITV and soap Emmerdale.
Tough trading is set to continue, says Spindler

4-Aug-2011
Trading at value department store group Original Factory Shop has improved in the new financial year, but chief executive Angela Spindler said retail conditions remain tough.
Arcadia profits to fall by a third

4-Aug-2011
Profits at fashion giant Arcadia will fall steeply this year, owner Sir Philip Green has told staff.
Cocosa raids Asos for new managing director

2-Aug-2011
Online retailer Cocosa has poached a top Asos executive to lead the business.
Balderton Capital takes stake in online retailer Achica

1-Aug-2011
Private equity fund Balderton Capital has taken an undisclosed stake in online homewares retailer Achica.
Profits fall at Original Factory Shop

1-Aug-2011
Value department store group Original Factory Shop has posted a fall in profits after a “challenging year” but is confident of continued long-term growth.
Dixons heads for Harrods

July 29 2011
Ironic that Dixons, which only two years ago was threatened by Harrods with legal action over a cheeky ad poking fun at the famous department store, is soon to be installed as the electricals concessionaire in the landmark Knightsbridge shop.
Location-based marketing

July 29 2011
Appealing to local shoppers using location-based marketing is becoming more effective as mobile technology is connecting retailers right to the customer
Stakebuilding raises Blacks’ share price

July 29 2011
The market edged up over the week but retailers of all types were becalmed.
Tablets drive Carphone sales but Best Buy concerns remain

July 29 2011
Tablet computers have become a key driver of Carphone Warehouse’s performance for the first time.
Withdrawal of court action clears way for Musgrave's Superquinn deal

27-Jul-2011
The door has been opened for Irish retailer Musgrave to go ahead with its acquisition of bust counterpart Superquinn after court action was abandoned.
Carphone on track despite sales fall

27-Jul-2011
Carphone Warehouse has reported a “very satisfactory start to the year” despite a like-for-like sales fall at the eponymous division.
Former Kingfisher director considers bidding for Comet

25-Jul-2011
Former Kingfisher director Jim Weight is among the bidders for troubled electricals chain Comet, it is understood.
Dixons to open Harrods concession

25-Jul-2011
Currys and PC World-owner Dixons has struck an agreement to run the consumer electronics section in world-famous department store Harrods.
Court battle threatens Musgrave's Superquinn deal

22-Jul-2011
Irish grocer Musgrave’s takeover of Superquinn is in jeopardy after court action was launched that jeopardises the deal.
Former Comet director Lousada joins Buy It Direct

22-Jul-2011
Former Comet director Toby Lousada has joined online retailer Buy It Direct as non-executive chairman.
Jessops posts first-half sales rise

22-Jul-2011
Cameras specialist Jessops has posted an uplift in first-half sales and says it is beating trading targets.
John Lewis encouraged by demand for new season's product

22-Jul-2011
Department store chain John Lewis has reported strong demand for new season’s lines as it moved out of the Sale period.
Back to base camp for Blacks

July 22 2011
Almost four years after Neil Gillis took over as chief executive, the bulk of his turnaround ambition for Blacks remains just that.
Dixons audits result in supplier delistings

July 22 2011
The number of own-brand suppliers and potential suppliers delisted or not approved on ethical grounds by electricals giant Dixons rocketed by almost 85% last year.
Subdued trading and inflation hits grocers

July 22 2011
The latest grocery industry data from Kantar and Nielsen showed inflation-powered sales growth at the expense of volumes.
Inflation hits grocery volumes

19-Jul-2011
Rising food prices have helped the value of grocery sales rise but have hit volumes.
Matalan posts quarterly sales fall

19-Jul-2011
Value fashion group Matalan has posted a quarterly sales decline and warned that trading conditions remain tough, despite an uptick in July.
Call for return of RRPs on electrical items

19-Jul-2011
The Competition Commission is considering whether to allow the reintroduction of recommended retail prices (RRPs) on electrical goods.
United Carpets posts level profits

18-Jul-2011
United Carpets aims to increase its market share in core categories after holding profitability last year.
Dixons boss Browett's bonus cut

18-Jul-2011
Dixons chief executive John Browett’s rewards package shrank last year after the retailer’s profits growth stalled.
Walker hires Rothschild ahead of Iceland bid

18-Jul-2011
Iceland founder Malcolm Walker has appointed advisers to back him in his battle for retention of control of the food retailer.
Blacks increases borrowing after sales fall

15-Jul-2011
Outdoor clothing and equipment specialist Blacks Leisure has extended its borrowing facilities and aims to refinance following a sales fall.
Wednesday deadline for first-round bids for Comet

July 15 2011
Up to 10 would-be buyers consider whether to table offers for 249-store electricals chain
M&S to reveal food brands

July 15 2011
Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland aims to introduce the first of a raft of exclusive international food brands to selected stores this October.
From crisis comes opportunity

July 15 2011
The retail collapses of the past few weeks were sad news for those losing their jobs, but the focus on failure meant the bigger picture was obscured: crisis for one means opportunity for others, and good quoted retailers are seizing it.
General retail cheer despite torrid trading

July 15 2011
As the general market slid on renewed Eurozone crisis fears, retailers outperformed, although they were still down in the week leading up to Wednesday’s raft of updates.
Sir Tom Hunter

July 15 2011
On the eve of forging a retail partnership with Mike Ashley, Sir Tom Hunter intends to make use of Sports Direct’s deep pockets. George MacDonald reports
Soaring profits and sales put SuperGroup back on track

July 15 2011
An improvement in recent trading at SuperGroup, owner of the Superdry brand, reassured the City that the business still has legs.
Tough conditions take toll on Mothercare UK sales

14-Jul-2011
Maternity specialist Mothercare has reported continued difficult trading in the UK but said measures to adapt to tough conditions here will bear fruit.
SuperGroup full-year profits more than double

13-Jul-2011
Profits at SuperGroup, owner of the Superdry brand, more than doubled last year and the fashion retailer expects success to continue.
Marks & Spencer makes market share gains as sales rise

13-Jul-2011
Marks & Spencer has posted a total sales rise of 3.2% in its first quarter, when it reported market share gains in fashion and food.
June retail sales less bad than feared

12-Jul-2011
Retail like-for-like sales fell 0.6% year-on-year during June but increased 1.5% in total, helped by the early launch of Sales.
Cath Kidston poaches Claire's Stores boss to be chief executive

11-Jul-2011
Quintessentially English fashion and homewares specialist Cath Kidston has named Kenny Wilson chief exective.
Tesco applies feng shui as it opens Asian retail academy

8-Jul-2011
Tesco has opened a retail academy in South Korea to train its 100,000 staff in Asia – a sign of the increasing importance of the region to the retail giant.
Weekly sales fall at John Lewis

8-Jul-2011
Sales at department store chain John Lewis tumbled 3.4% last week but the year-on-year comparison was muddied by the timing of its Sale.
M&S cruising?

July 8 2011
Marks & Spencer’s army of private shareholders will descend on the Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday for the usual beanfeast.
Middle march

July 8 2011
Despite consumer belts tightening and rising commodity prices, middle-market retailers are capitalising on the climate with flexible price architecture and brand recognition. George MacDonald reports
Retail climbs but fails to match the market

July 8 2011
Food and general retailers alike climbed over the week but failed to match the rise clocked up by the market overall.
Kingfisher gets go-ahead on Focus stores deal

7-Jul-2011
The Office of Fair trading has cleared Kingfisher’s acquisition of 30 Focus DIY stores from the latter’s administrators .
Boots and Dixons pull News of the World advertising

7-Jul-2011
Health and beauty and electricals market leaders Boots and Dixons have both decided to pull their advertising in the News of the World.
Sainsbury's ditches News of the World advertising

7-Jul-2011
Sainsbury’s has become the first big grocer to suspend advertising in the News of the World as the phone-hacking scandal engulfing the tabloid worsened.
GA Europe acquires TJ Hughes debt and will run clearance

7-Jul-2011
Restructuring specialist GA Europe has acquired private equity firm Endless’s debt in TJ Hughes, the discount department store group which is in administration.
Sales and market share rise at Dunelm

7-Jul-2011
Value homewares group Dunelm has posted a sales increase and claimed greater market share.
Moben, Dolphin and Kitchens Direct shut as Homeform is put into administration

6-Jul-2011
Bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchens retailer Homeform has gone into administration and Moben, Dolphin and Kitchens Direct businesses have been closed down.
Wickes joins Co-op and Aldi in suspending News of the World ads

6-Jul-2011
DIY retailer Wickes has become the latest retailer to suspend advertising in the News of the World, following the same decision by the Co-operative Group and Aldi.
Duke Street pulls out of Bonmarche sale talks

6-Jul-2011
Private equity firm Duke Street has abandoned interest in acquiring the Bonmarche business from value fashion group Peacocks.
Sports Direct takes control of Sir Tom Hunter's USC

6-Jul-2011
Tycoon Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct has bought a majority stake in Sir Tom Hunter’s branded fashion business USC and luxury retailer Cruise Clothing as it extends its retail reach.
Retailers react to campaigners' calls to reconsider News of the World advertising

5-Jul-2011
Retailers are closely monitoring developments in the News of the World phone-hacking scandal as campaigners put pressure on big companies to reconsider their advertising with the Sunday tabloid.
Sales improve at N Brown

5-Jul-2011
Home shopping group N Brown has reported an improving sales trend but has sacrificed some margin to prompt shoppers to spend.
Argos launches £4m ad campaign to promote same-day collection

4-Jul-2011
Multichannel retailer Argos is to launch a £4m advertising campaign, including TV, radio and online, to promote its same-day collection service for online orders.
Knight Vinke urges Comet demerger rather than sale

4-Jul-2011
Knight Vinke, the activist investors with a 20% stake in Kesa, has urged the electricals group not to sell UK chain Comet.
Judith McKenna promoted to become Asda chief operating officer

1-Jul-2011
Asda has named Judith McKenna as chief operating officer, succeeding Simon King.
General retailers defy market and bad news

July 1 2011
Retailers may have gone down like dominoes over the week but despite the slew of bad news publicly quoted general retailers were up versus the market generally.
Tesco shines in central Europe

July 1 2011
As headlines here were dominated by retailer collapses such as Habitat and Homeform, Tesco was reminding the City of its international counterweight to the troubled UK market.
Consumer confidence back on the slide

30-Jun-2011
Consumer confidence suffered a setback in June after a big leap in May.
HMV chiefs outline new vision after awful year

30-Jun-2011
HMV chiefs have reaffirmed their faith in the retailer after a terrible year, and set an operating margin target of between 3% and 4%.
Debenhams beats high street blues with like-for-likes rise

30-Jun-2011
Department store group Debenhams has confounded harsh high street conditions and expects full year profits to meet expectations.
The Hut drafts in IPO advisers

29-Jun-2011
Online retailer The Hut, which is chaired by former Matalan chief executive Angus Monro and in which Sir Stuart Rose and Sir Terry Leahy are investors, is poised to name advisers ahead of a potential IPO.
M&S launches earlier summer Sale

28-Jun-2011
Retail bellwether Marks & Spencer launched its seasonal Sale today, a fortnight earlier than last year.
Edinburgh Woollen Mill acquires Jane Norman but 33 stores to shut

28-Jun-2011
Edinburgh Woollen Mill has bought the Jane Norman brand and 33 stores from administrator Zolfo Cooper.
DFS beats harsh trading conditions to post profits rise

28-Jun-2011
Sofas specialist DFS has bucked the dismal furniture market trend to post a rise in EBITDA and flat sales in its most recent nine months’ trading.
Jane Norman in administration

27-Jun-2011
Zolfo Cooper has been drafted in as administrator of fashion group Jane Norman.
Iceland's Walker in talks with Goldman Sachs for deal finance

27-Jun-2011
Iceland tycoon Malcom Walker is in talks with Goldman Sachs about backing his efforts to retain control of the frozen foods specialist.
Ocado posts first interim pre-tax profit and strikes deal with Carrefour

27-Jun-2011
Online grocer Ocado has reported pre-tax profitability in its first-half and struck a deal with French giant Carrefour to distribute selected goods in the UK.
John Lewis weekly sales rise almost 8%

24-Jun-2011
Department store chain John Lewis enjoyed its best trading of the half-year so far last week, when sales rose 8.6% to £57m.
‘No silver bullet’ for Comet

June 24 2011
Electricals retailer to press ahead with turnaround strategy as options for business are considered
Betting on Dunkerton

June 24 2011
It was a big day last week for fashion specialist SuperGroup when the City’s scribblers descended on Cheltenham for a bit of speed-dating with the management.
Investors should drop idea of UK Retail plc, says analyst

June 24 2011
Investors should abandon the idea of ‘UK Retail plc’, a label which has outlived its usefulness, Peel Hunt analyst John Stevenson has argued.
Vast contrast typifies results across retail

June 24 2011
Food and general retailers alike lagged a flattish market as updates and sector data showed sharply divergent performances from store groups.
SuperGroup reports business 'on track' and confirms Regent Street opening

20-Jun-2011
Fashion retailer SuperGroup reported that retail sales have improved in the last three weeks and are running overall at about the same level as in the fourth quarter, when they rose 39%.
City speculates on Abercrombie bid for SuperGroup

17-Jun-2011
US retailer Abercrombie & Fitch may be interested in acquiring trendy fashion retailer SuperGroup, City speculators believe.
John Lewis fashion sales leap as prices cut

17-Jun-2011
Department store chain John Lewis generated strong fashion sales last week as it price-matched rivals’ promotions.
Argos boosts multichannel offer with launch of live TV channel

June 17 2011
Catalogue store group Argos aims to grab a slice of the £750m TV home shopping market following the launch of its own channel
Carphone Warehouse targets tablets in bid for market share

June 17 2011
Carphone spies opportunity to ‘tether’ tablets to mobiles in bid to seize share in fast-growing market
City takes dim view of retailers’ mixed results

June 17 2011
General retailers and grocers alike were down as a wide range of stores reported a mixed trading picture.
The big-box blues

June 17 2011
After all the speculation beforehand, Carphone Warehouse gave away little about the future of the fledgling Best Buy big-box business in the UK when it updated on Tuesday
Game shareholders revolt over pay

16-Jun-2011
Shareholders in entertainment specialist Game staged a revolt against the retailer’s remuneration stance at yesterday’s AGM.
Argos TV shopping channel goes live

15-Jun-2011
Catalogue store group Argos has launched its TV shopping service, adding another platform to its multichannel offer.
Best Buy UK big boxes lose £62m in first year

14-Jun-2011
Best Buy’s fledgling big box business lost £62.2m in its first full year of operating in the UK, joint venture partner Carphone Warehouse reported.
Reuben brothers take £2m stake in Blue Inc

13-Jun-2011
Billionaire investors the Reuben brothers have taken a holding in fashion retailer Blue Inc, it is understood.
Foyles to open in Westfield Stratford City

13-Jun-2011
Bookseller Foyles is to open a store in Westfield Stratford City, bringing its branch count to seven.
10 lessons to learn from Asos

9-Jun-2011
Asos has become the poster child of UK online retailing. As it records another stellar set of results, Retail Week looks at the lessons of its success
Retail heavyweight Templeman to chair BRC

June 3 2011
Debenhams chief executive Rob Templeman, one of retail’s most highly regarded bosses, is to become chairman of industry body the British Retail Consortium.
A year to forget for New Look

June 3 2011
It’s hard to believe that little more than year ago, fashion group New Look hoped to pull off an IPO.
Electricals market hit by World Cup comps

June 3 2011
A year ago electricals retailers and department stores were riding the crest of the World Cup wave but now store groups that benefited then are coming up against tough comparatives.
Nick Hollingworth

June 3 2011
The Austin Reed boss may have sold its landmark Regent Street store to new kid on the block SuperGroup, but it marks a new chapter for the menswear specialist. By George MacDonald.
Home Retail chief executive Duddy's bonus halved

2-Jun-2011
Terry Duddy, chief executive of Home Retail, Argos’s parent company, had his bonus slashed last year.
Asos eyes China after profits rocket by 41%

2-Jun-2011
UPDATED: Online fashion specialist Asos has posted a rise in full-year profits, boosted by its growing international business which will be expanded this year. The retailer is also assessing how to launch in China.
Marks & Spencer raids Arcadia for brand director

1-Jun-2011
Marks & Spencer has raided arch-rival Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia to complete the make-up of its restructured senior marketing team.
The Hut acquires Myprotein.com for £58m ahead of likely IPO

1-Jun-2011
Online retailer The Hut, which is considering an IPO later this year, has acquired sports nutrition etailer Myprotein.com in a deal understood to be worth about £58m.
House of Fraser closes £250m bond issue

1-Jun-2011
Department store group house of Fraser closed a £250m bond issue yesterday.
Dixons agrees £59m sale and leaseback deal

1-Jun-2011
Electricals group Dixons, owner of chains including Currys and PC World, has agreed a £59m sale and leaseback of its Nordic distribution centre.
Consumer confidence soars in May

27-May-2011
Consumer confidence rose at the highest rate in almost two decades during May as the royal wedding and sunny weather heralded a return of the feelgood factor.
Flat market masks big risers and fallers

May 27 2011
Retailers generally, like the market, were flat over the week, but that masked some big share price advances and falls.
For M&S’s Bolland, success is in the detail

May 27 2011
When Marc Bolland succeeded Sir Stuart Rose as chief executive of Marks & Spencer, there was fevered speculation about the extent to which he would change strategic direction.
M&S shopfloor staff gain power to improve customer experience

26-May-2011
Food department staff to be given extra responsibilities as part of Bolland’s improvements
Burberry focuses on flagships as profits leap

26-May-2011
Luxury goods retailer and brand Burberry is to focus on high-profile flagship store openings and refurbs after reporting a surge in profits.
Dixons to drive profit through its Knowhow service division

26-May-2011
Electricals group Dixons could add “tens of millions” to profits with a push into services through its Knowhow division, group chief executive John Browett believes.
Bob Darke

26-May-2011
Despite job cuts and a steep fall in sales, new managing director Bob Darke insists Comet can survive in a tough sector. George MacDonald reports.
Grocery sales growth sluggish as bank holidays prompt spending 'hangover'

24-May-2011
Shoppers cut back on their supermarket spending at the time of the royal wedding holiday at the end of April following a spending spree previously.
Profits rise as M&S makes market share gains

24-May-2011
Marks & Spencer has posted a surge in profits and made market share gains in its core categories.
Weekly sales flat at John Lewis

20-May-2011
Sales growth at department store chain John Lewis was flat last week, when revenues came in at £53.4m.
HMV sells Waterstone's for £53m

20-May-2011
Russian tycoon Alexander Mamut is to buy bookseller Waterstone’s from entertainment group HMV for £53m in cash and has drafted in Daunt Books founder James Daunt to run the business.
New Comet chief: ‘We’re not going out of business’

May 20 2011
New boss Bob Darke rules out mass store closures, CVA or pre-pack administration
Dixons Spanish exit begins with PC City store disposals

May 20 2011
Electricals group Dixons has disposed of eight of its 34 PC City stores in Spain to Portuguese retailer Sonae on undisclosed terms.
Has Superdry peaked?

May 20 2011
Following its IPO SuperGroup has outperformed the market, but recently some not-so-impressive figures suggest the bubble might have burst. Is this the case or is the City overreacting?
Ocado’s great expectations

May 20 2011
Having risen as high as 290p over the last year, online grocer Ocado’s shares have slid down to 200p.
Stores in the spotlight as sale talk heightens

May 20 2011
Retailers provided some of the biggest talking points of the week as fevered speculation swirled about the future of some of the industry’s biggest names including Comet, HMV and Signet.
Founding family trust sells 1.5m Sainsbury's shares

19-May-2011
Members of Sainsbury’s founding family yesterday sold 1.5m of their shares in the grocer, netting almost £5.3m.
Dixons teams up with big brands for service push

19-May-2011
Electricals retailer Dixons has begun providing services such as delivery and installation on behalf of brands and other retailers as it ramps up its services division.
Asda posts flat first-quarter

17-May-2011
Grocery and general merchandise giant Asda has posted adjusted like-for-like growth of 0.8% in its first quarter.
Dixons offloads eight PC City stores in Spain

17-May-2011
Electricals group Dixons has offloaded eight of its 34 PC City stores in Spain to Portuguese retailer Sonae, which aims to expand in the country.
Government drafts in Portas to advise on future of the high street

17-May-2011
The Government has drafted in TV presenter Mary Portas to lead a review of the future of high street.
Kesa considers disposal of Comet

16-May-2011
Anglo-French electricals group Kesa may sell loss-making UK chain Comet and delist its shares from the London Stock Exchange.
Profits climb at Alliance Boots

16-May-2011
Retailer and wholesaler Alliance Boots has reported surging sales and profits.
Brokers urge caution as retailers beat the market

May 13 2011
Store stocks strongly outperformed the All-share index as the latest BRC data showed a sales surge in April, when grocers and some general retailers benefited from sunny weather and bank holidays.
Carphone trials in Best Buy stores while Comet’s problems deepen

May 13 2011
Best Buy Europe has introduced the Carphone Warehouse brand into one of its big-box stores for the first time.
Cheshire’s grinning

May 13 2011
The demise of Focus, pancaked under a pile of debt, brings long-expected consolidation in the DIY sector and a big beneficiary will be Kingfisher.
M&S strengthens food team with creation of new trading boss role

May 13 2011
Marks & Spencer has restructured its senior food team, promoting Andy Adcock to the newly created role of trading director for food.
Thinking outside the box

May 13 2011
Not everyone is convinced Best Buy Europe’s big-box stores in the UK will be a success, but the retailer insists the market is missing the bigger picture. By George MacDonald
Comet like-for-like sales plummet 15.2%

11-May-2011
Electricals retailer Comet suffered a 15.2% plunge in like-for-like sales in its final quarter, bringing the full-year fall to 7.7%.
Like-for-like sales jump 5.2% in April, the BRC reports

10-May-2011
Like-for-like sales leaped last month as sunny Easter weather and the royal wedding boosted sales.
City expecting better news from retailers

May 6 2011
A downbeat assessment of retail conditions from the CBI on Tuesday unsettled investors but just a day later fashion bellwether Next posted a better than expected first quarter, helped by warm weather.
Kevin Hawkins

May 6 2011
Never far from the action, Kevin Hawkins has eschewed retirement on the golf course for the chance to head up a new Government retail taskforce. George MacDonald finds out why.
N Brown overlooked

May 6 2011
While the etail era has made online outfitter Asos a share price star, another retailer well placed to benefit from changing shopper habits has been overlooked.
The Hut gears up for float with adviser beauty parade

May 6 2011
Online retailer backed by Rose considering IPO to capitalise on growing appetite for digital stocks.
M&S raids Mars and John Lewis to fill key roles

5-May-2011
Marks & Spencer has strengthened its senior management with two key appointments.
M&S deputy chairman Michels to stand down

5-May-2011
Marks & Spencer deputy chairman Sir David Michels, who led the search for a successor to Sir Stuart Rose as chief executive, is to stand down in February 2012.
Best Buy Mobile powers Carphone Warehouse fourth quarter performance

5-May-2011
Carphone Warehouse has posted strong fourth quarter growth, powered by its Best Buy Mobile venture in the US.
Tesco shares down but brokers confident

28-Apr-2011
Grocery and general merchandise giant Tesco edged down as the market digested the first set of results delivered by new boss Phil Clarke.
Alexon returns to profit

28-Apr-2011
Fashion group Alexon has returned to full-year profitability and named David Adams chairman.
Peacocks calls on Leighton

April 28 2011
Former Asda chief executive Allan Leighton in frame to become chairman of value fashion group.
Argos pushes new products in a bid to combat tough trading

April 28 2011
Multichannel general merchandise giant Argos is to move into new product categories as it chases growth in tough trading conditions, which led to a plunge in profits.
Aldi and Lidl notch up record market shares

27-Apr-2011
Hard discounters Aldi and Lidl and upscale grocer Waitrose were the fastest growing food retailers in the last three months.
Wade-Gery to join Marks & Spencer in July

27-Apr-2011
Laura Wade-Gery will take up her role as Marks & Spencer’s multichannel ecommerce director on July 4.
Amazon sales rise but earnings fall following investment in business

27-Apr-2011
Online giant Amazon has reported a 31% increase in first quarter sales to $4.39bn at its international division, which includes the UK.
Game aims to 'outperform' despite profits fall

27-Apr-2011
Computer entertainment specialist Game aims to beat the overall market and find new ways of making money in response to a changing environment.
TJ Hughes replaces chief executive

22-Apr-2011
TJ Hughes chief executive Beatrice Lafon has been replaced after just three months in the role.
McGeorge named executive chairman of New Look

21-Apr-2011
New Look has named former Matalan chief executive Alistair McGeorge executive chairman.
Marks & Spencer bids for kidswear market share in tie-up with ITV

21-Apr-2011
Marks & Spencer is to launch its first dedicated kidswear TV ad as part of a multimedia campaign including a tie-up with ITV and Britain’s Got Talent.
Sports Direct to extend share bonus scheme after profits rise

21-Apr-2011
Sports giant Sports Direct is to extend its bonus share scheme after partially attributing a sales and earnings rise to its success.
Tesco stays on target but UK disappoints

April 21 2011
Tesco’s first set of prelims under new boss Phil Clarke came in much as expected, although there were some City worries at the UK performance and scale of US losses.
What next for Templeman?

April 21 2011
As he gets ready to hand over the reins at Debenhams in September, chief executive Rob Templeman could doubtless have his yacht of choice and put his feet up if he wanted.
Ann Summers pulls Your S&M campaign after Marks & Spencer threatens legal action

20-Apr-2011
Lingerie and saucy toys specialist Ann Summers is pulling its Your S&M promotional campaign - a cheeky parody of Marks & Spencer’s marketing - after the high street giant threatened legal action.
Argos boss steps down as profits plunge

20-Apr-2011
Argos managing director Sara Weller is to leave the catalogue store group in June.
Scotmid posts annual profits fall

19-Apr-2011
Scotmid, the biggest Scottish cooperative group, has reported an 11% fall in annual operating profits.
Maplin posts flat profits

19-Apr-2011
Profits at specialist electricals retailer Maplin flatlined last year in the wake of punishing trading conditions.
Oxford Street to go traffic-free on Boxing Day in bid to add £50m to retail spending

18-Apr-2011
London’s Oxford Street and Regent Street are to go traffic-free on Boxing Day this year for the first time in an effort to boost trade in the premiere shopping district.
Best Buy Europe sells Belgian business

15-Apr-2011
Best Buy Europe, the joint venture between Carphone Warehouse and US electrical group Best Buy, is to sell its Belgian retail business.
Online retailers deliver strongest quarterly performance in three years

15-Apr-2011
Online retailers achieved their strongest quarter in three years in the first three months of 2011.
Leighton named chairman of Entertainment Magpie as LDC buys in

15-Apr-2011
Former Asda boss Allan Leighton has joined multichannel CD, DVD and games retailer Entertainment Magpie - which trades through the MusicMagpie.co.uk site - as chairman following investment in the business by private equity group LDC.
Northern Ireland retail tax is self-defeating, BRC warns ahead of Assembly elections

15-Apr-2011
Trade body the BRC has warned that a proposed levy on large retail premises in Northern Ireland is likely to hit town centre stores hardest – in direct conflict with its objective.
Dixons exec: ‘Best Buy is barely a competitor’

April 15 2011
One of Dixons’ directors has laughingly dismissed any threat to the market-leading electricals group from recent entrant Best Buy.
Asos typifies online success

April 15 2011
It’s a hard life on the high street but online sales are still growing strongly.
Retail stocks robust after bleak BRC news

April 15 2011
The worst monthly retail sales drop in 16 years was the industry’s big talking point but store stocks were up in the week concluded by the dire BRC trading data.
Dixons to close PC City business in Spain

14-Apr-2011
Electricals giant Dixons is to shut its Spanish business.
Debenhams boss Templeman to stand down

14-Apr-2011
Debenhams chief executive Rob Templeman is to retire later this year and hand the reins to his deputy, Michael Sharp.
Ocado names Lawrence Hene head of grocery retail

12-Apr-2011
Online grocer Ocado has promoted Lawrence Hene to the new post of head of grocery retail.
Management buys 144-store newsagent Rippleglen

12-Apr-2011
Confectionery, tobacco and news business Rippleglen has been sold to its management, backed by Lloyds TSB, for an undisclosed sum.
Ocado appoints eBay Europe boss to board

12-Apr-2011
Online grocer Ocado has appointed an eBay boss to its board as a non-executive director.
Retailers suffer worst monthly sales fall since 1995

12-Apr-2011
Retail sales collapsed in March, when the stores sector suffered the worst plunge in 16 years.
Public retailers in pole position

4-Apr-2011
There’s no doubt that 2011 is shaping up to be a somewhat punishing year for retailers and store stocks have consequently been under pressure.
John Lewis suffers 3.8% weekly sales fall

1-Apr-2011
Sales at department store chain John Lewis fell 3.8% last week, partly the result of a calendar effect because of this year’s later Easter and Mothers’ Day.
Marks & Spencer unveils bricks and clicks launch in France

1-Apr-2011
Marks & Spencer is to return to France a decade after shutting its operations in the country.
Bank holiday battle

April 1 2011
Retailers join forces to fight proposed bank holiday switch from May to October
Dixons ecommerce boss leaving, as company issues profit warning

April 1 2011
Electricals group Dixons’ ecommerce director David Walmsley is leaving the retailer.
Store stocks up ahead of Dixons profit alert

April 1 2011
Despite bearish comments from Next boss Simon Wolfson, general stores outperformed the market over the week - but that was ahead of a profit warning from electricals giant Dixons.
Tom Singh

April 1 2011
New Look’s founder is once again in charge of the fast-fashion retailer, and in the face of stiff competition it needs his product expertise now more than ever.
Furniture chain Easy Living collapses

31-Mar-2011
Sofas UK, which trades as Easy Living Furniture, has become the latest victim of the consumer downturn and was put into administration today.
Laura Ashley celebrates record profits

31-Mar-2011
Fashion and homewares group Laura Ashley has posted record profits and is confident about prospects despite the punishing trading environment.
Dixons warns on profits after dire trading

30-Mar-2011
Electricals market leader Dixons has issued a profits warning and detailed an emergency plan to put the business on track after dire trading.
Moodys downgrades Matalan on margin fears

29-Mar-2011
Credit ratings agency Moodys has downgraded its ratings on value fashion group Matalan.
Flintoff fronts Morrison’s ‘Let’s Celebrate’ ad campaign

29-Mar-2011
Morrison’s has launched a new ad campaign on the ‘Let’s Celebrate’ theme, designed to key into the wave of upcoming red letter days and bank holidays.
Promotions driving grocery spend, Nielsen reports

29-Mar-2011
Record levels of promotions are expected to drive grocers’ Mothers’ Day and Easter performance but shoppers will then once again rein in spending, according to market data company Nielsen.
Blue Inc acquisition of Officers Club stores will bring sales to £80m

29-Mar-2011
Fashion retailer Blue Inc is expected to snap up 47 stores from Officers Club today after the latter is put into administration, which is expected imminently.
Speculation swirls around Rose's holding in Marks & Spencer

29-Mar-2011
Former Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose is at the centre of speculation that he has sold a big tranche of shares in the retailer.
Groundhog Day for Tom Singh at New Look

March 25 2011
New Look founder Tom Singh must have hoped that, aged 62, he could look forward to putting his feet up and enjoying his millions rather than being back on the operational frontline of fashion retail.
Store share prices hold up as updates begin

March 25 2011
Food giant Sainsbury’s was among a raft of big names to report over the week, when general retailers held their own against the market.
Marks & Spencer strikes design partnership with Sir Terence Conran

24-Mar-2011
Marks & Spencer has struck a partnership with legendary designer and retailer Sir Terence Conran to produce an exclusive home collection.
Next posts profit rise and warns that retail landscape has been transformed

24-Mar-2011
Fashion giant Next has reported record profits but warned that the retail landscape has fundamentally changed.
Video: Marks & Spencer shifts marketing focus

22-Mar-2011
Marks & Spencer will tomorrow launch its spring advertising campaign featuring the use of ‘Only at Your M&S’ branding for the first time and including its first menswear TV ad.
Tesco names Graham Harris head of telecoms division

18-Mar-2011
Graham Harris has been appointed chief executive of Tesco Telecoms and Tesco Mobile.
John Lewis records 1.8% fall in weekly sales

18-Mar-2011
Sales at John Lewis department stores fell last week as the retailer came up against tough comparatives.
Phones4U sold to private equity firm BC Partners

18-Mar-2011
Private equity house BC Partners has bought mobiles specialist Phones4U for an undisclosed sum from Providence Equity.
Matalan planning to grow online business

March 18 2011
Value fashion and homewares group Matalan is to ramp up its ecommerce operations and plans to hire a top-level online retail specialist to drive growth.
Markets are shaken by Japanese disaster

March 18 2011
The earthquake in Japan shook the stock markets worldwide as investors assessed what the costs, commercial as well as human, might be.
Mr M&S

March 18 2011
Outspoken, controversial and never dull, Sir Stuart Rose is a retailer’s retailer. He tells George MacDonald about the mess he inherited in 2004, the highs and lows of his time in charge and his plans for the future
New Malden turns to New York

March 18 2011
Morrisons’ acquisition of a stake in New York online grocer FreshDirect came as a bolt from the blue.
Online grocery

March 18 2011
Morrisons may have come to the ecommerce party late but it is making up for lost time. However, is the online cake big enough to go round and is there any money in it?
Kesa chief executive is most 'overpaid' FTSE 250 boss

14-Mar-2011
Thierry Falque-Pierrotin, chief executive of Comet owner Kesa, is the most ‘overpaid’ FTSE 250 chief executive a study has found.
Stores shorten Royal Wedding hours

March 11 2011
Leading retailers are to remain shut on the morning of the Royal Wedding, Friday April 29, and others are considering whether to follow suit.
Brokers believe the ‘worst is over’ for M&S share price

March 11 2011
Brokers spotted opportunity in Marks & Spencer, despite evidence that clothing and general merchandise retailers continue to suffer tough trading.
Channel Islands VAT rules

March 11 2011
Big name retailers capitalising on the Channel Island VAT loophole is seen by some as an unfair advantage. Will George Osborne’s Budget change the status quo?
Little relief in sight as stores sector stays flat

March 11 2011
The stores sector was flat as a Shrove Tuesday pancake - perhaps a better performance than might have been expected as the latest BRC sales data showed the worst growth in almost two years.
Ex-Sainsbury’s head of clothing joins M&S

10-Mar-2011
Former Sainsbury’s head of clothing Sara Bradley is to join Marks & Spencer as head of buying for M&S Brands within the womenswear team.
Only channel is multichannel

10-Mar-2011
The necessity of a serious multichannel business, if anyone doubted it, was starkly illustrated in Tuesday’s BRC sales figures for February.
Sports Direct gets all-clear from SFO

9-Mar-2011
Sports Direct has reported that the Serious Fraud Office has dropped investigations into any individuals connected to the retailer.
February retail sales worst since May 2009

8-Mar-2011
Like-for-like sales fell 0.4% across the retail industry in February as shoppers kept a close eye on spending because of squeezed disposable incomes.
John Lewis to raise £50m through retail bond

7-Mar-2011
John Lewis Partnership, owner of the eponymous department store chain and grocer Waitrose, is to raise £50m through a retail bond.
John Lewis reports half-term sales lift

4-Mar-2011
Sales at department store chain John Lewis rose 7.2% to £54m last week, when the retailer benefited from the half-term holiday south of the border.
Oddbins drafts in advisers to consider future

4-Mar-2011
Wine retailer Oddbins has drafted in advisors as it considers its options amid tough trading conditions.
Ocado sales surge in first quarter

4-Mar-2011
Online grocer Ocado has posted a sales surge in its first quarter, when its average basket size fell as shopping frequency increased.
Alworths in the balance?

March 4 2011
Future unclear for ‘son of Woolworths’ as founder resigns as director and restructuring looms.
HMV expected to consider an emergency rights issue

March 4 2011
Disposal of Waterstone’s also a possibility following fourth profit warning by parent since last autumn
Gloomy outlook as retail takes a bad turn

March 4 2011
Primark’s unsettling update and a profit warning from HMV put the frighteners on retail sector investors and general stores were sharply down against a flat market.
M&S machine cranks into gear

March 4 2011
Marks & Spencer’s appointment of Inditex’s Russian boss Jan Heere as international director, and the poaching of Laura Wade-Gery from Tesco as ecommerce supremo, should benefit the retailer in subtle as well as obvious ways.
Sales slowdown at Primark sparks City retail sector fears

March 4 2011
Value fashion powerhouse Primark sounded a warning that shoppers have been reluctant to open their purses since the start of the year, knocking City sentiment towards retailers.
JJB unveils CVA proposal

3-Mar-2011
Retailer will offer ‘clawback’ to landlords affected by its plans
B&Q to invest £35m in multichannel operations

2-Mar-2011
Market leading DIY retailer B&Q is to spend £35m improving its online business.
Retail in the Middle East and North Africa

2-Mar-2011
Despite unrest and revolution, the emerging markets of the Middle East and North Africa still hold appeal to retailers, but is it worth the risk?
Inflation boosting grocery sales, Nielsen reports

1-Mar-2011
Grocery volumes have been subdued in recent weeks, when supermarket sales were helped by inflation.
HMV warns on profits

1-Mar-2011
Entertainment group HMV has issued a profit warning after continued tough trading.
Primark reports tougher trading

28-Feb-2011
Value fashion giant Primark has reported a slowdown in demand, signalling how tough high street trading has become since the start of the year.
Jonathan Hart

28-Feb-2011
The new chief executive of Thorntons has been drafted in to sweeten its retail sales, revamp the product offer and take a bite out of the competition.
Iceland to pay £100m dividend

25-Feb-2011
Frozen food specialist Iceland is expected to pay a dividend of £100m this year, its first for three years.
Consumer confidence fails to improve in February

25-Feb-2011
Consumer confidence remained almost unchanged in February, following its near-unprecedented crash the previous month.
City lukewarm on the outlook for retail

February 25 2011
As pressure continued to bear down on general retail stocks, Nomura and Espirito Santo issued notes assessing prospects.
Marks & Spencer hires Inditex man to lead international expansion

24-Feb-2011
Marks & Spencer has drafted in Inditex director Jan Heere as its international director.
Retail mourns Nigel Whittaker

24-Feb-2011
The retail industry paid tribute this week to Nigel Whittaker, the former Kingfisher director who died last weekend after a long illness.
Best Buy beats a retreat

24-Feb-2011
Many of the world’s biggest retail names have been humbled when, bolstered by strength in domestic markets, they are emboldened to venture overseas.
Asda claims 'outperformance' as sales and profits rise

22-Feb-2011
Grocery and general merchandise giant Asda has claimed a “return to market outperformance” after sales and profits rose.
Best Buy cuts international operations but expects UK growth

22-Feb-2011
Electricals giant Best Buy is to scale back its international operations but has insisted that the UK, where it has a joint venture with Carphone Warehouse, is a growth opportunity.
Former Kingfisher director Nigel Whittaker dies

21-Feb-2011
Former Kingfisher director Nigel Whittaker died on Saturday after a long illness.
Shareholders back troubled JJB Sports' £31.5m fundraising

18-Feb-2011
Shareholders in troubled retailer JJB Sports have backed a £31.5m fundraising, taking the store group one step forward towards survival.
Manchester council cracks down on chuggers

18-Feb-2011
Manchester city council is restricting the activities of chuggers to make the city more attractive to shoppers.
WHSmith chief Kate Swann sells 27% of her shares

18-Feb-2011
WHSmith chief executive Kate Swann has sold a substantial proportion of her shares in the bookseller and stationer.
JJB troubles highlight sector-wide problems

February 18th 2011
General stores once again lagged the All-Share index as the sector’s problems were put centre stage by JJB’s plans for a second CVA.
New Dunelm chief plans multichannel push as profits rise

17-Feb-2011
Value homewares group Dunelm’s new chief executive, Nick Wharton, who formally takes up the role today, is confident of continued growth despite tough trading conditions and highlighted multichannel opportunities.
Morrisons leaps into etail age

17-Feb-2011
Supermarket group Morrisons’ acquisition of online specialist Kiddicare looks like an inspired deal.
Sales at Westfield London leap to £870m

16-Feb-2011
Sales at the Westfield London shopping centre in White City reached £870m last year, its owner revealed.
Sainsbury's chief executive King sells tranche of shares

16-Feb-2011
Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King yesterday sold 50,000 of his shares in the grocer, the latest disposal by a director in the past month.
Thorntons to reshape store portfolio after profits fall

16-Feb-2011
Thorntons, the chocolates specialist, is likely to reshape its store portfolio after difficult trading and warned that profits this year will be no higher than last.
New Look's valuation halved by private equity owner

14-Feb-2011
The valuation of fast fashion group New Look has been halved by private equity backers.
Steven Esom appointed to BRC role

11-Feb-2011
Former Waitrose and Marks & Spencer director Steven Esom is to become chairman of the BRC’s commercial arm, BRC Trading.
Findel unveils £80.5m fundraising

11-Feb-2011
Home shopping group Findel has unveiled an £80.5m fundraising as it restructures its balance sheet and bids to improve performance.
John Lewis pension trust sells Ocado stake

11-Feb-2011
The John Lewis Partnership Pensions Trust has sold its remaining stake in online grocer Ocado.
John Lewis reports 'pleasing' start to new financial year

11-Feb-2011
Sales at department store chain John Lewis rose last week as its new financial year kicked off.
Best Buy thinks outside the box

11-Feb-2011
It is less than a year since US electricals giant Best Buy planted its flag in this country in partnership with Carphone Warehouse with its first big-box store in Thurrock.
Peacocks prompts IPO speculation after beginning hunt for chairman

February 11 2011
Value fashion group Peacocks intends to appoint a chairman for the first time in five years, prompting speculation that an IPO may be on the cards.
Wade-Gery hiring ‘shows M&S is thinking ahead’

February 11 2011
High-profile appointment being interpreted as succession planning by chief executive Marc Bolland
General stores boosted by January sales rise

February 11 2011
A January sales fillip, takeover talk and musical chairs in the boardroom helped buoy up general retailers over the week and they outperformed the All-share index.
SuperGroup vows stellar performance will continue

February 11 2011
SuperGroup chief executive Julian Dunkerton has promised continued growth after a stellar third quarter, and said the retailer’s phenomenal share price rise since last year’s IPO reflected that the company is delivering on its promises so far.
SuperGroup third quarter sales rocket

9-Feb-2011
Sales at fashion retailer SuperGroup, owner of the ultra-trendy Superdry brand, continued to climb steeply in the third quarter and continued growth is expected.
Retail like-for-likes up 2.3% in January, BRC reports

8-Feb-2011
Clearance Sales, a shopper rush to beat the VAT rise and weak comparatives because of snow last year all helped lift retail sales by 2.3% like-for-like in January.
Comet begins redundancy consultations as it consolidates service centres

7-Feb-2011
Electricals retailer Comet is to shut 14 of its service centres and has begun consultations with 411 affected staff as it seeks to make redundancies.
Going, going... gone

7-Feb-2011
As Icelandic investors consider exiting high-profile retailers, George MacDonald asks whether the stores sector can look forward to a raft of deals in the year to come
Buyers size up HMV

February 4, 2011
Entertainment retailer back on private equity’s radar after poor trading raises prospect of a break-up
Office Depot ties up with Dixons to open PC World shop-in-shops

February 4, 2011
Office supplies giant Office Depot is testing shop-in-shops in electricals group Dixons Retail’s stores.
Takeover talks reflect tough week for stores

February 4, 2011
Plunging consumer confidence, signs of slowing trading at bellwether department store group John Lewis and a Carpetright profit warning meant general retailers were left on the shelf by investors.
Bolland spreads M&S’s wings

3-Feb-2011
M&S boss Marc Bolland started to make his presence felt with last week’s rejig of the general merchandise senior management structure. The rationale for the changes was to create the right framework for delivery of M&S’s business plan.
Wheway to leave Best Buy Europe

1-Feb-2011
Scott Wheway is to stand down as chief executive of Best Buy Europe. He is replaced by Best Buy Europe chief operating officer Andrew Harrison, who has been promoted to president.
Marks & Spencer to open Champs-Elysees store this summer

31-Jan-2011
Marks & Spencer is to open a store in Paris on the Champs-Elysees as early as this summer, it is understood.
Online streaming

31-Jan-2011
With Amazon taking control of Lovefilm and Netflix flying high across the pond, all the signs suggest online streaming is set to become the norm
John Lewis suffers weekly sales fall

28-Jan-2011
Sales at department store chain John Lewis went into reverse last week but the retailer said its full-year performance would be strong.
Consumer confidence goes into tailspin

28-Jan-2011
Consumer confidence crashed in January, when it plunged at a rate not seen since the recession of the early 1990s.
Directors leave Comet in the wake of dire trading update

January 28 2011
Two Comet directors are to exit the business and redundancy consultations have begun with other head office staff as the electricals specialist battles to recover after disastrous Christmas trading.
M&S fully integrates Per Una after management shake-up

January 28 2011
Marks & Spencer womenswear label Per Una will be fully integrated into the retailer’s core womenswear operations following a management restructuring this week.
Double-dip fears hit general retail stocks

January 28 2011
Retail stocks were hit as the economy went into reverse, renewing fears of a double-dip recession, and Bank of England governor Mervyn King warned of plunging living standards.
Former M&S boss Rose and Waitrose chief Price named Government happiness advisors

27-Jan-2011
Former Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose and Waitrose managing director Mark Price have both been named members of the advisory panel set up to measure happiness.
Pace of retail growth slowing, CBI reports

27-Jan-2011
Retail sales volume rose in the early part of January but store chiefs expect the pace of growth to slow.
Wolfson attacks planners for holding back economy

27-Jan-2011
Next chief executive Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise has attacked planners for holding back economic growth.
Argos-owner Home Retail ran slide-rule over Blacks

27-Jan-2011
Argos-owner Home Retail Group was among the potential bidders for outdoors specialist Blacks Leisure, it has emerged
Banks are on board – for now

27-Jan-2011
The extent of new lending by the banks continues to preoccupy politicians but for some hard-pressed retailers existing borrowing is front of mind.
Marks & Spencer restructures womenswear management team

26-Jan-2011
Marks & Spencer has unveiled a raft of management changes at its clothing business as part of chief executive Marc Bolland’s new strategy, Retail Week can reveal.
Staffing changes hit Games Workshop

25-Jan-2011
Staff cuts hit first-half sales and profits at wargames specialist Games Workshop and the retailer is now determined to improve customer service.
Changes expected at Marks & Spencer's clothing arm

25-Jan-2011
Marks & Spencer boss Marc Bolland is preparing for the next phase of the retailer’s reorganisation, when his focus is likely to be on the clothing division.
Best Buy UK online boss makes surprise exit

21-Jan-2011
Best Buy UK online managing director DeVere Forster is to leave the electricals retailer just two months after the launch of its transactional website, Retail Week has learned.
John Lewis to open in-store spas

21-Jan-2011
Department store chain John Lewis is to launch in-store spas as part of its £250m investment programme this year.
Hackers force suspension of Lush online sales

21-Jan-2011
Beauty specialist Lush has suspended online sales after hackers broke into its site, jeopardising customers’ financial data.
John Lewis weekly sales growth weakens

21-Jan-2011
Sales at John Lewis department stores slowed to 4.1% last week to come in at £55.8m.
Mulberry Christmas like-for-likes surge 70%

21-Jan-2011
Luxury goods specialist Mulberry will beat profit expectations after a storming Christmas.
Dixons down but not out

January 21 2011
Now that most Christmas numbers are out, retail sector investors face a fundamental question: yes, the snow affected sales but were there deeper reasons for disappointing trading at particular companies?
General retailers up but grocers subdued

January 21 2011
Last week’s Super Thursday round of updates brought plenty of depressing news as big names such as Dixons and Halfords warned that profits would only make the low end of expectations.
Amazon agrees takeover of Lovefilm

20-Jan-2011
Online giant Amazon has agreed the full acquisition of film rental specialist Lovefilm.
Cath Kidston appoints new managing director as sales surge 52%

19-Jan-2011
Fashion and homewares specialist Cath Kidston has appointed former Habitat chief executive Mark Saunders as managing director and reported strong Christmas trading.
Marks & Spencer launches Plan A fashion range

19-Jan-2011
Marks & Spencer has unveiled a Plan A-inspired fashion capsule collection for its Indigo range.
Change Capital among bidders for Bathstore

18-Jan-2011
Change Capital, the private equity firm run by former Marks & Spencer boss Roger Holmes, is among those bidding for Bathstore.
Massmart shareholders approve Walmart deal

17-Jan-2011
South African retailer Massmart’s shareholders have approved a $2.39bn tie-up with Walmart.
Marks & Spencer joins location-based marketing scheme

17-Jan-2011
Marks & Spencer has joined telecoms firm O2’s ‘You are here’ location-based marketing service, enabling the retailer to target consumers with special offers.
Goldsmiths-owner Aurum reports 'outstanding' Christmas

17-Jan-2011
Jewellery group Aurum has reported an “outstanding” Christmas, helped by improved availability and ranging.
Flying Brands warns on profits

14-Jan-2011
Home shopping group Flying Brands has issued a profit warning after disastrous disruption of Christmas trading as a result of the snow.
Consumers will still carry on shopping, M&S chief believes

January 14 2011
Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland does not expect consumer demand to fall off a cliff this year, despite an expected squeeze on income and economic uncertainty.
Christmas was duff, but no need for panic

January 14 2011
The feel-good factor has been in short supply this new year. Minus numbers have figured prominently in January’s trading statements and the implications of harsh realities such as VAT and rising business costs loom large in store chiefs’ minds.
Investors still cold on the retail sector

January 14 2011
General retailers and grocers were both left on the shelf by investors and the market was flat overall.
British Bookshops becomes first retail casualty of 2011

13-Jan-2011
Bargain bookseller British Bookshops & Stationers has collapsed into administration, becoming the first retail casualty of 2011.
Thorntons sales melt in cold weather

13-Jan-2011
Thorntons, the specialist chocolatier, reported like-for-like sales down 5.9% in company-owned stores over Christmas as the snow kept shoppers away.
Dixons sales suffer as snow takes toll

13-Jan-2011
Electricals market leader Dixons, owner of Currys and PC World, reported a 4% fall in like-for-likes at its core UK business over Christmas.
Argos-owner Home Retail reports better than expected Christmas

13-Jan-2011
Argos-owner Home Retail Group took a sales hit of between £20m and £30m hit over Christmas because of the snow but full-year profits are likely to be better than feared.
Retail sector like-for-likes fell 0.3% in December

11-Jan-2011
The stores sector suffered a like-for-like sales decline of 0.3% during the crucial month of December as snow hit sales.
Marks & Spencer posts 2.8% Christmas like-for-like sales rise

11-Jan-2011
Retail bellwether Marks & Spencer generated UK like-for-like growth of 2.8% and market share gains over the Christmas period, despite arctic weather conditions.
Kingfisher launches tender offer for £100m of notes

10-Jan-2011
International DIY group Kingfisher is to cut debt and improve its return on cash by purchasing up to £100m of loan notes from holders.
OFT called upon to block Tesco takeover of Mills

10-Jan-2011
Convenience retail trade body the ACS has called on the OFT to stop the takeover of Mills Group by Tesco’s c-store business One Stop.
Andy Bond named chairman of Republic

10-Jan-2011
Former Asda chairman and chief executive Andy bond has been named chairman of private equity-backed fashion retailer Republic.
Store chiefs to attend Cameron jobs summit

7-Jan-2011
Top retailers are expected to attend a jobs summit to be held by Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday and designed to shift the agenda away from cuts to economic recovery.
Pawnbroker H&T lifts profit guidance

7-Jan-2011
Pawnbroker H&T expects to beat City profit forecasts for the year just ended as a result of the rising price of gold and record lending to customers.
JD Sports' profits to beat expectations after strong Christmas

7-Jan-2011
Fashion group JD Sports will make higher full-year profits than expected after Christmas trading beat expectations.
Brokers tip share price stars as 2011 set to be a tough one

January 7 2011
Kingfisher, Marks & Spencer, Dixons Retail and Dunelm are among brokers’ retail stock picks for 2011.
A tough start to the year for retail shares

January 7 2011
General retail stocks began the year in deep freeze as the reporting season got under way.
Next offers lessons for a difficult 2011

January 7 2011
The shape of things to come for retailers in 2011 was evident in this week’s updates from Next and HMV.
Rose: the legacy

January 7 2011
After almost seven years, Sir Stuart Rose has finally cut his links to Marks & Spencer. How big an impact did he have on the retailer, asks George MacDonald
Seasonal footfall up at Glasgow's St Enoch

31-Dec-2010
Glasgow’s St Enoch shopping centre recorded a 20% year-on-year rise in footfall during Christmas week as shoppers avoided the cold weather and chose to do their shopping under cover.
Asda reports "good" Christmas performance

31-Dec-2010
Asda has reported a “good performance” in the run-up to Christmas, despite Arctic weather conditions.
Ted Baker and Lush founders awarded New Year honours

31-Dec-2010
Leading retail entrepreneurs are among the business people recognised in the New Year Honours List.
Food delivery drivers' hours relaxed to keep stores stocked

24-Dec-2010
Food delivery drivers can extend their working hours to ensure stores remain stocked over the long Christmas bank holiday.
Tesco launches online electricals Sale

24-Dec-2010
Giant grocer Tesco has fired a salvo against electrical specialists with the launch today of a ‘Boxing Day’ Sale online focused on the category.
Bill Gates rides to JJB Sports' rescue as Clare stands down

24-Dec-2010
JJB Sports has this morning disclosed details of a £31.5m cash call, boardroom changes and a further sales slump.
JJB Sports to launch £30m fundraising

23-Dec-2010
Sports specialist JJB Sports is to stage a £30m fundraising and make boardroom changes, it is understood.
Tesco buys 128 stores in Czech Republic for £34.3m

23-Dec-2010
Tesco has acquired 128 convenience stores in the Czech Republic for 1.02bn koruna (£34.3m), bolstering its operations in central Europe.
Retailers' confidence hits year-low

23-Dec-2010
Retail business confidence has hit its lowest level this year and store chiefs expect sales to slow in the next 12 months.
DFS reports first quarter earnings flat at £15.2m

23-Dec-2010
DFS, the specialist sofas retailer owned by private equity firm Advent, has posted flat earnings in its first quarter.
Sale of Phones4U falls through

22-Dec-2010
Private equity group Providence has pulled the sale of mobiles specialist Phones4U after turbulent debt markets undermined a deal.
Snow fears unjustified, broker Arden argues

22-Dec-2010
Concerns about the impact of snow on retailers’ Christmas performance look overdone, Arden analyst Nick Bubb believes.
Supermarkets' growth under fire after Panorama investigation

22-Dec-2010
Concerns have been raised about the growth of the big four grocers after an investigation by the BBC’s Panorama programme, which will be broadcast tonight.
Marks & Spencer considers opening banks in 55 stores

21-Dec-2010
Marks & Spencer is considering opening banks in 55 stores, it has been reported.
Leaked cable reveals 'repugnant anti-semitic campaign' against M&S Tripoli store

21-Dec-2010
The Libyan authorities staged a “repugnant anti-semitic” campaign in an attempt to force the closure of a Marks & Spencer store in Tripoli according to US diplomatic cables leaked through WikiLeaks.
Waitrose awarded second Royal Warrant

21-Dec-2010
Grocery chain Waitrose has been awarded a second Royal Warrant for supplying Prince Charles with food and drink.
Dixons, Home Retail and HMV among most at risk from snow disruption

21-Dec-2010
Electricals group Dixons, Argos-owner Home Retail Group and entertainment specialist HMV are among the retailers most likely to be affected by snow and icy conditions broker Numis believes.
Maplin asks potential buyers to submit offers before Christmas

17-Dec-2010
Specialist electrical group Maplin has asked potential buyers to submit informal offers before Christmas, it is understood.
Bad weather prompts retailers to rein in online delivery options

17-Dec-2010
Retailers are changing online order and delivery options to avoid disappointing customers at Christmas as a result of renewed cold weather.
Tesco's Higginson sells £1m of shares

17-Dec-2010
Tesco boss Andrew Higginson has offloaded a tranche of shares in the top grocer.
Waitrose well placed for Christmas after weekly sales rise 8.7%

17-Dec-2010
Supermarket group Waitrose managed an 8.7% sales advance last week, when sales of seasonal goods took off.
No trolley dash for retail

December 17 2010
Many retailers have weathered the trading storms well post credit crunch but their efforts have frequently not been matched by investor enthusiasm.
Sony unveils new user-friendly format

December 17 2010
Technology specialist Sony Centre has unveiled a new-look store on electricals retail destination Tottenham Court Road.
Stakebuilders spot an opportunity in retail

December 17 2010
Retail shares, like the temperature, dipped below zero as the big freeze was reflected in icy investor attitudes towards stores on fears that trading will suffer in the golden period.
Franchise model insulates United Carpets from harsh trading conditions

16-Dec-2010
United Carpets has posted a fall in first-half profits but labelled performance “solid” in the tough trading environment.
Sports Direct profits surge

16-Dec-2010
Sports market leader Sports Direct notched up a 40% rise in underlying pre-tax profits following a lucrative World Cup.
Scottish minister attacks retailers over delivery problems

14-Dec-2010
The Scottish government’s new transport minister Keith Brown has attacked big retailers for their decision to suspend home deliveries in Scotland because of the freezing weather.
Russian tycoon Mamut increases HMV stake

14-Dec-2010
Russian oligarch Alexander Mamut yesterday increased his holding in troubled entertainment retailer HMV.
Food, fashion and furniture show record November price inflation

14-Dec-2010
Food, clothing and furniture price inflation recorded record rises for November, helping drive the Consumer Prices Index up by 3.3% overall.
B&Q to go on Sale this Friday

13-Dec-2010
DIY market leader B&Q will launch its ‘January’ Sale this Friday – its earliest and, it promised, biggest such seasonal promotion ever.
This Christmas will be at least as good as last, most retailers believe

13-Dec-2010
Most retailers expect trading this Christmas to be at least as good as last and say shoppers have brought forward purchases to avoid the January VAT rise.
Dixons Black: first pictures

10-Dec-2010
Dixons today unveiled a new fascia, Black, which takes a radically different approach to electrical retailing.
Marks & Spencer extends Christmas opening hours at 200 shops

10-Dec-2010
Marks & Spencer will extend opening hours until 10pm or later at 200 stores during Christmas week.
Waitrose beats snow to deliver 'busiest day ever'

10-Dec-2010
Supermarket group Waitrose beat snowy conditions to end last week “on remarkable form” after generating a sales uplift of 4.7% to £106.3m.
Phones4U deal likely to be valued below £700m

10-Dec-2010
Private equity firm BC Partners is likely to pay less than the £700m anticipated for Phones4U by present owner Providence Equity Partners.
Anger at Scottish Government's £30m raid on retailers' coffers

10-Dec-2010
Scottish Government proposals to milk big retailers for additional cash have been condemned as a threat to jobs and economic recovery.
Hackers give up attack on Amazon

10-Dec-2010
Hackers have abandoned their attempts to sabotage Amazon.com after the etail giant’s defences proved impregnable.
Activist investor won’t lead to Kesa break-up, chairman vows

December 10 2010
Kesa chairman David Newlands has downplayed the suggestion that stakebulding by investor Knight Vinke indicates sweeping change is likely at the electricals group.
Retail gets the thumbs up as it outperforms

December 10 2010
Investors filled their shopping trolleys with general retail and food stocks alike. The former outperformed the market despite lacklustre BRC sales data for November but are still down year on year.
What goes up...

December 10 2010
SuperGroup has been the retail sector’s share price superstar ever since it floated in March.
Mothercare doubles international sales target to £1bn by 2014

9-Dec-2010
Maternity specialist Mothercare has revealed ambitious new international targets as it shows off its Indian business to investors.
Comet suffers widening losses

8-Dec-2010
Losses at electrical chain Comet widened in its first half when toughening trading conditions and spending on store refits and rebranding took a toll.
Marks & Spencer and Waitrose gain food sales, Nielsen reports

7-Dec-2010
Marks & Spencer and Waitrose both gained food market share their sales value growth has outpaced leading grocers, the latest data from market analyst Nielsen showed.
Weak November retail sales leave Christmas 'delicately poised'

7-Dec-2010
The crucial Christmas sales period got off to a slow start as snow at the end of November disrupted trading already under pressure as a result of a jittery consumer mood.
Dixons ‘staying competitive’ as market conditions toughen

December 3 2010
Electricals group Dixons Retail hopes to keep consumers spending when VAT rises next year with eye-catching prices but is unlikely to stage a full-scale VAT holiday.
Rail distribution

December 3 2010
In an attempt to drive sustainability some retailers are switching their distribution from road to rail. But how effective is the switch?
Tesco's Brasher dismisses Clubcard concerns

26-Nov-2010
Tesco’s incoming UK chief executive Richard Brasher has dismissed suggestions that its ramped-up loyalty programme is inflating UK sales.
A big day for retailers and royalists alike

November 26 2010
Will Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding lift shoppers’ moods in 2011 and how can retailers make the most of it, asks George MacDonald
Retail bears up as FTSE slides on Irish bailout

November 26 2010
Stores of all types were down over the week but a little less than the market as a whole, which took fright at the emergency bailout of Ireland.
Ted’s quirky style adds up

November 26 2010
While trendy apparel retailer SuperGroup has been fashionable with investors since its flotation earlier this year, Ted Baker’s shares have been pretty natty too. In the last three months they have climbed almost 25%.
Dixons cuts interim losses and overhauls service offer

25-Nov-2010
Electricals market leader Dixons Retail has posted interim results in line with expectations but cautioned that consumer confidence remains fragile.
Marks & Spencer unveils rail distribution plans as part of Plan A

24-Nov-2010
Marks & Spencer is to shift a proportion of its distribution from road to rail as part of its Plan A sustainability programme.
Karstadt appoints Andrew Jennings as chief executive

24-Nov-2010
German department store group Karstadt has named Andrew Jennings as chief executive.
Poundworld fined for "severe disregard" for public health

19-Nov-2010
One-price specialist Poundworld has been fined and sharply criticised for “severe disregard for public health” after selling faulty thermometers.
John Lewis's Mayfield to chair UK Commission for Employment and Skills

19-Nov-2010
John Lewis Partnership chairman Charlie Mayfield has been named chair of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills with immediate effect.
Marks & Spencer celebrates achievement of 70 Plan A targets

19-Nov-2010
Marks & Spencer has now achieved 70 of its 180 Plan A sustainability targets and expects to complete another 20 by April 2011.
Best Buy ponders a move from ‘game changing’ big-box format

November 19 2010
Electricals group Best Buy Europe is understood to be considering opening smaller stores as it prepares to review the success of its first big boxes next spring.
International etail sites

November 19 2010
When it comes to expanding online overseas is it better for retailers to launch dedicated websites for each market, or is the expense not worth it?
Mixed updates but retailers outperform

November 19 2010
A mixed bag of updates resulted in general retailers outperforming the All Share index, although they were still down week on week, while food groups managed to stay in positive territory.
Royal wedding could lift retail sales by £400m

November 19 2010
Royal wedding bells could set retailers’ tills ringing to the tune of almost £400m.
Signet is a diamond in the rough

November 19 2010
Since it listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2008, Signet - which after its crisis as Ratners in the early 1990s has traditionally kept a low profile - has been a little overlooked in the UK.
Simon Burke to become chairman of HobbyCraft

17-Nov-2010
Simon Burke, executive chairman of Irish grocer Superquinn, is to become chairman of private equity-backed HobbyCraft in December.
Suits You chain to be shut down, administrator concludes

17-Nov-2010
The Suits You chain is to be closed after its administrator Zolfo Cooper concluded it has no future, Retail Week has learned.
Mothercare interim profits rise but UK underperforms

17-Nov-2010
Maternity specialist Mothercare has reported a rise in first-half profits but its core UK business underperformed international operations.
Asda first to market with Kate and Wills merchandise

16-Nov-2010
Grocery and general merchandise giant Asda will become one of the first retailers – and maybe the first – to sell royal wedding merchandise when a £5 mug goes on sale tomorrow.
Best Buy claims UK first with 'Facebook shop'

16-Nov-2010
Electricals group Best Buy has claimed a UK first with the launch of a “Facebook shop” enabling consumers to view thousands of products on the social networking site.
Consumer Prices Index annual inflation rate rises to 3.2%

16-Nov-2010
The annual rate of consumer price inflation rose to 3.2% in October from 3.1% in September, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported.
Amazon imports Black Friday promotion to UK

15-Nov-2010
Online giant Amazon is to import the Black Friday promotion from the US to the UK this year.
Halfords recruits Marks & Spencer man as finance director

15-Nov-2010
Bikes and car accessories specialist Halfords has named Andrew Findlay its new group finance director.
Pawnbroker Albemarle & Bond makes progress with store openings

12-Nov-2010
Pawnbroker and jeweller Albemarle & Bond reported that trading is in line with expectations and its store opening programme is on track.
John Lewis reports "subdued" week's trading

12-Nov-2010
Sales at department store chain John Lewis rose 5.4% to £69m during “subdued” trading last week.
Bolland’s plan for M&S can restore £1bn profit

November 12 2010
Bolland outlines aim to exploit the brand, develop multichannel and up overseas growth
Asos could well defy doubters

November 12 2010
Online star Asos not only has fashion to die for, its numbers look pretty stylish too.
M&S and JS profits fail to boost retail shares

November 12 2010
Food and general retailers both underperformed the market, despite profit advances reported by Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s.
New Look profits suffer in challenging conditions

11-Nov-2010
Value fashion retailer New Look suffered stuttering profits and a like-for-like sales fall during its first half, but it increased market share and total sales.
Sales fall at WHSmith

11-Nov-2010
Bookseller and stationer WHSmith said it was trading in line with expectations despite a sales fall at both divisions.
Rose sells shares as Bolland outlines vision

10-Nov-2010
Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose sold 100,000 of his shares in the retailer yesterday – the day his successor Marc Bolland set out his vision for the business.
Russian oligarch buys 3% stake in HMV

10-Nov-2010
Russian tycoon Alexander Mamut has taken a stake in entertainment group HMV, it has emerged.
Asos outlines global ambitions as profits leap

8-Nov-2010
Online fashion retailer Asos has reported a surge in first-half profits and plans a range of initiatives to ensure continued growth.
Matalan launches first TV ad campaign in four years

5-Nov-2010
Value fashion and homewares retailer Matalan is launching its first TV advertising campaign for four years this weekend.
Fake Next page removed from Facebook on child safety fears

5-Nov-2010
Fashion group Next has had a fake page removed from Facebook because of concerns about child safety.
Apple director joins Kingfisher board

5-Nov-2010
Kingfisher has appointed a boss of trendy technology firm Apple to its board in a non-executive capacity.
Best Buy UK posts £29m loss

5-Nov-2010
Losses are rising at the fledgling Best Buy UK business but shoppers like the new arrival in the electricals sector, Carphone Warehouse revealed.
Andrew Harrison

November 5 2010
As Carphone Warehouse reveals its interim results, George MacDonald finds out what drives Best Buy Europe’s chief operating officer to greater heights
Best Buy launches transactional website

November 5 2010
Electricals group Best Buy took its offer to shoppers nationwide for the first time yesterday with the launch of its transactional website.
Bullish outlook for retail despite jitters

November 5 2010
General retailers were down over the week while their food counterparts were up - both underperformed a flattish market.
M&S on track to hit £500m online sales over Christmas

5-Nov-2010
Shop Your Way initiative helps retailer to meet target three months ahead of year-end schedule
M&S’s overseas conundrum

November 5 2010
Marks & Spencer may have made a mistake when it sold its shops in France and Spain almost a decade ago, but buying them back sounds downright odd.
Race for space puts grocers' returns at risk

4-Nov-2010
Fears have been raised that the rate of expansion by the big grocers will hit their financial returns and like-for-likes.
Morrisons posts 1.3% like-for-like growth in third quarter

4-Nov-2010
UPDATED 11AM Supermarket group Morrisons notched up sales growth of 2.8%, excluding petrol, in the third quarter.
Sales rise at Next but so will prices

3-Nov-2010
Fashion group Next has reported third quarter sales at the upper end of its guidance range and warned that clothing price rises will also be at the top end of expectations.
Can workers provide a big break for WHSmith?

October 29 2010
The retailer - more used to operating in railway stations - believes the workplace could prove to be an untapped source of growth. George MacDonald examines the venture’s potential
Comet launches loyalty scheme in fierce electricals battleground

October 29 2010
Comet has launched its first loyalty scheme as electricals groups slug it out in fiercely competitive conditions.
Debenhams sticks to its guns over Christmas promotions

October 29 2010
Debenhams will stick to its traditional promotional stance this Christmas, a strategy that it says is misunderstood by some observers.
Retail fears ebb but long-term risk stays

October 29 2010
Fears for the retail industry because of the Government’s spending review seem to have been assuaged.
Too soon to see Best Buy’s impact

October 29 2010
Aside from Next, the big update next week will come from Carphone Warehouse which posts interim results on Friday.
Sales at Westfield London leap 31%

28-Oct-2010
Sales at Westfield London, which celebrates its second anniversary this weekend, surged 31% in the most recent quarter and jumped 26% like-for-like.
Walmart reconsiders terms of Massmart deal

28-Oct-2010
Walmart may modify its offer to acquire South African retailer Massmart, meaning the Johannesburg company could retain a listing.
End of an era as Dunnhumby founders step down

28-Oct-2010
The husband and wife founders of Dunnhumby, the data and marketing company fundamental to the success of Tesco’s Clubcard, are to step down.
Asda breaks with tradition with Christmas loyalty scheme launch

26-Oct-2010
Food and general merchandise group Asda has launched a Christmas customer loyalty initiative as big retailers make an early play for seasonal spend.
Mixed sales performance from Flying Brands

26-Oct-2010
Home shopping group Flying Brands has revealed mixed trading at its main businesses and acquired 50% of online promotions business Dealtastic.
Park Group expands into eurozone

25-Oct-2010
Christmas hampers and vouchers specialist Park Group is expanding internationally.
Tesco launches home repair service

22-Oct-2010
Grocery giant Tesco is piloting a handyman services scheme in Swindon and may replicate it nationwide if successful.
John Lewis weekly sales rise 7.2%

22-Oct-2010
Sales at John Lewis department stores rose 7.2% to £58.5m last week, when all main categories delivered a similar performance.
Argos poised for return to the clothing market

22-Oct-2010
Retailer attempts to poach staff from online specialists ahead of fashion comeback.
Analysts warn bids for Blacks will reflect tough trading spell

October 22, 2010
Bids for outdoor goods specialist Blacks Leisure are unlikely to match the level offered by rival Sports Direct earlier this year, analysts fear.
Ben Gordon

October 22, 2010
Not only has the Mothercare boss given the maternity retailer a clear vision, he has turned it into an international force to be reckoned with
Blacks’ shares perk up after bid approaches

October 22, 2010
Outdoor goods specialist Blacks was at the centre of the week’s retail share price action after revealing approaches from potential buyers.
Tycoon Jagtiani amasses $1bn fund for raid on UK fashion retail

October 22, 2010
Dubai retail tycoon Micky Jagtiani has amassed a $1bn (£628.2m) fund for acquisitions next year and is again eyeing UK fashion retailers.
What’s best for Blacks?

October 22, 2010
It’s easy to forget but, as privately owned specialists bid for pre-eminence in the outdoor goods market, a public company holds the commanding heights.
Argos suffers profits fall

20-Oct-2010
Argos and Homebase owner Home Retail Group has posted a plunge in interim profits.
Suits You owner considers sale or closure

19-Oct-2010
The owners of SRG, the company behind 66-store menswear chain Suits You, are understood to have begun a strategic review of the business, which could lead to its sale, closure or administration.
No charges to be brought against JJB Sports and Sports Direct, SFO concludes

19-Oct-2010
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) will confirm imminently that its investigation into Sports Direct and JJB Sports is over and no charges will be brought against the companies, the retailers revealed in regulatory announcements this morning.
Retailers to enjoy best Christmas since 2007, Verdict forecasts

15-Oct-2010
This Christmas will be the best for retailers since 2007 and sales are likely to rise 1.9% to £85.2bn.
Marks & Spencer to hire 20,000 Christmas staff

15-Oct-2010
Marks & Spencer is hiring 20,000 seasonal staff as the crucial Christmas trading season gets under way.
John Lewis sales rise 7.2% in 'most challenging week'

15-Oct-2010
Department store chain John Lewis generated a 7.2% sales rise to £59.5m last week, which it described as “probably the most challenging” of the half-year so far.
Christmas comes early for Argos with three-for-two toy promotion

October 15, 2010
Catalogue store group Argos shifted 2 million units during its three-for-two toy promotion a fortnight ago, staged to make an early play for Christmas sales.
WHSmith and Dixons join forces for ebook download app deal

15-Oct-2010
Bookseller WHSmith has struck a deal with Dixons to embed an ebook download app on e-readers and tablet devices sold by the electricals group.
History repeating itself at M&S

October 15, 2010
Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose could be forgiven for feeling he is experiencing a bittersweet groundhog day.
Lacklustre sales fail to dent general stores

October 15, 2010
General stores rose over the week versus the All-share index, even edging up on Tuesday when the latest BRC sales data showed a lacklustre performance.
Asda to source an extra £270m of British food by 2013

14-Oct-2010
Asda is to ramp up the quantity of food sourced from British producers, including local and specialist suppliers, as part of a sustainable agriculture push by parent Walmart.
Kesa shares soar on Best Buy bid speculation

13-Oct-2010
Speculation that a takeover of Anglo-French electrical group Kesa may be on the cards has prompted the retailer’s share price to soar.
Alistair McGeorge

October 8, 2010
While his decision to step down is a surprise, the enigmatic Matalan chief has undoubtedly made his mark at the value retail giant.
Ikea breaks with history to reveal annual results

1-Oct-2010
Furniture giant Ikea has broken its traditional habit and issued full-year results in acknowledgement of widespread interest in the business.
John Lewis reports 15% weekly sales rise

1-Oct-2010
Sales at department store chain John Lewis rose 15.1% last week to £58.7m.
Peacocks calls off sale

1-Oct-2010
Fashion retailer Peacocks will not be sold after there was insufficient interest from potential buyers, Retail Week has learned.
M&S experiments with standalone beauty shop

October 1, 2010
Marks & Spencer has opened an experimental standalone beauty store in Mumbai with Indian partner Reliance.
Is John Lewis’s online pledge a game changer?

October 1, 2010
Online just got tougher as John Lewis rolls out its famous price pledge, but what does the initiative bode for the sector?
JJB takes cautious approach as volatile trading continues

October 1, 2010
JJB Sports slashed losses in its first half but investors took fright at volatile trading conditions since.
Sainsbury’s treads carefully

October 1, 2010
After hunkering down and sticking to the knitting during the recession, the attractions of trading in foreign climes are once again moving up the retail agenda despite the rather uncertain trading conditions at home.
Sluggish growth puts brokers off their food

October 1, 2010
Food retailers’ shares looked far from scrumptious ahead of Tesco’s interim results next Tuesday and Sainsbury’s second-quarter update a day later.
JJB Sports funding concern prompts big broker downgrade

30-Sep-2010
Broker Singer has slashed its price target for JJB Sports by more than a third to just 8p because of concerns about the retailer’s funding and punishing trading conditions.
Matalan chief executive Alistair McGeorge to stand down

30-Sep-2010
Matalan chief executive Alistair McGeorge is to stand down and other boardroom changes are expected at the value retail giant.
JJB cuts losses but prepares for promotional blitz

28-Sep-2010
JJB Sports has hailed “steady progress” in its turnaround after cutting losses and fattening margins in its first half.
Walmart to buy South African retailer Massmart, Asda’s Andy Bond to oversee

27-Sep-2010
Walmart intends to push into Africa with the $4.2bn acquisition of general merchandise group Massmart.
Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy attacks investor short-termism

27-Sep-2010
Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy has criticised short-term investor attitudes and such shareholders’ superficial understanding of companies in which they hold stakes.
John Lewis lays down the Christmas gauntlet as sales rise

24-Sep-2010
Sales at John Lewis department stores rose 11.7 last week, which the retailer said it suspects was “well ahead of the market”.
Mayhew urges Government to get on with fostering growth

September 24, 2010
British Retail Consortium (BRC)chairman Luke Mayhew has urged the Government to set out a vision of better times and shift public debate away from spending cuts.
Promoted to death?

September 24, 2010
As retailers rely more and more on promotions it seems customers are less willing to pay full price. Is it too late to turn the tide, asks George MacDonald
Questions of confidence

September 24, 2010
Consumer confidence has been one of retail’s big talking points all year - but what about retail confidence?
Next strikes online partnership with US retailer Sears

23-Sep-2010
Fashion group Next is to sell clothing online in the US in partnership with retail giant Sears.
Do more to back enterprise, BRC chairman Luke Mayhew tells Government

23-Sep-2010
British Retail Consortium chairman Luke Mayhew has warned that the Government risks causing “collateral damage” to business unless it encourages enterprise and cuts red tape as well as making cuts.
Jaeger opens shops-in-shops in Italy with Coin

22-Sep-2010
Upscale fashion retailer and brand Jaeger has expanded into Italy with the opening of four shop-in-shops in Coin department stores.
House of Fraser celebrates Biba success as profits soar

22-Sep-2010
The relaunch of iconic fashion brand Biba has gone down a storm with shoppers and first-half profits have leaped, House of Fraser reported.
Voucher demand boosts Park Group sales

21-Sep-2010
Park Group, the Christmas hamper and gift voucher company, reported that trading in the first quarter of its financial year went well thanks to growing demand for corporate vouchers and online sales.
Profits leap at JD Sports Fashion

21-Sep-2010
JD Sports Fashion has posted a 64% rise in profits and expects continued growth.
Former Kingfisher director George Adams named chief executive of Maxeda DIY

17-Sep-2010
Former Kingfisher executive George Adams is to become chief executive of Maxeda DIY, part of the Dutch private equity-backed retail group of the same name.
Retailers cut waste sent to landfill by 50%

17-Sep-2010
Retailers are sending half as much rubbish to the dump as they did five years ago and have slashed carbon dioxide emissions.
John Lewis enjoys "flying start" to autumn

17-Sep-2010
Sales at John Lewis department stores climbed 16.5% to £58.3m last week as the back-to-school selling season got autumn off to a “flying start”.
Don’t read the last rites yet

September 17, 2010
Store stocks are enveloped in as deep a gloom as the Addams family’s mansion. But retail shares are not zombie investments and it’s too early to call in the undertakers.
Fashion retailers more positive as sector lifts

September 17, 2010
General retailers held their own in the run-up to Wednesday’s results from fashion groups French Connection and Next, which both made bullish noises about performance.
Hugh Harvey

September 17, 2010
For the sports-mad managing director of Comet, transforming the business is a marathon and not a sprint. George MacDonald reports
Pixmania moves into new product ranges

September 17, 2010
Pixmania, the etailer owned by electricals group Dixons, is to extend its range of product categories as it seeks to establish leading positions in new fields.
Retailers dismayed by service charges

16-Sep-2010
Service charges and alteration consents have emerged as retailers’ key landlord relationship concerns.
Stephen Marks: French Connection ‘back on track’

15-Sep-2010
French Connection is “back on track” founder and chairman Stephen Marks has declared after interim results showed a return to the black.
Snow+Rock sold to management

14-Sep-2010
Outdoors specialist Snow +Rock has been bought by its management, backed by private equity firm LGV capital, for an undisclosed sum.
Profits to climb at Debenhams

14-Sep-2010
Department store group Debenhams expects profits to rise strongly this year after a product mix shift lifted margins.
Potential buyers sit tight as Blockbuster awaits its fate

10-Sep-2010
Uncertainty dogs up-for-sale DVD firm’s Christmas prospects as US parent mulls bankruptcy
Comet follows a new path

September 10, 2010
Kesa has been proving more popular of late, thanks in part to stakebuilding by activist investor Knight Vinke and Comet’s project to differentiate and broaden its appeal
Encouraging signs for general retailers

September 10, 2010
General retailers were up again over the week, outpacing their food peers and just about keeping pace with the All-Share Index. They are still down over the year, though.
Tesco tries triple Clubcard points scheme

9-Sep-2010
Tesco has launched a triple Clubcard points scheme for high-spending customers.
Argos performance dents Home Retail profits

9-Sep-2010
Argos owner Home Retail Group expects full-year profits to come in at the low end of expectations after suffering a second quarter sales fall at flagship chain Argos.
Morrisons unveils convenience and online ambitions

9-Sep-2010
Supermarket group Morrisons is to test convenience stores next year and is investigating whether also to begin trading online.
Profits fall at Thorntons

8-Sep-2010
Chocolates specialist Thorntons has posted a fall in full-year profits despite making market share gains.
Retail sales rise in August

7-Sep-2010
Retail sales rose 1% like-for-like in August and 2.8% in total, the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor showed.
BRC seeks assurances on local enterprise partnerships

6-Sep-2010
The British Retail Consortium has welcomed opportunities for business to become involved in local decision making but warned that ‘localism’ should not be allowed to harm national companies.
Sir Stuart Rose hints at TV career and defends his record at Marks & Spencer

6-Sep-2010
Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose has hinted of his interest in fronting a Troubleshooter-style business TV show after he stands down from the retailer.
Morrisons considers online food launch

3-Sep-2010
New Morrisons boss Dalton Philips is expected to signal a move into selling food online when he unveils elements of his strategy for the grocer at next week’s interim results.
Multichannel powers 12% rise in weekly sales at John Lewis

3-Sep-2010
Department store chain John Lewis posted a sales rise of 12.2% to £57.8m last week, driven by a strong online and fashion performance.
Ocado shares up by 5% ahead of update

September 3, 2010
General store stocks improved compared with their recent weak showing but the sector remains well down over the year in comparison with food groups and the All-Share index.
Peter Marks

September 3, 2010
The Co-op chief executive has been through tough times with the business. He tells George MacDonald about the retailer’s renaissance
Promotions at a high as Co-op profits rise

September 3, 2010
About 40% of products on Co-operative Group’s food stores are on promotion at present - the highest level in recent times.
Time for Argos to help itself

September 3, 2010
What has almost 1,000 pages and sells everything from air beds to yoga mats? It’s not Argos’s latest big book, but Tesco’s.
Asda’s George poaches top Marks & Spencer executive

2-Sep-2010
Asda-owned fashion business George has poached top Marks & Spencer executive Nick Jones to be its merchandising, supply and sourcing director.
Tesco joins auction for Carrefour’s Asian shops

2-Sep-2010
Food and hypermarkets giant Tesco is among the 10 bidders for French counterpart Carrefour’s south-east Asian assets.
World Cup boosts Dixons sales

2-Sep-2010
Electricals group Dixons Retail, owner of the Currys and PC World chains, has reported a good start to the year helped by the World Cup and demand for iPads.
Mountain Warehouse deal values store group at £50m

2-Sep-2010
Private equity firm LDC acquires stake in fast-growing outdoor gear specialist
Consumer confidence rises in August

31-Aug-2010
Consumer confidence improved in August for the first time since February.
John Lewis posts weekly sales rise of 10.5%

27-Aug-2010
Sales at John Lewis department stores rose 10.5% last week to £52m, driven once again by the fashion department.
M&S makes tracks for rail distribution first

August 27, 2010
Marks & Spencer is to open its first distribution centre with a rail terminal as it proceeds with its 2020 business improvement strategy and Plan A sustainability programme.
Appetite for grocers up despite FTSE 100 woes

August 27, 2010
As the FTSE 100 took a hit on renewed fears of a double-dip recession, investor appetite for food retailers was keener than for general merchandise groups.
City approves of Swannell’s appointment as M&S chair

August 27, 2010
Relations between Marks & Spencer and the City are likely to thaw following the appointment of Robert Swannell to succeed Sir Stuart Rose as chairman of the bellwether retailer.
M&S’s online food for thought

August 27, 2010
Ocado’s share price since flotation and its ongoing attempt to become profitable will be of consuming interest to retail directors other than just the online grocer’s. Among them no doubt is Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland, who is gearing up to unveil his strategy this autumn.
Technology and fashion sales hold up despite consumer focus on essentials

26-Aug-2010
Technology products and fashion are among the few consumer spending categories to have delivered real terms sales growth in the last year and people remain focused on saving, a Mintel study has shown.
Primark to open 75,000 sq ft Edinburgh flagship

26-Aug-2010
Value fashion giant Primark is to open on Edinburgh’s Princes Street after winning planning approval for a 75,000 sq ft store.
Co-op profits rise despite Somerfield sales drag

26-Aug-2010
Co-operative Group has posted a surge in first half profits but like-for-likes at its food arm fell because of disruption caused by the integration of Somerfield.
Marks & Spencer to press ahead with Midlands store closures

25-Aug-2010
Marks & Spencer is to proceed with the closure of four stores in Lincolnshire and Warwickshire, which locals had campaigned to keep open.
Sir Stuart Rose to stand down from Marks & Spencer in January, Robert Swannell confirmed as successor

23-Aug-2010
Sir Stuart Rose will be succeeded by Robert Swannell as chairman of Marks & Spencer on January 4 next year.
Nearly half of Woolworths’ stores still empty

23-Aug-2010
Almost two years after Woolworths’ collapse, 40% of the variety group’s stores remain empty.
Robert Swannell tipped to become chairman of Marks & Spencer

20-Aug-2010
HMV chairman Robert Swannell is being tipped to take the same role at Marks & Spencer.
John Lewis weekly sales rise 10.5%

20-Aug-2010
Sales at department store chain John Lewis rose 10.5% to £51.4m last week as shoppers bought into the latest fashion trends.
MFI brand back from the dead following £250k deal

20-Aug-2010
Brand relaunch marks a new chapter in the furniture retailer’s tumultuous history
Iain McGeoch

August 20, 2010
True to form, M&Co’s chairman and managing director is remaining tight-lipped on the value retailer’s recession-busting success
Morrisons and Sainsbury’s defy poor week for shares

August 20, 2010
General retail shares suffered another bad week when they once again underperformed the All Share index.
The heirs to Woolies’ throne

August 20, 2010
The battle to become ‘the new Woolworths’ is hotting up.
Ocado shares hit new low

19-Aug-2010
Home shopping group Ocado’s shares hit a new low yesterday, and from today the stock can no longer be propped up by Goldman Sachs acting as a trading counterparty.
Three New Look directors step down as IPO prospects remain distant

18-Aug-2010
Three of New Look’s non-executive directors have stood down it has emerged, indicating that an IPO of the fashion group is unlikely in the near future.
JJB Sports finance director to quit

18-Aug-2010
JJB Sports finance director Lawrence Coppock has revealed he intends to leave the troubled retailer within the next 12 months.
B&M Bargains completes Opus Homewares deal for £48m

17-Aug-2010
Value group B&M Bargains has completed the acquisition of Opus Homewares for £48m, extending its presence north of the border and in Northern Ireland.
Marks & Spencer’s former Indian boss joins competitor

16-Aug-2010
The former chief executive of Marks & Spencer’s Indian business, Mark Ashman, has jumped ship to run local rival Hypercity, which sells Waitrose products in the country.
John Lewis sales weekly sales rise 15.5%

13-Aug-2010
Sales at department store group John Lewis rose 15.5% last week to £52.5m, spearheaded by fashion which was ahead by 20%.
Apple: The tech company transforming retail

August 13, 2010
The fanfare surrounding Apple’s Covent Garden store is the latest example of how it is not only driving technological innovation but transforming retail as well. By George MacDonald
Flat outlook for retail shares

August 13, 2010
Next chief executive Simon Wolfson put the cat among the retail share price pigeons last week with a frank summary of current trading conditions and the shape of things to come.
Next update and BRC data hits retail stocks

August 13, 2010
Retail stocks were left on the shelf following downbeat reports last week from Carpetright and Next and gloomy BRC July retail sales data this week.
John Lewis to advise on 'big society' projects

12-Aug-2010
Retailer John Lewis, the UK’s best-known mutual company, is to advise public sector organisations on how to improve by involving staff.
Superdrug launches £9.99 value version of luxury skin cream

12-Aug-2010
Health and beauty group Superdrug is to launch a £9.99 high street version of a luxury product more typically sold for £225.
July retail sales hit by jittery consumer mood, BRC reports

10-Aug-2010
Retail like-for-like sales rose by just 0.5% in July as shoppers’ fear of looming public spending cuts took hold.
John Lewis first-half sales growth of 15% unlikely to be sustained says Andy Street

6-Aug-2010
Sales at department store chain John Lewis rose 14.9% in the first half, or 12.6% excluding VAT.
Grocery shares climb defies watchdog news

August 6, 2010
Food and general retailers alike edged up ahead of the market as the dog days of August got under way. Each continues to lag the All Share index over the year, however.
Mike Shearwood

August 6, 2010
Mike Shearwood was able to breathe a little easier last week when Aurora Fashions posted its first profit.
Oxford Street retailers’ anger at mayor Boris Johnson’s buses outburst

August 6, 2010
Retailers have reacted with dismay to claims by London Mayor Boris Johnson that their stance on buses stands in the way of improving top shopping location Oxford Street.
Watchdog is bad news, but grocers will cope

August 6, 2010
It was begun during one administration’s tenure and completed under another’s, but you probably couldn’t tell: the Government response to the consultation on creating a grocery ombudsman - or adjudicator as it is now termed - is classic British fudge.
Wigan to pilot town centre trading push

August 6, 2010
A scheme to promote town centre trading and boost local economies will be piloted in Wigan this autumn and rolled out if successful.
Wolfson and Harris: tough times in store

August 6, 2010
Bellwether retailers Carpetright and Next spooked the City on Tuesday with cautious updates presaging punishing times for the stores sector.
Apple previews Covent Garden store

5-Aug-2010
Technology giant Apple has shown off its Covent Garden store, which opens to the public at 10am on Saturday.
M&S appoints former WHSmith man Alan Stewart as chief finance officer

3-Aug-2010
Marks & Spencer has named Alan Stewart its new chief finance officer.
Chanel pays record fee for Bond Street store

30-Jul-2010
Luxury brand Chanel has paid a record sum to secure Bond Street premises for a UK flagship store.
John Lewis posts weekly sales rise of 8.2%

30-Jul-2010
Sales at department store chain John Lewis rose 8.2% last week to £52.6m, helped by a strong showing from home lines.
Consumer confidence falls for fifth month in a row

30-Jul-2010
Consumer confidence worsened for the fifth consecutive month in July, fuelling fears of a return to recession.
Dixons ditches a ‘plethora’ of own-brands to refresh line-up

30-Jul-2010
Electricals retailer wants to simplify its own-brands to focus on ‘good’, ‘better’ and ‘best’ price points
No room for smug consensus

July 30, 2010
Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner rather gracelessly laid into independent City analysts after last week’s lacklustre IPO, following which the online grocer’s shares immediately fell below the opening price.
Tough times ahead for Ocado, warns broker

July 30, 2010
It was kerching! for Ocado’s founders as the etailer pulled off its IPO in the face of widespread City scepticism, although the flotation price did not meet original ambitions.
Squirrel meat on Budgens shelves prompts outrage

29-Jul-2010
A Budgens store has prompted controversy by putting squirrel meat on its shelves.
Tough start to the year for Wickes

29-Jul-2010
Builders merchant Travis Perkins’ has reported a tough start to the year at its retail division, including DIY chain Wickes, but the business has gained market share.
‘Excellent’ start for Best Buy’s UK big boxes, Carphone Warehouse reports

28-Jul-2010
Best Buy’s first UK big-box stores have had an “excellent” response from shoppers, joint-venture partner Carphone Warehouse reported.
2020 vision for London’s West End shopping district unveiled

26-Jul-2010
New West End Company, the agency charged with the improvement of London’s premier shopping district, has unveiled ambitious plans to help almost double sales in the area to £10bn by 2020.
Phones 4U to open shop-in-shops in Currys and PC World

26-Jul-2010
Electricals retailer Dixons has forged a partnership with Phones 4U to open mobile phone areas in at least 50 stores this year following the success of a pilot venture in Currys shops.
Aurora posts first operating profit of £23m

26-Jul-2010
Aurora, the fashion group that owns chain including Oasis, Coast and Karen Millen, has posted operating profit of £22.6m in the 11 months since it was launched from the wreckage of the Icelandic financial meltdown.
City forces Ocado to slash IPO share price

July 23, 2010
The City kept up pressure on Ocado as it prepared for Wednesday’s float and, at the last moment, forced the online grocer to slash its asking price.
Debenhams feels the love

July 23, 2010
Department store Debenhams took another step towards improving its capital structure this week when it completed a £650m refinancing, which will cut the cost of borrowing and extend debt maturity.
How UK retail is extending its franchise

July 23, 2010
Franchising helps overseas ventures, but how do you decide whether to run company-owned stores or take the franchise route?
JJB Sports in showdown with GMB union

22-Jul-2010
JJB Sports chiefs are expected to meet GMB union bosses today in a showdown over recognition at the retailer’s Wigan distribution depot.
B&Q suffers second quarter sales fall

22-Jul-2010
DIY group Kingfisher suffered a sales decline at its UK arm in the second quarter as shoppers avoided big-ticket purchases.
Sports Direct profits soar but World Cup impact mixed

22-Jul-2010
Sports Direct delivered its best ever day of trading on the day England played the USA in this year’s World Cup and has posted a surge in full-year profits.
Marks & Spencer unveils flagship Bradford distribution centre

20-Jul-2010
Marks & Spencer officially opens a 1.1m sq ft state-of-the-art distribution centre in Bradford today in a key step in its Project 2020 business improvement programme.
Mothercare to take 25% stake in Australian franchisee

16-Jul-2010
Mothercare is to take a stake 25% in Headline Group, which holds the Mothercare and Early Learning Centre franchises in Australia and New Zealand.
Luxury goods retailer Smythson returns to profit

16-Jul-2010
Upmarket stationer and luxury goods specialist Smythson returned to profit last year.
John Lewis weekly sales rise 9.1%

16-Jul-2010
Sales at department store chain John Lewis rose 9.1% last week to £59.2m as the retailer’s Sale drew shoppers.
Hi-fi chains Audio T and Sevenoaks Sound & Vision merge to fend off larger rivals

July 16, 2010
Privately owned hi-fi retailers Audio T and Sevenoaks Sound & Vision are to merge, creating a 50-store business.
Grocers likely to escape fines under ombudsman’s regime

July 16, 2010
Ministers lean towards naming and shaming supermarkets that infringe new code of practice instead
No cause to downgrade retail

July 16, 2010
More than half-way through 2010, many store chiefs’ comments remain wary to the point of downbeat. While the gloomy noises will hardly spark a sector upgrade, the prospects for a further downgrade don’t look any greater.
Retail’s stock rises as June sales tick along

July 16, 2010
Retailers achieved “decent sales growth” in June, the BRC reported, and store stocks rose over the week although they lagged the All-Share index.
Mothercare suffers UK sales fall and buys Blooming Marvellous brand

15-Jul-2010
Maternity specialist Mothercare has posted a fall in UK sales and has bought the trademark and brand of privately owned rival Blooming Marvellous.
Record June fashion price falls, ONS reports

13-Jul-2010
Record June falls in the prices of clothing and footwear pushed down the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) annual rate of inflation to 3.2% last month from 3.4% in May.
Retail administrations down 57% in first half of 2010

12-Jul-2010
The number of retail company administrations fell by 57% in the first six months of this year compared to the same period in 2009.
Retailers prepare for AGM pay rebellions

12-Jul-2010
Leading retailers are preparing for a showdown with shareholders this week as director pay becomes the focus of investor anger.
Government ignores retailers' pleas on Boxing Day trading

9-Jul-2010
Retailers’ hopes that Sunday trading rules would be relaxed for the Boxing Day Sales have been dashed by the Government.
Shares sale by Sainsbury’s chief dampens bid speculation

9-Jul-2010
Speculation that Qataris investors are mulling a bid for supermarket group Sainsbury’s has been undermined by a share sale by chief executive Justin King.
John Lewis sales benefit from England’s World Cup exit

9-Jul-2010
England’s exit from the World Cup is helping sales at department store chain John Lewis, which rose 11.4% last week to £67m.
City perks up as general retailers bounce back

July 9, 2010
There was plenty to interest stock market store-watchers as general retailers staged a bounce-back over the week, Ocado generated excitement and controversy with its IPO plans and takeover talk swirled around Sainsbury’s.
City perks up as general retailers bounce back

July 9, 2010
There was plenty to interest stock market store-watchers as general retailers staged a bounce-back over the week, Ocado generated excitement and controversy with its IPO plans and takeover talk swirled around Sainsbury’s.
Debenhams: all about the bottom line

July 9, 2010
As it ramps up its own-label offer, the department store retailer has sacrificed sales to boost margins. George MacDonald asks if the strategy has paid off
Don’t be pilloried over pay

July 9, 2010
How striking that it is typically top-flight retailers that become embroiled in AGM fisticuffs.
Best Buy’s UK chief Paul Antoniadis quits

8-Jul-2010
Paul Antoniadis stuns observers with resignation just 12 weeks after the electricals giant’s UK launch
Sales and margins rise at JJB Sports

8-Jul-2010
JJB Sports has reported a like-for-like sales rise and improved gross margin in recent weeks.
Primark sales climb 17%

8-Jul-2010
Value fashion giant Primark has reported 17% sales growth and “strong” operating margins during an “excellent” year to date.
Marks & Spencer like-for-likes leap in first quarter

7-Jul-2010
Marks & Spencer has reported a 6% surge in general merchandise like-for-likes in the first quarter, when the retailer wooed clothing shoppers with “improved styling, stronger fashions and great value.”
Sir Philip Green aims to open more retail academies

6-Jul-2010
Arcadia owner Sir Philip Green is considering opening more shopkeeping schools after the success of London’s Fashion Retail Academy.
Shoppers spent £250bn online over last 10 years

2-Jul-2010
Consumers spent £250bn shopping online over the last 10 years and the market will double in the next decade.
John Lewis records 13.3% weekly sales rise

2-Jul-2010
Department store chain John Lewis generated a sales uplift of 13.3% last week “despite many distractions”.
Ocado will make no money until 2014, adviser says

2-Jul-2010
Online grocer Ocado will not make a profit until 2014, one of the banks advising it on an IPO has revealed.
Dixons campaign will aim to change image

July 2, 2010
Electricals group Dixons - which is readopting its original name and abandoning the DSGi moniker - is to launch an advertising campaign later this year in an attempt to change what it claims are outdated shopper perceptions.
Double-dip recession fears spook the City

July 2, 2010
Renewed fears of a double-dip recession following austerity measures put the frighteners on the market on Tuesday, when every FTSE 100 stock fell.
Kesa turns on to change

July 2, 2010
Activist investor Knight Vinke put some spark in electricals retailer Kesa’s share price this week after building up a 3% stake.
Thierry Falque-Pierrotin

July 2, 2010
The Kesa boss may get short shrift from the UK press, but his plans to refresh Comet and catch up with rival Dixons could win him some fans yet.
Parliament to vote on VAT rise

1-Jul-2010
There will be a parliamentary vote on the planned VAT rise, it is understood, following complaints from the Labour party that discussion would be limited.
Kingfisher puts Euan Sutherland in charge of group sourcing

1-Jul-2010
DIY group Kingfisher has rejigged directors’ responsibilities to put more “management resource” behind its group sourcing drive.
Debenhams posts like-for-like sales fall and acquires 115 Faith concessions

1-Jul-2010
Department store group Debenhams has reported a like-for-like sales fall of 0.4% for the 42 weeks to June 19 and has agreed to buy bust footwear retailer Faith’s concessions.
World Cup hits current trading at HMV but profits rise 17.7%

30-Jun-2010
The World Cup has hit current trading at HMV but the entertainment group remains confident as it enacts its strategy to evolve the product mix, develop its live music and ticketing business and turn around bookseller Waterstone’s.
Activist investor builds stake in Kesa

29-Jun-2010
Activist investor Knight Vinke has built up a 3% stake in Anglo-French electricals retailer Kesa, owner of the Darty and Comet chains.
Theo Fennell performance improves after founder's return

28-Jun-2010
Upmarket jeweller Theo Fennell has reported improving business after a year of restructuring and the return of its eponymous founder in June last year.
Shopworkers’ union backs David Miliband as Labour leader

28-Jun-2010
Shopworkers’ union Usdaw has put its support behind David Miliband to succeed Gordon Brown as leader of the Labour Party.
Matalan sales and profits climb

25-Jun-2010
Value fashion and homewares retailer Matalan has posted a 30% increase in annual profits.
Fathers' Day helps lift John Lewis sales

25-Jun-2010
Department store chain John Lewis generated a 13% sales rise to £52.5m last week and is poised to launch its Sale this Saturday.
Warren Buffett increases stake in Tesco

25-Jun-2010
Legendary investor Warren Buffett has increased his stake in supermarket group Tesco and now holds just over 3% of the grocer’s shares.
Comet plans brand overhaul to stand out from competition

June 25, 2010
Electricals retailer moves to connect with customers and differentiate itself from its rivals
Retailers in favour despite hike in VAT

June 25, 2010
Retailers can live with the effects of Tuesday’s emergency Budget: that was the snap judgement of store chiefs and investors alike to the Chancellor’s announcement.
Ocado presses button on IPO

24-Jun-2010
Home shopping group Ocado is to float on the London Stock Exchange after interim EBITDA surged 181% to £8m.
Private equity house Isis invests £4m in gifts etailer GettingPersonal.co.uk

24-Jun-2010
Private equity house Isis has invested £4m in online gifts retailer GettingPersonal.co.uk.
Robert Tchenguiz trust to hand over £137m Somerfield proceeds to Kaupthing administrators

24-Jun-2010
A trust connected to investment tycoon Robert Tchenguiz has abandoned its legal fight to retain £137m of proceeds from the sale of grocer Somerfield.
Asda aims to absorb VAT rise

24-Jun-2010
Grocery and general merchandise giant Asda intends to shelter shoppers from the worst of the VAT rise in the new year.
Retail sales fall in June lower than expected, CBI reports

23-Jun-2010
Retail sales fell in June, although to a lesser extent than had been expected, the CBI Distributive Trades Survey showed.
Comet to refurbish stores after profits rise

23-Jun-2010
Electricals retailer Comet is to refurbish 40 stores his year as it seeks to respond to the revival of arch-rival DSGi and the touchdown of US powerhouse Best Buy.
B&Q to open small city centre stores

22-Jun-2010
DIY retailer B&Q intends to open small-format city centre stores in the UK after the success of similar pilot stores run by parent Kingfisher overseas.
HMV withdraws 'anti-English' World Cup goods from Scottish stores

21-Jun-2010
Entertainment retailer HMV is withdrawing Anyone But England World Cup T-shirts and other merchandise from Scottish stores after accusations of racism.
Boots to open nurse-led clinics and may bid for NHS services

21-Jun-2010
Health and beauty giant Alliance Boots may provide NHS care through its chain of high street chemists’ stores.
WHSmith to launch book club with Richard and Judy

18-Jun-2010
WHSmith has struck a deal with TV personalities Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan to reprise the pair’s book club.
Tesco faces AGM revolt over pay

18-Jun-2010
Tesco faces the prospect of an investor revolt at its AGM next month over “excessive” executive pay, singling out US boss Tim Mason as an example.
World Cup sales boost for John Lewis

18-Jun-2010
World Cup enthusiasm helped lift sales at John Lewis and Waitrose stores last week.
A matter of quality

June 18, 2010
Quality of management is typically one of the focal points for investors in any business. And in these celebrity-obsessed times, a business version of X Factor is often played out when retail’s big roles are up for grabs
City takes Q1 grocery slowdown in its stride

June 18, 2010
Grocers lagged the market as lower food price inflation contributed to lacklustre first-quarter like-for-like growth at Sainsbury’s and Tesco - 1.1% in each case before the VAT change is taken into account.
M&S manages to reduce theft for first time in more than a decade

June 18, 2010
Marks & Spencer cut theft from its stores for the first time in more than a decade last year, in stark contrast to the sector as a whole, which suffered a recession-fuelled crime wave.
The changing consumer

June 18, 2010
Unprecedented economic developments have impacted on consumers. Are they ready to spend again? Here, some of the industry’s major players discuss retail’s brave new world. By George MacDonald
Consumer price inflation falls to 3.4% in May

15-Jun-2010
Consumer prices index (CPI) inflation fell to 3.4% in May from 3.7% in April year-on-year, the Office for National Statistics reported.
First England match hits shopper numbers

14-Jun-2010
England’s first World Cup game hit shopper numbers on Saturday, when footfall fell by 4.7%.
John Lewis weekly sales rise 24%

4-Jun-2010
All of John Lewis’s shops put in a better year-on-year performance last week, when the department store chain’s sales rose 24.6% to £55.4m.
Sir Ken Morrison: ‘Marc Bolland was no retailer’

4-Jun-2010
Morrisons founder Sir Ken Morrison has launched a scathing attack on Marc Bolland, the grocer’s former chief executive who jumped ship to lead Marks & Spencer.
John Clare: Can he revive revive JJB Sports?

June 4, 2010
The former DSGi chief faces a tough challenge to resuscitate JJB as its newly appointed chairman. George MacDonald assesses his credentials
Retail shares rebound after last week’s blow

June 4, 2010
Food and general retail stocks alike bounced back after last week’s plunge, both outperforming the All Share index.
The downside of consensus

June 4, 2010
How many investment banks does to take to float a retailer?
Self-help measures drive Kingfisher quarterly profits rise

3-Jun-2010
Improved gross margin and cost productivity helped DIY giant Kingfisher post a rise in first quarter profits despite a like-for-like sales fall.
Peerage for Next chief executive Simon Wolfson

28-May-2010
Next chief executive Simon Wolfson has been named a Conservative working peer in the Dissolution Honours List put forward to the Queen by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Customers queue all night for iPad launch

28-May-2010
Consumers, some of whom queued through the night, have turned out in force to snap up the first iPads to go on sale in the UK.
Demand for warm weather product lifts John Lewis sales

28-May-2010
Warm weather helped increase sales at department store chain John Lewis and grocery stablemate Waitrose last week.
Consumer confidence falls again in May

28-May-2010
Consumer confidence has fallen to the same level as when Northern Rock was nationalised in early 2008.
Marks & Spencer ramps up its multichannel offer

May 28, 2010
Multichannel sales climb 27% to £413m, bringing £500m target in sight
Another look at New Look

May 28, 2010
Fashion group New Look will issue full-year results next week.
Loyalty cards: the bedrock of future success?

May 28, 2010
Loyalty schemes have enabled some retailers to outperform, but others regard them as a gimmick. George Macdonald asks who is right
Retail prices tumble in climate of unease

May 28, 2010
General retailers took a bashing as turmoil embroiled the markets generally. Fears about the eurozone crisis and political tension in the Far East undermined the FTSE - every blue-chip stock fell on Tuesday.
Mohamed Al Fayed explains Harrods sale

26-May-2010
Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed has explained his decision to sell the legendary department store.
Chief executive to leave as Thorntons warns on profits

26-May-2010
Thorntons chief executive Mike Davies is to quit the confectioner after continued tough trading conditions prompted another profit warning.
Marks & Spencer celebrates return to like-for-like growth in food as profits rise

25-May-2010
Marks & Spencer has reported a return to annual like-for-like growth at its food arm for the first time since 2007, an increased clothing market share and a profits rise.
A nail-biting time for Ocado

May 21, 2010
Now the election is out of the way, chiefs of private retailers with an eye on a IPO - Ocado among them - will anxiously follow the political and economic weather reports and consider whether they can get their floats away.
Banking facilities

May 21, 2010
After the recession, banks are once again starting to take a more flexible approach to providing retailers with lending facilities
Volatility reigns for general retail shares

May 21, 2010
General retailers’ shares swung wildly last week and ended up underperforming the market although food stocks, helped by better than expected Sainsbury’s results, ticked up.
Retail sales up 1.1% in April, ONS says

20-May-2010
Retail sales rose 1.1% by value and 0.3% by volume month on month in April, the ONS reported.
Tesco stores escape worst of Thai unrest

20-May-2010
Tesco’s stores in Thailand are thought to have escaped the worst of the violence that has engulfed the capital, Bangkok, over the last few days.
Mothercare sales pass £1bn but City profit expectations not met

20-May-2010
Maternity specialist Mothercare generated full-year sales of more than £1bn for the first time last year but profits narrowly missed City expectations.
Iceland’s Malcolm Walker defends former Baugur boss Jóhannesson

18-May-2010
Iceland chief executive Malcolm Walker spoken up for Baugur founder Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson, who was forced to stand down as chair of the grocer yesterday.
Screwfix adopts ‘British Football Time’ opening hours during World Cup

18-May-2010
Screwfix, the Kingfisher-owned trade DIY chain, will switch its trading hours to “British Football Time” for England matches during the World Cup.
George Osborne to unveil Budget on June 22

17-May-2010
New Chancellor George Osborne will unveil his first Budget on Tuesday June 22.
Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson resigns from House of Fraser board

14-May-2010
Former Baugur boss Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson has resigned from the board of department store group house of Fraser after a $2bn fraud lawsuit was filed against him in the US.
Samantha Cameron cuts back Smythson role

14-May-2010
Samantha Cameron, the Prime Minister’s wife, is to reduce her role at Smythson, the upmarket Bond Street retailer she is credited with having helped turn around.
John Lewis reports 17.7% weekly sales rise

14-May-2010
Department store chain John Lewis generated a 17.7% sales rise last week when turnover was £55m.
Private equity rushes back into retail

May 14, 2010
After two years on the sidelines private equity money is back in retail. George MacDonald finds out why and what investors are looking for
Refreshing French Connection

May 14, 2010
While market debutant SuperGroup has reported a surge in sales and likely profits, another fashion retailer in a similar mould is engaged in a battle to restore profitability.
Retail drifts as City ponders the big issues

May 14, 2010
Stores, particularly food retailers, underperformed a market convulsed by uncertainty as big issues such as the future of the euro and the outcome of the general election dominated headlines.
Currys-owner DSGi unveils 6% like-for-like advance

13-May-2010
Currys and PC World-owner Electricals group DSGi has posted a 6% rise in like-for-like sales in its second half and secured a new revolving credit facility.
Sales leap at Liberty

12-May-2010
Sales at upmarket department store Liberty rose 40% in the first four months of this year, owner MWB has reported.
Marks & Spencer opens first Hong Kong food store

11-May-2010
Marks & Spencer opened its first Hong Kong standalone food store today after a successful trial of its Food to Go range in four shops there.
Boots addresses sale of its products in Poundland

7-May-2010
Health and beauty retailer Boots has acted over the sale of some of its No7 and Botanics lines in Poundland.
Fashion helps John Lewis deliver 15.9% weekly sales rise

7-May-2010
Fashion again drove sales at department store chain John Lewis last week, which reported a 15.9% rise in total turnover to £53.7m.
Ian Dyson quits M&S on Marc Bolland’s second day

May 7, 2010
Ian Dyson, the Marks & Spencer finance director who was passed over as successor to chief executive Sir Stuart Rose, has revealed that he is leaving the retailer.
HMV no longer top of the pops

May 7, 2010
Like the chart stars whose tunes it sells, entertainment group HMV is susceptible to wild swings of fortune and last week’s update was hardly music to investors’ ears.
HMV’s strategy questioned as Q4 like-for-likes plummet

May 7, 2010
A worse-than-expected update from HMV last week prompted analysts to question the entertainment retailer’s strategy in the face of contracting markets.
Retail stock buoyant despite election fears

May 7, 2010
Retail shares were among the better performers as economic turmoil in Greece and political uncertainty ahead of the general election here took a toll on the market overall.
Poundland embarrassment for Boots

6-May-2010
Product identical to Boots No7 and Botanics lines is being sold in Poundland at a much lower price, it has emerged, potentially embarrassing the health and beauty giant.
Sales momentum slows at Morrisons

6-May-2010
Supermarket group Morrisons has reported a slowdown in sales during its first quarter, but said it was still winning customers.
Ian Dyson leaves Marks & Spencer

5-May-2010
Marks & Spencer has announced the departure of finance director Ian Dyson, just a day after Marc Bolland joined as chief executive.
Richard Baker

April 30, 2010
A new chairman has been named following the shock sale of DFS, but does the former Alliance Boots man’s track record make him the obvious choice, asks George MacDonald
Best Buy confirms plan to sell electric cars in UK

23-Apr-2010
Electricals giant Best Buy, which opens its first big box store in the UK next week, is to sell electric cars and motorbikes and similar products as part of its ‘green technology’ offer.
Good weather boosts summer fashion sales at John Lewis

23-Apr-2010
Sales at department store group John Lewis rose 18.9% to £51.3m last week as customers bought into summer lines.
Rivals dent Maplin’s multichannel sales

April 23, 2010
Electricals retailer Maplin suffered a sharp fall in multichannel sales last year, in stark contrast to its rivals.
Balance is key for Thorntons

April 23, 2010
Thorntons may not be the biggest retailer, but some of the trading trends it reported on Tuesday will be front of mind for retailers more widely.
Children’s clothing controversy

April 23, 2010
Primark fell foul of a tabloid frenzy last week when it was accused of selling a ‘paedo bikini’. How damaging was the controversy and what lessons can be learnt?
City sticks with Tesco but share price falters

April 23, 2010
Record results from Tesco failed to help either the grocer’s or its peers’ shares, which all fell over the week.
Faith in administration

22-Apr-2010
Footwear retailer Faith has gone in to administration, Retail Week has learned.
Private equity firm Advent International acquires DFS

22-Apr-2010
Sofas tycooon Lord Kirkham has sold his DFS chain to private equity firm Advent International for an undisclosed sum.
John Lewis first to market with 3D TV

22-Apr-2010
Department store group John Lewis has become the first retailer to start selling 3D televisions.
WHSmith cautious on prospects despite profits rise

22-Apr-2010
Bookseller and stationer WHSmith has posted a 2% increase in first-half group pre-tax profits to £62m but cautious about prospects.
Faith suppliers threaten stock removal

21-Apr-2010
A group of major footwear suppliers have arrived at Faith’s London head office to demand their stock back amid growing uncertainty about the future of the young fashion footwear chain.
CPI inflation rises to 3.4% in March

20-Apr-2010
Consumer price inflation rose year-on-year to 3.4% in March compared to 3% in February, the Office for National Statistics reported.
Thorntons warns on profits after Easter disappoints

20-Apr-2010
Chocolates specialist Thorntons has issued a profits warning after the crucial Easter trading period failed to live up to its hopes.
Best Buy brings forward UK debut

19-Apr-2010
Electricals giant Best Buy is to open its first UK store earlier than expected - a week on Friday, April 30.
London like-for-like sales climb 9.9% in March

19-Apr-2010
Central London retail like-for-like sales in London climbed 9.9% in March, more than double the rate of the rest of the UK.
Calendar effect distorts John Lewis sales

16-Apr-2010
John Lewis department stores recorded a 0.6% uplift in sales to £48.8m over the week to April 10 as the fall of the calendar and good weather impacted trade.
Retailers among firms fined £225m for tobacco price fixing

16-Apr-2010
Nine retailers are among 12 businesses fined £225m by the Office of Fair Trading for collusion on tobacco prices between 2001 and 2003.
Losses mount at Abel & Cole

16-Apr-2010
Losses have spiralled at organic food specialist Abel & Cole.
Kate Bostock: general merchandise boss brings deft touch to M&S

April 16, 2010
With a honed offer and focus on newness it is no surprise M&S’s general merchandise boss has scored impressive fourth-quarter clothing results
M&S grabs clothing market share as self-help pays off

April 16, 2010
Marks & Spencer delivered a record clothing market share increase in its fourth quarter as self-help initiatives paid off.
The value of self-help

April 16, 2010
Self-help is the order of the day among retailers. The phrase has consistently peppered store chiefs’ City updates and analysts have compiled buy lists based on retailers’ capacity for self-help.
Primark withdraws tots’ padded bikini range after criticism

14-Apr-2010
Value retailer Primark has stopped selling a controversial padded bikini top range for girls as young as seven following criticism from politicians and children’s groups.
Debenhams interim profits rise as own-bought strategy pays off

14-Apr-2010
Department store group Debenhams has posted higher than expected interim profits after strong performances from its own-bought ranges and market share gains.
BRC delivers verdict on Conservative, Labour and Lib Dem manifestos

13-Apr-2010
Updated: Trade body the British Retail Consortium has passed its verdict on Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat manifesto proposals affecting the stores industry.
Asda offers top team early payday to avoid higher tax rate

12-Apr-2010
Some of Asda’s top brass have been paid part of their salary early in order to avoid the new 50% tax rate.
Fashion sales drive strong week for John Lewis

9-Apr-2010
“Phenomenal” fashion sales at John Lewis last week helped the department store chain post a 30% rise in turnover year on year, 21% ahead of Easter week in 2009.
Bad news for grocers’ shares

April 9, 2010
Food retailers’ shares have been dull for a while, left on the shelf by investors seeking value among general retailers and in other sectors.
Low inflation deals blow to grocers’ shares

April 9, 2010
The lowest food inflation in three years may make life more difficult for the big grocers, whose shares have been lagging their general merchandise counterparts.
Morrisons’ new boss Dalton Philips awarded £6m reward package

8-Apr-2010
New Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips’ total remuneration package amounts to £6m, it has emerged.
Sir Stuart Rose attacks Prime Minister’s ‘unhelpful’ response to NI appeal

8-Apr-2010
Marks & Spencer executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose has criticised Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s unhelpful attitude towards business leaders who lent their support to the Conservative Party’s position on National Insurance.
Sports Direct makes offer for Faith

8-Apr-2010
Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct is among five bidders to have made offers for footwear specialist Faith, it is understood.
More retailers back Tories on National Insurance

7-Apr-2010
More leading retailers came out in support of the Conservatives’ stance on a National Insurance as the general election campaign got under way.
Fashion drives John Lewis sales while Waitrose benefits from Delia effect

1-Apr-2010
Fashion sales drove a strong week at department store chain John Lewis as the warmer weather stimulated sales of summer ranges.
Morrisons awards shares to new chief executive Dalton Philips

1-Apr-2010
Supermarket group Morrisons has awarded two tranches of shares to new chief executive Dalton Philips who took up his role earlier this week.
Matalan completes £525m refinancing

1-Apr-2010
Value fashion retailer Matalan has refinanced by raising £525m of debt.
Mothercare sales hit by bad weather in fourth quarter

1-Apr-2010
Maternity specialist Mothercare suffered a slowdown in like-for-like sales in its core UK market during the fourth quarter but annual turnover exceeded £1bn for the first time.
Bolland can refine M&S execution

April 1, 2010
There is scope for executional improvement throughout M&S so that the promise of the ads is fully reflected in what the customer finds in-store. Perhaps that will be Bolland’s biggest impact.
Super Thursday retail updates bolster stocks

April 1, 2010
A round of strong results from retailers as diverse as Next and Kingfisher on ‘super Thursday’ last week helped lift some store stocks, but general retailers overall lagged the All-Share index and food shares were moribund.
JJB Sports financing deal to provide 'greater flexibility'

31-Mar-2010
Sports group JJB has amended its banking arrangements, which should give the retailer increased financial flexibility.
Waitrose adopts real-time customer feedback system

31-Mar-2010
Grocer Waitrose is to gather real-time feedback from customers about their in-store experience to ensure the best standards of service.
Lush profitability rising after fall last year

31-Mar-2010
Ethical cosmetics specialist Lush suffered a slide in earnings last year but profitability has improved since.
Topps Tiles cautious about outlook as like-for-likes slow

31-Mar-2010
Topps Tiles has reported that consumer confidence remains shaky and trading patterns were lacklustre in its second quarter.
Consumer confidence slips in March

31-Mar-2010
Consumer confidence fell in March after improving during January and February.
Asda loses share in subdued grocery market

30-Mar-2010
Asda lost food market share during March, when the rate of growth among all the big grocers fell to its lowest point since 2007.
Lord Kirkham calls off DFS auction

29-Mar-2010
Sofa king Lord Kirkham has ended the £500m auction of his DFS chain and said he has no interest in selling it.
Best Buy to open first UK store in May

29-Mar-2010
Best Buy will begin opening its big box stores in this country in May.
New product categories to drive growth at HMV

26-Mar-2010
Entertainment group HMV is to extend the product offer at its eponymous music business and has set out a turnaround strategy for books chain Waterstone’s.
Green consumer market bigger than thought, Homebase study shows

26-Mar-2010
The consumer market for green products is much bigger than previously thought, research for Home Retail-owned DIY chain Homebase has found.
John Lewis reports strong home sales

26-Mar-2010
Sales at John Lewis department stores rose 15.8% last week to £51.4m, helped by strong sales of home products.
Turnaround guru Ian Gray parachuted in to Abel & Cole

March 26, 2010
Upmarket food specialist Abel & Cole has parachuted in turnaround specialist Ian Gray as chairman and its founder has returned to run the business after the recession hit growth.
DSGi vs. Best Buy: the electricals storm nears

March 26, 2010
DSGi is gearing up for Best Buy’s imminent UK debut with more megastores and overhauled service.
Sainsbury’s to end ‘sexist’ labelling of children’s costumes

26-Mar-2010
Supermarket group Sainsbury’s is to change the labelling on children’s dressing-up costumes after complaints about sexism.
Waterstone’s has a role to play

March 26, 2010
Multimedia will be part of Waterstone’s future but maybe it could be a strength, not a weakness, of the store chain to operate in distinct contrast to what consumers expect from online.
Retail sales rise in February

25-Mar-2010
Retail sales rose 1.9 per cent month-on-month by value in February and advanced 2.1% by volume, the Office for National Statistics reported.
Price inflation falls to 3% in February

23-Mar-2010
The rate of consumer price inflation fell in February, ONS data showed.
Halfords to pull out of central Europe

23-Mar-2010
Motor accessories specialist Halfords is to shut its fledgling central European business after recessionary conditions set back expansion opportunities.
Marks & Spencer reveals new advertising strategy

22-Mar-2010
Marks & Spencer will this week unveil changes to its advertising including the replacement of its famous “Not just…” food strapline with “Because…”.
DFS sale is ‘Lord Kirkham’s call’

19-Mar-2010
Sofa retailer’s founder considers refinancing alternatives as doubts rise over sale of the business
Homebase fires back at B&Q price offensive

March 19, 2010
Home Retail-owned home enhancement chain Homebase has returned fire at B&Q, which last week launched a price-led advertising campaign targeting its arch-rival as the key Easter season approaches.
Stores shares lifted as retail interest piqued

March 19, 2010
Stores shot ahead of the All-Share index as low valuations and vague talk of takeovers - such as potential private equity interest in Home Retail Group - prompted interest.
Upgrade in store for Ted Baker?

March 19, 2010
SuperGroup’s £5 a share IPO is good news for founder Julian Dunkerton. It might also be good news for some of the retailer’s fashion peers - in particular Ted Baker.
Sir Stuart Rose to stand down from M&S in March 2011

18-Mar-2010
Marks & Spencer chief executive Sir Stuart Rose will leave the retailer next March, earlier than he was obliged to.
Police launch race probe into Walmart store announcement

18-Mar-2010
Police have launched a race hate investigation after the broadcast of an announcement in a Walmart store ordering black people to get out.
Private equity firms confirm interest in DFS

18-Mar-2010
Two private equity firms have reaffirmed their interest in buying sofa retailer DFS and a third is expected to do so, despite doubt about whether a sale will be concluded.
Ocado to float after general election

18-Mar-2010
Home shopping group Ocado has signalled its intention to launch an IPO after the general election.
British Bookshops on course for profitability after sale

17-Mar-2010
Private equity firm Endless has sold British Bookshops & Stationers to its management for an undisclosed sum, it has emerged.
Blockbuster may put up stores as collateral to ensure DVD supplies

17-Mar-2010
Troubled DVD rental group Blockbuster may have to put up Canadian stores as collateral after failing to secure bank credit for stock.
Marks & Spencer to pay bonus early to avoid 50% tax rate

16-Mar-2010
Marks & Spencer has become the latest retailer to bring forward bonus payments in order to beat the 50% tax rate being introduced next month.
French Connection to sell Nicole Farhi and scale back US retail

15-Mar-2010
Fashion group French Connection is selling its Nicole Farhi business and closing most of its US shops following a strategic review.
Fashion and home deliver strong week for John Lewis

12-Mar-2010
John Lewis reported that sales rose 15.9% year on year to £53.2m in its eponymous department stores last week.
Advent considers Poundland sale

12-Mar-2010
Private equity firm Advent has hired Close Brothers to advise on a possible sale of value retailer Poundland.
M&S well placed to convert top-up shoppers and lift profits

March 12, 2010
Marks & Spencer could add as much as £35m to gross profits by persuading occasional food shoppers to purchase more often, research by broker Oriel suggests.
Encouraging BRC data helps lift retail shares

March 12, 2010
A rally late last week and evidence from the BRC February sales data that non-food sales recovered after January’s snow hit helped general retailers rise above the All-Share index.
Retailers need more friends in Westminster

March 12, 2010
Nobody doubts hard political choices will have to be made to cope with the costs of the banking crisis and recession, but VAT on food should not be among them.
Restructuring bears fruit as Flying Brands profits rise

11-Mar-2010
Home shopping group Flying Brands strategy to focus on its core gardening and gift divisions is bearing fruit, the retailer said as it posted improved full-year results.
Home Retail profits to beat expectations despite Argos sales fall

11-Mar-2010
A later than usual catalogue launch and wintry weather contributed to a like-for-like sales fall of 9.4% at catalogue store group Argos but parent Home Retail Group expects its full-year results to beat expectations.
IPO to value SuperGroup at £395m

8-Mar-2010
Fashion retailer SuperGroup is expected to reveal this week an IPO share price of 500p, valuing the business at £395m.
Video: Primark founder Arthur Ryan collects outstanding achievement award

5-Mar-2010
Famously private Primark founder Arthur Ryan for once stepped into the limelight at the Oracle Retail Week Awards last night.
Blacks poised to seek deadline for Ashley bid

5-Mar-2010
Blacks Leisure is likely to ask the Takeover Panel to issue a ‘put up or shut up’ notice to tycoon Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct following the latter’s disclosure that it is considering a takeover of its rival.
John Lewis defies bad weather with 14.8% sales uplift

5-Mar-2010
Department store chain John Lewis posted a 14.8% sales increase last week to £50.4m, when sales of fashion and home products were strong.
Blacks’ uphill struggle

March 5, 2010
Blacks chief executive Neil Gillis must feel like a mountain walker approaching the summit only to find there’s a steep rock face still to climb.
RWC2010: Rose raises prospect of very different M&S under Bolland

3-Mar-2010
Marc Bolland is “absolutely the right man” to become chief executive of Marks & Spencer, executive chairman Stuart Rose insisted, hinting that the retailer may be poised for a period of radical change.
Charlie Mayfield: Private businesses can learn from co-ops

3-Mar-2010
How business is done post-recession must be reconsidered and private companies can learn from co-ops, John Lewis Partnership chairman Charlie Mayfield has said.
Tesco market share up as it piles pressure on Asda

2-Mar-2010
Tesco’s Clubcard double points scheme has helped the market leading grocer take share from arch-rival Asda, the latest till roll data shows.
SuperGroup ‘oversubscribed’ as IPO bookbuilding ends

1-Mar-2010
Fashion retailer SuperGroup expects to close its IPO bookbuilding within 24 hours and the offer is likely to be oversubscribed, Retail Week has learned.
BRC urges Budget public spending cuts

1-Mar-2010
The Government should cut public spending rather than increase taxes in its next Budget, the British Retail Consortium has urged.
Indicative bids for HobbyCraft to be submitted today

26-Feb-2010
First round offers are due today for specialist retailer HobbyCraft, which is being sold by the founding Haskins family.
Fashion drives strong week for John Lewis while lottery win boosts Waitrose bacon butty sales

26-Feb-2010
Department store chain John Lewis recorded an uplift in turnover of 15.1% to £51.9m last week.
Consumer confidence rises in February

26-Feb-2010
Consumer confidence improved again in February and people are more optimistic about the year ahead.
Countrywide: creating a modern proposition for rural retail

February 26, 2010
How has Countrywide overcome the challenges of rural retailing to become a modern proposition? George MacDonald finds out
Halfords gets thumbs up for car servicing centre deal

February 26, 2010
Investors have given the green light to motor accessories group Halfords’ £73.2m acquisition of Nationwide Autocentres and are confident of the deal’s merits.
Mike Ashley’s intervention hits Blacks shares

February 26, 2010
General stores and food retailers both had a dull week, with each sector lagging the market.
Retail's political struggle

February 26, 2010
The general election, already in full swing though yet to be declared, has been unsettling retail sector investors all year.
JJB Sports turnaround man Peter Williams to advise on EMI rescue

25-Feb-2010
Former Selfridges chief executive and JJB Sports director Peter Williams has been drafted in to help with the rescue of troubled music business EMI.
Habitat makes redundancies as prelude to growth

24-Feb-2010
Furniture and homewares retailer Habitat has unveiled a voluntary redundancy programme to cut costs, alongside a trading uplift and expansion plans.
Best Buy eyes Homebase stores

22-Feb-2010
Electricals group Best Buy Europe is close to acquiring two superstores from Homebase, it is understood.
Primark sales climb in first half

22-Feb-2010
Value fashion and homewares chain Primark’s first-half sales were “substantially ahead” of last year, parent Associated British Foods reported.
Retail sales slide in January, ONS reports

19-Feb-2010
Retail sales in January fell by value and volume month-on-month but climbed year-on-year, the Office for National Statistics reported.
Fashion drives John Lewis sales rise

19-Feb-2010
Strong fashion and home sales helped department store chain John Lewis increase year on year turnover by 12.5% to £49.5m last week.
Grocers become childrenswear market leaders

19-Feb-2010
Supermarkets became market leaders by value in childrenswear for the first time last year.
Retail flotation jitters hit non-food shares

February 19, 2010
General retailers lagged the All-Share index and their food peers as doubts were cast over stores’ IPO hopes.
Halfords’ potential acquisition list

18-Feb-2010
The question is how far the span of Halfords’ group can be profitably pushed without sprawling.
Marks & Spencer teams up with local authorities in recycling initiative

18-Feb-2010
Marks & Spencer is to create recycling partnerships with four local authorities as part of its Plan A sustainability initiative.
Halfords buys Nationwide Autocentres for £73.2m

18-Feb-2010
Motor accessories group Halfords has bolstered its service and repair operations with the £73.2m acquisition of 224-outlet Nationwide Autocentres.
Paperchase forced to defend itself after Twitter campaign

12-Feb-2010
Stationery and card specialist Paperchase was forced to defend itself yesterday after being targeted by a Twitter campaign.
Home Bargains launches £25m Northern Ireland expansion programme

12-Feb-2010
Value retailer Home Bargains has launched a £25m expansion programme under which it will open in Northern Ireland for the first time.
New Look board meets as doubts rise over IPO

12-Feb-2010
Fashion retailer new Look’s board will decide today whether to proceed with an IPO as fears rise that a flotation may be impossible.
Matalan sale talks collapse as investors baulk at £1.5bn price

February 12, 2010
The sale of Matalan fell through on Wednesday after potential buyers failed to meet owner John Hargreaves’ price expectations.
Sir Richard Greenbury defends Marc Bolland’s M&S reward

February 12, 2010
Sir Richard Greenbury, ex-chairman and chief executive of Marks & Spencer, who led the retailer to profits of more than £1bn for the first time, has defended the reward package given to incoming boss Marc Bolland.
EBITDA

February 12, 2010
As private equity’s doors reopen, we dissect the measure by which most retailers that are up for sale or float will be valued
Multichannel retail’s pioneers

February 12, 2010
A decade after the dotcom crash, online and multichannel retail are firmly established. But as entrepreneurs quest for transformational business models, the multichannel merits of older companies should not be overlooked
M&S unveils star list for spring ad campaign

8-Feb-2010
Marks & Spencer has signed a raft of new names to feature in its spring 2010 advertising campaign.
The Book People agrees £15m asset-backed loan deal

5-Feb-2010
Direct bookseller The Book People has secured a £15m asset-based loan facility from specialist lender Burdale to support current and future working capital requirements.
John Lewis ends year ‘in fine form’

5-Feb-2010
Department store chain John Lewis and grocery stablemate Waitrose have both reported strong trading in the final week of their financial year.
Blacks Leisure to raise £20.3m for recovery drive

5-Feb-2010
Outdoors specialist Blacks Leisure has unveiled proposals to raise £20.3m through a share placing and open offer.
Debenhams’ Rob Templeman linked to bid for DFS

5-Feb-2010
Debenhams chief executive Rob Templeman is said to be considering a tie-up with private equity firm Cinven to mount a £500m bid for furniture group DFS.
A lot is riding on New Look

February 5, 2010
The sour taste left by disappointing retail IPOs of the past and jitters about how retail conditions will shape up this year mean there’s a lot riding on how New Look’s much-anticipated IPO fares.
Burst of retail activity sends shares soaring

February 5, 2010
Retail sector excitement including boardroom musical chairs and details of the first IPO in years added some excitement to stores’ share prices, which outperformed the market.
Poor January sales drag down retailers

February 5, 2010
General retailers were hit in the wake of poor January sales data from the British Retail Consortium and wider market turbulence at the end of last week.
Private equity deals

February 5, 2010
Pets at Home’s sale to KKR for £955m was the first firm sign that private equity is open for business again. Here, we ask what the deal tells us
Asda’s market share growth halted as Tesco hits back

2-Feb-2010
Supermarket group Asda’s market share growth has come to halt after a fightback by Tesco, latest market share data shows.
Anger over Marc Bolland’s M&S pay deal

2-Feb-2010
Investors and shareholder advisory groups have criticised the pay package awarded to incoming Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland.
Shoplifters walk free despite store worker's death

29-Jan-2010
Three shoplifters yesterday walked free despite the death of a Sainsbury’s staff member who tried to stop them stealing biscuits.
Thaw drives sales rise at John Lewis

29-Jan-2010
Pent up demand following snowy weather helped lift sales at department store chain John Lewis by 15.7% to £51.2m in the week to January 23.
Consumer confidence improved in January

29-Jan-2010
Consumer confidence rose in January and people are more optimistic about the outlook for themselves and the economy.
Nigel Northridge to succeed John Lovering as Debenhams chairman

29-Jan-2010
Department store group Debenhams has named Nigel Northridge as its new chairman.
Morrisons’ new chief Dalton Philips is highly regarded

January 29, 2010
Loblaw chief operating officer Dalton Philips was appointed chief executive of Morrisons this week.
Retailers edge ahead as UK exits recession

January 29, 2010
The UK is out of recession - by a hair’s breadth.
Superdry: A Super prospect?

January 29, 2010
Walk down any high street or into a bar and you’ll almost certainly see one brand in evidence - Superdry.
Loblaw man Dalton Philips to succeed Marc Bolland at Morrisons

27-Jan-2010
Dalton Philips, chief operating officer of Canadian grocer Loblaw, has been appointed chief executive of Morrisons.
January retail sales disappoint, CBI reports

27-Jan-2010
Retail sales got off to a disappointing start in the New Year, the CBI reported.
Demand for traditional products lifts Dobbies Christmas sales

27-Jan-2010
Garden centre group Dobbies has posted a Christmas sales rise after consumers snapped up traditional seasonal products.
Garden Centre Group Christmas profits climb 17%

25-Jan-2010
Garden Centre Group, the 121-store business formerly known as Wyevale, has reported a “terrific” Christmas.
Tesco in film industry deal

25-Jan-2010
Supermarket group Tesco is to extend its reach into the film sector.
New Look board meeting to consider IPO

25-Jan-2010
Fashion group New Look’s board will consider this week whether to go ahead with a Stock Exchange listing.
Argos modernises logo in brand refresh as new catalogue launches

January 22, 2010
Catalogue store group Argos will tomorrow unveil a refreshed brand, coinciding with the launch of its latest big book.
Where next for Waterstone’s?

January 22, 2010
The bookseller’s boss is out after dire Christmas trading and online rivals are a growing threat. George MacDonald asks if Waterstone’s has a future
Green light for retail IPOs

January 22, 2010
Grim outlook fails to dampen retailers’ flotation hopes — but will they hit their valuations?
Bring it on, Best Buy

January 22, 2010
Leopards can never change their spots, but maybe something almost as remarkable has happened: not only did DSGi have a great Christmas, it looks as if chief executive John Browett is genuinely changing the business for the long-term good.
Consumer fears overshadow ‘super Thursday’ updates

January 22, 2010
Retail shares slid following last week’s ‘super Thursday’ round of updates and brokers have warned store stocks might now stall.
John Hargreaves: the man behind Matalan

January 22, 2010
As the man behind the pioneering value fashion retailer Matalan considers bids for the company, George MacDonald discovers what makes him tick
Overlooked grocers back on City radar

January 22, 2010
Investor appetite this week for food retailers was keen but general retailers were shunned, despite almost without exception beating Christmas expectations.
TJ Hughes unveils 4% Christmas sales rise

21-Jan-2010
Discount department store group TJ Hughes has revealed like-for-like sales growth of 4% over Christmas.
Perfume Shop reports ‘outstanding’ Christmas

15-Jan-2010
Perfume Shop, the specialist retailer controlled by global health and beauty giant AS Watson, increased UK and Ireland like-for-like sales by 8.5% over Christmas.
Snow boosts John Lewis online sales

15-Jan-2010
Last week’s snowy weather resulted in a 56% surge in department store chain John Lewis’s internet sales.
Pets at Home posts 6.7% Christmas sales rise

15-Jan-2010
Pets at Home, the specialist retailer considering a sale or float, has posted 6.7% like-for-like sales growth over Christmas.
Debenhams to refit stores in profit drive

January 15, 2010
Department store group Debenhams is to rev up store refits following the success of its Cardiff shop and give its brands a makeover as it focuses on profitability as well as sales.
City freezes out retail despite solid results

January 15, 2010
Despite many retailers delivering impressive Christmas performances, store stocks - other than the grocers’ - were in deep freeze in a flat market.
John Gildersleeve: A good fit for New Look

January 15, 2010
While his fierce reputation may be unjustified, the former Tesco dynamo seems a good fit as chairman of New Look
Tesco likely to stay on buy lists

January 15, 2010
Despite some gloomy portents before Christmas and some lacklustre trading weeks in the run-up to the big event, the festive season lived up to its name for many store groups.
Carrefour poaches Tesco star for top French role

14-Jan-2010
Carrefour has poached Tesco high-flyer James McCann as executive director of its flagship French business.
Halfords profits to be at top end of forecasts

14-Jan-2010
Motor accessories, cycling and leisure group Halfords will generate full-year profits at the upper end of forecasts ranging between £105m and £112m.
Waterstone’s boss exits after sales plunge

14-Jan-2010
Entertainment group HMV has parted company with Gerry Johnson, managing director of its Waterstone’s books chain which suffered poor Christmas sales.
Home Retail Group profits to beat expectations

14-Jan-2010
Argos owner Home Retail Group expects full-year profit to come in £20m ahead of City forecasts at £285m after Christmas trading exceeded management expectations.
Government gives go-ahead for grocery ombudsman

13-Jan-2010
The Government has accepted the Competition Commission’s recommendation that an agency be created to regulate grocers’ relationships with suppliers.
Christmas sales soar at Matalan

13-Jan-2010
Value fashion and homewares group Matalan has hailed an “impressive” Christmas performance and expects continued growth.
Dunelm cautious despite strong first half

12-Jan-2010
Value homewares group Dunelm has posted strong Christmas trading but warned of toughening conditions to come.
Peacocks celebrates ‘cracking’ Christmas

11-Jan-2010
Value fashion group Peacocks reported “cracking” Christmas trading, boosted by the success of Pearl Lowe for Peacocks dresses.
Lenders to take control of Jane Norman

8-Jan-2010
Women’s fashion retailer Jane Norman’s lenders are to take over the business and restructure its debts of almost £136m.
Clinton Cards posts 3.5% like-for-like rise over Christmas

8-Jan-2010
Clinton Cards has paid back debt early after generating sales growth over Christmas.
Innovative product drives strong Christmas for Ted Baker

8-Jan-2010
Fashion group Ted Baker has posted a 19.1% increase in retail sales over Christmas and attributed the performance to its innovative product.
City warns festive wins could reveal last of ‘low-hanging fruit’

January 8, 2010
Upgrades of general retailers are likely following some better than anticipated Christmas updates, but analysts are advising investors to pick stocks carefully.
Deloitte racks up an extra £5.5m in fees for Woolworths administration

January 8, 2010
The administrators of bust variety store group Woolworths have notched up an additional £5.5m in fees for their work, bringing the total so far to £9.3m.
Matalan’s ‘fruity’ £1.5bn asking price puts off potential buyers

January 8, 2010
Hopes of selling Matalan are likely to be dashed unless the reported asking price is cut.
A reality check for Ocado

January 8, 2010
Ocado has drawn plenty of glowing press comment and there’s plenty to admire in it, but whether it is flotable is another matter.
Christmas sales success for New Look

7-Jan-2010
New Look, the value fashion group which is considering an IPO this year, has reported a strong Christmas performance.
Best Buy unveils new-look UK website

6-Jan-2010
Best Buy UK has upgraded its website with the addition of a range of new content ahead of the opening of its first shops in this country in the spring.
Marks & Spencer celebrates ‘good’ Christmas

6-Jan-2010
Marks & Spencer has hailed Christmas trading a success after posting 0.8% like-for-like sales growth over the festive period but warned that prospects remain uncertain.
HMV to buy Mama in £46m deal

23-Dec-2009
Entertainment group HMV is to buy its joint venture partner Mama in a deal valuing the business at £46m.
Online spending to reach £120m on Christmas Day

23-Dec-2009
Shoppers are expected to spend £120m on Christmas day in an online spending frenzy.
Liberty attracts potential buyers

22-Dec-2009
Several parties have expressed interest in acquiring famous department store Liberty but a deal may prove elusive.
Private equity bidders offer £800m for Pets at Home

22-Dec-2009
Four private equity firms have each submitted offers of more than £800m for specialist retailer Pets at Home.
Snow disrupts online grocery orders

22-Dec-2009
Heavy snow has played havoc with deliveries of Christmas groceries ordered online.
Retailers fear imposition of VAT on food

21-Dec-2009
Fears have been expressed that VAT may be imposed on food in next year’s Budget.
Sports Direct broke rules, Blacks tells FSA

21-Dec-2009
Blacks Leisure has reported rival Sports Direct to the Financial Services Authority for allegedly breaking City rules.
Topps Tiles’ Dutch business to shut

18-Dec-2009
Topps Tiles’ loss-making Dutch business is to close after the retailer decided not to provide further support and funding.
Consumer confidence falls for second month

18-Dec-2009
Consumer confidence slipped in December for the second month running and consumers are wary about prospects in the new year.
Poor reading from Waterstone’s

December 18, 2009
Much is made of the benefits of last man standing status in retail but some, such as HMV-owned bookseller Waterstone’s, look punch-drunk.
Retail shares waver as Christmas draws near

December 18, 2009
As Christmas nears, general retailers were down against the market as store chiefs and investors alike wait with bated breath to see how festive trading turns out.
Warning of uncertain new year takes shine off retail sales figures

17-Dec-2009
Retailers have achieved three consecutive months of sales growth but the performance is unlikely to be sustained in the new year, the CBI reported.
Retail sales fell in November ONS reports

17-Dec-2009
Retail sales fell by volume and value in November, official data showed. The decline came as a surpise to the sector.
Showroom sales rocket at Wickes

17-Dec-2009
DIY chain Wickes has generated strong sales growth in showroom categories and made market share gains, parent Travis Perkins revealed.
Best Buy sales and profits rise in third quarter

15-Dec-2009
Electricals giant Best Buy has posted a leap in third quarter sales and profits and upped full-year earnings guidance.
Consumer price inflation rises to 1.9%

15-Dec-2009
The rate of consumer price inflation rose to 1.9% in November from 1.5% the previous month, official statistics showed.
Dixons tones down second leg of ad push

December 4, 2009
Electricals market leader DSGi has launched the second phase of its irreverent ad campaign for its online business Dixons.co.uk.
Carphone’s ‘wireless world’ to grow as it readies for Best Buy

December 4, 2009
Carphone Warehouse is to expand its number of ‘wireless world’ format stores in the second half and speed up openings in the new financial year.
Euan Sutherland is making good headway at Kingfisher

December 4, 2009
Kingfisher’s turnaround is still a work in progress, but its UK chief executive is making good headway, says George MacDonald.
Tory guru attacks big grocers’ dominance

27-Nov-2009
A think tank boss close to Conservative leader David Cameron has mounted an astonishing attack on supermarkets and called for restrictions on how they operate.
Best Buy Europe profits to be at top end of expectations

27-Nov-2009
Carphone Warehouse expects its share of full-year net income from Best Buy Europe to be at the top end of expectations and said it is on track to open big box stores next spring.
Asda and Tesco: winners from Woolworths’ collapse

November 27, 2009
Grocery giants Asda and Tesco have scooped the lion’s share of defunct variety store group Woolworths’ sales.
Could Woolworths have been saved?

November 27, 2009
The variety store group’s collapse angered and shocked many but why did it fail, should the administrator have done more and what can be learned from its demise? George MacDonald investigates.
Marks & Spencer engages with shoppers on Facebook

November 27, 2009
Marks & Spencer director of store marketing and design Nayna McIntosh fielded questions on pre-Christmas discounting and controversial Christmas ads in a live web chat on Facebook on Tuesday.
High price tag for Matalan likely to attract calls for earn-out clause

November 27, 2009
Potential buyers of value retailer Matalan are likely to demand an earn-out or similar clause in any deal with founder and owner John Hargreaves.
Food falls as Marc Bolland quits at Morrisons

November 27, 2009
Last week’s shock news that Morrisons chief executive Marc Bolland is leaving to head Marks & Spencer helped pull down the food sector relative to general retailers.
Morrisons after Marc Bolland

November 27, 2009
The high value attributed to Morrisons chief executive Marc Bolland was evident in the share price reaction when it emerged last week that he was jumping ship to Marks & Spencer. M&S jumped 6% on the news, while Morrisons was down 5%, and Bolland was dubbed the billion-dollar man.
DSGi sees signs of improvement as results beat forecasts

26-Nov-2009
Electricals market leader DSGi, owner of the Currys and PC World chains, reported that sales trends have improved and posted a lower than expected interim loss.
Borders UK collapses into administration

25-Nov-2009
MCR has been appointed as administrator to Borders UK.
Lehman Brothers collapse takes toll on Reiss

20-Nov-2009
Fashion retailer Reiss has reported “creditable” earnings last year, when it suffered like other retailers in the aftermath of Lehman Brothers’ demise.
WHSmith pulls out of Borders bid

20-Nov-2009
WHSmith has ended talks about buying troubled bookseller Borders UK, raising doubts over the specialist’s future.
Tesco unveils broadband ambitions

20-Nov-2009
Tesco is to take on broadband telecoms players such as BT, TalkTalk and Virgin media as it targets extra profits of £200m annually.
Private equity firms table first-round Matalan bids

20-Nov-2009
Five private equity groups are understood to have tabled bids for value fashion group Matalan, which may be sold for as much as £1.5bn.
Sir Stuart Rose: ‘I don’t believe in retirement’

November 20, 2009
Video: Sir Stuart Rose will never take a retail chief executive’s role again, he said on Wednesday.
Nick Robertson: making waves in etail

November 20, 2009
As Asos posted rocketing sales again this week, George MacDonald examines how an advertising man with no retail background has managed to set the bar so high in etail.
Grocers lead the way as retail shares rise

November 20, 2009
A raft of results generally in line with expectations and signs of corporate activity returning to the sector helped general retailers keep pace with the index, but food groups were the week’s stars.
IPO hopes hang on Christmas

November 20, 2009
The Christmas selling season got off to its now traditional start this week: Debenhams held a Sale.
New occupants for 75% of Woolies stores a year after demise

19-Nov-2009
Three quarters of the 800 former Woolworths stores are let or under offer as the anniversary of the variety store group’s collapse approaches.
Retail sales up 3% in October, ONS calculates

19-Nov-2009
Retail sales rose 3% by value year-on-year in October and volume was ahead 3.4%, the Office of National Statistics reported. The month on month rise was 0.4%.
Profits motor ahead at Halfords

19-Nov-2009
Motor accessories and leisure group Halfords has posted a 24% rise in first-half profits and is confident of meeting full-year expectations.
Marc Bolland named chief executive of Marks & Spencer

18-Nov-2009
Morrisons boss Marc Bolland will succeed Sir Stuart Rose as chief executive of M&S, beginning in the new year.
Mothercare reshapes portfolio as profits rise

18-Nov-2009
Maternity specialist Mothercare has disclosed strong interim results and unveiled plans to take advantage of property market conditions to reshape key parts of its estate.
M&S launches £225m bond buy-back

17-Nov-2009
Marks & Spencer has launched an offer to buy back up to £225m of corporate bonds and, subject to take-up, issue new debt with longer maturity.
Consumer prices inflation rate reaches 1.5%

17-Nov-2009
Consumer price inflation rose during October for the first time since February.
Tesco joint venture to build malls in China

13-Nov-2009
Tesco is to build three shopping malls in China after forming a property joint venture with local partners.
Online secret Sales take off as Christmas battle hots up

November 13, 2009
Retailers are staging a host of “secret Sales” as the Christmas selling season kicks off in an attempt to win spend during the all important golden quarter.
Marks & Spencer takes a bigger bite

November 13, 2009
The long siege of Marks & Spencer’s food division by grocery rivals has not yet been lifted, but the defence is looking more confident and the fight is increasingly being taken to the opposition.
Need to know: Quantitative easing

November 13, 2009
Last week the Bank of England decided to inject a further £25bn into the economy as part of its quantitative easing programme. But is it helping retailers?
Strong October sales growth drives shares

November 13, 2009
The best October sales growth in almost a decade and more upbeat pronouncements from store chiefs helped catapult general retail stocks into orbit versus their All-Share and food counterparts.
Asda sales growth slows as lower inflation takes toll

12-Nov-2009
Asda, the Walmart-owned grocer and general merchandiser, has reported a slowdown in sales growth and said it would save shoppers £150m this Christmas.
Greggs eyes 100 Threshers stores

12-Nov-2009
Bakery specialist Greggs is considering taking on 100 stores from Threshers owner First Quench, the off-licence group that collapsed into administration a fortnight ago.
M&S considers taking Simply Food into Western Europe

12-Nov-2009
Marks & Spencer has enlisted advisors to scout locations in Western Europe for Simply Food stores, it is understood.
WHSmith posts 1% group sales fall

12-Nov-2009
Bookseller and stationer WHSmith disclosed that total sales fell 1% in the first 10 weeks of the financial year and it is planning for competitive trading conditions at Christmas.
Debenhams acquires Danish retailer Magasin for £12.3m

12-Nov-2009
Department store group Debenhams is to push into mainland Europe following the £12.3m acquisition of Danish department store business Magasin du Nord.
Best Buy International boss to make surprise departure

11-Nov-2009
Bob Willett, chief executive of Best Buy International, is to leave the retailer just months before the US electricals giant makes its high-profile UK debut.
Marks & Spencer offers online shoppers 1p delivery

11-Nov-2009
Marks & Spencer has kick-started its Christmas online sales campaign by offering shoppers delivery for a penny.
Sainsbury’s posts 18.5% interim profits rise

11-Nov-2009
Supermarket group Sainsbury’s has unveiled a leap in interim profits and said customer numbers have surged,highlighting how effectively it has responded to tough retail conditions.
Tesco gains market share for first time in two years

10-Nov-2009
Grocery market leader Tesco has increased its market share on a 12-week basis for the first time since 2007, the latest TNS data showed.
M&S targets £40m party food sales rise at Christmas

10-Nov-2009
Marks & Spencer aims to boost sales of party food by up to 30% this Christmas on the back of three-for-two and half-price offers.
Chip and PIN cards and sat-navs ‘most endangered’ technologies says DSGi

10-Nov-2009
Chip and PIN credit cards, sat-navs and DVD players all feature on a list of 2010’s “most endangered technologies” compiled by DSGi-owned etailer Pixmania.com.
Asda posts flat profits and is ‘sold’ in internal Walmart deal

9-Nov-2009
Asda, the Walmart-owned grocery and general merchandise giant, generated profit before tax of £520.4m last year.
Goldsmiths owner Aurum agrees refinancing

9-Nov-2009
Aurum, the jewellery group formerly backed by Baugur, has agreed a debt for equity swap with lenders and said recent performance has been ahead of expectations.
Victoria’s Secret unveils plans for launch in UK and Europe

November 6, 2009
US fashion and beauty giant Limited Brands has outlined plans to open Victoria’s Secret stores in strategic markets including the UK as part of an international expansion drive.
Marks & Spencer and Next chiefs see market stabilising

November 6, 2009
Marks & Spencer executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose intends to trade the business at full price through the Christmas period on the back of improved consumer confidence.
Christmas spending

November 6, 2009
Retail’s traditional golden quarter is under way and store chiefs’ attention is pretty much devoted to achieving Christmas sales success. But will shoppers spend?
Marks & Spencer and Next results surpass expectations

November 6, 2009
Updates from the two biggest quoted fashion groups, Marks & Spencer and Next, pleased brokers as each retailer reported encouraging recent trading.
Where next for Tesco?

November 6, 2009
Analysts seem to think that Tesco’s core UK business, which had been lagging competitors, is back on track so it’s understandable that the cavalcade should move on to focus on overseas.
Almost 2,000 jobs to go as 373 First Quench stores close

5-Nov-2009
The administrators of Threshers owner First Quench Retailing are to shut 373 stores, resulting in 1,738 redundancies.
Hopes of recovery rise as Bank holds interest rates and injects £25bn into economy

5-Nov-2009
The Bank of England has held interest rates at 0.5% for the eight month in a row and inject an extra £25bn into the economy in an attempt to stimulate recovery.
TM Lewin reports record profits

5-Nov-2009
Men’s and womenswear retailer TM Lewin reported it has defied the downturn to deliver record profits and that the new financial year has started strongly.
Bodycare backs down on poppy ban

5-Nov-2009
Toiletries and beauty specialist Bodycare has ended a ban on staff wearing poppies after its policy prompted a storm of protest and intervention by an MP.
Retailers to benefit as credit insurer Atradius increases cover

5-Nov-2009
Atradius, one of the leading credit insurance firms, is to increase cover to UK companies.
M&S posts flat first-half profits

4-Nov-2009
Marks & Spencer reported a “good start” to its third quarter but is “cautious” about Christmas prospects after posting flat interim profits.
Marks & Spencer gives green light to branded food range

4-Nov-2009
Marks & Spencer is to roll out its branded grocery offer to most of its shops after the success of a trial in 54 stores in the North East and South East of England.
M&S targets Waitrose in advertising first

2-Nov-2009
Marks & Spencer has launched a price comparison advertising campaign targeting Waitrose’s Essentials range, the first time the retailer has adopted the tactic against its close competitor.
M&S to repeat Penny Bazaar promotion for Christmas

2-Nov-2009
Marks & Spencer is to open in-store penny bazaars later this month selling Christmas stocking-fillers as well as goods such as mugs and knickers for 1p.
Consumer confidence rises in October

30-Oct-2009
Consumer confidence improved again in October, when sentiment reached its highest level since January 2008.
Is Matalan really worth £1.5bn?

October 30, 2009
Would you buy a business from John Hargreaves? For the sake of clarity, that’s as much a compliment to him as it is a caution to others.
Keeping up with the new consumer

October 30, 2009
The recession has transformed shopper attitudes to value, a PwC study has found. George MacDonald examines how mid-market retailers can adapt.
Postal strike to drive shoppers from web

October 30, 2009
Half of shoppers intend to shop less online or by mail order if post strikes continue in the run-up to Christmas.
Weak retail sales data hits non-food shares

October 30, 2009
Uncertainty about prospects was sparked by cautious comments from Arcadia tycoon Sir Philip Green as he unveiled full-year results, even though the CBI’s monthly retail survey was better than expected.
Morrisons to sponsor Disney’s A Christmas Carol premiere

29-Oct-2009
Grocer Morrisons is to sponsor the world premiere of Disney’s A Christmas Carol, expected to be a festive season movie blockbuster.
Foyles joins battle for e-book market share

29-Oct-2009
Bookseller Foyles has launched an e-book store as the battle for share of the digital books market hots up.
Investors buy into £100m JJB Sports fundraising

29-Oct-2009
JJB Sports has reported that its £100m fundraising has been successful, putting the embattled business on a firmer financial footing.
Blacks focuses on restructuring as losses mount

29-Oct-2009
Outdoors specialist Blacks Leisure has suffered a steep decline in first-half profits but said it is making progress with restructuring, details of which are being finalised.
Best Buy to hire 8,000 in UK

28-Oct-2009
Electricals giant Best Buy expects to create 8,000 jobs in the UK over a five-year period after launching in this country in spring 2010.
TPG nets £500m from Debenhams exit

28-Oct-2009
Private equity group TPG has cashed in its remaining stake in Debenhams, the department store group whose buy-out it funded in 2003.
Argos to undergo brand revamp

October 23, 2009
Catalogue store group Argos is to revamp its brand, including its logo, to reflect how the business has changed in recent years.
Big screen should boost HMV

October 23, 2009
The curtain rises on the latest phase of HMV’s reinvention today, with the opening of its first cinema in partnership with Curzon.
Chris Woodhouse has plenty to feel bullish about

October 23, 2009
On the back of a successful float, shrewd debt handling and an expected rise in profits, the Debenhams finance director has plenty to feel bullish about, says George MacDonald.
Food hots up after Sainsbury’s bid talk

October 23, 2009
Investor appetite grew for food retailers as speculation swirled that Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund was once again considering a bid for Sainsbury’s.
Retailers in line for £20m in-store music refund

22-Oct-2009
A legal victory for retailers has raised the prospect of a £20m refund to the industry after a ruling that increased copyright fees for playing music in-store were excessive.
Retailers suffer flat September sales

22-Oct-2009
Retail sales growth was flat month on month in September, the Office of National Statistics reported. The findings confounded expectations of a rise.
Tesco opens first self-service only shop

22-Oct-2009
Grocery giant Tesco has opened the UK’s first completely self-service shop – an Express convenience store in Kingsley, Northampton.
Debenhams posts market share and profits rise

22-Oct-2009
Department store group Debenhams took market share from rivals last year, when it also transformed its trading space and increased margin.
As e-readers launch, is it the last chapter for bookshops?

October 16, 2009
As Amazon launches its Kindle e-reader in the UK, George MacDonald asks if it will bring about bookshops’ demise, or if the world of print will prove resilient
M&S to review store estate for digital age

October 16, 2009
Marks & Spencer is to review its 668-store portfolio as online threatens squeeze on store sales
Aldi lines up new managing director for UK

October 16, 2009
Discount grocer Aldi is to transfer its managing director for buying in Australia to lead the business in the UK.
Angela Ahrendts: maintaining Burberry’s momentum

October 16, 2009
Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts has built on Rose Marie Bravo’s legacy by invigorating the luxury brand while keeping a tight handle on costs
DSGi has everything to play for

October 16, 2009
While DSGi chief executive John Browett has been busy renewing and transforming his business, the electricals market is also changing around him and the pace shows no sign of slowing.
M&S investor day leaves analysts cold

October 16, 2009
Marks & Spencer missed out on the general retail sector’s rise after its much-anticipated investor day was judged insufficiently exciting by the City.
M&S reveals homewares and online food ambitions at investor day

13-Oct-2009
Marks & Spencer general merchandise director Kate Bostock has identified homewares as a “huge opportunity” for the retailer, which intends to carve out a market leading position in the category.
John Lewis posts 6.3% weekly sales rise

9-Oct-2009
John Lewis department store sales rose by a higher than expected 6.3% last week, despite a strong year-on-year comparative.
JJB equity issue to raise £100m

9-Oct-2009
JJB Sports is to launch a £100m equity issue in the latest phase of its turnaround battle following its CVA earlier this year.
IPOs will face an inquisition

October 9, 2009
After all the feverish speculation of the past few weeks, there is now little doubt that a raft of retailers is preparing to float in the new year.
Retailers’ self-help initiatives to stave off gloom until 2011

October 9, 2009
Retail profitability may “surprise on the upside” next year but 2011 will be a “crunch year”, according to sector-wide analysis by brokers.
Sir Terry Leahy’s cheer fails to rub off on brokers

October 9, 2009
Appetite for food retailers remained poor, despite bullish comments from Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy as he delivered interim results.
Carphone reports "commendable" second quarter

8-Oct-2009
Carphone Warehouse’s retail division, Best Buy Europe, reported that connections rose by 2% to 3.17m in the second quarter.
Marks & Spencer to sell online into 73 more countries

6-Oct-2009
Marks & Spencer has massively extended its online international delivery service, adding 73 countries to the list served.
Administrator sells Wine Cellar

2-Oct-2009
Deloitte, the administrator of off licence and convenience store group Wine Cellar, has sold the majority of stores and stock to EFB Retail.
Pets at Home assesses IPO potential

2-Oct-2009
Specialist retailer Pets at Home has moved closer to a flotation with the appointment of JP Morgan Cazenove as joint sponsor, joint bookrunner and joint global coordinator.
A battle has been won at Marks & Spencer

October 2, 2009
M&S can afford to be satisfied, though not complacent. It still has a long road to travel to regain past levels of success.
Retail stock interest expected to continue

September 25, 2009
Stores rebounded after the recent bout of profit taking and outperformed the market, but food retail stocks remained mired ahead of results from Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
Retail suffers as gloom outweighs IPO hopes

September 25, 2009
General retail stocks headed south and underperformed the market, despite rising speculation that a raft of IPOs - including a £1.7bn flotation of fast fashion group New Look - looks likely in the new year.
The empire strikes back

September 25, 2009
Tesco publishes its first-half results a week on Tuesday. Sainsbury’s follows with its second-quarter numbers a day later. And this year the pair’s performance – even though not over comparable periods – will be even more of a needle match than usual.
John Lewis unveils Cardiff store

24-Sep-2009
John Lewis opened the biggest Department store in Wales this morning in Cardiff’s St David’s Centre.
Topps Tiles confirms profit outlook and sees signs of stability

23-Sep-2009
Specialist retailer Topps Tiles expects to report operating profit of between £10.5m and £14m – the range of analysts’ expectations – when it delivers full year results in November.
Harrods attacks Dixons’ ‘low-down’ ad campaign

22-Sep-2009
Upmarket department store Harrods has hit back at a cheeky advertising campaign being run by DSGi-owned etailer Dixons.co.uk and raised the prospect of legal action.
Dixons.co.uk ad campaign pokes fun at John Lewis and Selfridges

18-Sep-2009
DSGi-owned electricals etailer Dixons.co.uk has launched a cheeky advertising campaign targeting rivals such as John Lewis and Selfridges.
Lehman’s ghost laid to rest?

September 18, 2009
Tuesday was the anniversary of Lehman’s collapse, which a year ago sent retail sales plunging within hours of its demise.
Retail rally halted by bout of profit taking

September 18, 2009
Store shares suffered a poor week, despite the reporting season getting off to an encouraging start.
Will John Dixon be Sir Stuart Rose's successor?

September 18, 2009
Despite getting Marks & Spencer’s food back on track and a promotion to the board, some say it’s too soon to start talking up Dixon as Sir Stuart Rose’s successor. George MacDonald reports
Grocery data divides opinion on Clubcard 2 impact on Tesco

15-Sep-2009
The latest market data from analysts TNS Worldpanel and Nielsen gave a contrasting picture of the impact of Tesco’s Clubcard 2 double loyalty points launch in August.
Best Buy profits slide in second quarter

15-Sep-2009
US electricals giant Best Buy, which will open its first big-box stores in the UK next spring, has posted a 22% fall in profits for its second quarter.
Falling food prices drive lower CPI inflation

15-Sep-2009
The Consumer Prices Index annual inflation rate fell to 1.6% in August compared to 1.8% in July.
Refinancing repesents ‘new beginning’ for Robert Dyas

11-Sep-2009
Hardware retailer Robert Dyas has launched a 100-day invigoration programme after striking a refinancing deal.
New chair for Robert Dyas as debt deal nears

11-Sep-2009
Hardware retailer Robert Dyas has lined up former Kingfisher director Geoff Brady as chairman and is concluding a debt-for-equity swap as it refocuses on trading following financial restructuring.
Need to know: Scottish licensing rules

September 11, 2009
Changes to Scottish rules on the sale and promotion of alcohol are causing confusion for retailers. What are the changes and how are they affecting shops?
Optimism and merger talk send shares flying

September 11, 2009
Sunnier economic signs and excitement generated by some potentially massive mergers pushed the FTSE 100 to a new high for the year on Tuesday.
Transparently good

September 11, 2009
Kingfisher and Sports Direct showed both sides of the corporate governance coin this week.
Serious Fraud Office probes JJB and Sports Direct

10-Sep-2009
Following the launch of an OFT inquiry into the sports retail market, it has emerged that the Serious Fraud Office has begun an investigation into JJB Sports and Sports Direct.
JJB sparks OFT 'cartel' investigation

10-Sep-2009
Sports group JJB has taken concerns about possible cartel activity in the sports retail market to the OFT which has launched an investigation.
Marks & Spencer launches personalised greetings cards business online

10-Sep-2009
Marks & Spencer is to take on card retailers such as Clinton and WHSmith, and online specialists such as Moonpig, with the launch of a personalised card service.
Carpetright's Lord Harris confident that trading conditions are improving

10-Sep-2009
Carpetright chairman and chief executive Lord Harris has reaffirmed his belief that trading conditions are improving.
Comet like-for-likes rise in first quarter

10-Sep-2009
Electricals retailer Comet recorded like-for-like growth of 0.3% in the three months to July 31, parent Kesa revealed.
M&S succession favourite John Dixon promoted to board

9-Sep-2009
Marks & Spencer has promoted food chief John Dixon, a leading contender to succeed chief executive Sir Stuart Rose, to the board with immediate effect.
High & Mighty administration likely as sale looms

8-Sep-2009
Niche clothing trailblazer High & Mighty, which specialises in men’s outsize fashion, is to be sold in a process likely to involve a pre-pack administration.
Customers insulted on DSGi staff Facebook site

4-Sep-2009
People claiming to be staff at electricals group DSGi’s Currys and PC World chains have mounted ferocious attacks on customers via a Facebook group.
Homewares sales recovery sustained in August

4-Sep-2009
An improvement in homewares sales in July carried through into August, the BDO Stoy Hayward High Street Sales Tracker showed.
A good write-up

September 4, 2009
There’s been plenty of writing down of retail assets over the past year or two, but precious little writing up.
Market wobbles but positive signs abound

September 4, 2009
The market was hit by a bout of nerves following the recent bull run and the FTSE 100 suffered its biggest loss of value in two months. General retailers performed slightly below the market but food groups, which have frequently been out of favour lately, remained almost flat.
New Look valuation prompts hopes for a market revival

September 4, 2009
Valuations of prominent private equity-backed retailers are rising on the back of earnings momentum and investor appetite for quoted retailers.
Will retail rise to round two of VAT war?

September 4, 2009
A VAT increase is looking like an inevitability. George MacDonald asks what promotional feats retailers will need to pull off to counter the blow to consumer confidence in the January Sales season
Discount store numbers climb by 60%

3-Sep-2009
The number of discount shops such as Poundland and 99p Stores has surged by 60% during the downturn.
Play.com targets toy market

28-Aug-2009
Online retailer Play.com has added a toys tab to its site to highlight the breadth of its offer and growing strength in the category.
Consumer confidence 'steady' in August

28-Aug-2009
Consumer confidence held steady in August and remains strongly up year on year.
Focus’s CVA dashes rivals’ hopes of market share gains

August 28, 2009
The success of Focus DIY’s CVA has quashed competitors’ hopes that capacity would be taken out of the DIY market.
Retail stocks lifted as FTSE bounces back

August 28, 2009
The FTSE 100 closed at a 10-month high on Tuesday. Food and general retailers alike were both up over the week although neither matched the All-Share rise.
The billion Dollar question

August 28, 2009
At last, a retail IPO. Dollar General’s flotation is happening in the States not the UK, but success would be a sign that markets may be fully opening again and that stores can win investor backing.
Shopper response to Tesco's Clubcard relaunch 'slow', suppliers say

27-Aug-2009
Doubts have been expressed about whether Tesco’s Clubcard 2 initiative has appealed to shoppers as hoped.
Computer retailers defend standards

27-Aug-2009
Retailers singled out for criticism from Which? Computing over their customer service have defended the standard of support they provide to the public.
Spending 'hardly affected' by VAT cut

27-Aug-2009
Consumer spending was hardly affected by last year’s reduction in VAT, a survey has revealed.
Tiring Tesco still leads the supermarket race

21-Aug-2009
Once attacked for being all-powerful, Tesco is now being criticised for apparently relaxing its vice-like grip on the retail market.
Competition still hot in grocery

August 21, 2009
So farewell then – for now – to Paul Foley. The Aldi UK boss’s abrupt departure last week led to speculation that the wheels have come off his juggernaut.
Brokers divided as Tesco ups food ante

August 21, 2009
The retail rally lost momentum last week, although store groups were well up year on year.
Former Boots boss Richard Baker joins private equity firm Advent

20-Aug-2009
Former Alliance Boots chief executive Richard Baker has joined private equity group Advent International as an operating partner.
Focus CVA plan has ‘strong chance of success’

20-Aug-2009
DIY group Focus’s CVA proposal has “a strong chance of success”, said Seymour Pierce analyst Freddie George after a company visit.
Clothing sales rose in early summer but discounting rife, TNS reports

20-Aug-2009
Good early summer weather helped fashion retailers put in their best performance since last November.
Waitrose outperforms grocery market, latest TNS data shows

18-Aug-2009
John Lewis-owned supermarket chain Waitrose raced ahead of rivals in recent months to post market-leading growth while discounters’ performance continued to slow.
Price inflation remained at 1.8% in July, ONS reports

18-Aug-2009
The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rate remained unchanged at 1.8 per cent in July, confounding expectations that there would be another fall.
Halfords finance boss joins Dunelm as non-executive director

14-Aug-2009
Halfords finance director Nick Wharton has been appointed a non-executive director of value homeware group Dunelm.
Surprise fall in US retail sales

14-Aug-2009
US retail sales suffered an unexpected slip in July, when they fell by 0.1 per cent.
DSGi poaches John Lewis man to be web chief

14-Aug-2009
Electricals group DSGi has poached a John Lewis online boss to become ecommerce director in charge of its UK websites.
Best Buy threat to UK players overblown, analyst says

August 14, 2009
The threat posed by US giant Best Buy’s UK launch to electricals specialists DSGi and Kesa has been overblown, believes broker Shore Capital.
Home comforts

August 14, 2009
There are new signs of bounce in the hard-pressed homewares and furniture market, on which the springs went more than a year ago.
Retail rally tails off as stocks underperform

August 14, 2009
The meteoric rise of the stores sector tailed away over the week and general retailers underperformed their food peers and the market.
Former Marks & Spencer boss Barry Stevenson to head Albemarle & Bond

13-Aug-2009
Former Marks & Spencer retail director Barry Stevenson is to become chief executive of pawnbroker Albemarle & Bond.
Morrisons to create an extra 2,000 jobs

12-Aug-2009
Supermarket group Morrisons is to create an additional 2,000 jobs in 2009 – 40% more than the 5,000 originally expected.
BBC wins 2entertain case against Woolworths administrator

11-Aug-2009
The BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, has won a court case against Woolworths’ administrator Deloitte over the value of joint venture 2entertain.
Kaupthing retailer loans investigated

7-Aug-2009
Details of loans made by collapsed Icelandic bank Kaupthing to a company owned by retail entrepreneur Kevin Stanford have been passed to criminal investigators in Iceland.
OFT refers Sports Direct acquisition of JJB Sports stores to Competition Commission

7-Aug-2009
The Office of Fair Trading has referred Sports Direct’s acquisition of 31 stores from rival JJB Sports to the Competition Commission.
Green shoots and toxic waste

August 7, 2009
Two years into the credit crunch, hopes are rising that an end to hard times could be on the horizon.
Retailers run on as updates hold promise

August 7, 2009
Investors once again went on a trolley dash for store stocks, helping general retailers outperform the market.
Retailers to gain if recovery of pound sustained

August 7, 2009
Retailers are poised to reap earnings and margin gains if the recovery of the pound is sustained and relieves pressure on buying costs.
Nisa-Today's members in line for £500,000 payout

6-Aug-2009
Members of c-store buying group Nisa-Today’s will share £500,000 after the business achieved an 11 per cent increase in turnover last year.
Carpetright posts like-for-like sales rise

5-Aug-2009
Carpetright, the market leading floor coverings retailer, has posted the first quarterly like-for-like sales rise at its core business since the fourth quarter of 2007/08.
Hilco: hero or villain?

July 31, 2009
Profiting from retail misfortune as it does, restructuring specialist Hilco is much maligned. George MacDonald asks if the rancour is deserved
Former John Lewis boss Sir Stuart Hampson named chairman of Crown Estate

24-Jul-2009
Sir Stuart Hampson, the former chairman of John Lewis Partnership, is to become chairman of Regent Street owner the Crown Estate.
Tesco and Morrisons continue to challenge OFT in milk row

24-Jul-2009
Grocers Tesco and Morrisons will continue their battle with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) over milk price-fixing allegations.
Sports events and mixed weather fail to deter John Lewis shoppers

24-Jul-2009
Sales at John Lewis department stores surged 5.3 per cent last week, despite big sporting events and volatile weather that might have kept shoppers at home.
Former MFI and Woolworths chiefs drafted in to Allied Carpets

24-Jul-2009
The former bosses of collapsed retailers Woolworths and MFI have been parachuted in to help turn around embattled Allied Carpets, which was bought out of pre-pack administration last week.
Next boss Simon Wolfson excels again

July 24, 2009
Next boss Simon Wolfson is making a habit of beating expectations. So good has recent performance been that Next brought forward its trading update and upped internal profit forecasts by £30m.
Retailers stir FTSE 100 onto impressive gains

July 24, 2009
Retailers helped the FTSE 100 make its best run of gains in four years on Tuesday, the seventh consecutive day that the index rose.
Retail sales climb in June, ONS reports

23-Jul-2009
Retail sales volume rose 1.2 per cent between May and June, the latest ONS data showed.
Mike Ashley threatens JJB AGM showdown with Sir David Jones

23-Jul-2009
Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley intends to embarrass rival JJB Sports executive chairman Sir David Jones at JJB’s AGM tomorrow.
B&Q beats second-quarter expectations

23-Jul-2009
DIY giant Kingfisher’s flagship B&Q UK chain beat second-quarter sales expectations, helped by business improvements and the collapse of rivals.
Sun and tourists lift London retail sales

20-Jul-2009
London retail sales once again outperformed the UK during June, helped by good weather and tourists cashing in on the weak pound.
Doubts raised over Arcandor rescue

17-Jul-2009
The break-up or liquidation of parts of troubled German retail group Arcandor has become more likely after the group’s restructuring adviser quit.
John Lewis enjoys 'better week'

17-Jul-2009
John Lewis department stores recorded a sales fall of 1.6 per cent last week in what it described as “one of the better weeks of the year thus far”.
Grocers slash plastic bag usage by 48%

17-Jul-2009
Food retailers have almost halved the number of carrier bags distributed to customers, reducing their environmental impact.
Earnings upgrades in sight as retail sales hold their own

July 17, 2009
The City took heart at better than anticipated retail sales in June, raising the prospect of sector upgrades.
General retail stocks outshine the index

July 17, 2009
General retailers performed strongly over the week, putting food stocks and the All-Share index in the shade.
Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates takes stake in JJB Sports

16-Jul-2009
Billionaire Bill Gates has taken a stake in embattled sports retailer JJB, it emerged today.
Mothercare reports strong first quarter

16-Jul-2009
Like-for-like sales at maternity specialist Mothercare’s core UK business climbed 5.1 per cent in the first quarter.
Marks & Spencer whistleblower loses case

10-Jul-2009
Tony Goode, the former Marks & Spencer employee sacked for leaking details of planned redundancy pay cuts, has lost his employment tribunal case alleging the retailer breached his human rights.
Sir Stuart Rose attack on discount fashion labelled hypocritical

10-Jul-2009
Marks & Spencer has been accused of hypocrisy over its attack on discount fashion after it emerged the retailer shares suppliers with value giant Primark, The Times has reported.
JJB Sports threatens legal action against Mike Ashley

10-Jul-2009
JJB Sports has threatened legal action against rival Mike Ashley, founder of Sports Direct, in an escalation of the row over a £1.5m loan to JJB chairman Sir David Jones.
Hot weather sends retail sales down

10-Jul-2009
Last week’s hot weather hit retail footfall and sent general merchandisers’ sales down for a second week running.
A kick in the ballots

July 10, 2009
Some of the biggest retailers have been forced on the defensive in the face of shareholder uprisings unparalleled in more than a decade.
Loan row takes a bite out of JJB’s value

July 10, 2009
Tragedy turned to farce at JJB Sports. The troubled retailer became embroiled in controversy when it emerged that executive chairman Sir David Jones had taken a loan from arch-rival Mike Ashley, founder of Sports Direct.
Third profit warning puts Carrefour under spotlight

July 10, 2009
Carrefour, the world’s second biggest retailer, last week issued its third profit warning in just 12 months.
Live: Marks & Spencer AGM

8-Jul-2009
Marks & Spencer executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose will face a stormy annual general meeting this afternoon, as shareholders resolve to vote on his controversial dual role at the retailer. The AGM will begin at 2pm today. Retail Week will be reporting from the AGM as it happens.
Sir Philip Green warns of uncertain final quarter

7-Jul-2009
Retailers face uncertain trading conditions in the crucial final quarter of the year, Arcadia tycoon Sir Philip Green has warned.
Shareholder revolt embarrasses Home Retail

3-Jul-2009
Home Retail Group, owner of Argos and Homebase, says it has “taken note” of investor concern about directors’ bonuses after a shareholder revolt at Wednesday’s AGM.
Clothing prices to rise as cost increases hit Marks & Spencer

3-Jul-2009
Marks & Spencer will pass on higher business costs to consumers by raising prices later this year, executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose revealed.
A tale of two retailers

July 3, 2009
Two sets of results issued on Monday illustrated perfectly how the retail sector has polarised. While online meteor Asos celebrated a stellar year, department store tiddler Beales was hunkering down for continued hard times after a challenging first half.
Castorama holds firm as French DIY sector shrinks

July 3, 2009
Castorama holds firm as French DIY sector shrinks
Promising updates lift general retail stocks

July 3, 2009
Encouraging weekly numbers from John Lewis, hopes that Marks & Spencer’s first-quarter update would beat bearish expectations and a profits rise at HMV helped lift general retailers.
The race hots up to be Marks & Spencer’s next chief executive

July 3, 2009
The odds on leading internal candidates to succeed Sir Stuart Rose as Marks & Spencer chief executive have lengthened, according to top betting firm Paddy Power.
Game like-for-like sales plummet

2-Jul-2009
Computer entertainment retailer Game has reported a 15.4 per cent fall in group like-for-like sales in the 21 weeks to June 27.
Kmart cuts prices for the unemployed

2-Jul-2009
US retailer Kmart has launched a money-off programme for the jobless in its original home state of Michigan.
Winding up of Woolworths made advisers £14m

2-Jul-2009
Woolworths’ administrator Deloitte, restructuring specialist Hilco and other advisers were paid at least £14m to wind up the variety store group.
Michael Jackson’s death prompts album sales surge

26-Jun-2009
The sudden death of pop legend Michael Jackson has prompted a surge in sales of his albums.
Marks & Spencer launches pick ’n’ mix sweets

26-Jun-2009
Marks & Spencer will take advantage of the demise of Woolworths by launching a pick ‘n’ mix sweets range in 100 shops from September.
Mamas & Papas unveils Japanese expansion deal

26-Jun-2009
Maternity specialist Mamas & Papas is to launch in Japan after striking a distribution deal with local nursery goods group Pigeon Corporation.
John Lewis celebrates ‘excellent’ sales week

26-Jun-2009
John Lewis department stores put in their best sales performance of the year so far last week when turnover rose 2.2 per cent.
Shock Kesa results top poor week for retail sector

June 26, 2009
Stores underperformed the market despite some impressive recent updates, and Anglo-French electricals group Kesa provided a reminder of how tough conditions remained with shocking results on Wednesday.
Who is the right face for Marks & Spencer?

June 26, 2009
Whether Sir Stuart Rose stays on as Marks & Spencer’s executive chairman until 2011 or goes early, what matters is getting the successor right.
Administration looms for Allied Carpets division

25-Jun-2009
Allied Carpets Properties, a subsidiary of the carpets retailer, has filed notice of intention to appoint an administrator. BDO Stoy Hayward is understood to have been lined up for the role.
Clinton Cards buys 196 Birthdays stores

25-Jun-2009
Cards retailer Clinton Cards has confirmed the acquisition of 196 Birthdays stores from administrator Zolfo Cooper.
Back AGM resolution to split Sir Stuart Rose’s role, Pirc urges M&S shareholders

24-Jun-2009
Influential shareholder adviser Pirc has added its voice to growing calls for Marks & Spencer to appoint an independent chairman next year.
Morrisons and Sainsbury’s growth outpaces Aldi, TNS reports

23-Jun-2009
Food shoppers “have started to revert to pre-recession behaviour” and established big grocers are outpacing discount stars such as Aldi, latest TNS Worldpanel grocery data showed.
M&S chiefs waive share entitlements

22-Jun-2009
Marks & Spencer executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose and executive director Steve Sharp are to waive share entitlements in the interests of “good shareholder relations”.
John Lewis beats strikes and floods to post weekly sales rise

19-Jun-2009
Sales at John Lewis department stores rose 0.4 per cent in the week to June 13, bringing the sales decline for the year so far to 4.8 per cent.
Retail rents to plunge 20% by end of 2010

19-Jun-2009
Retail rents are expected to drop by 20 per cent by the end of 2010 as recessionary conditions force landlords to offer stores better terms.
Households better off but still reluctant to spend

19-Jun-2009
The average household’s discretionary income has risen by 25 per cent to £1,075 over the past 12 months, but consumers remain cautious about splashing out in stores.
DSGi begins to show spark

June 19, 2009
Electricals rivals Kesa and DSGi both post full-year results next week. There hasn’t been much spark in either lately. But as Best Buy limbers up to take on the European incumbents next year, there are signs that the pair are getting into shape.
Sainsbury’s and Tesco updates cause a stir

June 19, 2009
Big grocers took the spotlight this week as Sainsbury’s and Tesco issued first-quarter updates. And what the pair had to say has implications for the entire retail sector.
Superdrug hiring of Steve Jebson fuels ‘son of Woolies’ doubts

June 19, 2009
Former Woolworths commercial director Steve Jebson has been appointed to the same role at Superdrug, the health and beauty giant owned by AS Watson.
Deals struck on 210 Birthdays stores but 800 jobs to go

18-Jun-2009
Birthdays’ administrator Zolfo Cooper has accepted two offers for a total of 210 stores. The deals safeguard 1350 jobs but 800 will go as the remaining 132 shops will shut.
Retail sales slip in May

18-Jun-2009
Retail sales volume fell 0.6 per cent month on month in May and was down 1.6 per cent year on year, ONS data showed. Sales by value were down 1.1 per cent compared with May 2008.
Tesco bond sale raises £430m

18-Jun-2009
Grocery group Tesco has raised £430m through the sale of commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS).
Sainsbury’s raises £445m to fund growth

17-Jun-2009
Sainsbury’s is to raise £445m to fund an accelerated growth drive and deliver an extra 2.5 million sq ft of trading space by March 2011.
Marks & Spencer launches ad campaign to bolster ethical image

16-Jun-2009
Marks & Spencer has launched a marketing campaign tunder the banner “Doing the right thing” and designed to emphasise its corporate social responsibility credentials.
David Ross raises £38m from Carphone Warehouse share sale

12-Jun-2009
Former Carphone Warehouse director David Ross, who stood down as deputy chairman last December, has sold 24 million shares in the retailer – about 15 per cent of his stake.
Woolworths dispute taken to High Court

12-Jun-2009
Woolworths’ administrator Deloitte and BBC Worldwide are expected to face each other in court today over the value of the latter’s joint venture with the defunct variety store group.
Stefano Pessina defends Andy Hornby hiring as key to Alliance Boots progress

12-Jun-2009
Stefano Pessina has said that Alliance Boots’ 115,000 staff should not be concerned at the appointment of Andy Hornby as group chief executive, despite his association with the HBoS shipwreck.
New Wal-Mart chief Mike Duke: ‘This is our time’

June 12, 2009
Changing consumer habits create opportunities, new Wal-Mart chief Mike Duke believes – but the retailer can’t afford to be complacent. George MacDonald reports from the US
Sales dip but second half stability beckons

June 12, 2009
Although BRC sales data for May revealed a 0.8 per cent dip in like-for-likes, brokers took comfort in the fact that the fall was not worse and at the prospect of easier comparisons later in the year.
Tesco still a dab hand

June 12, 2009
After Morrisons’ first-quarter update last week, Tesco and Sainsbury’s post their numbers on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively and they should make for compelling reading.
Wal-Mart designates Asda international centre of marketing excellence

10-Jun-2009
Wal-Mart has designated Asda its international centre of marketing excellence. The UK retailer will act as a global marketing academy for Wal-Mart under the leadership of Rick Bendel.
Arcandor files for bankruptcy protection

9-Jun-2009
German retail group Arcandor has filed for bankruptcy protection after yesterday’s decision by the German government not to provide rescue funds. An administrator is expected to be appointed today.
Scott Wheway is embracing the challenge at Best Buy

June 5, 2009
The former Boots man has taken his time to find the right role but is relishing the challenge of Best Buy. George MacDonald reports.
The mountain facing Blacks

June 5, 2009
Blacks Leisure chief executive Neil Gillis, like his customers, has a mountain to climb.
Consumer confidence 'held steady' in May

29-May-2009
Consumer confidence was stable in May but remains fragile.
Halfords names Dennis Millard chairman

29-May-2009
Motor accessories and bikes giant Halfords has appointed Dennis Millard as chairman, replacing Richard Pym.
Losses spiral as Blacks battles to recover

29-May-2009
Outdoor pursuits specialist Blacks Leisure has acknowledged there is “material uncertainty” about its future but insisted progress is being made in turning the business around.
Hamleys axes chiefs in cost-cutting drive

29-May-2009
Iconic toy retailer Hamleys has parted company with two senior directors as part of a restructure of its head office, which could also result in a third of staff being axed.
Stephen Marks has what it takes for French Connection

May 29, 2009
French Connection has had a tough time recently, but Stephen Marks has the drive to move the business on again, says George MacDonald
Clinton has its cards marked

May 29, 2009
Clinton Cards’ £46.4m acquisition of rival Birthdays in 2004 was one of the least surprising deals ever.
Green shoots shrivel as rally grinds to halt

May 29, 2009
Green shoots shrivelled as, for the third week running, general retailers were in reverse. The sector’s amazing rally over the past few months has shuddered to a halt as a result of profit taking by investors, some nasty shocks and a still uncertain outlook.
Chapter 11 provisions take shine off Ahold’s US performance

28-May-2009
International grocery group Ahold has reported that its US chains Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover delivered their best like-for-like performance “in many years” during the first quarter.
PC World to build brand with ‘biggest ever’ marketing drive

27-May-2009
PC World has launched a brand-building ad campaign jettisoning its traditional focus on price and deals in favour of a message on meeting customer needs as technology transforms lifestyles.
Former Boots chief Scott Wheway takes top Best Buy role

26-May-2009
Former Boots the Chemists managing director Scott Wheway has been named chief operating officer of Best Buy International and will play a key role in launching the retailer in Europe.
John Lewis Partnership sales up

22-May-2009
John Lewis Partnership recorded a 2.8 per cent sales rise in the week to May 16.
Findel mulls rights issue after disappointing year

22-May-2009
Home shopping group Findel is considering a rights issue among other changes to its funding arrangements and has revealed a disappointing financial performance.
Sir Stuart Rose claims record share ‘bounce back’ for M&S

22-May-2009
Marks & Spencer has pulled off its biggest market share “bounce back” in more than a decade, executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose claimed.
Cautious brokers upgrade Kingfisher on Q1 prospects

May 22, 2009
Brokers have increased profit forecasts for DIY giant Kingfisher in expectation of a good first quarter but remain cautious about longer- term prospects.
Marks & Spencer’s profit plunge triggers shares slide

May 22, 2009
General retailers were down over the week as Marks & Spencer posted a profits fall and investors took profits. Marks & Spencer’s lower profits were expected but some analysts were disappointed with what Pali International analyst Nick Bubb called an “underwhelming” accompanying statement.
Need to know: Succession planning

May 22, 2009
Effective succession planning is key to maintaining a healthy business over time, yet it can get overlooked. So who is good at it and how should retailers go about it?
Clothing retailers benefit from April sales rise

21-May-2009
Retail sales rose 3 per cent in value year on year during April and 2.6 per cent by volume, ONS data showed.
Shoppers swarm to Marks & Spencer Penny Bazaars

20-May-2009
VIDEO: Bargain-hungry shoppers turned out in force today as Marks & Spencer opened Original Penny Bazaars in 300 stores as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations.
M&S reveals new marketing tagline: ‘Quality worth every penny’

19-May-2009
Marks & Spencer has unveiled a new marketing tagline – “Quality worth every penny” – to emphasise its value credentials and reputation for quality.
Marks & Spencer launches transformation drive as profits plunge

19-May-2009
Marks & Spencer has launched a transformation programme called 2020 – Doing the right thing, to be headed by finance director Ian Dyson.
Alliance Boots profit surge

18-May-2009
Alliance Boots has reported a rise in profits and is confident about the year to come
H&M celebrates sales turnaround

15-May-2009
International fashion giant H&M has posted recession-busting like-for-like growth of 8 per cent for April, when total sales climbed 19 per cent.
Broker attacks M&S strategy and management

15-May-2009
Discounting and cost cutting by Marks & Spencer threatens its long-term health and dramatic change is necessary to restore the retailer’s fortunes, a broker has warned.
City cools as it doubts retail’s staying power

May 15, 2009
General retailers underperformed as questions were asked about whether the stores rally had run too far.
Is Westminster beckoning for Next’s Simon Wolfson?

May 15, 2009
In the retail industry, much of the chatter last week centred not on Next’s latest numbers, but chief executive Simon Wolfson’s future plans. For some time, speculation has mounted that he might consider a shift into politics, casting himself as Lord King to David Cameron’s Mrs T.
Asda to boost home shopping as sales soar

14-May-2009
Wal-Mart-owned grocer Asda intends to test a “home shopping centre” designed to extend retail capacity in its busiest locations.
Recession hits Musgrave profits

14-May-2009
Musgrave, the group whose brands include Budgens, Londis and SuperValu, suffered a profits fall as the recession bit – particularly in its Republic of Ireland domestic market.
M&S to put 2 million products on sale for 1p each for 125th birthday

14-May-2009
Marks & Spencer will celebrate its 125th birthday next week by returning to its origins as a penny bazaar and putting 2 million products on sale for 1p each.
Sainsbury’s confident in future as profits rise

13-May-2009
Focus on fundamentals and agility in fast-changing trading conditions helped Sainsbury’s notch up an 11 per cent profits rise and fourth consecutive year of like-for-like growth.
Retail sales growth in April was best in three years

12-May-2009
Retailers enjoyed their best sales growth in three years during April, when like-for-like sales surged 4.6 per cent and total turnover advanced 6.3 per cent.
City encouraged by general retail outlook

May 8, 2009
Food stocks dipped this week while general retailers continued to outperform, with brokers encouraged by some prudent management outlined in the updates.
The grocery ombudsman

May 8, 2009
The Competition Commission has begun a public consultation over proposals to create a grocery ombudsman, but why would one be necessary and who would benefit?
Waterstone’s must turn the page

May 8, 2009
Has HMV’s takeover of Ottakar’s paved the way for Waterstone’s high street domination as opponents of the deal predicted?
Harvey Nichols to widen appeal with young-fashion offer

6-May-2009
Upscale department store group Harvey Nichols will launch a young-fashion offer early next year as part of chief executive Joseph Wan’s strategy to beat the downturn.
Is retail seaworthy again?

May 1, 2009
Are investors in retail shares, like the Jumblies, going to sea in a sieve?
Reassuring updates propel retail shares again

May 1, 2009
Once again, the only way was up for store stocks as the general retailers’ rally maintained momentum following a raft of reassuring updates and results.
US retail ‘undertaker’ sets up shop in UK

May 1, 2009
US-based retail restructuring and liquidation giant GA Asset Advisors has arrived in the UK in expectation of continued turmoil in the stores sector.
Consumer confidence levels rise for third month

30-Apr-2009
Consumer confidence improved in April to levels not seen for more than a year.
DSGi to raise £310.6m

30-Apr-2009
Electricals group DSGi has unveiled plans for a £310.6m rights issue and share placing.
M&S to launch 125th anniversary fashion range

29-Apr-2009
Marks & Spencer is to mark its 125th anniversary with a special womenswear range drawing on key fashion looks from the past.
Home Retail Group posts 24 per cent fall in preliminary profits

29-Apr-2009
Home Retail Group, owner of the Argos and Homebase chains, has warned of continued tough trading conditions ahead after posting a 24 per cent fall in preliminary profits.
Carrefour reports ‘stable’ first quarter

17-Apr-2009
International retail giant Carrefour has reported “stable” sales of €22.7bn for the first quarter of this year.
Brokers unmoved by surging retail stocks

April 17, 2009
Rocketing store shares prompted open-jawed amazement on the part of some analysts, who are convinced the market has got ahead of itself.
Kingfisher well placed for future

April 17, 2009
This year Easter is just one battle in a longer war of attrition between the DIY groups that many believe will end in consolidation.
Ideal Shopping Direct makes full-year loss

16-Apr-2009
The directors of home shopping group Ideal Shopping Direct have pledged to restore the retailer to profitability after a turbulent year.
Argyll Partners takes hit on Woolworth Deutschland

15-Apr-2009
Retail corporate financier and private equity firm Argyll Partners’ investment in Woolworth Deutschland has turned sour as the German retailer plunged into administration.
‘Stupendous’ week for general retail stocks

April 9, 2009
General retailers staged a “stupendous run” last week, broker Numis observed, buoyed by better than expected Marks & Spencer numbers.
Hunger for food stocks sated

April 9, 2009
General retailers’ popularity has been growing of late. At the end of last week some big names rose again, at the expense of the food giants.
Rising cost of food drives shop price inflation

8-Apr-2009
Shop price inflation edged up to two per cent in March from 1.9 per cent in February – the fourth consecutive month of rising inflation.
Symbol store group Henderson reports profits rise

8-Apr-2009
Henderson Group, which owns and runs 72 symbol stores including Spar and Eurospar in Northern Ireland and supplies 400 shops, has revealed a “strong performance” in 2008 and expansion plans for this year.
Profits leap at JD Sports Fashion

8-Apr-2009
JD Sports Fashion has reported a surge in full-year sales and profits and an encouraging start to the new year.
High street like-for-like sales rise in March

3-Apr-2009
Retail like-for-like sales rose by 1.3 per cent in March, according to the BDO Stoy Hayward High Street Sales Tracker.
John Lewis department stores report ‘strongest week’

3-Apr-2009
John Lewis department stores delivered their strongest performance of the first half so far in the week to March 28, when sales fell 2 per cent.
John Lewis Partnership reports sales fall

April 3, 2009
The John Lewis Partnership suffered a sales fall last week at its eponymous department stores and supermarket chain Waitrose.
M&S rounds off good week for retail stocks

April 3, 2009
Marks & Spencer spearheaded an advance by retail shares on Tuesday, when its fourth-quarter numbers defied downbeat expectations.
Marks & Spencer mid-season Sale begins tomorrow

April 3, 2009
Marks & Spencer’s mid-season Sale will begin tomorrow, when prices on selected lines will be cut by as much as 50 per cent.
Sir Stuart Rose

April 3, 2009
He may have led M&S to renewed success, but Rose’s role at the retailer is being challenged. George MacDonald separates man from media
The end justifies the means in Rose’s case

April 3, 2009
His style may be Savile Row but Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose this week once again showed himself to be a scrapper. The retailer’s fourth-quarter update confounded bearish expectations as a raft of initiatives bore fruit. Like-for-like declines won’t have them dancing in the foyer of Waterside House but there will be relief that trends are improving rather than worsening.
Welcome relief on costs

2-Apr-2009
Tuesday’s unexpected but very welcome deferral of the proposed 5 per cent rates rise was not the only good news in retail property this week.
Generalists on the up but food out of favour

26-Mar-2009
General retailers, but not their food counterparts, once again outperformed the market but remained well down year on year.
Signet to cut costs after challenging year

25-Mar-2009
Jewellery giant Signet intends to slash costs and cut debt to cope with harsh trading conditions.
JJB Sports in eleventh-hour talks on clubs sale

25-Mar-2009
JJB Sports remains locked in talks to sell its fitness clubs division despite the expiry yesterday of an extension to its standstill agreement with lenders.
Value to be had in retail

20-Mar-2009
Think back about five months or so, to the aftermath of Lehman’s collapse and tsunami-style turbulence in financial markets.
Marks & Spencer launches web video channel to tap rising online spend

20-Mar-2009
Marks & Spencer has ramped up its multichannel offer with the launch of an online TV channel.
Retail stocks pick up in line with market

20-Mar-2009
Retailers were popular as the market rose generally. Value opportunities, defensive stocks and riskier turnaround situations were all in vogue – only nine main market-listed store groups lost value over the week.
Sir Stuart Rose: my legacy to M&S

19-Mar-2009
Marks & Spencer executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose told the Retail Week Conference that he had three objectives. “I’d like to see the business have a clear passage through the slowdown, to have a coherent plan for here and overseas and a seamless and successful transition to new leadership,” he said.
Sara Weller: retailers will expect multichannel ventures to pay their way

19-Mar-2009
Argos managing director Sara Weller has highlighted the opportunities and challenges retailers face as they attempt to strengthen multichannel operations.
Life tastes good at Sainsbury’s

13-Mar-2009
In two weeks’ time it’s Sainsbury’s turn to update, when the grocer issues its fourth-quarter figures.
City bullish on retail stocks as it focuses on recovery potential

13-Mar-2009
Global stock markets rallied on Tuesday but general retailers’ recent outperformance was not sustained over the week.
February sales figures leave analysts divided

13-Mar-2009
City opinion was divided over whether February retail sales data backed a bull or bear view of the sector’s prospects.
Profits plunge at Carrefour

12-Mar-2009
International stores giant Carrefour is to cut prices and slash costs after profits slumped last year.
Argos sales beat expectations

12-Mar-2009
Home Retail Group has posted better than expected trading at its flagship Argos chain.
John Lewis profits plunge after tough year

11-Mar-2009
John Lewis Partnership has revealed a steep fall in annual profits after a “tough year”.
BRC accuses Which? of undermining healthy eating

11-Mar-2009
The British Retail Consortium has dismissed a Which? report suggesting that price is a barrier to healthy eating.
Baugur court decision expected today

11-Mar-2009
An Icelandic court will decide today whether to extend battered investor Baugur’s moratorium.
Create some 'wow' in London, retailers urge mayor

6-Mar-2009
Top retailers have written to London mayor Boris Johnson urging a more energetic response to the recession.
Sir Stuart Rose and Tony Shiret: the dream team?

6-Mar-2009
Tony Shiret caused a stir on Monday with a damning note on Marks & Spencer.
Sterling's frailty poses threat to retail stocks

6-Mar-2009
The impact of sterling’s collapse against the dollar threatens to end the retail sector’s share price rally within months.
City remains cynical over retail despite recent rally in non-food

6-Mar-2009
The likely longevity of retail’s recent rally was once again one of the big City talking points.
Risk Capital raises £75m to take advantage of credit crunch opportunities

4-Mar-2009
Risk Capital Partners, the private equity business co-founded by Luke Johnson, has raised a £75m fund and aims to cash in on opportunities thrown up by the credit crunch.
Blockbuster explores refinancing options

4-Mar-2009
Blockbuster has hired lawyers to advise on restructuring its US$350m of debt.
Best Buy postpones UK launch

4-Mar-2009
US electricals giant Best Buy has postponed the launch of UK operations.
Tax ruling goes against DSGi

27-Feb-2009
Electricals group DSGi, owner of the Currys and PC World chains, has had a tax ruling made against it.
Asda means business in grocers' price war

27-Feb-2009
It's payday, and the big grocers are parking their tanks on each other's lawns as a new front opens in the price war.
Sales fall at John Lewis but show week-on-week improvement

27-Feb-2009
Sales at John Lewis department stores fell 1.5 per cent in the week to February 21, while turnover at grocery stablemate Waitrose dropped 1 per cent.
Consumer confidence improves slightly in February

27-Feb-2009
Consumer confidence improved marginally in February but remains extremely weak, GfK NOP's Consumer Confidence Index has found.
New Look poaches Esprit boss to head global push

27-Feb-2009
New Look has hired a leading international retailer as chief operating officer as it bids to become a global force in fashion retail.
Asda cuts prices and pledges 'absolute' price transparency

27-Feb-2009
Asda will start to cut another 5,000 prices this weekend and has pledged to provide customers with “absolute” price transparency.
Don't write off Fresh & Easy

27-Feb-2009
The weekend story that Tesco had “got it wrong in the US” made for great headlines but didn’t reflect the bigger picture.
Retailer anger mounts over rate rise

26-Feb-2009
Top retailers have renewed their attack on the proposed 5 per cent increase in business rates scheduled for introduction in April.
Top retailers lobby Government to reverse rate rise

25-Feb-2009
Top retailers are to lobby Local Government Minister John Healey to reduce the rise in business rates planned for April.
Sir Philip Green to merge Bhs and Arcadia

25-Feb-2009
Tycoon Sir Philip Green is to merge his Arcadia and Bhs businesses.
Brands and nostalgia: the new dynamic in food

20-Feb-2009
Comfort eating has taken on a new meaning in these downbeat, recessionary times.
Retail sales up 0.7 per cent in January

20-Feb-2009
Retail sales volume rose 0.7 per cent in January and advanced 1.5 per cent on a three-month basis, the Office for National Statistics reported.
Asos poised for childrenswear launch

20-Feb-2009
Online fashion retailer Asos is expected to launch its childrenswear business, called Little Asos, this afternoon.
Banks compete to sell former Baugur stake in Iceland

20-Feb-2009
Icelandic bank Landsbanki is understood to have held a beauty parade of investment banks vying to run the sale of a stake in frozen food retailer Iceland.
Asda eyes Irish web move to cash in on pound's slump

20-Feb-2009
Grocery giant Asda is investigating opportunities for its online business to take advantage of the boom in cross-border shopping in Northern Ireland.
Ex-John Lewis boss Luke Mayhew is new BRC chair

20-Feb-2009
Former John Lewis managing director Luke Mayhew has been appointed chairman of industry association the British Retail Consortium.
Getting JJB match-fit again

20-Feb-2009
Like Didier Drogba, sports retailer JJB has spent more time on the bench than in competition of late. Once hailed as a premiership business, JJB has been teetering on the brink of permanent relegation for several seasons – outplayed by rivals such as Sports Direct and top of the league for own-goals.
Mixed retail signals polarise City opinion for industry’s prospects

20-Feb-2009
Food retailers and general merchandisers alike fell last week but still outperformed the market. The industry’s prospects continue to polarise City opinion, however.
21 years of Kingfisher

February 20, 2009
The Kingfisher story sums up UK retail over the past 21 years: a tale of ambition, innovation, internationalisation and transformation.
Ziff buys Stylo stores

19-Feb-2009
The management of shoe retailer Stylo, led by Michael Ziff, has bought 160 Stylo stores and 165 concessions from administrator Deloitte.
Wickes owner Travis Perkins reports profits plunge

19-Feb-2009
Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins has posted a plunge in preliminary profits but said its Wickes DIY chain has made a good start to the new financial year in key categories.
Thorntons posts 39% interim profit fall

18-Feb-2009
Confectioner Thorntons’ profits plunged in the first half when sales at company-owned stores fell and margins suffered during highly promotional trading conditions.
Wal-Mart posts quarterly profit fall despite record sales

17-Feb-2009
Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer, has reported a 7.7 per cent fall in fourth quarter profits after being hit by the costs of legal action and exchange rates.
Asda revives 'pocket-tap' ads as sales climb

17-Feb-2009
Asda is to reinstate its famous ‘pocket tap’ in TV ads to consolidate its appeal to value-conscious shoppers nostalgic for reassurance in the uncertain economic climate.
Tony Page to relaunch Woolworths stores under new name

17-Feb-2009
Former Woolworths commercial chief Tony Page has secured £10m financing and intends to relaunch the variety store chain under a new name.
Marks & Spencer seeks better supplier terms to counter sterling fall

17-Feb-2009
Marks & Spencer is reported to have turned the screws on suppliers as it battles to cope with sterling’s fall in value.
Sainsbury's ousts Asda as cheapest supermarket

17-Feb-2009
Sainsbury’s has usurped Asda as the cheapest of the big grocers, according to the latest study by price comparison service MySupermarket.com.
JJB secures lending extension

13-Feb-2009
JJB Sports has secured an extension of lending arrangements for a month dependent upon progress with the proposed sale of its fitness clubs division.
The right to backing

13-Feb-2009
As flagged in this column last autumn, potential rights issues by retailers have accelerated up the agenda.
WHSmith directors sell shares

12-Feb-2009
WHSmith directors yesterday sold further tranches of optioned shares – the second round of such disposals in a week.
Morrisons fires new salvo in grocery price war

11-Feb-2009
Supermarket group Morrisons has intensified the grocery price war by slashing the prices of 4,000 products.
Baugur stakes in retailers seized

5-Feb-2009
Baugur stakes in retailers including House of Fraser, Hamleys, and Iceland have been placed under the control of nominated receivers to prevent any asset sale.
Signet sales fall prompts cash and costs focus

5-Feb-2009
Anglo-American jeweller Signet is to slash costs and concentrate on cash generation after suffering a fourth-quarter sales slump.
Marks & Spencer wins £3.5m teacake tax battle

5-Feb-2009
Marks & Spencer has won a landmark VAT battle about whether a chocolate-covered teacake should be treated as a biscuit or a cake.
Food trails behind rest of sector as reporting season concludes

30-Jan-2009
General retail stocks led the pack while food groups lagged a wider market rise as the January reporting season drew to a close.
Exclusive research: Are consumers retail's biggest fans?

30-Jan-2009
There’s no more important backer of UK retail than consumers, but what do they really think of the industry? Exclusive ICM research paints a mixed picture.
Troubled Stylo acts with honour

30-Jan-2009
“This is not about the mass closure of Barratts, it’s quite the opposite. What’s been put out for creditors to vote on is the rescue of the company.”
Vulture funds circle UK retailers

28-Jan-2009
UK retail is among the sectors likely to be most actively targeted this year by so-called vulture funds that invest in distressed companies.
Pre-packs to be policed more actively, regulator warns

28-Jan-2009
Pre-pack administrations, the controversial insolvency process that has been deployed by several troubled retailers, will be more closely scrutinised by regulators in future.
Argos changes tack on prices

23-Jan-2009
Catalogue store group Argos has jettisoned a long-standing element of its price promotion strategy and introduced a new marketing strapline to emphasise its value credentials.
Electricals war is yet to be won

23-Jan-2009
There’s little sign of a surge for electricals retailers this year.
Retail stocks rally, but analysts warn it's too soon for optimism

23-Jan-2009
Sighs of relief that retailers’ Christmas performance was no worse than feared have helped store stocks rally in the new year, but some analysts fear optimism may be premature.
Selfridges' profits to climb after Christmas sales rise

19-Jan-2009
Department store business Selfridges notched up like-for-like growth of 5 per cent in December.
Don’t discount Tesco’s success

16-Jan-2009
Tesco has posted its worst Christmas performance since the recession of the early 1990s – evidence that as the downturn bites the UK’s top grocer is losing its touch and has been knocked by rivals.
Retail stocks languish as dismal Christmas fails to lift confidence

16-Jan-2009
Hard-pressed retailers outperformed the All Share index as the first week of trading updates brought few nasty surprises.
Marks & Spencer targets cost-conscious shoppers with eco campaign

15-Jan-2009
Marks & Spencer has launched a marketing drive to help cash-strapped shoppers save money by making 'green' lifestyle changes.
N Brown reports sales up but bad debt takes margin toll

15-Jan-2009
Home shopping group N Brown notched up like-for-like growth of 8.8 per cent over Christmas, but bad debt dragged down gross margin.
JJB Sports heads for £10m loss

14-Jan-2009
JJB Sports has warned it will make a loss this year of between £5m and £10m after tough trading conditions hit sales and gross margin.
Ideal Shopping founders in bid to oust directors

13-Jan-2009
The founders of Ideal Shopping Direct have demanded that a general meeting be convened to oust directors including chairman David Williams.
DSGi restructures executive team

13-Jan-2009
Electricals retailer DSGi has dramatically overhauled its executive team ahead of revealing what is expected to be its poorest Christmas trading performance since the last recession.
European grocery prices to fall this year

13-Jan-2009
Grocery prices are likely to fall this year as food retailers react to the rise of discounters and lower oil and raw material prices.
Jobs axed at Waterford Wedgwood as rescue talks continue

12-Jan-2009
Almost 400 redundancies have been made at Waterford Wedgwood, the famous crystal and pottery specialist that fell into administration last week.
Video: The week in retail, January 9

9-Jan-2009
TGi Friday: As the January trading statements come thick and fast, Retail Week editor Tim Danaher and deputy editor George MacDonald discuss the trends so far and winners and losers.
City's frosty outlook thaws as retailers keep the blues at bay

9-Jan-2009
Retail stocks headed so far south last year they neared the stock market's equivalent of the Antarctic. As the January reporting season kicked in it brought news of like-for-like sales declines but in many cases met admittedly low expectations and there were hopes of a thaw in attitudes to the sector.
Findel pulls off 'satisfactory' Christmas

8-Jan-2009
Home shopping group Findel has revealed a 4 per cent fall in group sales for the 39 weeks to January 2 – a performance it labelled “satisfactory in the current market”.
Majestic Wine sales fall over Christmas

8-Jan-2009
Specialist retailer Majestic Wine suffered a Christmas like-for-like decline as credit crunched business customers cut back on expenses.
Ted Baker promotions take their toll

8-Jan-2009
Fashion retailer Ted Baker has warned that profits will come in at the low end of expectations as a result of promotions over Christmas.
Weak boardwear performance to hit Blacks Leisure profits

7-Jan-2009
Blacks Leisure, the outdoor clothing and equipment specialist, has warned that operating profits will not meet market expectations because of its underperforming boardwear division.
Marks & Spencer reveals zero-emission van

19-Dec-2008
Marks & Spencer has unveiled its first Modec battery-powered, zero-emission delivery van as part of its Plan A environment-friendly overhaul.
Cloudy outlook for January Sales

19-Dec-2008
Shoppers look likely to come out in force for the January Sales but intend to spend less, confirming fears that retailers will continue to face tough conditions in the new year.
HMV whistles a happy tune

18-Dec-2008
“Over the last two weeks there have been unprecedented changes to the competitive landscape of the entertainment sector.”
City waits with bated breath as Christmas hangs in the balance

18-Dec-2008
Goodwill towards retailers was in short supply as the countdown to Christmas became increasingly nervy.
Angela Spindler takes lead at Original Factory Shop

18-Dec-2008
Former Debenhams managing director Angela Spindler has been appointed chief executive of Original Factory Shop, the private equity-backed value department store group.
Carrefour warns on profits

18-Dec-2008
International retail giant Carrefour has issued a profits warning after trading wilted, particularly in Europe.
Retail sales plunge in early December, CBI reports

17-Dec-2008
More than two-thirds of retailers suffered a decline in sales volumes in the first half of December and fear a difficult new year.
Marks & Spencer sales have slumped

17-Dec-2008
Updated: Marks & Spencer’s sales fell of a cliff last week as core categories slumped by as much as 30 per cent, it is understood.
Sports Direct defies downturn with profit rise

17-Dec-2008
Sports Direct has credited a “back to basics” strategy with a rise in first-half profits and said it will meet full-year profit forecasts.
Pre-Christmas discounting hits record level

16-Dec-2008
Retailers' pre-Christmas discounting has reached record levels and even deeper reductions are expected as store groups desperately clear stock.
Inflation falls to 4.1 per cent

16-Dec-2008
Inflation fell to 4.1 per cent in November from 4.5 per cent in October, the Consumer Prices Index showed.
Christmas spending intentions fall again

15-Dec-2008
The amount shoppers intend to spend this Christmas has fallen again and the outlook for January Sales is uncertain, GFK NOP data exclusively revealed to Retail Week has shown.
Kingfisher demands monthly rents for all retailers

15-Dec-2008
Kingfisher, owner of the B&Q DIY chain, will this week ask landlords to offer monthly rental deals to all retailers - not just those in trouble.
Video: The week in retail, December 12, 2008

12-Dec-2008
TGi Friday: As Woolworths launches its closing down Sale, Tim Danaher and George MacDonald assess the likely impact on the rest of the high street and whether there is any chance of a last-minute deal. One of the long-term beneficiaries may be HMV, which posted mixed interim results on Thursday.
EUK redundancies begin after no buyer is found

12-Dec-2008
Two-thirds of the staff at EUK, the Woolworths-owned entertainment distributor which is in administration, have been made redundant after no buyer was found for the business.
David Ross row won’t hurt Carphone Warehouse

11-Dec-2008
Carphone Warehouse shares hit a five and a half year low on Monday as controversy raged over co-founder David Ross’s treatment of shares.
Sector manages to raise its profile following series of uplifting events

11-Dec-2008
Last week’s interest rate cut, better weekly numbers from John Lewis, a weather boost and cautious broker optimism about general retailers all helped lift the sector.
Woolworths closing down Sale threatens high street woe

11-Dec-2008
The high street braced itself for the biggest closing down Sale in history as hopes of finding a buyer for Woolworths fade.
Inditex posts sales and profit rise

11-Dec-2008
Fast fashion giant Inditex, owner of the Zara chain, has posted a 5 per cent increase in EBITDA to €1.54 billion (£1.34 billion) for the first nine months of the year.
Ideal Shopping Direct axes jobs as sales plunge

10-Dec-2008
Multichannel retailer Ideal Shopping Direct is to slash jobs by 15 per cent and will make a loss this year.
Sir Geoff Mulcahy plots Woolworths comeback

10-Dec-2008
Former Kingfisher boss Sir Geoff Mulcahy is in talks to take over 500 Woolworths stores and revive the brand.
Marks & Spencer unveils seasonal promotions

9-Dec-2008
Marks & Spencer has unveiled a swathe of promotions applicable from Thursday as high street stores battle for spend ahead of Christmas.
Video: The week in retail, December 5, 2008

5-Dec-2008
TGi Friday: Tim Danaher and George MacDonald discuss why Morrisons is doing better than Tesco and the turmoil in the sportswear market.
Treasury's Paul Myners: No action on retail's credit insurance woes

4-Dec-2008
Financial Services Secretary Lord Myners has rejected a call for action on retailers’ credit insurance difficulties but will monitor developments.
What went wrong for Woolworths?

4-Dec-2008
Despite all attempts at revival, Woolies finally fell into administration in December 2008. George MacDonald assesses the reasons for its demise and asks if the iconic retail name has taken its last gasp.
Questions over Woolies remain

4-Dec-2008
Woolies’ descent into administration poses the classic chicken and egg question.
Sector’s share price flutter gives City little reason for excitement

4-Dec-2008
The stores sector shrugged off the collapse of Woolworths and continued concern about the trading outlook to outperform the FTSE All Share index.
Theo Paphitis pulls out of Woolworths bid

4-Dec-2008
Retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis has pulled out of bidding for variety store group Woolworths, which was placed in administration last week.
Last-ditch attempts made to save EUK as supply dries up

4-Dec-2008
Desperate attempts were being made as Retail Week went to press to provide a payment guarantee on behalf of EUK, the Woolworths-owned entertainment supplier, enabling it to resume trading.
JJB attempts to reassure investors after shares plunge

4-Dec-2008
Embattled JJB Sports has issued a holding statement to reassure investors following its share price slump and intense speculation about its future.
MFI swamped by bargain-hunters after its collapse

3-Dec-2008
Shoppers have flocked to MFI stores as the defunct retailer offered discounts of up to 80 per cent following its administration last week.
Woolworths' 2 Entertain poised for administration

3-Dec-2008
Woolworths' joint venture with BBC Worldwide, 2 Entertain, is poised to enter administration by the end of the week.
Consumers delay Christmas spending until last minute

2-Dec-2008
Shoppers have shifted their Christmas shopping schedules into the month of December, the latest research by GfK NOP has revealed.
Video: The week in retail

28-Nov-2008
TGi Friday: Tim Danaher and George MacDonald discuss Woolworths' fall into administration and the implications for the wider retail industry.
Gordon Brown promises help for Woolworths staff

27-Nov-2008
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has vowed to provide support for Woolworths staff threatened with redundancy.
Who is up to the endurance test?

27-Nov-2008
In just months the economic landscape has been transformed. In the past week the political landscape has too, as Chancellor Alistair Darling attempted emergency surgery on the economy. But how much has the retail landscape changed?
Retailers to go VAT-free in twist on discounting frenzy

27-Nov-2008
Retailers are staging VAT-free promotions to kick-start trade in the key Christmas period.
Employment minister relaxed about retail job losses despite Woolworths' collapse

27-Nov-2008
Employment minister Tony McNulty has adopted an indifferent stance on the prospect of hundreds of thousands of retail job losses as the downturn bites.
DSGi moves into loss as recession looms

27-Nov-2008
Electricals giant DSGi, owner of chains including Currys and PC World, is preparing to tough out a recession after making a first-half loss.
Woolworths enters administration

26-Nov-2008
Updated: Woolworths' retail division and its entertainment supply business EUK are being put into administration.
Government intervenes in Woolworths crisis

26-Nov-2008
Exclusive: Business Secretary Lord Mandelson's department has intervened to attempt to save variety store group Woolworths.
Trading 'volatile' at French Connection

26-Nov-2008
Sales at fashion group French Connection’s core UK retail business have softened after a strong start to the second half.
Pre-Budget report: Retail opinion divided on VAT change

25-Nov-2008
Some retailers have welcomed attempts by Chancellor Alistair Darling to kick-start the economy in yesterday’s pre-Budget report, but others have expressed anger that changes do not go far enough.
Mike Duke to succeed Lee Scott as Wal-Mart chief

21-Nov-2008
Mike Duke, head of Wal-Mart’s international division, is to replace Lee Scott as president and chief executive of the world’s biggest retailer next February.
Bargain hunters flock to stores

21-Nov-2008
Promotional spectaculars run by leading retailers this week brought bargain-hungry shoppers flocking to stores.
John Lewis confident of Christmas despite sales fall

21-Nov-2008
Sales at John Lewis department stores fell 14 per cent last week, the retailer has confirmed. However, John Lewis head of selling development Barry Matheson insisted the chain is in good shape for Christmas.
Jessops ponders tie-up with camera manufacturer

21-Nov-2008
Camera specialist Jessops is considering linking up with a specific manufacturer rather than stocking a range of brands, it has been reported.
Next's Wolfson: 'tax cuts should not be unfunded'

21-Nov-2008
Next chief executive Simon Wolfson has said that any tax cuts in next week’s pre-Budget report should be long term and sustainable.
100,000 retail jobs cut this year

20-Nov-2008
As tough trading continues, full scale of hidden job losses revealed – and the worst is still to come.
Best Buy can’t walk on water

20-Nov-2008
John Browett and Hugh Harvey could have been forgiven a little Schadenfreude last week.
Early Sales and consumer belt tightening hit retail share prices

20-Nov-2008
General retailers’ shares plummeted as the market took fright at another step down in consumer spending, tight credit conditions and signs of early Christmas promotions.
Woolworths trouble could knock rivals, City fears

20-Nov-2008
The performance of Game, HMV and WHSmith are at risk as a result of the problems of Woolworths, which has held talks about a sale to restructuring specialist Hilco.
Sir Stuart Rose: 'step-down' in trading in last fortnight

19-Nov-2008
There has been another marked fall in consumer spending in recent weeks, Marks & Spencer executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose has said.
Marks & Spencer prepares for promotional showdown with Debenhams

18-Nov-2008
Marks & Spencer will launch a high-profile 20 per cent off promotion on Thursday as retailers compete more aggressively for share of Christmas spend.
Inflation plunges at record rate

18-Nov-2008
Inflation has fallen at the steepest rate in more than a decade, driven down by cheaper fuel and food.
John Lewis sales fall again

18-Nov-2008
Department store business John Lewis suffered a 14 per cent sales fall last week, it is understood.
Comet hit as suppliers' insurance cover cut

17-Nov-2008
Some suppliers to electricals retailer Comet have had credit insurance reduced, it is understood.
Interest rate cut fails to boost shoppers' festive spending plans

17-Nov-2008
The dramatic interest rate cut earlier this month has done nothing so far to stimulate Christmas spending, updated GfK NOP data shows.
Interest rate cut might just work

13-Nov-2008
When the chief executive of Tesco reportedly breakfasts at the weekend with the Governor of the Bank of England, emphasising the extreme fragility of consumer confidence and pressing for an interest rate cut, it’s a sure sign of torrid times.
Analysts hail Tesco’s Far East growth plan

13-Nov-2008
The financial sun is rising on Tesco’s Far Eastern businesses, analysts believe following a tour of stores in the region.
An October to forget spells out mountain to climb at Christmas

13-Nov-2008
The downward pressure on retail share prices lightened a little following last week’s swingeing interest rate cut but, the scale of the industry’s difficulties were reflected in appalling British Retail Consortium sales figures.
Woolworths' EUK asks customers for upfront payment

13-Nov-2008
EUK, variety store group Woolworths’ entertainment supply division, has been forced to ask customers for upfront payments as the credit crunch bites.
Best Buy warns on profits after 'seismic change' in shopper behaviour

12-Nov-2008
US electricals giant Best Buy, which plans to make a high-profile debut in the UK next year in partnership with Carphone Warehouse, has issued a profit warning.
Marks & Spencer offers international delivery to online shoppers

12-Nov-2008
Marks & Spencer is offering international delivery for online shoppers as it bids to increase sales at its direct business to £500 million by 2011.
WHSmith cautious on Christmas outlook

12-Nov-2008
Bookseller and stationer WHSmith posted a 4 per cent rise in total sales in the first 10 weeks of its financial year but warned Christmas trading would be competitive.
Sainsbury's reports interim profits leap

12-Nov-2008
Supermarket group Sainsbury’s generated a surge in first-half earnings on the back of “universal customer appeal”, chief executive Justin King has said.
Woolworths veteran Roger Jones dies

10-Nov-2008
Veteran Woolworths director Roger Jones, who spent 50 years at the variety store group, died on Sunday.
DIY: Kingfisher’s pole position

6-Nov-2008
It may be in the eye of the storm in the UK, but Kingfisher’s overseas operations are growing fast. George MacDonald reports from Warsaw on the retailer’s booming Polish operation.
Castorama buoyed by Polish tradesmen

3-Nov-2008
The return of the Polish plumber and his countrymen from the UK to Poland has lifted business at DIY group Kingfisher’s Castorama stores.
Share prices languish as talk of recession heightens City’s fears

31-Oct-2008
Only two retailers managed a share price rise over the week as the market took fright at the looming recession.
Sainsbury’s will ride this storm

31-Oct-2008
Feed your Family for a Fiver seems not just to be a Sainsbury’s promotional campaign but a whole new way of grocery shopping.
Trading fears push Marks & Spencer shares near to eight-year low

29-Oct-2008
Marks & Spencer’s shares fell close to an eight-year low yesterday after broker Pali International issued a bearish note ahead of next week’s interim results.
Tesco cuts sales growth expectations

29-Oct-2008
Tesco has cut its UK sales growth guidance for the first time in years, reflecting how tough the retail environment has become.
Carpetright to acquire Sleepright

28-Oct-2008
Carpetright is to buy Sleepright, the beds retailer which operates 94 concessions in its shops.
DSGi’s credit rating to be reviewed by Moodys

27-Oct-2008
Ratings agency Moodys has placed electricals retail giant DSGi under review for a possible downgrade following last week’s trading update.
JJB fortunes improve but bleak conditions bear down on most

23-Oct-2008
Rising fears of recession and expectations that Christmas will not be merry for many retailers continued to weigh heavily on share prices.
George MacDonald: Playing the equity card

23-Oct-2008
The old maxim that cash is king has never been more true as debt fears and covenant concerns drag down sentiment and valuations.
Tough outlook for Home Retail as profits fall

22-Oct-2008
Home Retail Group has posted a plunge in first-half profits and warned that the full-year figure will be at the low end of expectations unless trading conditions improve.
Cotton Traders ends Burma sourcing

20-Oct-2008
Clothing retailer Cotton Traders is to stop sourcing from Burma after campaigners launched a boycott.
Primark targets 70 Spanish stores

17-Oct-2008
Primark has plans for 20 more Spanish stores and is likely to take its total in the country to 70 stores.
Ideal recruits Mike Hancox to be chief executive

17-Oct-2008
TV shopping specialist Ideal Shopping Direct has appointed Mike Hancox as chief executive.
Marks & Spencer hires heavyweight non-exec director

16-Oct-2008
Marks & Spencer has named Jan du Plessis, chairman of British American Tobacco, as a non-executive director.
Travis Perkins update sparks fears for DIY

16-Oct-2008
Travis Perkins, the builders’ merchant that owns DIY chain Wickes, has warned that profits will be at the low end of expectations.
Icelandic turmoil puts brakes on debt deal

15-Oct-2008
The complexity of Iceland’s financial meltdown and its banks’ connections with Baugur are delaying a sale of the investment company’s debt.
Banks' rescue stabilises markets but retail feels heat as shares dip

15-Oct-2008
The Government administered emergency surgery on beleaguered banks but retailers remained under pressure as the share prices of grocers and general merchandisers alike fell over the week.
City unease mounts as like-for-likes fall again

15-Oct-2008
Retail like-for-likes slid in September for the sixth time in the past seven months, compounding City fears about the sector’s prospects as the traditional selling season nears.
TNS: Tesco sales growth lags rivals'

15-Oct-2008
Grocery giant Tesco delivered the worst performance among the big four grocers in the latest TNS four-week figures.
Private equity firms vie with Sir Philip Green for control of Baugur

15-Oct-2008
Retail tycoon Sir Philip Green faces competition from leading private equity groups for control of embattled Icelandic investor Baugur’s UK retail operations.
Argos: A born survivor

14-Oct-2008
After launching in a recession 35 years ago, Argos is used to trading through tough times. George MacDonald asks boss Sara Weller how she plans to see it through today’s challenges.
Clinton’s sales plummet

13-Oct-2008
Sales have plunged at greetings card specialist Clinton Cards in recent weeks, reflecting the tough trading environment.
Woolworths to sell nine store leases to Tesco

10-Oct-2008
Variety store group Woolworths has struck an agreement to sell the leases on up to nine stores to Tesco for up to £9 million and will use the cash to reduce borrowings.
Baugur insists 'business as usual' despite Icelandic meltdown

9-Oct-2008
Icelandic investor Baugur has once again offered reassurance that its UK retail portfolio will be unaffected by the Icelandic financial crisis.
Industry holds its own against backdrop of financial calamity

9-Oct-2008
In the week that the FTSE 100 suffered its biggest ever one-day points fall and governments rushed to shore up a crumbling banking system, retailers weathered the storm to outperform the market.
George MacDonald: Marks & Spencer is not finished yet

9-Oct-2008
It’s a measure of how hellish conditions have become that a 6.1 per cent like-for-like sales fall at Marks & Spencer was regarded as not too bad.
Kaupthing taken over by Icelandic government

9-Oct-2008
The Icelandic government has seized control of Kaupthing, the bank that is closely connected to swathes of the UK high street.
Sainsbury's beats second-quarter sales expectations

8-Oct-2008
Supermarket group Sainsbury’s has posted second-quarter sales ahead of expectations.
EBay cuts jobs in tough trading climate

7-Oct-2008
Pure-play online giant eBay is to axe 10 per cent of its workforce in an attempt to streamline the business.
Icelandic economic turmoil stokes Baugur fears

6-Oct-2008
Concern over the impact of Iceland’s financial crisis on Baugur’s retail interests in the UK has continued, despite the investor’s attempts to calm fears.
General retailers bear brunt as financial market woe ricochets

2-Oct-2008
Turmoil continued to engulf global financial markets and general retailers were again worse hit than the All Share index, despite some impressive updates.
Icelandic saga is not over yet

2-Oct-2008
Gory scenes tend to loom large in Icelandic sagas and the financial story unfolding there is proving no exception. The question is, will UK retail feature in one of its bloodier chapters?
MFI to secure deals on rent holiday

1-Oct-2008
Property giant Land Securities is understood to have provisionally agreed to allow embattled furniture retailer MFI a three-month rent holiday.
Argos to recruit far fewer seasonal staff this Christmas

30-Sep-2008
Catalogue store group Argos will recruit 15,000 temporary staff this Christmas – a 25 per cent drop on last year’s number.
Negative retail updates soar in third quarter

30-Sep-2008
Quoted retailers posted more negative updates in the third quarter than at any point in the last two years.
Leading Baugur investor files for administration

29-Sep-2008
Icelandic investment business Stodir, which is controlled by Baugur executive chairman Jón sgeir Jóhannesson and which said in July it was acquiring 39 per cent of Baugur, has filed for administration.
House of Fraser financier nationalised

29-Sep-2008
Glitnir, the Icelandic bank that played a key role in Baugur’s acquisition of House of Fraser, has been nationalised.
Retail stocks relief short-lived as disappointing updates flood in

25-Sep-2008
Last Friday’s rally following attempts in the US and UK to stabilise volatile markets benefited retail stocks, which surged.
Sir Stuart Rose and Sir Terry Leahy are survivors

25-Sep-2008
The results caravan moves on next week through two of its biggest stops on the trip. On Tuesday, Tesco unveils first-half figures and on Thursday, Marks & Spencer issues second-quarter numbers.
Maxeda confident of weathering storm as profits rise

25-Sep-2008
Maxeda, the Dutch store group run by former Asda boss Tony DeNunzio, generated a leap in interim profits despite difficult retail conditions.
Grocers face OFT fines over price sharing

25-Sep-2008
Heavy fines may be imposed on grocers and suppliers after the Office of Fair Trading uncovered evidence that pricing information may have been shared.
Moss Bros first-half losses widen

25-Sep-2008
Losses at menswear specialist Moss Bros widened during the retailer’s first half, when sales also fell.
Waitrose and Booths create buying alliance

22-Sep-2008
Waitrose, owned by John Lewis Partnership, and independent supermarket group Booths have forged a buying alliance.
Waitrose and Booths create buying alliance

22-Sep-2008
Waitrose, owned by John Lewis Partnership, and independent supermarket group Booths have forged a buying alliance.
Retailers call for more action on climate change

19-Sep-2008
A group of big companies, including B&Q, John Lewis and Tesco, has written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown urging more action on climate change.
Financial turmoil set to add to retailers’ woes

18-Sep-2008
Intense turmoil in the financial markets precipitated by Lehman Brothers’ collapse will pile pressure on retailers’ finances, bankers have warned.
Financial market shockwaves hit as FTSE reaches three-year low

18-Sep-2008
Turmoil in the financial market following the collapse of Lehman Brothers and banking sector panic pushed the FTSE 100 to its lowest point in three years on Tuesday.
City Insider: Morrisons is well placed to win

18-Sep-2008
Morrisons unveiled a surge in sales and profits last week, but the retailer was rewarded not with an investor buying spree but by its shares touching a two-year low.
Home Retail’s first-half slump lowers forecasts

18-Sep-2008
Analysts took their red pencils to Home Retail forecasts after the downturn took a toll on Argos and forced the write-down of DIY chain Homebase’s carrying value.
Fashion drives volume rise in August

18-Sep-2008
Strong fashion and footwear sales spearheaded a surprise 1.2 per cent rise in retail sales volumes in August while food groups suffered, according to ONS monthly sales data.
Currency shifts: Less bang for your buck

18-Sep-2008
As the dollar gains strength against the pound and inflation creeps up, George MacDonald investigates how badly the shift could hurt retailers in this already stricken climate.
Inditex second-quarter profits rise

17-Sep-2008
Fashion giant Inditex, owner of the Zara chain, has posted a surge in first-half sales and profits.
Carphone Warehouse deal to add $3.2bn to Best Buy sales

16-Sep-2008
US electricals giant Best Buy expects its European venture with Carphone Warehouse – Best Buy Europe – to generate sales of US$3.2 billion (£1.8 billlion) in the second half, it revealed today.
Best Buy snaps up Napster for US$121m

15-Sep-2008
US electricals giant Best Buy is to acquire online music business Napster for US$121 million (£67.3 million).
Wal-Mart chief executive: Tesco's Fresh & Easy will succeed

11-Sep-2008
The success of Tesco’s fledgling US venture, Fresh & Easy, has been endorsed by the most unlikely of advocates – bitter rival Wal-Mart’s chief executive, Lee Scott.
New season of negative updates gives retail analysts little reassurance

11-Sep-2008
Retail had regained favour in the run-up to the reporting season, but the first set of updates brought a slew of bad news.
City Insider: Simon Fox is working magic at HMV

11-Sep-2008
There was no new Harry Potter book this year to summon up book sales but that other sorcerer, Magic Circle member and HMV boss Simon Fox, still managed to conjure an impressive performance at group level.
Trading toughens for Dunelm

11-Sep-2008
Value homewares retailer Dunelm has posted a leap in preliminary profits, but like-for-like sales have plummeted in the new financial year.
Morrisons’ value stance brings profit surge

11-Sep-2008
Supermarket group Morrisons has reported a surge in first half profits, as it benefits from business improvements and its value credentials.
Argos like-for-likes nosedive in second quarter

11-Sep-2008
The mighty Argos became the latest victim of the consumer recession, as like-for-likes plummeted during the second quarter.
Carphone Warehouse ejected from FTSE 100

10-Sep-2008
Carphone Warehouse has been ejected from the FTSE 100, bringing retail’s representation on the blue-chip index to the lowest in memory.
Sports Direct posts flat quarterly sales and profits

10-Sep-2008
Sports Direct, the store group controlled by controversial tycoon Mike Ashley, managed to maintain sales and profits in its last quarter, despite torrid trading conditions.
Comet to make first-half loss as sales plunge

10-Sep-2008
Anglo-French electricals group Kesa disclosed that sales have plunged at its flagship businesses, including UK chain Comet, which will make a first-half loss.
Galiform and Merchant Equity settle MFI row for £8 million

9-Sep-2008
Building supplies group Galiform has agreed to pay Merchant Equity Partners £8 million in settlement of a dispute arising from the sale of MFI’s retail business to the private equity firm.
Primark sales and profits to climb

8-Sep-2008
Value fashion retailer Primark’s sales and profits will be “well ahead of last year”, parent company Associated British Foods reported in its pre-close update.
Retail acquisitions likely in Central Europe as credit crunch bites

5-Sep-2008
The impact of the credit crunch and inflation is threatening to pitch emerging retailers in Central and Eastern Europe into difficulties, providing acquisition opportunities for Western groups.
City concern for retail spirals as sterling suffers further knocks

4-Sep-2008
Despite a sector rally, analysts remained resolutely downbeat about retail’s prospects as recession loomed and the pound plunged to a record low against the euro.
Shop Direct avoids strike with pay deal

4-Sep-2008
Home shopping business Shop Direct has averted strike action, after staff members voted in favour of a revised pay offer.
Is this really the worst of times?

4-Sep-2008
As Alistair Darling’s sobering comments on the downturn hit home, George MacDonald asks industry experts what truth lies behind the figures and what the impact will be for retail.
Fat Face cuts debt

4-Sep-2008
Fat Face, the private equity-owned leisurewear specialist, has taken advantage of weak debt markets to slash its borrowings.
M&S faces strike after mole's dismissal

4-Sep-2008
Trade unionists are mobilising against Marks & Spencer following the retailer’s dismissal of a staff member who leaked details of plans to change redundancy terms.
M&S fires redundancy mole

3-Sep-2008
Marks & Spencer has sacked the staff member who leaked details of proposed changes to the retailer’s redundancy payments to the media.
M&S overhauls food ads

2-Sep-2008
Marks & Spencer will break with its established food advertising campaign this Sunday, when the first of a new generation of ads will be aired on ITV1.
Hunter takes charge at Wyevale as Hodkinson quits

2-Sep-2008
Jim Hodkinson has stepped down as executive chairman of garden centre group Wyevale, Retail Week can reveal.
Tesco withdraws site from eco-towns project

29-Aug-2008
Tesco has pulled one of its developments from the Government’s “eco-towns” scheme, which has dealt a blow to the flagship environmental programme.
Bid speculation nudges share prices up in short trading week

29-Aug-2008
General retailers climbed over the week, partly buoyed by bid speculation about Woolworths and JJB Sports (see The City View below), but the grocers’ share price rise was more muted as the market digested last week’s data.
Carphone poised to fall out of FTSE 100

29-Aug-2008
Carphone Warehouse faces the prospect of eviction from the FTSE 100 next month, taking retail’s representation in the blue chip index to its lowest level within memory.
What hope for Christmas?

28-Aug-2008
The dog days of August are almost over. Store chiefs and analysts are back from Monaco and Mustique (or Margate, for those whose options are under water). And the countdown has begun to the year’s biggest retail blowout: Christmas.
Q2 wipeout bodes ill for shopper spending

28-Aug-2008
Fears of recession have grown after UK economic growth collapsed in the second quarter.
Russia still on West’s retail map despite political chill

28-Aug-2008
International retailers are likely to push on with expansion in Russia despite a return to icy relations between the Kremlin and the West.
Worst retail figures in 25 years, CBI reports

28-Aug-2008
Wet weather and difficult trading conditions have resulted in the worst retail performance for 25 years.
Concerns raised over Woolworths covenants

28-Aug-2008
Variety store group Woolworths is likely to stretch its banking covenants to the limit and fail to pay a dividend for the next two years, an analyst has warned after a company visit.
Ahold margins hit by promotions

28-Aug-2008
International retailer Ahold has taken a margin hit and missed analysts’ forecasts after spending heavily on price promotions during its second quarter.
Superquinn up for sale

27-Aug-2008
Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda are all reportedly interested in buying Superquinn, the Irish grocer that has retained Goldman Sachs to advise on a sale.
Blacks adds to board with ex-Hobbs chief

27-Aug-2008
Nick Samuel, former chief executive of fashion retailer Hobbs, has joined the board of Blacks Leisure as a non-executive director.
Gap profits revive but sales fall again

22-Aug-2008
Fashion giant Gap has reported a surge in second quarter profits despite a fall in sales.
Sharp fears over M&S branded foods trial

21-Aug-2008
Marks & Spencer launched its high-profile trial of branded foods despite misgivings on the part of executive director Steven Sharp, it has been claimed.
Abrupt end to respite as sector share prices take turn for worse

21-Aug-2008
After the party, the hangover. Retail’s rally proved short-lived and once again the sector headed south as food groups and general retailers alike underperformed the market.
Even food can lose its flavour

21-Aug-2008
In tough times, investors seek refuge in defensive stocks. In retail that usually means food, but how safe a bet are the big grocers?
Woolies chairman willing to discuss Baugur deal

20-Aug-2008
Woolworths chairman Richard North is open to discussions about selling the variety store group to Icelandic investor Baugur and entrepreneur Malcolm Walker.
Homebase store jobs in jeopardy

18-Aug-2008
Hundreds of store jobs are at risk at Homebase, the DIY chain owned by Home Retail Group.
Grocers fire new salvo in price war

15-Aug-2008
The latest offensive in the grocery price war is being fought out this weekend, as leading supermarkets slash prices of key lines once again.
M&S Sale to start next week

14-Aug-2008
Marks & Spencer will go on Sale next week, when the retailer hopes bargain-hungry shoppers will flock to its stores following a difficult trading period.
Woolies’ wonder can be restored

14-Aug-2008
If Woolworths didn’t exist, would you invent it? If it wasn’t on the high street, would you miss it? Those questions have become clichés. Equally clichéd is the answer so commonly given – no.
Retail shares spring back as bid rumours surround troubled trio

14-Aug-2008
Reversing the recent pattern, general retail stocks surged as bid speculation, stakebuilding and other chances of corporate action buoyed the sector.
M&S food fast improving under new chief

14-Aug-2008
New Marks & Spencer food boss John Dixon has visibly improved the retailer’s food offer just five weeks into the job, in-store changes suggest.
Jewellery sector to grow despite tough conditions

13-Aug-2008
Jewellery retailers are expected to ride out the credit crunch this year, with the market forecast to grow 4 per cent.
Woolworths names ex-Focus boss as chief executive

12-Aug-2008
Woolworths has named Steve Johnson, former boss of DIY group Focus and consultant at Bain & Company, as chief executive
Woolies update and CBI figuresdo nothing to dispel retail gloom

31-Jul-2008
Plummeting sales at Woolworths and a gloomy CBI survey kept the downward pressure on store shares, but a better-than-feared update from Next and director share buying at Marks & Spencer provided some reassurance.
Tesco can bank on its canny deal

31-Jul-2008
Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy has been a banker as well as a shopkeeper for 11 years, so the retailer’s decision to take full control of its personal finance business was not a shock.
Tesco given deadline for decision over Guardian libel action

30-Jul-2008
Tesco must decide by September 15 whether to accept an apology and damages from The Guardian, following the newspaper’s incorrect tax avoidance story, a judge has ruled.
Retail suffers fewer administrations in second quarter

30-Jul-2008
The number of retailers going into administration fell in the second quarter and first half of this year, despite tough trading.
Games Workshop returns to growth in UK

29-Jul-2008
Wargames specialist Games Workshop returned to sales growth in the UK last year, when group turnover was flat despite a store closure programme.
Share bounce does little to ease pressure as City remains bullish

24-Jul-2008
Retailers rallied after the misery of the past few weeks, but the mood among many sector analysts remained resolutely downbeat.
London’s champion

24-Jul-2008
Former motor racing star Richard Dickinson has been drafted in at the New West End Company to make the area a first-class world destination. He tells George MacDonald why he’s confident it can be.
Halfords keeps up momentum in first quarter

23-Jul-2008
Car accessories and bike retailer Halfordshas reported that first-quarter profit was ahead of expectations as sales held up, costs were controlled and margins improved.
BrightHouse profits surge

21-Jul-2008
Furniture and electricals retailer BrightHouse has posted soaring profits as credit-crunched consumers flock to its stores.
MK One creditors to get 1p in every £1 owed

21-Jul-2008
Creditors of MK One, the value clothing chain that went into administration in May, will receive 1p at most for every £1 they are owed.
Inflation shock and sales slump send FTSE 100 and retail down

18-Jul-2008
A market rally on Monday was reversed as a slew of bad news broke.
The Retail Week – July 18, 2008

18-Jul-2008
Kingfisher chief executive Ian Cheshire has pulled off a real coup with the final additions to his top team charged with turning around the DIY giant.
Is Kingfisher only worth 92p?

17-Jul-2008
Kingfisher boss Ian Cheshire will report on how his DIY retail improvement project is going next Thursday, when a pre-close update is due.
Kingfisher poaches Ikea and DSGi bosses

17-Jul-2008
DIY giant Kingfisher has poached Ikea’s UK chief executive, Peter Hogsted, to head its international division.
Blacks sales pick up with camping season

17-Jul-2008
Blacks Leisure, the outdoor equipment and boardwear retailer, has suffered a 5.4 per cent fall in group like-for-likes in the financial year so far.
Mothercare first-quarter sales advance

17-Jul-2008
Mothercare has posted a rise in UK like-for-like sales and a surge in international revenues during its first quarter.
Can M&S claw back food sales?

11-Jul-2008
Marks & Spencer’s food offer has gone from hero to zero. Chief executive Sir Stuart Rose is determined to regain the initiative, but faces big problems. George MacDonald investigates
Mounting recession speculation sends retail stocks into tailspin

11-Jul-2008
The pall of looming recession hung black over the City all week, pitching the entire market into steep decline.
Rose reigns as shareholders back promotion to chairman

11-Jul-2008
Marks & Spencer shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of electing chief executive Sir Stuart Rose to the position of executive chairman at Wednesday’s AGM.
Sainsbury's e-tail service restored

10-Jul-2008
Sainsbury's e-tail site is working again after being put out of action for much of the day because of supplier technical problems.
Tories caution on out-of-town quashing independents

10-Jul-2008
A Conservative Party commission on the future of small shops has recommended the party adopts a tough stance against out-of-town parks to protect town centres.
Carrefour hypermarket sales slide

10-Jul-2008
International retail giant Carrefour is to speed up the pace of change after second quarter sales slipped at its French hypermarkets.
Woolies needs a merry Christmas

10-Jul-2008
From Cardiff to Cheshunt, Paddington to Paisley, retail’s bunkers are readying themselves for the year’s biggest blowout – Christmas. Retailers that depend on second-half performance for the bulk or entirety of their profits – and there are plenty of them – will be chewing their nails in anxiety, because the downturn is likely still to be in full swing.
Lots of sandwiches and a few spats: M&S AGM sketch

9-Jul-2008
They came, they ate his sandwiches and they voted for him.
Primark picks C&A man for Continental move

9-Jul-2008
Value fashion specialist Primark has poached an executive from European retailer C&A as it prepares for expansion on the Continent.
Sainsbury's tags chickens as theft rises

9-Jul-2008
Sainsbury’s is attaching security tags to frozen chickens to combat soaring theft of both value and top-of-the-range birds.
Argos staff vote to strike

7-Jul-2008
Argos distribution staff have voted to strike over pay after rejecting a 4 per cent offer from the chain’s parent, Home Retail Group.
Worse to come

4-Jul-2008
As M&S like-for-like sales plunge, fears grow industry may never fully recover from downturn
It’s bad, but it’ll get worse

4-Jul-2008
No offence to Beales, but it’s come to something when it’s capitalised at three times as much as the two quoted sofa retailers.
Qataris increase stake in Sainsbury's

4-Jul-2008
The Qatar Investment Authority has upped its stake in Sainsbury’s to 26 per cent.
The Retail Week – July 4, 2008

4-Jul-2008
The magic has well and truly evaporated from the retail Camelot created at Marks & Spencer by Sir Stuart Rose.
Flying Brands to shut Greetings Direct after US move flops

4-Jul-2008
Home shopping group Flying Brands is to shut its Greetings Direct business after its US launch failed.
John Lewis sales slide 8%

4-Jul-2008
John Lewis has posted an 8.3 per cent fall in sales at its eponymous department store business for the week to June 28.
Baugur move to UK looks likely

4-Jul-2008
Baugur, the Icelandic investor that controls swathes of the UK high street, is expected to announce today its intention to move to the UK.
Rubik's Cube to be Christmas best-seller

2-Jul-2008
Vintage 1980s toy the Rubik’s Cube is likely to be a Christmas bestseller, according to variety store group Woolworths.
Former Body Shop employee fined for insider dealing

1-Jul-2008
A former Body Shop employee has been fined £85,000 for insider dealing in the retailer’s shares.
Matalan profits double

30-Jun-2008
Value clothing and homewares group Matalan almost doubled profits last year.
Grocers’ shares tumble as shoppers embrace discounters

27-Jun-2008
TNS data showing rapid market share growth by hard discounters contributed to a fall in the share prices of quoted grocers. Meanwhile, general stores slipped still further as trading difficulties – real and imagined – undermined sentiment.
Topshop goes green

27-Jun-2008
Sir Philip Green’s Topshop chain is this week pushing to prove just how green it is by hosting the first of what will be an annual environmental event focused on recycling called Topshop Wants Your Rubbish, fronted by model Daisy Lowe.
Arcadia overseas chief takes up Alshaya post

27-Jun-2008
Arcadia’s international managing director Amir Afkami has been appointed chief operating officer of Middle Eastern trading house Alshaya’s retail division.
John Lewis sales down, but Waitrose robust

27-Jun-2008
John Lewis Partnership posted a group sales rise of 2.7 per cent in the week to June 21. Revenues at the eponymous department stores fell 1.2 per cent, but grocery chain Waitrose reported a 5.2 per cent rise.
Tesco prepares for AGM showdown

27-Jun-2008
Top retailer Tesco’s fears that its AGM will be turned into a “circus” look likely to become a reality as a raft of campaigners attempt to hijack the agenda.
Grocery giants launch all-out price war

27-Jun-2008
Grocery giants Tesco and Asda have fired the first shots in what is likely to be an all-out price war as credit crunched consumers cut back on shopping.
How good will Best Buy be?

27-Jun-2008
How typical of a journalist to accentuate the negative and eliminate the positive, but here goes.
Robert Dyas changes tactics on promotions

27-Jun-2008
Private equity-backed hardware and home store Robert Dyas is to switch its promotional strategy to attract more regular shoppers rather than one-off visitors.
Wyevale appoints marketing and ecommerce boss

25-Jun-2008
Wyevale, the garden centre group controlled by tycoon Sir Tom Hunter, has poached a Homebase executive for a senior role.
Grocery market to head into decline, Nielsen claims

25-Jun-2008
Grocery market growth has stalled and the sector is poised to slide into decline, according to information company AC Nielsen.
Video – Primark director speaks following child labour expose

24-Jun-2008
Value fashion retailer Primark has posted a video interview online in which director Breege O’Donoghue is interviewed about last night’s Panorama child labour exposé.
Video: Primark director speaks following child labour expose

24-Jun-2008
Value fashion retailer Primark has posted a video interview online in which director Breege O’Donoghue is interviewed about Monday night’s Panorama child labour exposé.
Baugur sells Booker stake as part of focus on retail

24-Jun-2008
Icelandic investor Baugur has offloaded its 31.4 per cent stake in cash and carry business Booker as it concentrates on retail.
Debenhams announces sales rise to quash City fears

24-Jun-2008
Debenhams has posted a gross transaction value increase of 1.3 per cent for the 42 weeks to June 21, when like-for-likes slipped 0.6 per cent.
Schuh profits soar

20-Jun-2008
Privately owned footwear retailer Schuh has revealed an 18 per cent rise in EBITDA to £11.7 million in its last financial year.
General retailers knocked again as more industry sagas unfold

20-Jun-2008
It was a week of high drama for general retailers as veteran Woolworths chief executive Trevor Bish-Jones unexpectedly decided to stand down and furniture groups sought emergency finance.
Sofa drama nears climax

20-Jun-2008
It is hard to believe that less than three months ago, as he posted interim results, ScS chairman Mike Browne was “confident of a profitable second half”.
The Retail Week - June 20, 2008

19-Jun-2008
It’s goodbye to Woolworths from Trevor Bish-Jones, but probably not a farewell to retail. I suspect we’ll hear more of Bish-Jones, assuming he doesn’t decide to sit back and enjoy spending his pay-off.
Red light for retail?

19-Jun-2008
While harsh trading persists, retailers such as ScS and Land of Leather are reeling as supplier credit insurance is withdrawn. George MacDonald examines the power of the insurers
May sales break record

19-Jun-2008
Retail sales leapt 3.5 per cent by volume last month as stores benefited from the warmest May on record, the ONS reported.
Land of Leather close to £18m refinancing deal

19-Jun-2008
Land of Leather was on the verge of an £18 million financial re-upholstering as Retail Week went to press, but even mid-week, the deal still hung in the balance.
Clare returns to retail

19-Jun-2008
Marks & Spencer on board as former DSGi chief gears up for online launch.
Wal-Mart targets Russia

18-Jun-2008
Wal-Mart is considering opening in Russia and surrounding countries as it initiates a new round of international expansion.
Majestic Wine profits and sales climb

16-Jun-2008
Specialist retailer Majestic Wine has posted a full-year profit rise and expects to sustain momentum, despite tough high street conditions.
Game on or time to sell?

13-Jun-2008
When computer entertainment specialist Game reports on trading next month, consumer favourites such as Grand Theft Auto and the Nintendo Wii should have driven sales skywards yet again.
Fashion sales lift John Lewis

13-Jun-2008
John Lewis Partnership posted a 3.9 per cent sales rise in the week to June 7.
Moss Bros like-for-likes fall 1.5%

13-Jun-2008
Moss Bros, the menswear retailer that Icelandic investor Baugur considered buying, has reported a 1.5 per cent fall in like-for-like sales for the 19 weeks to June 7.
High petrol cost hitting out-of-town, says Rose

13-Jun-2008
The rising cost of fuel is benefiting the high street at the expense of out-of-town retail parks, said Marks & Spencer chief executive Sir Stuart Rose.
Inditex first-quarter profits jump 10%

11-Jun-2008
International fashion group Inditex has posted a 10 per cent first-quarter profit rise to €219 million (£173.7 million).
Staples' €3.1bn Corporate Express offer gets green light

11-Jun-2008
US office supplies retailer Staples has been given the go-ahead to acquire Dutch counterpart Corporate Express.
ScS credit insurer withdraws supplier coverage

11-Jun-2008
Sofas retailer ScS Upholstery has revealed that one of its credit insurers has withdrawn coverage from suppliers.
Ted Baker sales rise

10-Jun-2008
Ted Baker’s group sales rose 8.4 per cent in the 19 weeks to June 7. Retail sales climbed 15.4 per cent, but wholesale turnover fell 8.6 per cent. Gross margin was in line with expectations.
Morgan Stanley turns positive, but upbeat sentiment shortlived

6-Jun-2008
Bullish noises from Morgan Stanley bolstered sentiment towards store groups, but food and general retailers’ shares moved little over the week.
Time to get used to tough trading

6-Jun-2008
Flaming June? Never mind June, it’s been flaming difficult for months. Bad weather and credit-crunched consumers have conspired, along with a plethora of other problems, to put much of retail into A&E.
The Retail Week – June 6, 2008

6-Jun-2008
How many shops have you closed this year? Following the high-profile opening of Liverpool One and all the associated festivities, that might come across as a grumpy old man’s question, but, as the downturn persists, it’s one that all retailers should ask themselves if they haven’t done so already.
Staples ups offer for Corporate Express

4-Jun-2008
US office supplies retailer Staples has increased its offer for rival Dutch business Corporate Express by 14 per cent.
A culture shock is well overdue

23-May-2008
DSGi boss John Browett had to put up with some mickey-taking about his pledge to “transform the very DNA” of the electricals group.
Browett’s plan for DSGi fails to impress the City

23-May-2008
Analysts sharply marked down electricals group DSGi’s shares after chief executive John Browett unveiled his turnaround strategy last week.
M&S has no time to revel in its glory as share price plummets

23-May-2008
Marks & Spencer may have made 1 billion, but there was no feelgood factor as its share price – and those of its general merchandise and food counterparts – slid.
Maxeda beats market with impressive year-end profits

23-May-2008
Maxeda, the private equity-backed Dutch store group run by former Asda boss Tony DeNunzio, has posted a surge in profits and expects to weather more difficult trading conditions.
The Retail Week – May 23, 2008

23-May-2008
Marks & Spencer’s decision to stock well-known brands such as Heinz Tomato Ketchup was good for a headline, but will it make much difference to the retailer’s food business?
Health and beauty retailers poised for record year

23-May-2008
Health and beauty retailers are likely to enjoy their best growth in a decade this year, despite the wider consumer slowdown.
Princesshay centre closed after explosion

22-May-2008
Exeter’s Princesshay shopping centre and the city centre have been evacuated after a suspected explosive device was detonated in a restaurant.
Grocers called to Downing Street for food prices summit

22-May-2008
Chancellor Alistair Darling has summoned supermarket chiefs to a meeting at Downing Street today to discuss soaring food prices.
French Connection UK sales flat

21-May-2008
Improvements made at fashion group French Connection are bearing fruit and have enabled it to weather difficult trading conditions this spring, the company claimed today.
BRC slams Government plans to give temps same rights

21-May-2008
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has condemned Government plans for temporary staff to have the same rights as permanent employees after 12 weeks in the job.
Hunter to sell Dobbies stake to Tesco

21-May-2008
Grocery giant Tesco aims to take full control of AIM-listed garden centre group Dobbies, in which it has a 65.5 per cent stake.
Will £1bn profit bring M&S joy?

19-May-2008
The old retail adage that you’re only as good as last week’s sales isn’t quite right. Any quoted retailer is only as good as next year’s forecasts.
Further gloom as sales fall again in April

19-May-2008
A second consecutive month of falling like-for-like sales compounded City gloom about prospects for the stores sector.
Carphone deal jolts electricals but grocers fail to impress City

19-May-2008
Carphone Warehouse’s deal with Best Buy set the sector alight at the end of last week, sparking a wave of buying and bid speculation.
Morrisons to cut plastic bag use by 50m a month

19-May-2008
Grocer Morrisons aims to cut customers’ plastic bag use by 50 million a month by providing shoppers with free reusable bags.
Alliance Boots to unleash potential of power brands

16-May-2008
Health and beauty market leader Alliance Boots is to establish a brands division to unleash the massive potential of its proprietary products in the UK and overseas.
Icelandic court nears verdict on Jóhannesson

16-May-2008
Iceland’s Supreme Court is expected next month to rule on the long-running allegations of fraud against Baugur executive chairman Jón sgeir Jóhannesson.
First impressions: Browett's big day

15-May-2008
There was an absence of much-anticipated blood on the carpet today when new DSGi chief executive John Browett unveiled his strategic review.
Tesco buys South Korean Homever stores

14-May-2008
Tesco has bolstered its South Korean business with the acquisition of 36 Homever stores for £958 million.
Sainsbury’s results sparkle

14-May-2008
Supermarket group Sainsbury’s is to launch a general merchandise offer online as chief executive Justin King’s strategy shifts from delivering recovery to growth.
Tesco's Leahy's pay rose 18.5 per cent last year

13-May-2008
Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy took home more than £5.4 million last year – an increase of 18.5 per cent.
West Coast seeks legal order for Tesco over Dobbies stake

13-May-2008
Tycoon Sir Tom Hunter’s West Coast Capital investment vehicle is seeking a legal order forcing Tesco to buy its minority stake in garden centre group Dobbies.
DSGi to cut 400 head office jobs

12-May-2008
Electricals group DSGi is poised to axe as many as 400 head office staff, as chief executive John Browett reshapes the business to put it on the road to recovery.
The Retail Week – May 9, 2008

9-May-2008
Magic Circle member Simon Fox has performed a skilful conjuring act at entertainment group HMV.
Hopes live on for Boots debt deal

8-May-2008
The idea that debt markets may be starting to relax again looked like a triumph of hope over experience as renewed attempts by Alliance Boots’ lenders to offload loans came to nought.
DSGi installs ex-Tesco man to shake up ops

8-May-2008
Electricals giant DSGi has hired a former Tesco director to take up the new position of operations development director as chief executive John Browett prepares to unveil turnaround plans next week.
John Browett’s bulging in-tray

8-May-2008
All eyes are on John Browett as next week’s strategic update looms. George MacDonald examines some of the options open to DSGi’s chief executive
Dunstone’s retail double

8-May-2008
Very few retailers have transformed the face of the industry twice within a generation, but Charles Dunstone can claim that honour – and he’s still only 43.
Carphone Best Buy deal: City reaction

8-May-2008
The creation of an electricals joint venture by Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy is likely to be bad news for European groups such as DSGi, Kesa and Metro-owned MediaMarkt.
Next set for poor first quarter

7-May-2008
The City fears fashion group Next may report a like-for-like sales slump of as much as 10 per cent tomorrow, when the retailer updates on first-quarter trading.
Top analyst slams M&S bonus scheme

7-May-2008
Broker Credit Suisse has cast doubt on the terms of Marks & Spencer directors’ bonus scheme, questioning whether it is in the retailer’s long-term interests.
Older shoppers pay for N Brown

2-May-2008
N Brown’s share price took a hit a fortnight ago, when home shopping counterpart Findel warned on profits after having to increase provisions against bad debt.
Sound Control falls into administration

1-May-2008
Sound Control, the UK’s biggest musical instruments retailer, has collapsed into administration.
Home Retail Group: the City view

1-May-2008
Argos, Home Retail’s flagship chain, delivered record profits last year, but the outlook is cloudy.
M&S could double stock value if it focuses on cash, analyst claims

1-May-2008
Marks & Spencer’s stock is languishing below the level of Sir Philip Green’s abortive 400p-a-share offer in 2004, but could it be worth 850p?
How bankable is retail?

1-May-2008
A combination of the credit crunch and hard times on the high street mean the relationship between retailers and their banks is more delicate than ever. George MacDonald reports on the impact of the financial crisis
Baugur denies MK One administration plans

1-May-2008
Baugur has denied reports that MK One, the value clothing chain it has put up for sale, could be put into administration if no buyer is found.
Land of Leather sales plunge again

1-May-2008
Sofa specialist Land of Leather has revealed another plunge in sales and warned that trading conditions will remain tough for the rest of the year.
Home Retail profits climb

30-Apr-2008
Home Retail Group has warned that tough trading conditions are likely to result in like-for-like sales falls at its Argos and Homebase chains.
DSGi to close 40 UniEuro stores

29-Apr-2008
International electricals giant DSGi is to slash the number of stores at its troubled Italian chain UniEuro by a third.
The Retail Week: April 25, 2008

24-Apr-2008
How reassuring to hear that there’s no high street slowdown after all.
BRC claims ONS sales data is “overly rosy”

24-Apr-2008
The British Retail Consortium has attacked official retail sales statisticians for painting “an overly rosy view” of the stores sector’s performance.
Downturn can’t stop investment

24-Apr-2008
The banks got a £50 billion bail-out on Monday, but who is going to rescue embattled retailers?
M&S to make prices in India on par with UK

24-Apr-2008
Marks & Spencer is to bring prices at its Indian stores in line with those in the UK, in an effort to seize share in one of the world’s biggest emerging markets.
Hamleys chief to step down after four years

24-Apr-2008
Hamleys chief executive Nick Mather is to leave the legendary Baugur-owned toy retailer after four years at the helm.
Shoppers’ food bills climb £800 a year

23-Apr-2008
Family food bills have surged by almost £800 a year, as food inflation forces up supermarket prices.
Thorntons celebrates sales rise

23-Apr-2008
Upmarket confectioner Thorntons has bucked the tough trading trend to deliver its sixth consecutive quarter of growth.
London retail outperforms UK

21-Apr-2008
London’s retail sales outperformed the UK last month, but were well below those achieved the previous March.
Daring thinking needed at DSGi

17-Apr-2008
If you fancy a new plasma TV, you could help out DSGi boss John Browett by buying a Philips model from Dixons.com for £569.99. But one of Browett’s problems is you can get the same telly on Amazon for £550.09.
Piper buys into The Rug Company

17-Apr-2008
Piper Private Equity has taken a minority stake in 12-store retailer The Rug Company to help fund its international expansion.
JJB Sports: the City view

17-Apr-2008
Despite historic problems and challenging prospects, JJB Sports is at a “turning point”, according to chairman Roger Lane-Smith.
Tesco full-year results lift spirits but general retailers disappoint

17-Apr-2008
Tesco’s impressive full-year numbers helped recover sentiment, especially after bullish comment about the US, and grocers enjoyed a good week.
Boots’ Pessina vows to accelerate growth

17-Apr-2008
Alliance Boots executive chairman Stefano Pessina has pledged to ramp up earnings by at least 10 per cent a year while he runs the business.
Body Shop sales rocket

17-Apr-2008
Body Shop – the ethical cosmetics retailer owned by L’Oréal – sales increased 7.4 per cent in the first quarter. Sales were up 1.9 per cent on a like-for-like basis.
Credit crunch to hit Findel profits

17-Apr-2008
Home shopping group Findel became a victim of the credit crunch after warning that bad debt would hit profits.
JJB makes £25m store closure provision as profits plummet

16-Apr-2008
JJB Sports has made a provision of £25 million to cover the cost of closing 72 shops, but is to roll out a new store model following the success of a pilot.
Ethel Austin falls into administration

15-Apr-2008
Value fashion retail Ethel Austin has gone into administration.
Debenhams profits fall but targets hit

15-Apr-2008
Department store group Debenhams managed to meet profit expectations in its first half and is to make efficiencies and improvements in expectation of continued tough trading conditions.
The green agenda

10-Apr-2008
Times may be hard in fashion, but no one told Sir Philip Green. Tim Danaher and George MacDonald meet him to discuss the secrets of retail success
H&M tops Interbrand league

10-Apr-2008
H&M is Europe’s most valuable retail brand, worth €10.36 billion
Court’s no place for Tesco verdict

10-Apr-2008
Whatever the rights and wrongs of its case, Tesco is likely to emerge a loser from any courtroom catfight with The Guardian.
Woolies to extend its kids’ brands overseas

10-Apr-2008
Woolworths has struck two deals with overseas partners to bolster its Chad Valley and Ladybird brands internationally.
Matalan poaches Debs trio for fashion assault

10-Apr-2008
Matalan has lured three executives from Debenhams’ young women’s fashion brand Red Herring to oversee the relaunch of its own young-fashion offer.
Topshop and Topman set for record years

10-Apr-2008
Young-fashion chains Topshop and Topman are on course for record years despite the savage downturn in the fashion market, owner Sir Philip Green revealed this week.
Somerfield sale could go ahead within a week

8-Apr-2008
The sale of convenience grocer Somerfield could be agreed as early as next week, it is understood.
Magsons buys Toyzone out of administration

8-Apr-2008
Toy and stationery distributor JA Magson has acquired Toyzone, the retailer that went into administration at the beginning of this month.
Fragrance Shop picks MD

7-Apr-2008
Former Music Zone boss Steve Oliver has been named managing director of Fragrance Shop, the 103-store perfume specialist.
Dobbies buys Sandyholm Garden Centre for £8 million

4-Apr-2008
Dobbies, the Tesco-controlled garden centre group, has bought Sandyholm Garden Centre in Crossford, Lanarkshire, for £8 million plus stock.
The Retail Week – April 4, 2008

4-Apr-2008
Aside from a little small-arms fire, the guns have fallen silent this morning after yesterday’s attempt by Marks & Spencer to end its month-long war with City institutions.
Dunstone refuses to disconnect online pirates

4-Apr-2008
Carphone Warehouse chief executive Charles Dunstone has rejected music industry proposals to disconnect internet customers who illegally download tunes.
Ethical cosmetics launches soar

4-Apr-2008
Shopper interest in ethical cosmetics led to 2,260 product launches in core categories last year.
Two cheers for Cheshire

3-Apr-2008
By the time Sir Geoff Mulcahy was edged out of Kingfisher he had transformed the retailer’s valuation from £100 million to £5.6 billion. Mulcahy gave back £29.50 for every £1 from investors.
‘An exceptional step in exceptional circumstances’

3-Apr-2008
Marks & Spencer acts to justify Rose’s promotion in wake of shareholder opposition
Tesco: the city view

3-Apr-2008
As top grocer Tesco prepares to unveil full-year results a week on Tuesday, it finds its prospects for continued success increasingly under question.
Stocks outperform market again as results season’s stars emerge

3-Apr-2008
A raft of results and updates brought mixed news, but retailers’ stocks rose once again during the week and outperformed the market.
Halfords' sales motor ahead

3-Apr-2008
Category-killing motor accessories retailer Halfords posted strong sales growth last year in its pre-close update.
M&S seeks compromise in Rose row

3-Apr-2008
Marks & Spencer has suggested measures to defuse the bitter corporate governance row that erupted over the proposal to elevate boss Sir Stuart Rose to executive chairman.
Private investors add voice to Rose’s role debate

1-Apr-2008
A leading private shareholder organisation has added to concerns expressed by institutional investors about Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose’s proposed elevation to executive chairman.
Kesa completes BUT sale

1-Apr-2008
Kesa, the Anglo-French electricals group, has completed the sale of furniture chain BUT.
M&S to take majority stake in India joint venture

31-Mar-2008
Marks & Spencer is poised to take majority control of a joint venture to be created imminently with Indian powerhouse Reliance Retail.
Credit crunch is not over yet

28-Mar-2008
It looks as if the credit crunch has claimed its first big retail scalp. Last week, US book- seller Borders had to seek emergency funding to the tune of US$42.5 million (£21.3 million) from shareholder Pershing Square.
The Retail Week – March 28, 2008

27-Mar-2008
New Kingfisher boss Ian Cheshire has a three-year plan to revitalise the embattled international DIY retail giant – or at least he will have, after spending most of the next year planning the plan.
Hiatus for retailers as generalists and food groups defy the gloom

27-Mar-2008
Embattled retailers had a week out of the trenches as the market generally enjoyed some respite from financial turmoil.
Fashion retailer Morgan to shut stores division

26-Mar-2008
Fashion retailer Morgan is to shut all 35 of its retail outlets.
Topps Tiles to post profit fall as market toughens

26-Mar-2008
Tile and flooring specialist Topps Tiles expects to post a slight decline in first-half profits.
ScS suffers first-half loss

26-Mar-2008
Sofa retailer ScS Upholstery has plunged into loss and warned that there is no end to punishing trading conditions in sight.
Sainsbury’s reveals £1.2bn property deal as sales rise again

26-Mar-2008
Sainsbury’s has posted its 13th consecutive quarter of like-for-like growth and created a £1.2 billion joint venture to develop and improve stores.
Marks & Spencer creates central European joint venture

20-Mar-2008
Marks & Spencer has created a joint venture in central and Eastern Europe with its local franchise partner and will open 30 more shops there.
Easter storms match DIY mood

19-Mar-2008
For DIY and garden retailers, Easter is the trading equivalent of Christmas.
Retail takes body blow as stocks plunge after Bear Stearns crisis

19-Mar-2008
The whole market slumped as US investment bank Bear Stearns became the latest credit crunch victim and retailers were again hit hard as brokers fretted about the outlook for the consumer economy.
Reevoo wins funding for international expansion

19-Mar-2008
Shoppers’ review site Reevoo is expanding internationally after winning new investment from Banexi Ventures.
Cissell to run Wal-Mart China

19-Mar-2008
Robert Dyas chief jumps ship to lead global retail giant’s fast-growing operations in China
WHSmith seals hospital and motorway deals

19-Mar-2008
WHSmith has bolstered its travel division with two deals in hospitals and motorway service stations.
Wolfson confident in Next as tough year looms

19-Mar-2008
Fashion group Next sees little prospect of an improvement in consumer spending in the next year.
City supports Rose’s power shift but draws line under Morrisons

13-Mar-2008
Marks & Spencer’s share price shrugged off controversy over Sir Stuart Rose’s shift into the role of executive chairman in June. Although down, the retailer’s share price performed better than the general retail sector over the week.
Rose defends his dual M&S role as sparks fly

13-Mar-2008
Marks & Spencer chief executive Sir Stuart Rose has accused his corporate governance critics of adopting an “ideological” stance and insisted that controversial boardroom changes are in the retailer’s best interests.
M&S has been here before

13-Mar-2008
A retail bellwether hovering around the £1 billion profit mark; an executive chairman almost synonymous with the business itself; signs of deteriorating trading and a clutch of directors eager to move into the top job. Sound familiar?
Sector like-for-likes up but non-food is dismal

13-Mar-2008
Retailers’ performances continued to polarise last month, as price-conscious shoppers tightened their belts.
RWCO8: Hogsted relaunches attack on UK planning regime

13-Mar-2008
Ikea mid-Europe manager Peter Hogsted has said the retailer faces less red tape in markets such as China and Russia than in the UK.
Benetton family to buy World Duty Free

10-Mar-2008
Airports operator BAA is to sell its World Duty Free chain to Italian company Autogrill, which is controlled by the Benetton family, for £546.6 million.
MFI claims spark £57 million legal row

7-Mar-2008
Private equity firm Merchant Equity Partners is embroiled in a £57 million battle with joinery business Galiform over the value of assets of furniture chain MFI.
Asda sales strengthen in February

7-Mar-2008
Grocery group Asda’s sales beat internal projections last month, helped by its low-price positioning and seasonal promotions, parent Wal-Mart disclosed.
Carrefour boardroom powershift clouds recovery

6-Mar-2008
Big changes are on the cards at French retail giant Carrefour, which today posted a rise in sales and profits.
Interest rate held

6-Mar-2008
The interest rate has been held at 5.25 per cent by the Bank of England.
Minimum wage hike to hit retailers

5-Mar-2008
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced that the national minimum wage will rise by almost 4 per cent to £5.73 in October.
Moss Bros shares spike as offer from Baugur fuels investor fight

5-Mar-2008
Menswear retailer Moss Bros was the week’s biggest riser as a bad-tempered battle for control raged. Members of the founding families, the board and associates of potential buyer Baugur all laid into each other, which can hardly be helping store performance.
Waitrose mulls assault on convenience

5-Mar-2008
Waitrose is considering launching a convenience store format that would pit the grocer against Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer and Tesco.
Raise a glass to a Majestic chief

5-Mar-2008
When Tim How became chief executive of Majestic Wine the Cold War was not quite over and Mrs Thatcher was still Prime Minister.
Kingfisher's Brico Depot chiefs to step down

5-Mar-2008
The duo that created Brico Depot, DIY giant Kingfisher’s French chain aimed at trade customers, are to leave at the end of this month.
Former Kingfisher boss to join Blackstone

4-Mar-2008
Former Kingfisher chief executive Gerry Murphy is to become a senior managing director and partner at private equity giant Blackstone.
The Retail Week – February 29

29-Feb-2008
Recently promoted Kingfisher chief executive Ian Cheshire is wasting no time in sweeping his new broom through the business.
Adams to walk from Kingfisher in shock move

28-Feb-2008
Veteran Kingfisher executive George Adams is to leave at the end of next month as new group chief executive Ian Cheshire begins to reshape the retail giant.
Decision day looms for Moss

28-Feb-2008
Baugur’s 42p-a-share offer for Moss Bros may have split the retailer’s board and shareholders, but should be welcomed.
Poor John Lewis trading fuels City fears as Tesco is attacked

28-Feb-2008
John Lewis’s revelation that last week’s trading was the “toughest in recent memory” spooked an already panicky City.
M&S to impose 5p plastic bag charge

28-Feb-2008
Marks & Spencer is to charge customers for plastic food carrier bags from the beginning of May.
Sainsbury family reduces stake

22-Feb-2008
Members of the Sainsbury family have further reduced their holding in the eponymous grocer.
There’s value in Woolies yet

21-Feb-2008
We reveal this week that variety store group Woolworths has slimmed down central staff numbers. About 60 have gone from the London headquarters and its Castleton satellite, near Rochdale.
Competition probe and Asda success help quoted grocers

21-Feb-2008
Food retailers staged a comeback after they emerged largely unscathed from the Competition Commission’s investigation into the grocery market. Good fourth-quarter figures from Asda helped, confirming that food retailers as a group have been doing well.
Europe’s Next

21-Feb-2008
Fashion powerhouse launches web offer on the continent as international gold rush accelerates
Elvi rescued by mystery buyers

19-Feb-2008
Plus-size womenswear retailer Elvi is back in business after mystery investors bought it out of administration.
Tesco targets £1bn of local produce sales

18-Feb-2008
Grocery market leader Tesco will today unveil a sales target of £1 billion of locally produced food by 2011.
The Retail Week - February 15, 2008

15-Feb-2008
Marks & Spencer’s decision to distribute 800,000 money-off vouchers to staff and company pensioners set tongues wagging earlier this week.
Grocers’ share price turbulence

14-Feb-2008
Morrisons, the grocery victor last Christmas, took analysts on a tour of its Northern redoubts on Tuesday.
M&S picks ex-Evans boss to head lingerie

14-Feb-2008
Marks & Spencer has snapped up former Evans brand director Frances Russell for the new role of trading director for its market-leading lingerie business.
Signet: the city view

14-Feb-2008
Signet, the world’s biggest specialist jewellery retailer, posted a 6.7 per cent group like-for-like fall in the fourth quarter, propelled by an 8.6 per cent drop in the US.
City remains cautious over retail as shares lose regained ground

14-Feb-2008
General retailers’ share price rises of recent weeks looked like a dead cat bounce as they slipped back over the week, although food groups managed an increase following their decline since the start of the year.
US retail achieves surprise sales rise

14-Feb-2008
US retail sales increased unexpectedly in January, raising hopes that a consumer recession may yet be avoided.
Rose will spurn bonus if M&S shop staff miss out

14-Feb-2008
Marks & Spencer chief executive Sir Stuart Rose will not take a bonus this year unless store staff also win a payout.
Clare teams up with Saatchi for e-tail venture

14-Feb-2008
John Clare, former chief executive of electricals group DSGi, is to launch a social networking and retail internet venture called Myfaveshop.com.
C-stores concerned by Mosquito ban threat

12-Feb-2008
C-store owners have reacted angrily to proposals to end use of the Mosquito, a high-pitched device deployed to disperse gangs of youths who hang around outside shops.
Why low prices are not enough

7-Feb-2008
People may be watching what they spend, but that hasn’t saved value specialists from collapse. George MacDonald surveys their prospects as they enter another tough year
Interest rate cut to 5.25%

7-Feb-2008
The Bank of England has cut interest rates by a quarter-point to 5.25 per cent.
Sports Direct: The City View

7-Feb-2008
Sports Direct moved up the City’s retail league after striking a deal with Chinese retailer ITAT.
Morrisons’ soaring growth dents rival supermarkets’ share prices

7-Feb-2008
Following share price rises in recent weeks, retail stocks went into reverse and food groups were hit most heavily.
Ethical cotton crisis looms as Uzbek ban hits suppliers

7-Feb-2008
Retailers face one of their thorniest dilemmas since ramping up commitments to ethical trading – reconciling human rights with the livelihoods of some of the world’s poorest people.
Sainsbury’s eyes Middle East for international comeback

7-Feb-2008
Grocer in talks with possible franchise partners to expand beyond its UK base.
Halfords boss quits to join Coles

7-Feb-2008
Halfords chief executive Ian McLeod has quit to join Australian grocer Coles as managing director.
Morrisons' market share soars

5-Feb-2008
Supermarket group Morrisons’ resurgence continues unabated, according to the latest grocery market share data from TNS Worldpanel.
The Retail Week – February 1, 2008

31-Jan-2008
Surveying the wreckage of pub company Mitchells & Butlers, you have to conclude that Sainsbury's had a lucky escape when Qatari bid interest collapsed.
Hopes rise for retailers as City says prospects are looking up

31-Jan-2008
Another good week for the sector meant brokers chewed over whether it is once again the right time to buy on the back of retailers’ sharp re-ratings.
Kesa share buy-back to follow BUT sale

30-Jan-2008
Electricals group Kesa expects to complete the €550 million (£409 million) sale of French furniture chain BUT next month and will return cash to investors via a share buy-back programme.
BrightHouse hires Pym as chairman

29-Jan-2008
BrightHouse, the private equity backed hire purchase store group, has appointed Richard Pym as non-executive chairman.
Tesco hoax bomber gets six years

28-Jan-2008
A man who tried to extort £1 million from grocery giant Tesco has been jailed for six years.
Marks & Spencer in talks over Sephora shop-in-shops

24-Jan-2008
Marks & Spencer has held talks with French beauty retailer Sephora about opening cosmetics and perfume shop-in-shops in the UK giant’s stores.
Emergency rate cut in US helps store groups outperform at last

24-Jan-2008
The US Federal Reserve’s emergency rate cut – the biggest in 25 years – helped markets rise mid-week and gave store groups a lift.
Who wins in a Somerfield sale?

24-Jan-2008
The auction of neighbourhood food retailer Somerfield superficially puts the retailer in a position of strength but, in reality, its situation is ambiguous.
Argos’s Christmas driven by multichannel growth

24-Jan-2008
Argos, Home Retail’s flagship chain, outperformed specialist rivals over Christmas thanks to its multichannel strength.
Carrefour looks forward to ‘breakthrough’ year

24-Jan-2008
Carrefour expects 2008 to be a “breakthrough” year after posting strong sales growth for 2007.
Musgrave completes store divestment programme

23-Jan-2008
Food group Musgrave has completed the sale of its company-owned UK stores to independent retailers.
King hints at interest rate cut

23-Jan-2008
Bank of England governor Mervyn King has hinted that interest rates may be cut next month.
Tesco to open department stores

22-Jan-2008
Grocery giant Tesco plans to launch a high street assault with a chain of department store-type shops that would compete with retailers such as Debenhams and Marks & Spencer.
Ahold mulls selling Schuitema stake to CVC

22-Jan-2008
Dutch retailer Ahold is in talks to sell its majority stake in 443-store supermarket business Schuitema to private equity firm CVC.
HMV to roll out new look after Christmas sales soar

21-Jan-2008
Following market-bucking Christmas trading, entertainment retailer HMV is to roll out its next-generation store format.
Carphone rings up Christmas profit rise

18-Jan-2008
Mobile phone specialist Carphone Warehouse’s tills rang out a merry Christmas, as December sales and profits climbed.
The end of the affair?

17-Jan-2008
The City has fallen out of love with retail, as share prices tumble on the back of disappointing Christmas trading. George MacDonald asks whether it is a trial separation or a case for divorce
M&S’s knight is not beaten yet

17-Jan-2008
Would Marks & Spencer’s investors have been better off if Sir Philip Green had succeeded with his 400p takeover proposal three years ago?
The Retail Week – January 18, 2008

17-Jan-2008
Making sense of the past seven days
Pampered pooches spur on Pets at Home

17-Jan-2008
While many retailers suffered a dog of a Christmas, heavy spending on presents for pets delivered a seasonal sales surge for specialist Pets at Home.
Woolies is shining light as Tesco and M&S updates add to gloom

17-Jan-2008
Woolworths managed to lighten the gloom with the news that its retail arm will return to profit this year, but the sector was still down following lacklustre updates from Marks & Spencer and Tesco.
M&S steps up Plan A with ethical factories

17-Jan-2008
Marks & Spencer will work with suppliers to create six “ethical factories” to bolster its commitment to improved labour standards in developing countries.
Comet seasonal like-for-likes flat

17-Jan-2008
Comet, the UK electricals chain owned by Anglo-French retailer Kesa, has posted like-for-like growth of 0.7 per cent for the period from November 1 to January 8.
Home Retail profit lifted by Argos Christmas success

17-Jan-2008
General merchandise giant Home Retail expects full-year profits to be at the upper end of expectations after sales at catalogue chain Argos held up over Christmas.
Game celebrates “outstanding” Christmas

15-Jan-2008
Computer entertainment specialist Game has disclosed stellar Christmas trading figures, as a result of focus on a changing customer base and “unprecedented” range and quality of products.
Theo Fennell Christmas sales rise

14-Jan-2008
Theo Fennell, the AIM-listed jeweller, has posted a 2 per cent rise in sales for December.
Unhappy Christmas for US retailers as sales fall

11-Jan-2008
Many US retailers have suffered just as disappointing a Christmas as their UK counterparts, December sales figures showed.
John Lewis named UK's favourite shop

10-Jan-2008
Department store business John Lewis has been named the UK’s favourite retailer in a survey of 6,000 shoppers.
Redcats to shut Empirestores with loss of 850 jobs

10-Jan-2008
Home shopping specialist Redcats is to shut its agency business Empirestores, with the likely loss of 850 jobs, to focus on its e-tail operations.
Blow to Kingfisher as Asia chief Gilman quits

10-Jan-2008
Veteran B&Q boss Steve Gilman, who is chief executive of its Asia division and one of the company’s most respected retailers, has made a surprise decision to stand down later this year.
Browett has a long road ahead

10-Jan-2008
Crucial as it is, making the sale is the final point in the retail chain. Knowing what to buy – and buying at the right price – is the starting point.
Shares take beating as festive casualties arise

10-Jan-2008
Quoted retailers suffered an unhappy new year as shocking profit warnings and panic about prospects destroyed value.
Retail shares dive as Christmas trading statements disappoint

10-Jan-2008
Wednesday brought another battering for the stores sector, which had already lost more than a tenth of its value in the previous week, as Marks & Spencer’s shares plunged 20 per cent after a damp squib Christmas.
Hodkinson takes over to drive change at Wyevale

10-Jan-2008
Wyevale Garden Centres chairman Jim Hodkinson has assumed day-to-day control of the private equity-backed business.
M&S chiefs snap up shares after Christmas disappointment

9-Jan-2008
Marks & Spencer directors have ramped up their shareholdings, sending a message to investors that they remain convinced of the retailer’s strength following reaction to today’s trading update.
Short sellers target WHSmith

9-Jan-2008
Short sellers have increased their positions in bookseller and stationer WHSmith by 200 per cent in the past six months, it has emerged.
C-stores fuel Co-op’s Christmas growth

8-Jan-2008
The Co-operative Group has celebrated a happy Christmas on the back of a strong performance from convenience stores and remodelled shops.
JLP sales climb at Christmas

8-Jan-2008
John Lewis Partnership has posted strong growth at both its department store and Waitrose supermarket divisions for the five weeks to January 5.
Sainsbury's shares plunge on back of City festive fears

7-Jan-2008
Sainsbury’s shares have slumped to their lowest in more than a year as fears swept the City that the grocer had a disappointing Christmas.
The Retail Week - January 4, 2008

4-Jan-2008
DSGi needs to be switched on to cope with ailing sales at its PC World business, or is it time to pull the plug?
The Retail Week – January 4, 2008

4-Jan-2008
DSGi needs to be switched on to cope with ailing sales at its PC World business, or is it time to pull the plug?
Out of the frying pan, into the fire

3-Jan-2008
It looks as if 2008 may be the year of living dangerously for retailers.
City forecasts winners as tough 2008 dawns

3-Jan-2008
Analysts face hard choices this year as they weigh up recommendations after the stock market savaging of 2007.
Carpetright: The City View

3-Jan-2008
Founder Lord Harris called off his attempt to take Carpetright private just before Christmas.
Grocers dominate 2007’s risers as all eyes are on January totals

3-Jan-2008
Last year was a tale of two retail sectors. While grocers’ valuations – buoyed by bid speculation – raced ahead of the All Share index, general merchandisers’ stock sank by almost 26 per cent.
Ocado to push into general merchandise

3-Jan-2008
Ocado, the home shopping business in which retailer John Lewis is a stakeholder, is to push into new categories including babywear and flowers.
Next to beat profit forecasts despite store sales fall

3-Jan-2008
Fashion group Next suffered a 3.2 per cent like-for-like sales fall at its core stores business between July 30 and December 24, but expects full-year profits to beat expectations.
DSGi warns profit target will be missed by £50 million

3-Jan-2008
Electricals giant DSGi has become the first victim of harsh Christmas trading conditions and issued a profit warning.
DSGi to close nearly a third of UK stores, analyst forecasts

2-Jan-2008
John Browett, the new chief executive of electricals group DSGi, is likely to shut as many as 200 of the retailer’s 700 UK stores, broker Credit Suisse has forecast.
M&S stores to open at 6am for Sale

21-Dec-2007
Marks & Spencer will open its doors at 6am on Thursday December 27 for the launch of its Sale, and the promotion will begin online at 12.01am on Christmas Day.
Why Landmark is one to watch

20-Dec-2007
Debenhams’ shares may have hit a record low of 75.5p on Monday, but one party sees value in the department store group.
Dunelm: the City view

20-Dec-2007
Despite its value credentials, homewares group Dunelm’s share price has been among the worst hit by jittery market sentiment.
Retailers’ woes deepen as new year gloom tarnishes prospects

20-Dec-2007
Analysts took their red pencils to the sector, as uncertainty about next year’s outlook continued to undermine sentiment.
Argos Ireland strike called off

18-Dec-2007
Strike action at catalogue store group Argos’ Irish shops has been called off. Staff at the retailer’s stores in The Republic of Ireland had been due to walk out today in a dispute over pay.
Landmark acquires 7% stake in Debenhams

17-Dec-2007
Middle Eastern retail giant Landmark has taken a 7 per cent stake in UK department store chain Debenhams through investment vehicle Milestone, raising speculation that a bid for the UK store group may be in the offing.
The Retail Week – December 14, 2007

14-Dec-2007
John Browett, who has just become chief executive of electricals group DSGi, has another problem to add to his list.
Fears for new year take shine off upbeat week for general retailers

13-Dec-2007
General retailers were the week’s beneficiaries as they outperformed their food peers and the FTSE. Lower interest rates were welcomed, but analysts remained downbeat about prospects.
Morrisons celebrates market share advance

11-Dec-2007
Supermarket group Morrisons has shown more signs of recovery under chief executive Marc Bolland, increasing its market share at a level not seen for five years.Latest TNS Worldpanel grocery data showed Morrisons upped its share to 11.3 per cent in the 12 weeks to December 2, compared to 11.1 per cent a year ago.
Robertson takes top job at BRC

11-Dec-2007
Former B&Q marketing director Stephen Robertson, most recently marketing director at Woolworths, has been named director-general of the British Retail Consortium.
The Retail Week – December 7, 2007

7-Dec-2007
Yesterday’s interest rate cut was a welcome early Christmas present for retailers.
Cheshire moves closer to top job

6-Dec-2007
Ian Cheshire’s chances of becoming the next chief executive of Kingfisher won’t have been hindered by the DIY group’s third-quarter update last week.
Browett vows to put customers first at DSGi

6-Dec-2007
Incoming DSGi group chief executive John Browett has vowed to pursue a customer-centric strategy and re-energise the electricals giant as he took the helm this week.
Norman to whip Coles into shape with revival strategy

6-Dec-2007
Asda saviour Archie Norman is to be “chief coach” to Australian store group Coles following its sale and intends to transform its business culture.
Argos hit by Irish strike in key Christmas period

6-Dec-2007
Catalogue store group Argos has been hit by strike action at its Republic of Ireland division at the height of the Christmas trading period.
Tesco shakes off tough trading as list of casualties gets longer

6-Dec-2007
Once again, Tesco has proven itself immune to grisly trading conditions afflicting the sector.
Spindler named MD of Debenhams

4-Dec-2007
Angela Spindler, former managing director of Asda clothing business George, has been appointed to the newly created role of Debenhams managing director.
M&S shortlists trio for Indian venture

4-Dec-2007
Indian businesses Mahindra, Trent and Lodha & Co are on Marks & Spencer’s shortlist of potential Indian joint venture partners, it is understood.
N Brown offloads Zendor and snaps up Nightingales

30-Nov-2007
Home shopping giant N Brown has sold its Zendor fulfilment division and bought women’s clothing business Nightingales out of administration.
Tesco's American dream

30-Nov-2007
Tesco’s American adventure in many ways represents a return to the grocer’s roots.
Retailers' unease grows as shares continue to slump across the board

29-Nov-2007
Punch-drunk retailers took more blows as both grocers and general merchandisers underperformed.
Tesco bites into American pie

29-Nov-2007
“This is a launch, not a trial”. That was the message from Tesco’s Tim Mason, chief executive of the grocer’s start-up Fresh & Easy US chain, as he showed off his first stores to analysts this week.
The retail week – November 23, 2007

23-Nov-2007
Making sense of the past seven days
Can Duddy keep grocers at bay?

22-Nov-2007
Asda chief Andy Bond is the latest in a long list of retailers to have set their sights on stealing a slice of the action from catalogue giant Argos. George MacDonald asks what their chances are
Will Swann take the bait?

22-Nov-2007
Bookseller and stationer WHSmith’s board revealed on Tuesday just how much they value the services of chief executive Kate Swann.
Retail shares plummet as fears grow over consumer spending

22-Nov-2007
General retailers took a knock-out blow over the week when their shares slid almost 6 per cent as worries persisted about the health and direction of the consumer economy.
Kesa's sales climb 10%, but outlook is uncertain

22-Nov-2007
Electricals retailer Kesa has posted a third-quarter sales rise, but warned that the white goods market is showing signs of a slowdown.
The Retail Week – November 16, 2007

16-Nov-2007
Making sense of the past seven days
Higher food prices will scare shoppers

15-Nov-2007
For most Retail Week readers, the cost of a pint of milk or a packet of biscuits is neither here nor there when their weekly bills are totted up.
M&S raises stakes in India as it tests appetite for food

15-Nov-2007
Retailer extends range as it pursues more international growth opportunities
Carphone Warehouse: the City view

15-Nov-2007
Surging sales and profits, US expansion plans and the launch of the iPhone helped Carphone’s shares tick up in the wake of interim results.
City airs concerns on Sainsbury’s as grocer shrugs off bid collapse

15-Nov-2007
Can Justin King make Sainsbury’s great again? Analysts mused the question a week after the collapse of Delta Two’s bid, as the grocer posted an interim rise in profits and sales and launched a property joint venture with Land Securities.
Ted Baker celebrates sales leap

15-Nov-2007
Sales at quirky fashion retailer Ted Baker have surged after shoppers lapped up its latest ranges.
Sales fall at WHSmith

15-Nov-2007
Bookseller and stationer WHSmith said it was on track to meet targets, despite reporting a fall in like-for-like sales.
Asda posts strong Q3 as it readies for Christmas

13-Nov-2007
Grocer and general merchandiser Asda achieved “very positive sales results” in its third quarter, according to its parent company Wal-Mart.
Where next for Kingfisher?

9-Nov-2007
Kingfisher boss Gerry Murphy’s decision to stand down represents a crossroads for the DIY giant. George MacDonald assesses his legacy
Oxford Street lights are enchanted picture

9-Nov-2007
The switch was flicked on the Oxford Street Christmas lights on Wednesday, signalling the start of the festive selling season.
Sainsbury’s takes tumble while general retailers come out top

9-Nov-2007
Sainsbury’s takes tumble while general retailers come out top
Wal-Mart falls short of October analyst forecasts

8-Nov-2007
Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer, has missed analysts’ October sales forecasts in its core domestic market.
M&S to favour ‘super suppliers’as it drives international growth

8-Nov-2007
Marks & Spencer expects to work increasingly with an elite group of “super-growth suppliers” as it ramps up investment at home and abroad.
Rose’s M&S is still on top form

8-Nov-2007
Stuart Rose is determined that neither he nor Marks & Spencer will allow themselves to be talked into a downturn.
Grocery inquiry keeps City busy as Sainsbury’s takeover teeters

2-Nov-2007
Food groups and general retailers were at the heart of City action during a week driven by the Competition Commission’s early findings on the grocery market, takeover tensions and bid speculation.
Desperately seeking chairman

1-Nov-2007
Controversial store group Sports Direct has been having trouble finding a chairman, so Retail Week has turned headhunter in a bid to help out. George MacDonald compiles our shortlist of 10 candidates with the skills for the most challenging role in the industry. Over to you, Mr Ashley…
Next: signs of improvement close

1-Nov-2007
An end to declining like-for-likes is in sight at fashion group Next, broker JP Morgan believes.
Delta stumbles at the last hurdle

1-Nov-2007
Hope may have been allowed to triumph over experience in the long-running bid for Sainsbury’s by Qatari-backed Delta Two.
M&S store makeovers to lift Christmas sales

1-Nov-2007
Industry bellwether Marks & Spencer is likely to reap the benefits from its store modernisation programme this Christmas.
Merchant Equity circles Kesa’s furniture chain

1-Nov-2007
Private equity house Merchant Equity Partners is poised to buy French furniture chain BUT from Kesa for more than 400 million (£278.2 million).
US bond issue first for Tesco

30-Oct-2007
Supermarket giant Tesco has raised US$2 billion (£967.7 million) in its first bond issue in the US.
The Retail Week – October 26, 2007

26-Oct-2007
Making sense of the past seven days
Making sense of the last seven days

26-Oct-2007
Fashion tycoon SirPhilip Green was typically straightforward yesterday when he issued results for hisArcadiafashion group.“A very creditable performance when set against the background of one of the worst non-summers ...
Merchant Equity circles Kesa’s furniture chain

25-Oct-2007
Private equity house Merchant Equity Partners is poised to buy French furniture chain BUT from Kesa for more than 400 million (£278.2 million).
Sports Direct names new board members

25-Oct-2007
Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct business has confirmed the departure with immediate effect of independent non-executive director Chris Bulmer and named two new non-executives.
Kingfisher and DSGi shares drop as Debenhams revives fortunes

25-Oct-2007
A swathe of updates, deal gossip and big swings in share prices characterised the week.
Exclusive: Independent non-exec to quit Ashley's Sports Direct

25-Oct-2007
Speculation is mounting that Sports Direct’s independent non-executive director Chris Bulmer will resign today.
Argos drives Home Retail profits up

24-Oct-2007
General merchandise to DIY group Home Retail has posted a surge in first-half profits, powered by the Argos catalogue store chain.
Baugur fashion brands head for Germany

22-Oct-2007
Icelandic investment firm Baugur is to open 300 shops in Germany after striking a joint venture agreement with entrepreneur Kristinn Gunnarsson.
How long can Swann work magic?

19-Oct-2007
Retail has its fair share of conjurors, but WHSmith chief executive Kate Swann must be the sorceress supreme.
Grocers stay ahead of the game as sector takes turn for the worst

19-Oct-2007
General retail’s rally of the past few weeks hit the buffers as stores badly lagged in the All Share once again. Grocers outperformed, driven by Tesco’s bullishness and bid hopes for Sainsbury’s.
Instore slashes losses in first half

19-Oct-2007
Variety store group Instore has halved its losses in the first half to August 25, but does not expect the benefits of its improvement strategy to have a full impact until next year.
Home Retail: the city view

18-Oct-2007
Home Retail, owner of Argos and Homebase, preceded next Wednesday’s first-half figures with the acquisition of 27 stores from Focus DIY for £40 million.
Boden backer hits jackpot as it exits business

18-Oct-2007
Private equity group Piper has sold its stake in home shopping retailer Boden for 30 times what it invested originally.
The Retail Week – October 12, 2007

15-Oct-2007
Making sense of the past seven days
Focus store disposals to raise £68 million

15-Oct-2007
DIY group Focus is to sell 41 stores for a total of £68 million as it undergoes a restructure, following its acquisition in July by investment firm Cerberus.
US Carpetright shareholder to block Lord Harris deal

15-Oct-2007
Carpetright’s third biggest investor, Harris Associates, aims to halt the £850 million acquisition of the retailer by its founder.
The Retail Week – October 12, 2007

12-Oct-2007
Making sense of the past seven days
Focus store disposals to raise £68 million

11-Oct-2007
DIY group Focus is to sell 41 stores for a total of £68 million as it undergoes a restructure, following its acquisition in July by investment firm Cerberus.
Ratty will be fondly remembered by all

11-Oct-2007
Richard Ratner, who died at the weekend after suffering a heart attack last week, was the first retail analyst I ever spoke to.
BRC sales data lifts mood with general retailers outperforming

11-Oct-2007
General retailers had another good week as they outperformed the All Share index, although they still lagged behind on the year. Stronger than expected BRC’s sales data lifted the mood, although the organisation noted that widespread price-cutting contributed to the rise.
The Rajah of Retail

11-Oct-2007
Tycoon Kishore Biyani is proving a key figure in the explosion of Indian retail. George MacDonald meets him to find out how he has helped in shaping the country’s retail revolution
US Carpetright shareholder to block Lord Harris deal

11-Oct-2007
Carpetright’s third biggest investor, Harris Associates, aims to halt the £850 million acquisition of the retailer by its founder.
Farewell to Ratty

11-Oct-2007
The stores sector has been remembering Richard Ratner, the flamboyant Seymour Pierce vice-chairman and retail analyst, who died on Sunday after suffering a heart attack last week.
Tesco director jumps ship to Sainsbury's

8-Oct-2007
Supermarket group Sainsbury’s has poached Tesco director Dido Harding to head its 305-store convenience division.
Alliance Boots insists profit fears misguided

5-Oct-2007
Alliance Boots has rejected speculation that Government cuts to pharmacy payments will hit profits (Retail WeekOnline, October 5) and said that it is trading ahead of expectations.
NHS payment changes threaten Boots' profits

5-Oct-2007
Health and beauty giant Alliance Boots faces a profits blow of as much as £80 million following a government decision to cut medicine payments to pharmacies.
Sector sees long-awaited surge as Leahy soothes nervous City

4-Oct-2007
The sector entered its golden quarter on a high as, at last, the retail sector shot up. Ironically, bullish comments from Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy – typically more likely to drive other retailers’ share prices down – prompted a shift in sentiment.
Bhs to be debt free as Green revives profits

4-Oct-2007
Billionaire Sir Philip Green’s Bhs chain will be debt free by Christmas and the tycoon insisted it is not for sale.
JJB could have a sporting chance

4-Oct-2007
Sales down, profits more than halved –there seemed little to cheer in JJB Sports’ interims last week. But the retailer’s share price ticked up as analysts responded enthusiastically to the update.
Bank of England dashes hopes of rate cut

4-Oct-2007
The Bank of England has maintained the interest rate at its six-year high of 5.75 per cent, putting paid to retailers’ hopes of a decrease.
Profits edge up at Bhs

3-Oct-2007
Billionaire entrepreneur Sir Philip Green said his Bhs business now has a “good platform from which to develop”, after stabilising performance last year.
The Retail Week September 28

28-Sep-2007
Making sense of the last 7 days
Mayfield hints at overseas push for JLP

28-Sep-2007
John Lewis Partnership chairman Charlie Mayfield has raised the prospect of taking the famous retail name overseas
Is the game up for Sports Direct?

27-Sep-2007
What had been anticipated as one of this week’s most interesting diary dates turned out to be, quite literally, a non-event.
Mothercare mums’ forum to tap into craze for social networking

27-Sep-2007
Maternity specialist Mothercare is to launch a social networking forum to more powerfully exploit its unique retail status
More mixed fortunes as grocers outshine ailing general market

27-Sep-2007
A welter of trading updates brought mixed news. Although retailers such as Game and Dunelm impressed, general retailers remained unpopular.
High street sales climb in September

27-Sep-2007
Retailers weathered toughening high street conditions to post a sales rise in September, but the slower rate of growth experienced since May continued.
Reliance to lay off 1,000 as opposition to modern retail mounts

27-Sep-2007
Indian giant Reliance Retail is to lay off 1,000 staff in the face of continuing protests by small business owners who fear that the emergence of modern retailers threatens their livelihoods.
Topps Tiles calls strong year ahead of results

26-Sep-2007
Like-for-like sales expected to rise 4.6% at the home improvement retailer, while sales are tipped to increase 15%
Abercrombie London sales beat US flagship

20-Sep-2007
US fashion group Abercrombie & Fitch’s debut UK store is generating higher sales and margins than its flagship store on New York’s Fifth Avenue.
Kingfisher warns of tough second half

20-Sep-2007
B&Q sales up, but profit falls
Northern Rock fiasco a bad sign

19-Sep-2007
The sight of scared consumers queuing up in their thousands to withdraw their cash from troubled Northern Rock might turn out to be almost as bad news for retailers as it was for the bank.
Debt crunch may sting profits, analysts warn

19-Sep-2007
Brokers warned that the ongoing corporate lending crisis could take a slice of retailers’ profits if debt market turmoil continues.
Debenhams: the city view

19-Sep-2007
There were sighs of relief in the Square Mile when Debenhams’ 52-week update brought no nasty surprises.
City fears Northern Rock fiasco will erode consumer confidence

19-Sep-2007
Cold weather will be better news for fashion retailers that suffered during the wet summer, but fears mounted that the consumer climate may turn truly arctic.
The Retail Week September 14

14-Sep-2007
Making sense of the last seven days
John Lewis profits surge

13-Sep-2007
Second half expected to be 'much more challenging'
Tesco invests £25m in sustainable consumption research

13-Sep-2007
Findings to be shared with other retailers
Christmas crunch here we come

3-Sep-2007
Now that the August bank holiday is out of the way and a torrid summer, in business terms, is coming to an end, what is the outlook for the sector as the year winds down?
Stores shares on the up as City readies for key updates

3-Sep-2007
The whole stores sector – grocers and general merchandisers – was up last week and beat the All Share index, although general retailers continued to underperform against last year.
The Retail Week

31-Aug-2007
Making sense of the past seven days
The Retail Week

31-Aug-2007
Making sense of the past seven days
Ahold to buy back US$1 billion of shares

30-Aug-2007
Investors to reap rewards of disposals
Carrefour promises faster growth

30-Aug-2007
Property IPO and disposals will boost returns
More share buy-backs possible at DSGi

30-Aug-2007
Sales soar in first quarter
Quataris up Sainsbury's bid

24-Aug-2007
Concern remains over debt burden
Asda appoints Spindler as George head

21-Nov-2005
Asda is planning to triple the number of Living general merchandise stores within a year and has promoted Angela Spindler to be global managing director of its £2 billion George fashion arm.
M&S veterans pray for a return to the golden age

10-Mar-2005
Sir David Sieff, scion of one of the Marks & Spencer founding dynasties, has spoken of the 'sadness' he feels at th...
Debs duo join Green's Bhs sales offensive

10-Sep-2004
Debs duo join Green's Bhs sales offensive
M&S veterans pray for a return to the golden age

11-Jun-2004
M&S veterans pray for a return to the golden age
George puts Asda ahead of Debenhams in fashion

14-May-2004
George puts Asda ahead of Debenhams in fashion
Ethel Austin in sale talks as profits soar

28-Nov-2003
Ethel Austin in sale talks as profits soar
Stuart Rose puts together retail A-team

28-Nov-2003
Stuart Rose puts together retail A-team
Build-a-Bear to take on Hamleys

19-Sep-2003
Build-a-Bear to take on Hamleys
DIY retailers cash in on home makeover mania

29-Aug-2003
DIY retailers cash in on home makeover mania
Top job at B&Q up for grabs as Whiting prepares to step down

25-Jul-2003
Top job at B&Q up for grabs as Whiting prepares to step down
Next funds expansion with £300m bond

30-May-2003
Next funds expansion with £300m bond
Third time lucky for Matalan leadership?

21-Mar-2003
Third time lucky for Matalan leadership?
Shoppers fear Safeway sale will destroy choice

31-Jan-2003
Shoppers fear Safeway sale will destroy choice
Homewares pledge as Green enters fray

24-Jan-2003
Homewares pledge as Green enters fray
Focus appoints new MD after board revamp

6-Dec-2002
Focus appoints new MD after board revamp
For Sale sign hoisted over Fads for third time

29-Nov-2002
For Sale sign hoisted over Fads for third time
Homebase set for GUS 10-store plan

29-Nov-2002
Homebase set for GUS 10-store plan
Barclay twins to decide on Littlewoods store sell-off

11-Oct-2002
Barclay twins to decide on Littlewoods store sell-off

Retail WeekGeorge MacDonald

Retail Week
George MacDonald