Retail Week
Jennifer Creevy

Jennifer oversees all of the content for Retail Week, comprising news, features and online.

She is also news editor, overseeing a team of three reporters covering all the sectors of retail. She specifically covers the food sector for Retail Week.

Jennifer has been with Retail Week for over five years and has a background in business trade titles.

Follow Jennifer on twitter: @jennifercreevy

We’re getting back on track, insists Clarke

6-Oct-2011
As Tesco reports dip in like-for-likes, ‘confident’ Sainsbury’s goes on attack.
Hunkemoller appoints head of design

6-Oct-2011
European lingerie retailer Hunkemöller has appointed Zoe Price Smith as head of design.
Aldi’s sales jump as shoppers tighten belts

6-Oct-2011
Aldi, the German grocer which has surged back into popularity this year as consumers tighten their purse strings, reported a loss last year after a store disposal programme but sales grew solidly.
Claire's Stores appoints Beatrice Lafon European boss

6-Oct-2011
Accessories retailer Claire’s Stores has appointed Beatrice Lafon as president of the European division.
Ted Baker profits up 12.7%

6-Oct-2011
Ted Baker has reported pre-tax profit up 12.7% to £8.5m in its interim results, but the quirky fashion retailer remains cautious given the uncertain macroeconomic environment.
Asda's Roger McLaughlan to join Toys R Us

5-Oct-2011
Asda Living retail director Roger McLaughlan is leaving the retailer to take up the role of UK managing director for Toys R Us.
Tesco reports "subdued" UK growth

5-Oct-2011
Tesco has reported a 6.2% rise in underlying pre-tax profit to £1.9bn for the 26 weeks to August 27 with strong growth overseas helping it prop up the “subdued” UK market.
Ebay director moves to senior adviser role

5-Oct-2011
Ebay senior vice president and general manager of eBay Marketplaces Europe Doug McCallum is to move to a new role as senior adviser to eBay Inc’s president and chief executive John Donahoe.
In pictures: Morrisons unveils M Kitchen range

4-Oct-2011
Morrisons has launched its M Kitchen range into stores this week, the first of the relaunch of some 11,000 of its own brand products.
Aldi losses edge up after store disposals but sales grow strongly

4-Oct-2011
Hard discount grocer Aldi has reported its pre-tax losses edged up in 2010 after it suffered impairment charges from a store disposal programme, but sales grew strongly.
Retailers urge businesses to hire ex-offenders

4-Oct-2011
Leading retailers including Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland have written a letter to the Financial Times urging businesses to back the government’s plans to provide work and training for ex-offenders.
Tesco to open online clothing delivery to international markets

4-Oct-2011
Tesco’s online clothing business is to extend its delivery service to international markets.
Waitrose unveils dark store in Acton

3-Oct-2011
Waitrose is to open its first dotcom-only store tomorrow [October 4] in Acton as it seeks to ramp up its delivery in London.
Holland & Barrett rolls out loyalty card scheme

September 30 2011
Health and beauty retailer Holland & Barrett has this week rolled out its loyalty scheme nationwide, which it hopes will increase basket size and customer frequency.
Moss Bros helps itself to profits

September 30 2011
Moss Bros this week provided a rare piece of good news for the high street.
Morrisons enters own-brand war with M Kitchen range

29-Sep-2011
Morrisons will next week wade into the own-brand supermarket war with the start of the relaunch of 11,000 products.
Tesco’s rivals fight back

29-Sep-2011
Tesco’s rivals stepped up their marketing this week to hit back at the grocer’s £500m price cuts.
Morrisons to introduce M Kitchen as part of own brand relaunch

27-Sep-2011
Morrisons is to kick off the relaunch of its own-label range with the introduction of an M Kitchen range, it is understood.
Topps Tiles expects pre-tax profit to hit consensus of £13.4m

27-Sep-2011
Topps Tiles expects to report adjusted pre-tax profit for the year to October 1 within analysts’ estimates with a consensus of £13.4m.
Thorntons chairman to stand down

27-Sep-2011
Thorntons chairman John von Spreckelsen is to retire from the company within 12 months.
All Saints CEO Stephen Craig quits

26-Sep-2011
All Saints chief executive Stephen Craig has quit the retailer, Retail Week can confirm.
Flying Brands to sell property to pay debt

26-Sep-2011
Flying Brands has agreed terms to sell part of a property in Jersey as it seeks to pay down debt.
Retailers wage Sales war

26-Sep-2011
Major retailers including Marks & Spencer have launched discount promotions this weekend in a bid to compete for hard-pressed shoppers.
Tesco extends Hoerner's consulting role

26-Sep-2011
Tesco is understood to have extended the consulting role of John Hoerner, its former head of its clothing division.
Andy Bond backs online food retailer

26-Sep-2011
Former Asda boss Andy Bond is backing a new upmarket online food retailer.
Asda lines up backing for bid for Iceland stores

26-Sep-2011
Asda is understood to have lined up backing from Barclays Capital to beef up its finances to bid for Iceland stores.
Eurozone problems

23-Sep-2011
The problems in the Eurozone are threatening the recovery of the global economy.
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.
Tesco to invest £500m in price cuts

22-Sep-2011
Tesco is to invest £500m into lowering the price of everyday grocery items and simplify its promotions as it seeks to boost its flagging UK business.
Asda launches 'Chosen By You' range for Scotland

22-Sep-2011
Asda has launched a specific range of ‘Chosen By You’ products for Scotland.
HoF first half EBIDTA flat and warns second half started slower

22-Sep-2011
House of Fraser has reported flat EBITDA in its first half with like-for-like sales up 5.3% and warned the second half has started slower.
Selfridges hires food executive

21-Sep-2011
Selfridges has hired former Marks & Spencer executive Nicola Waller as its head of food buying and merchandising.
Profits surge at JD Sports

21-Sep-2011
JD Sports has reported pre-tax profit up 20.6% to £20.1m in the 26 weeks to July 30 despite being hit by the August riots when £700,000 worth of goods was looted from 16 stores.
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.
Amazon installs collection lockers in office blocks

20-Sep-2011
Amazon has installed collection lockers in office blocks in London as it seeks to make deliveries more convenient.
Alexon moves forward with sale process

19-Sep-2011
Troubled womenswear group Alexon has moved forward with its sale process and is considering an offer at a “significant” discount to the current share price.
Profit growth expected at Karen Millen

19-Sep-2011
Premium womenswear chain Karen Millen is expected to report profits of £21m for the year to February 2011 when it publishes its annual accounts next month.
Iceland auction hits setback

19-Sep-2011
The information memorandum for the sale of Landsbanki’s share of Iceland Frozen Foods is expected to go out within the next two weeks but upheavals in the financial markets threaten to derail some bids.
Tesco eyes Garden Centre Group

19-Sep-2011
Tesco is understood to be gearing up for a bid for some or all of the Garden Centre Group.
Tesco clothing boss Richard Jones exits

19-Sep-2011
Tesco clothing boss Richard Jones has left the retailer and is understood to be taking up a role with Irish supermarket Dunnes.
Ocado sales up 19.5% but warns margins expected to be lower

19-Sep-2011
Ocado has reported gross sales up 19.5% to £444.6m in the 36 weeks to August 7, but warned that investment in customer service means full year margins are likely to be slightly lower than expected.
Profit growth for Morrisons despite savvy shopper effect

September 16 2011
Morrisons has observed the rise of the “professional” shopper in the face of the biggest hit to consumer spending power in a generation.
Simon Thompson

September 16 2011
Morrisons has secured a coup in recruiting a former senior figure at Apple to spearhead its online food plans. Jennifer Creevy reports
Waitrose weekly sales up 10.7%

15-Sep-2011
Waitrose has reported total sales up 10.7% in the week it reopened its flagship Canary Wharf store as its first Food, Fashion & Home shop.
Costcutter modernises with new store fascias

15-Sep-2011
Costcutter is to introduce two new store fascias next year as part of a modernisation plan for the symbol group.
Dunelm profits up 9%

15-Sep-2011
Dunelm has reported pre-tax profit up 9% to £83.6m in its full year results despite the challenging consumer backdrop.
Waitrose confident for Christmas despite fall in first-half profits

15-Sep-2011
Waitrose managing director Mark Price has promised to be the best performing grocer once again this Christmas and to steal further market share.
Sainsbury's launches new strapline 'Live Well For Less'

15-Sep-2011
Sainsbury’s is promising customers they can ‘Live Well For Less’ after unveiling the phrase as its new strapline.
Lloyds extends American Golf sale deadline

14-Sep-2011
Lloyds Development Capital (LDC) is understood to have extended the timeframe for the sale of American Golf as interest from an unknown American trade buyer emerges.
John Lewis posts sharp drop in operating profit amid highly competitive environment

14-Sep-2011
John Lewis has posted a sharp drop in operating profit in its first half as it matched the scale of discounting on the high street with its ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ commitment and invested in the business.
Waitrose to trial convenience shops at Shell petrol stations

12-Sep-2011
Waitrose is to trial opening its Little Waitrose convenience shops at Shell petrol stations.
Sir Philip Green argues riots were culmination of year of civil disobedience

12-Sep-2011
Sir Philip Green has said the occupation of the Fortnum & Mason store earlier this year by protesters encouraged last month’s rioters and looters.
Primark operating margins to be hit by high street discounting

12-Sep-2011
Primark’s operating margin is expected to be hit slightly in its full year results after a higher level of discounting than is normal on the UK high street towards the end of the summer.
Asda makes two promotions to strengthen its board

9-Sep-2011
Asda has made two promotions to its board.
Property firm CBRE buys niche retail agency

9-Sep-2011
Property firm CB Richard Ellis has bought niche retail outfit Michael Peddar & Company.
Tesco strikes back in JS Ulster price tussle

September 9 2011
Tesco has gone head to head with Sainsbury’s in Northern Ireland following Sainsbury’s launch of its price guarantee scheme last month.
Exiting international markets

September 9 2011
Tesco’s retreat from Japan is further evidence of how hard it is to grow businesses in the country
Morrisons to combine store trials in two test shops

8-Sep-2011
Morrisons is to combine the trials it is running on fresh food and space allocation at stores in St Albans and Wrexham.
Carpetright appoints Darren Shapland to its board

8-Sep-2011
Carpetright has appointed former Sainsbury’s director Darren Shapland to the board as an independent non-executive director.
In pictures: Waitrose opens first Food, Fashion & Home store

8-Sep-2011
Waitrose opened its first Food, Fashion & Home store this morning at its revamped Canary Wharf shop.
Morrisons profits up 8%

8-Sep-2011
Morrisons has reported an 8% rise in underlying profit in its interim results to £442m but warned the trading environment would continue to be challenging.
Morrisons hires Apple director to lead online food launch

8-Sep-2011
Morrisons has hired a digital heavy-hitter from Apple to lead its online food launch as it takes its next steps into etailing.
Booths refinances for store expansion

7-Sep-2011
North-west grocer Booths has refinanced its £56m debt facility and extended its credit by a further £37m to support expansion.
Doubts emerge over Comet sale

7-Sep-2011
The sale of electricals retailer Comet looks increasingly unlikely to go ahead as it understood the two remaining potential bidders are seeking a dowry in the region of £150m-£200m.
Thorntons pre-tax profit dips after impairment charges

7-Sep-2011
Thorntons has reported a dip in pre-tax profit but the chocolatier remains confident its turnaround plan will create a revitalised business.
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.
Austin Reed Regent Street store to represent 'brand vision for future'

6-Sep-2011
Austin Reed promises to “reignite the spirit of British heritage tailoring” with its new flagship store in Regent Street.
Retail analyst Tony Shiret to join RBS

6-Sep-2011
Tony Shiret, one of retail’s highly regarded analysts and a vocal critic of Marks & Spencer under Sir Stuart Rose, is to take up a new role at Royal Bank of Scotland.
Iceland staff to share record £14.6m pay rise

6-Sep-2011
Iceland staff are to share a £14.6m pay increase from next month in a rare piece of good news for the retail sector.
Former HoF brand director moves to travel retailer

5-Sep-2011
Matt Chambers, former executive brand director at House of Fraser, has been hired by travel retailer Aldeasa-WDF.
Next launches apprenticeship programme

5-Sep-2011
Next has launched an apprenticeship programme, set to recruit 1,000 new employees.
Sainsbury's to recruit 15,000 Christmas staff

5-Sep-2011
Sainsbury’s is to recruit 15,000 seasonal staff over the Christmas and New Year period.
Waitrose appoints executive chef

5-Sep-2011
Waitrose has appointed Michelin chef Jonathan Moore as its executive chef.
JJB directors to be rewarded on turnaround success

5-Sep-2011
JJB directors are to be incentivised with a reward scheme if they succeed in turning around the fortunes of the ailing sports retailer.
ACS calls on Mary Portas to protect town centres

2-Sep-2011
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has challenged the government’s high street adviser Mary Portas to take decisive action to protect independent retailers ahead of her review.
A little local difficulty

September 2 2011
The Co-op is lagging behind its grocery rivals, following the takeover of Somerfield. Chief executive Peter Marks tells Jennifer Creevy why he thinks his critics are missing the point
Walmsley Furnishing bought by SKG Capital

1-Sep-2011
UPDATED: Parts of furniture chain Walmsley Furnishing, which collapsed into administration yesterday, have been acquired by turnaround specialist SKG Capital.
Tesco to sell Japanese stores but stand by Fresh & Easy

1-Sep-2011
Philip Clarke still backing plans to turn American chain around, but Japanese business is up for sale.
90% of shoppers expect food prices to go up in next year

31-Aug-2011
90% of shoppers expect food prices to be more expensive in the year ahead and will use different retailers and store sizes in a bid to get the best prices.
Bargain Booze up for sale with £100m price tag

31-Aug-2011
Bargain Booze has been put up for sale by its private equity owners with a price tag of up to £100m.
Tesco to sell its Japan business

31-Aug-2011
Tesco is to sell its business in Japan as it said it could not build a “sufficiently scalable” operation.
Retail Week On The Road: Midlands

26-Aug-2011
We visit Birmingham, Leicester, Derby, Market Harborough and Nottingham
Need to know: The plus-size market

August 26 2011
The plus-size customer base is growing in number but with limited choice for larger people there are opportunities aplenty for fashion retailers
Waitrose vows the worst of online problems are behind it

August 26 2011
Online scope for Waitrose.com to become more personalised following overhaul, says ecommerce boss
Tesco opens virtual store in South Korea

25-Aug-2011
Tesco Homeplus in South Korea has opened what it claims is the world’s first virtual store in Seoul subway, following an initial trial in July.
In pictures: Ocado's virtual shopping wall goes live

25-Aug-2011
The integrated window display at London’s One New Change shopping centre allows shoppers to purchase groceries on their mobile phones, then have them delivered to their door.
Co-op profits and sales hit by tough climate

25-Aug-2011
The Co-operative Group has suffered a fall in first-half profits and sales in retail conditions described by chief executive Peter Marks as “the worst I have seen in over 40 years”.
Strong value proposition drives full-year profit at Fragrance Shop

25-Aug-2011
The Fragrance Shop has reported that operating profit rose by 37.8% in its full year, driven by its strong value proposition.
Tesco's Andrew Higginson to retire

24-Aug-2011
Tesco chief executive of retailing services Andrew Higginson is to retire from the board and executive committee next year.
Landlords claim to be flexible in tough climate

22-Aug-2011
Landlords claim that high street shop rents have fallen by a third over the past 20 years and that they are being more flexible in the tough climate.
Net-a-Porter founders invest in Cult Beauty

22-Aug-2011
Two founding partners of fashion etailer Net-a-Porter have invested in beauty etailer cultbeauty.co.uk.
Oka profits up 24%

22-Aug-2011
Oka, the furniutre chain part owned by Lady Astor, David Cameron’s mother-in-law, reported a 24% rise in underlying profits to £427,000 in its last financial year.
Footfall slips while nationwide vacancy rate stands at 11.2%

22-Aug-2011
Footfall between May and July was 1% lower than the same period a year earlier, with the hardest hit locations being Wales, the west Midlands and the East of England.
Sainsbury's to exclusively launch Joan Collins book

19-Aug-2011
Sainsbury’s is hoping some 1980s Dynasty glamour will bring shoppers to its stores when it exclusively launches actress Joan Collins’ upcoming book.
Video: Shops forced to shut in south coast's flash flooding

19-Aug-2011
Retailers on the south coast were forced to shut up shop yesterday as flash flooding drenched parts of Dorset and Hampshire.
Asda launches mobile groceries site

19-Aug-2011
Asda has launched a mobile optimised transactional site for its groceries offer.
Sainsbury’s to trial price match at the till

18-Aug-2011
Sainsbury’s is gunning to win back its least loyal swing shoppers with the trial of a price match on branded products.
Customers recognise our quality is improving, says Asda’s Clarke

18-Aug-2011
Asda chief executive Andy Clarke is confident that the grocer’s efforts on quality are being recognised by customers, despite the tough climate taking a toll on its growth.
Rigby & Peller majority stake sold to Van de Velde

17-Aug-2011
Belgian lingerie business Van de Velde has bought an 87% stake in lingerie retailer Rigby & Peller for an undisclosed sum leaving previous owners, the Kenton family, with a minority 13% holding.
Asda Q2 like-for-likes up 0.5%, but operating income declined due to Netto acquisition

16-Aug-2011
Asda has reported like-for-like sales up 0.5% excluding VAT in its second quarter from April 1 to June 30.
Morrisons leads big four, while Aldi reports all-time record share

16-Aug-2011
Morrisons was the only one of the big four to grow market share in the latest Kantar figures, while Aldi was the winner overall with growth of nearly 25%.
Asda to create 7,000 Christmas jobs

16-Aug-2011
Asda is to create 7,000 Christmas jobs as part of a £5m investment in customer service for the golden quarter.
Sainsbury's trials branded price match in Northern Ireland

16-Aug-2011
Sainsbury’s is to take on Asda and Tesco and launch its version of a price match trial in a trial in Northern Ireland.
Asda guns to open 250 smaller supermarkets

15-Aug-2011
Asda is gunning to open 250 of its smaller supermarkets after racking up sales uplifts of more than 50% in its Netto converted stores.
One in ten UK businesses impacted by riots

10-Aug-2011
Over 10% of the UK’s retail and leisure businesses have been directly impacted by riots and looting with 48,404 businesses impacted.
JD estimates riot damage will be £10m

10-Aug-2011
JD Sports Fashion has estimated the financial impact of the riots to be more than £10m for the retailer.
Video: Retailers hit as riots spread across the UK

10-Aug-2011
Riots hit retailers across the UK last night while London remained largely calm.
Birmingham Jewellery Quarter shuts up shop this afternoon

9-Aug-2011
The Birmingham Jewellery Quarter will shut down in the early afternoon today in a united front to prevent any further damage by rioters.
ACS urges retailers to make insurance claims as soon as possible

9-Aug-2011
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is urging retailers to make insurance claims as soon as possible after the riots.
Carpetright boss Lord Harris says rioters need jobs

9-Aug-2011
Carpetright chief executive, Lord Harris of Peckham, has called on the Government to do more to provide jobs for young people following the London riots.
Williams-Sonoma

August 5 2011
The US homewares group has a strong reputation and is eyeing the UK market. But where would it sit in this struggling sector and what is its point of difference?
TJ Hughes stores start to close

4-Aug-2011
Administrators to TJ Hughes will kick off closing down Sales immediately and stores will start to close from next week for 22 of the shops.
Zara to launch online in the US next month

4-Aug-2011
Zara has confirmed the launch of its US website for September.
Ocado to open spoke in Oxford

4-Aug-2011
Ocado is to open a distribution spoke in Oxford.
Findel group sales ahead by 1.1%

4-Aug-2011
Home shopping group Findel said group sales are ahead of the prior year by 1.1% in its interim management statement though with some pressure on margins which it said is offset by cost savings.
Blacks Leisure chairman David Bernstein resigns

4-Aug-2011
Blacks Leisure chairman David Bernstein has resigned.
Tesco to test Fresh & Easy Express

3-Aug-2011
Fresh & Easy, Tesco’s US operation, is to test smaller format Fresh & Easy Express shops later this year.
Sir Tom Hunter buys shares in Sports Direct

3-Aug-2011
Entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter has bought a £1m stake in Sports Direct.
Government plans to curb town centre parking fees

2-Aug-2011
Local government secretary Eric Pickles has revealed plans to curb town centre parking fees in an effort to encourage people to shop in their town centres.
Food inflation slows in July

2-Aug-2011
Food inflation slowed in July to 5.2% from 5.7% the previous month.
Poundland to open in Ireland under Dealz fascia

2-Aug-2011
Single price point retailer Poundland is to expand into the Republic of Ireland trading under the name Dealz.
Aquascutum secures £8m loan

1-Aug-2011
Luxury retailer Aquascutum has secured an £8m bank loan to help finance the loss-making business.
Tesco's online marketplace faces challenges from beauty brands

1-Aug-2011
Tesco’s plans for an online marketplace to rival Amazon may not be able to stock all beauty brands as some are reluctant to be linked with the Tesco name.
Ashley calls for Blacks chairman to resign

1-Aug-2011
Billionaire Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley has called for the resignation of Blacks chairman David Bernstein.
Landsbanki director takes seat on Iceland board

1-Aug-2011
Gunnar Sigurdsson, former managing director of collapsed Icelandic retail group Baugur, has been asked to stand down from the board of Iceland Foods so Landsbanki can take full control of the sale of its stake in the retailer.
Clinton Cards hires Starbucks boss as CEO

29-Jul-2011
Clinton Cards has hired the current managing director of Starbucks UK and Ireland to be its new chief executive.
Waitrose to try fashion at Canary Wharf store

July 29 2011
Upmarket grocer Waitrose is to make a play for fashion as it launches its first clothing offer in its Canary Wharf store in London as part of plans to ramp up its non-food ranges.
Crunch time for the grocers

July 29 2011
Shoppers have been cutting back on discretionary items but now even food volumes are declining. Jennifer Creevy reports on how supermarkets are having to adapt to this unfamiliar environment
H&M teams up with David Beckham

28-Jul-2011
Fashion giant H&M has teamed up with footballer David Beckham to stock his Bodywear range.
Home Bargains launches transactional website

28-Jul-2011
Discount retailer TJ Morris has launched a transactional website for Home Bargains.
Groceries Code of Practice to be strengthened

28-Jul-2011
The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee has outlined the need for a supermarket ombudsman and proposed strengthening the Groceries Code of Practice.
Musgrave sets up €10m fund for Superquinn suppliers

27-Jul-2011
Musgrave Group has set up a €10m fund to help suppliers who have experienced losses not covered by credit insurance as a result of the receivership of Superquinn.
Tesco to launch £15 bundle Back to School deal

26-Jul-2011
Tesco is to launch a bundle deal on its Back to School clothing for £15.
Waitrose to launch into fashion

26-Jul-2011
Waitrose is to introduce fashion for the first time at its flagship Canary Wharf store in London.
Superquinn directors to be questioned

26-Jul-2011
Superquinn directors may be questioned in the High Court today as the wrangling over the future of the grocer continues.
Lloyds pharmacy to trial ‘health village’ offering broader service

July 22 2011
Lloyds pharmacy is to open a pilot ‘health village’ on a retail park in north London at the end of August as part of its plan to evolve into an all-round healthcare provider.
Sainsbury’s and Jamie Oliver

July 22 2011
The grocer and the celebrity chef are to part company, but how will Sainsbury’s maintain its successful advertising?
Musgrave saves Irish grocer Superquinn

21-Jul-2011
Musgrave Group will be catapulted into top spot in the Irish grocery market following its acquisition of Superquinn this week.
12 further Life & Style shops shut

21-Jul-2011
The administrator to fashion and homewares chain Life & Style are to shut a further 12 shops making another 181 staff redundant.
Nisa-Today to give back £5m to members

20-Jul-2011
Symbol group Nisa-Today’s is to deliver £5m back in dividends to the group’s members following record sales of £1.5bn for the year.
Former Asda director Doug Gurr to join Amazon

20-Jul-2011
Doug Gurr, a former director at Asda, is poised to join online retail giant Amazon in the UK.
Morrisons emerges winner out of big four

19-Jul-2011
Morrisons emerged the fastest growing of the big four retailers in the latest Kantar figures with growth of 5.6%, increasing its share from 11.8% to 11.9%.
Retailers run promotions for teen pop magazine launch

18-Jul-2011
Retailers are gearing up for the launch of a new teen pop magazine with promotions and point of sale marketing.
109 Fortnum & Mason protester cases dropped

18-Jul-2011
The cases against 109 people arrested after protests at Fortnum & Mason in London during the anti-cuts demonstration are understood to have been dropped, according to the BBC.
Sainsbury's in talks with TV chef Lorraine Pascale

18-Jul-2011
Sainsbury’s is understood to be in talks with TV chef Lorraine Pascale in a deal reported to be worth £1m.
Tesco to launch Clubcard scheme in the US

18-Jul-2011
Tesco is to trial a version of its successful Clubcard loyalty scheme at its Fresh & Easy chain in the US.
Sainsbury's launches non-food shopping mobile site

16-Jul-2011
Sainsbury’s has gone live with a mobile version of its general merchandise shopping website.
Older shoppers rein in spending as squeeze hits

July 15 2011
Empty nesters and older customers starting to feel the pressure and tighten purse strings as rises in cost of living bite, exclusive poll reveals
Sports Direct profits soar

14-Jul-2011
Sports Direct has reported underlying pre-tax profit up 32.7% to £135.5m in its full year despite the consumer environment being “one of the toughest” it has ever seen.
The Body Shop first half like-for-likes up 2.6%

13-Jul-2011
The Body Shop has reported like-for-like sales for the first half of 2011 to June 30 up 2.6%.
Thorntons like-for-likes fall 10.6%

13-Jul-2011
Thorntons has reported a like-for-like sales decline of 10.6% in its own stores in the eight weeks to June 25.
Morrisons to sponsor ITV series

12-Jul-2011
Morrisons is to sponsor a new ITV1 TV programme this summer called Born to Shine.
Sainsbury's parts ways with Jamie Oliver

12-Jul-2011
Sainsbury’s has ended its relationship with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver with the Christmas campaign being his final swan song after 11 years.
Inflation in June slightly down on May

12-Jul-2011
Inflation in June stood at 4.2%, down from 4.5% the previous month, according to the Office of National Statistics.
High street profit warnings soar

11-Jul-2011
Listed retailers issued more profit warnings in the first six months of the year than the whole of 2010 and double the number of 2009.
Body Shop profits up by a third

11-Jul-2011
The Body Shop has lifted profits by a third to £45.6m in the year to January 1, according to documents filed at Companies House.
Online grocery in London

27-Jun-2011
With Waitrose set to launch a full online offer within the M25, we look at what this means for Ocado
The Sting takes second store at Westfield Stratford

24-Jun-2011
Dutch fashion retailer The Sting is to take its second London store at Westfield Stratford.
Home Retail confirms Habitat deal, but rest of UK business enters administration

24-Jun-2011
Home Retail Group has confirmed that it has bought some parts of Habitat UK for £24.5m, but the rest of the business has entered administration.
Developing markets key as Tesco aims to deliver further growth

June 24 2011
Tesco is aiming to double its returns from the developing markets it operates in by opening smaller shops and focusing on store environment, online and supply chain efficiencies.
John Lewis hoists Westfield Stratford sign

June 24 2011
John Lewis unwrapped and hoisted the sign for its Westfield Stratford City store this week.
Co-op buys 3 Netto shops

23-Jun-2011
The Co-operative Group has bought three Netto stores from Asda for an undisclosed sum.
Haldanes enters administration

23-Jun-2011
Haldanes has gone into administration with 600 employees being made redundant.
Inflexion completes Ideal acquisition for £78.3m

23-Jun-2011
Private equity firm Inflexion has completed the acquisition of multichannel retailer Ideal Shopping Direct for £78.3m.
Argos owner in talks to buy Habitat

23-Jun-2011
Home Retail Group, owner of Argos and Homebase, is understood to be in talks to buy parts of the UK operation of Habitat in a deal worth £20m-£30m.
L’Occitane appoints former Blacks director to accelerate UK growth

23-Jun-2011
French cosmetics retailer L’Occitane has hired former Blacks Leisure retail director Joseph Ulloa to head up its UK business.
Sainsbury's strengthens online team with two appointments

23-Jun-2011
Sainsbury’s has hired former Ocado head of retail Jon Rudoe to strengthen is multichannel team.
Debenhams tables bid for Jane Norman

23-Jun-2011
Debenhams has tabled a bid to acquire the stock and brand of fashion chain Jane Norman, it is understood.
Asda clocks up £1bn ethnic and local produce sales

22-Jun-2011
Asda has clocked up £1bn of sales since it began working with local and ethnic suppliers, and it is gunning to reach a £500m annual sales target by 2013.
Asda takes market share hit

21-Jun-2011
Asda’s market share slipped in the latest Kantar figures from 16.7% last year to 16.3%, while the discounters stole a larger share of shopper spend.
Asda Income Tracker: Weekly spending power shows largest decline on record

21-Jun-2011
Consumers suffered a £14 a week fall in family spending power in May compared to the previous year – the largest decline on record.
Superdrug returns to profit in 2010

20-Jun-2011
Superdrug has returned to profit in the year to December 25, 2010, by improving margins and reducing operating costs.
Tesco launches Wimbledon strawberries and cream sarnie

20-Jun-2011
Tesco is celebrating the start of tennis tournament Wimbledon with the launch of a strawberries and cream sandwich.
Asda COO Simon King exits

20-Jun-2011
Asda chief operating officer Simon King has left the grocer just six months after joining.
Former Asda boss Andy Bond sets up investment vehicle

20-Jun-2011
Former Asda chief executive Andy Bond has set up a retail investment vehicle with a team of City bankers.
Boots UK appoints joint chief operating officers

17-Jun-2011
Alliance Boots health and beauty chief executive Alex Gourlay has appointed two chief operating officers to look after the day-to-day running of the Boots UK & Ireland business while he concentrates on future growth plans.
Waitrose kicks off online marketing campaign

June 17 2011
Waitrose has today kicked off a marketing campaign for its online grocery arm as it gears up to take on Ocado within the M25.
Click-and-collect

June 17 2011
Tesco is planning to accelerate the roll-out of click-and-collect, while fashion retailers are also getting in on the act as its value becomes clear
Darren Blackhurst

June 17 2011
The new Matalan boss is no stranger to the value proposition, but now he needs to use his trading skills to take on his former employees - the grocers. By Jennifer Creevy
Supply chain by sea: embracing the challenges

June 17 2011
Waitrose’s first wholly owned stores on the Channel Islands posed their own unique problems, not least supply chain by sea. Jennifer Creevy visited to see how it has embraced the challenges
Retail sales values up, but volumes flat

16-Jun-2011
The value of retail sales excluding petrol in May were up 2.4% on the previous year but flat in volume terms.
Protesters win review over Tesco Stokes Croft store

16-Jun-2011
Campaigners protesting against the Tesco store in Stokes Croft have won the right to have the granting of planning permission for the shop reviewed.
Sainsbury's like-for-likes up 1.9%, but warned of tough outlook

15-Jun-2011
Sainsbury’s has reported like-for-like sales in its first quarter excluding petrol up 1.9% in the 12 weeks to June 11, and warned the market remains very competitive reflecting the challenging economic backdrop.
Tesco kicks off Back to School campaign

15-Jun-2011
Tesco is gearing up for back to school in September with the launch of a one-price-fits-all school uniform priced at £4.50.
Tesco reports subdued UK sales, but international holds up

14-Jun-2011
Tesco has reported UK like-for-like sales excluding petrol and VAT down 0.1% in its first quarter to May 28, reflecting the subdued market.
Matalan EBITDA dips as snow hits Q4 trading

10-Jun-2011
Matalan has reported a 7.4% dip in EBITDA in its full year results, which the value retailer said reflected the impact of the snow in its fourth quarter.
City sceptical about HMV’s restructuring

June 10 2011
Questions remain over HMV’s long-term prospects despite its £220m lifeline
Morrisons kicks off own-brand review

9-Jun-2011
Morrisons is meeting with suppliers today to kick start a major own-brand review.
Haldanes blames Co-op for forcing it to file for administration order

9-Jun-2011
Convenience store group Haldanes has filed for an administration order, with the owners blaming the Co-op for its woes.
Wholesale florist bought out by grocer Morrisons

9-Jun-2011
Morrisons has bought wholesale flower business Flower World as a further step in its vertical integration strategy.
M&S to shake-up executive pay plan

9-Jun-2011
Marks & Spencer is to shake-up its executive pay plan, it is understood.
Asda sets up skills academy

9-Jun-2011
Asda has set up a skills academy in partnership with City & Guilds.
JD Sports like-for-likes dip in line with expectations

9-Jun-2011
JD Sports Fashion has suffered continued declining like-for-like sales but said trading is in line with expectations.
Halfords profits up 7.2% but retail sales remain tough

9-Jun-2011
Halfords has reported underlying pre-tax profit up 7.2% to £125.6m in its full year figures despite the tough trading environment.
Tesco appoints digital and marketing officer

7-Jun-2011
Tesco has appointed Matt Atkinson as group digital and marketing officer.
HMV secures refinancing lifeline

7-Jun-2011
HMV has been given a lifeline by its banks as it has secured a new two-year refinancing plan worth £220m.
Bad weather hits John Lewis sales

3-Jun-2011
John Lewis sales were down 0.8% for the week to May 28 as the bad weather hit and the department store chain was up against tough comparisons on the previous year with World Cup sales.
Halfords hit by £7.3m liability following Focus DIY collapse

June 3 2011
Halfords has been hit by a £7.3m liability following the collapse of Focus DIY.
Laura Ashley like-for-likes down 1.3% as it closes unprofitable stores

June 3 2011
Laura Ashley has reported like-for-like sales slid 1.3% in the 17 weeks to May 28, due largely to the closure of unprofitable stores.
Morrisons saves up promotions for shoppers’ payday blowout

June 3 2011
Morrisons has shaken up its promotional activity to tie in with the new shopper habits emerging in the tough economic climate.
Sir Stuart Rose calls for review into gap between executive and staff pay

2-Jun-2011
Former Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose has called for a review into the widening gap between executive pay and staff wages.
Shareholders force Tesco to alter directors’ remuneration package

2-Jun-2011
Tesco has simplified its remuneration packages for its executive directors after nearly a third of shareholders voted against its remuneration policy at last year’s AGM.
Burberry most popular FTSE 100 company on Facebook

1-Jun-2011
Luxury fashion retailer Burberry has emerged the most popular FTSE 100 company on Facebook with more than six million followers.
Topps Tiles profits and sales flat

1-Jun-2011
Topps Tiles has reported adjusted pre-tax profit edged down from £7.8m to £7.2m in its interim report for the 26 weeks to April 2.
Walmart gets green light for Massmart buy

31-May-2011
Walmart has been given the green light for its proposed $2.4bn merger with South African retailer Massmart, subject to certain conditions.
Sainsbury's to roll out click and collect

31-May-2011
Sainsbury’s is to roll out its click and collect service to 800 stores by Christmas.
Tesco to launch new brands

31-May-2011
Tesco is to launch a series of new brands over the next few weeks as it seeks to bolster its UK performance.
Tesco launches £30 version of Kate Middleton's dress

27-May-2011
Tesco is to launch a version of Kate Middleton’s £175 Reiss Shola dress next month for the bargain price of just £30.
Superdrug signs first million users for loyalty card

27-May-2011
Superdrug has signed up one million customers to its new Beautycard loyalty scheme since launching on May 11.
Asda to bring back imperial measures

27-May-2011
Asda is to return to pounds and ounces on its strawberries for the first time in 16 years.
George at Asda turns 21 and sparks new plans

May 27 2011
George at Asda managing director Andrew Moore has set out three key planks for growth as the brand celebrates its 21st birthday this week.
Malcolm Walker’s next summit

May 27 2011
As Iceland founder and chief executive Malcolm Walker returns from one feat - conquering Everest - he now faces another: the potential sale of failed bank Landsbanki’s 67% stake in the frozen food retailer.
New Holland & Barrett store highlights beauty

May 27 2011
Holland & Barrett has opened its first dedicated natural beauty floor to attract younger customers.
Sainsbury's hires MD for the north

26-May-2011
Sainsbury’s has hired Wickes operations director David Furness to be its new zone managing director for the north.
Sports Direct appoints non-exec

26-May-2011
Sports Direct has appointed a new non-executive director.
Kate Middleton's Reiss dress sells out

26-May-2011
Reiss reported that the dress Kate Middleton wore to meet Barack and Michelle Obama has sold out after customers rushed to its shops and crashed its website.
Co-op relaunches Truly Irresistible in sales push

26-May-2011
Co-operative Group has revamped its own-brand premium range this week to drive sales.
Government publishes draft grocery adjudicator bill

24-May-2011
The Government has published its draft Groceries Adjudicator Bill which aims to referee between grocers and suppliers.
Hard discounters and Waitrose post strong growth

24-May-2011
The two parallels of the hard discounters and upmarket grocer Waitrose powered ahead in the latest Kantar Worldpanel figures.
Walmart China suffers double departure

24-May-2011
Walmart’s China business has been hit by the sudden resignation of two senior executives.
Walmart to set up London team to look at acquisitions

23-May-2011
US giant Walmart is to set up a London team to launch into Europe.
Homebase hires Jo Kenrick as marketing director

13-May-2011
Homebase has hired former B&Q executive Jo Kenrick as its marketing director.
HMV receives £43m cash offer for Waterstone's

13-May-2011
HMV Group has received a £43m cash offer from Russian billionaire Alexander Mamut to buy Waterstone’s, according to reports.
The Hut hires Rothschild to advise on IPO

13-May-2011
Etailer The Hut has hired advisory firm Rothschild to prepare the company for a flotation later this year, it has been reported.
Tesco courts fashion brands

May 13 2011
Grocer targets mainstream clothing brands to sell online as it seeks to build credibility in fashion
Sainsbury’s to go ‘beyond food’ in search for growth

May 13 2011
Chief executive Justin King pledges to almost double sales from services, non-food and new ventures
Landsbanki committee appoints advisers for sale of Iceland Foods

12-May-2011
The Landsbanki resolution committee has hired UBS, Bank of America and Merrill Lynch to advise on the possible sale of Iceland Foods.
Supergroup growth slows in fourth quarter with lack of summer stock in stores

12-May-2011
Supergroup has reported its growth slowed in its fourth quarter as it opened fewer stores and did not get its summer stock quickly enough into shops for the warm weather.
Clinton Cards like-for-likes slip

12-May-2011
Clinton Cards has reported recent trading continued to be challenging resulting in group like-for-likes for the 40 weeks to May 8 down 3%, slightly lower than the 2.7% achieved in its first half.
Dixons UK like-for-likes slide in second half

12-May-2011
Dixons has reported UK & Ireland like-for-like sales were down 3% in the full year and down 7% in its second half but said its business is performing ahead of the market.
Sainsbury's profits up 9%

11-May-2011
Sainsbury’s has reported underlying pre-tax profit up 9% to £665m in its full year, saying it “outperformed the market in a challenging environment”.
H&M to open first UK concession in Selfridges

10-May-2011
H&M is to open its first UK concession in premium department store Selfridges at the end of August.
Video: Phil Clarke explains his strategy

10-May-2011
Tesco group chief executive Phil Clarke is continuing his policy of openness with a new video explaining his strategy on the grocer’s website.
Sainsbury's appoints new heads of clothing and GM

9-May-2011
Sainsbury’s has raided Littlewoods and John Lewis for two key roles in its clothing and general merchandise teams.
Asda introduces 6,000 apprenticeships

9-May-2011
Asda has pledged to introduce 6,000 apprenticeships by the end of this year, and up to 25,000 by the end of 2012 as it seeks to change the face of retail as a career choice.
Video: Iceland boss reaches Everest target

9-May-2011
Iceland chief executive Malcolm Walker and his son Richard have achieved their goal of reaching the summit of the North Col of Everest at 23,030 ft.
Darren Shapland steps down from Sainsbury's

9-May-2011
Sainsbury’s group development director Darren Shapland is to step down from his position.
Sainsbury's to host event to raise awareness of Paralympic Games

9-May-2011
Sainsbury’s is to host a family-friendly event in September to support its sponsorship of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Waitrose launches new convenience range

6-May-2011
Waitrose has launched a new range to support its ambitious growth in the convenience market.
Whole Foods Kensington store posts profit for first time

5-May-2011
UPDATED: Upmarket US grocer Whole Foods has signed for a store in Fulham in London and revealed that its flagship store in Kensington is now EBITDA positive.
James McCann steps down from Carrefour

5-May-2011
James McCann, one of Carrefour’s top-level executives, has stepped down from his role after little over a year.
All Saints sold to consortium led by Lion Capital

5-May-2011
All Saints has finally been sold to a consortium led by Lion Capital, it has been reported.
Sainsbury's launches 'Feed your family for £50 a week'

4-May-2011
Sainsbury’s has today launched a ‘Feed your family for £50 a week’ promotion where it claims shoppers can have three meals a day for an average of 60p per meal per person.
Sales of digital books soaring

4-May-2011
Sales of digital books are soaring in the UK, according to figures from The Publishers Association.
Blacks reduces full-year losses and confirms Julia Reynolds as new boss

4-May-2011
Blacks Leisure has reported a reduction in its full-year pre-tax loss and exceptional items to £6.6m from £14.4m the previous year but still suffered a “disappointing” year and has confirmed Julia Reynolds as its new chief executive.
Sainsbury's guns to become top five clothing retailer

3-May-2011
Sainsbury’s is gunning to become one of the UK’s top five clothing retailers as it expands its Tu fashion range.
Morrisons extends opening hours

3-May-2011
Morrisons has extended its opening hours at the majority of its 440 stores as it seeks to increase sales and productivity.
Tesco's US launch "foolhardy" says investor Warren Buffett

3-May-2011
Tesco has been urged by investor and America’s most revered businessman Warren Buffett to take a hard look at its struggling Fresh & Easy business in the US.
Thorntons warns on profits

3-May-2011
Thorntons’ own store sales like-for-likes fell 12.6% in its third quarter and the chocolatier warned on profits.
Musgrave profits up 3%

28-Apr-2011
Symbol group Musgrave has reported profits up 3% in its full year results, but sales down slightly.
Tesco ditches its 'double the difference' online price promise

28-Apr-2011
Tesco has ditched its double the difference price promise from its online price checker blaming a “cottage industry” of determined shoppers who have exploited the system.
John Lewis sales up 7.6%, Waitrose up 24.4%

28-Apr-2011
The John Lewis department store chain reported sales up 7.6% in the week to April 23 and sister grocer Waitrose reported a bumper uplift of 24.4% as the UK baked in the Easter sunshine.
Savers narrows full-year losses

26-Apr-2011
Value health and beauty retailer Savers has reported an operating loss before exceptionals, interest and tax of £7.8m in the year to December 25 but said the loss was expected as part of its turnaround plan.
37 Oddbins stores and business sold to Whittall's Wine Merchants

26-Apr-2011
The administrator of Oddbins has sold 37 stores and its assets to European Food Brokers, which trades as Whittall’s Wine Merchants.
Waitrose reports biggest ever Easter Saturday

26-Apr-2011
Waitrose sales for the week ending Saturday April 23 were £114.7m, up 10.6% on Easter last year.
Tesco UK chief hits out at Bristol store claims

26-Apr-2011
Tesco UK chief executive Richard Brasher has hit out against claims that the violent protests at its store in Bristol happened because the locals did not support its opening.
Flying Brands partners with Debenhams

21-Apr-2011
Multichannel retailer Flying Brands has struck a deal with department store chain Debenhams to offer a specialist wedding flower service across its stores.
Clarke: I’ll turn around Tesco in the UK

April 21 2011
New Tesco chief executive signals fresh approach and pledges to ‘do things differently’ to predecessor.
Shoppers to spend £480m celebrating Royal Wedding

20-Apr-2011
Shoppers are gearing up to spend a whopping £480m celebrating the Royal Wedding on Friday April 29.
Tesco reports £3.7bn profits, but UK can "do better"

19-Apr-2011
Tesco has reported trading profit up 7.8% to £3.7bn with strong growth in Asia, but the grocer said it needs to “do better” in the UK.
Morrisons kicks off Easter petrol campaign

18-Apr-2011
Morrisons has kicked off an Easter campaign offering customers 6p off each litre of fuel when they spend £40 or more in store from today [Monday April 18].
Asda to set out new strategy for online and financial services

18-Apr-2011
Asda has hired an Allan Leighton protégé to set out a new strategy for its online, home shopping and financial services divisions.
Feelunique.com sales and profits rise

17-Apr-2011
Online beauty retailer Feelunique.com has reported a rise in sales and profits for the year to the end of March 2011.
Sainsbury's casts slide rule over Iceland

15-Apr-2011
Sainsbury’s is to take a look at frozen food chain Iceland as it seeks to accelerate growth of its convenience format.
Tesco returns to focusing on fashion for mums with new F&F campaign

April 15 2011
Tesco is to change the focus of its fashion advertising to reconnect with its core clothing customers of mums with young families.
Flying Brands suffers difficult Q1

13-Apr-2011
Flying Brands has suffered a difficult first quarter with like-for-like orders excluding businesses acquired in 2010 slumping 19.8%below last year.
Waitrose sales soar 23.7% with barbecue and picnic fare

11-Apr-2011
The soaring temperatures helped lift Waitrose sales for the week ending Saturday April 10 by 23.7%.
Iceland founder's Everest expedition in jeopardy

11-Apr-2011
Iceland founder Malcolm Walker’s charity expedition to Everest is hanging in the balance following an accident close to the Nepal/ Tibet border.
Morrisons picks upmarket towns for c-store pilot

April 8 2011
Morrisons is to target well-heeled customers with its new convenience store format, with the first to open in the affluent Yorkshire town of Ilkley.
Peacock Group enters talks to sell Bonmarché to Duke Street

April 8 2011
The Peacock Group has entered exclusive talks with private equity investor Duke Street about a sale of its mature womenswear business Bonmarché.
Could JJB CVA start a trend?

April 8 2011
JJB Sports was handed a lifeline when its landlords voted in favour of its second CVA.
US DVD rental business Blockbuster sold to satellite broadcaster

7-Apr-2011
US DVD rental business Blockbuster, which went bankrupt last year, has been bought by US satellite broadcaster Dish Network after it won a $321m (£196m) auction.
Halfords Q4 retail like-for-likes down 6.8%

7-Apr-2011
Halfords has reported a tough fourth quarter with retail like-for-likes down 6.8%, and the cycles and automotive retailer is implementing a share buyback programme of up to £75m.
M&S general merchandise suffers but food holds up

6-Apr-2011
Marks & Spencer has reported a dip in general merchandise like-for-likes but food sales held up.
Midcounties Co-operative profits up 35%

5-Apr-2011
The Midcounties Co-operative has reported a 35% increase in trading profit to a record £26m.
Marks & Spencer considers new pay structure

1-Apr-2011
Marks & Spencer has started consulting shareholders over a new pay structure which could see executive remuneration linked more closely to performance, according to reports.
Tesco launches Easter Clubcard Voucher Exchange

1-Apr-2011
Tesco is launching an Easter Clubcard Voucher Exchange in a bid to ramp up sales over the bank holidays.
Updated: Alliance Boots boss Andy Hornby to step down from business

25-Mar-2011
Updated: Alliance Boots group chief executive Andy Hornby is to step down from the business, Retail Week has learned.
Tesco's price checker backfires

March 25 2011
Tesco has been forced to issue of flood of refunds after its efforts to go head-to-head with Asda’s price guarantee have backfired.
Sainsbury’s King warns slump in consumer confidence will persist

March 25 2011
Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King has signalled that consumer sentiment has collapsed since the beginning of the year and shows no signs of improvement.
George at Asda promotes careers in fashion with education drive

March 25 2011
George at Asda has thrown its weight behind the training and education of fashion students with the launch of an open-house Education Day and a fully funded university programme.
Small stores are big business

March 25 2011
The race for grocery space looks likely to be played out in the convenience sector in the next few years.
Vision Express hires chief to build brand

March 25 2011
Optical specialist Vision Express has hired former Greene King and Sainsbury’s director Jonathan Lawson as its new chief executive.
Shoppers complain over Waitrose's new website

24-Mar-2011
Waitrose has suffered a blow after customers complained of problems on its new £10m website, which was launched with much fanfare two weeks ago.
Kingfisher profits up 23%

24-Mar-2011
DIY giant Kingfisher has reported full-year pre-tax profits up 23% to £670m and said it will ramp up expansion and continue to focus on value for shareholders through the priorities of management, capital and returns.
Product launches

23-Mar-2011
Hype surrounding soon-to-launch products offers a wealth of opportunity for retailers to cash in on the demand
Inflation rises to 4.4%

23-Mar-2011
The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) annual rate of inflation rose to 4.4% in February, up from 4% in January.
New Look CEO Carl McPhail resigns

21-Mar-2011
New Look chief executive Carl McPhail has resigned, and founder Tom Singh returns to the business.
Sir Terry Leahy invests in homework site

21-Mar-2011
Sir Terry Leahy, who stood down from Tesco this month, has made his first significant investment since leaving the grocer.
All Saints in final negotiations with potential investors

21-Mar-2011
All Saints is understood to be finalising the terms of a potential £50m rescue deal to secure its long-term future.
Oddbins offers creditors £4.7m compensation pot in CVA

18-Mar-2011
Oddbins wants to close a third of its stores and creditors will be offered a stake in a £4.7m compensation pot as part of its company voluntary arrangement (CVA).
American Golf owner kicks off £80m sale talks

18-Mar-2011
Lloyds Development Capital is understood to have started talks with financial advisers over a sale of American Golf for up to £80m.
How Leahy made Tesco a global giant

March 18 2011
With its razor-sharp focus on the customer wherever they might be, Tesco now operates in 14 countries. Tim Danaher and Jennifer Creevy trace how a UK grocer now bestrides the globe
Asda set to open its first high street supermarket without car parking

March 18 2011
Asda is to open its first high street supermarket without car parking as it seeks to ramp up expansion.
How Leahy transformed Tesco’s business in the UK

March 18 2011
Terry Leahy was told Tesco had reached saturation point in the UK. Having developed non food, gone online and moved into services, he’s proved the doubters wrong.
Morrisons pushes online with stake in US etailer FreshDirect

March 18 2011
Morrisons is expecting to circumnavigate the pain of setting up an online food operation with the lessons it will learn from buying a 10% stake in US etailer FreshDirect.
Retailers and brands count cost of devastating Japan earthquake

March 18 2011
Retailers and luxury brands are taking a hit in Japan following the tragic earthquake and tsunami that has killed thousands of people and rocked the country.
Ocado poaches Simon Belsham from Tesco

17-Mar-2011
Ocado has poached Simon Belsham from Tesco to head up non-food as it seeks to ramp up its non-grocery offer.
Asda chief Andy Clarke says the future is local

17-Mar-2011
Asda chief executive Andy Clarke said the future of retail is local and supermarkets need to be clear about the role they play in local communities.
JJB unveils £65m new business plan

15-Mar-2011
JJB Sports has reported like-for-likes fell 13.5% from January 24 to March 13 as it issues its revised business plan and proposed financial arrangements.
Tesco's Mills Group acquisition given green light

14-Mar-2011
The Office of Fair Trading will not refer Tesco’s acquisition of Mills Group to the Competition Commission.
Superdrug launches new shopfit as part of ‘take another look’ strategy

March 11 2011
Superdrug is to unveil a new store format in southwest London on March 25 as part of its plans to encourage customers to “take another look” at the retailer.
John Lewis expands online with international delivery

March 11 2011
Retailer confident it can conquer US, Europe and Australia with ‘world class’ home product offer.
New plan for Leeds development anchored by M&S and John Lewis

March 11 2011
Developer Hammerson has resubmitted an outline planning application to Leeds City Council for a 1 million sq ft scheme that was mothballed during the recession.
Sainsbury's appoints Geraldine Higgins to clothing team

10-Mar-2011
Sainsbury’s has appointed former Matalan and Miss Etam buyer Geraldine Higgins to be its new head of buying for womenswear.
Flying Brands profits fall but sales nudge ahead

10-Mar-2011
Multichannel retailer Flying Brands has reported a fall in group pre-tax profit but sales nudged ahead.
Home Retail lowers forecasts after dip in sales at Argos

10-Mar-2011
Home Retail Group has lowered its year end forecast after Argos reported a dip in sales and trading conditions were more volatile than it expected.
Morrisons profits up and takes 10% stake in US online grocer

10-Mar-2011
Morrisons has reported a rise in annual profits and taken a 10% stake in US online grocer FreshDirect to help it build its online food offer in the UK.
Richard Hodgson

10-Mar-2011
Having played pivotal roles at Waitrose and Asda, Richard Hodgson is now at the heart of the next phase of Morrisons’ growth, in particular driving own-brand.
Asda given go-ahead from OFT for Netto conversions

9-Mar-2011
Asda’s acquisition of Netto has been cleared by the Office of Fair Trading and will not be referred to the Competition Commission.
John Lewis Partnership profits up 20%

9-Mar-2011
The John Lewis Partnership has reported profit before partnership bonus and tax up 20% to £367.9m, with staff receiving a bonus of 18% of salary.
Asda celebrates International Women's Day

8-Mar-2011
Asda is celebrating International Women’s Day today with the launch of several initiatives to recognise women’s equality.
Oddbins to close 39 shops

8-Mar-2011
Oddbins is to close 39 stores as part of its strategic review.
Forever 21 signs for store in Glasgow

7-Mar-2011
US fashion retailer Forever 21 is understood to have signed for its first store in Scotland.
Tesco pushes music companies to renegotiate CD deals

7-Mar-2011
Tesco is to demand that music companies to accept minimal upfront payments for the CDs they ship to the retailer in a deal that will test how record labels’ bargaining power has diminished alongside shoppers’ interest in CDs.
Marks & Spencer poaches Sara Bradley

7-Mar-2011
Marks & Spencer is understood to have poached Sara Bradley, former Sainsbury’s clothing boss, who was weeks away from joining Asda.
Sainsbury's launches into children's books

4-Mar-2011
Sainsbury’s has launched its first range of own brand pre-school children’s books as part of a wider initiative to increase own brand and branded books.
John Lewis appoints Paul Coby as IT director

4-Mar-2011
John Lewis has appointed former British Airways director Paul Coby as its IT director.
Video: New Tesco boss Phil Clarke talks about taking up the top job

4-Mar-2011
Tesco’s group chief executive Phil Clarke has sent out a video message on his first day in his new job.
Alworths in the balance?

March 4 2011
Future unclear for ‘son of Woolworths’ as founder resigns as director and restructuring looms.
The start of a new era for Tesco

March 4 2011
Phil Clarke has a hard act to follow succeeding Sir Terry Leahy. As he takes over the hottest seat in UK retail, Jennifer Creevy looks at the big issues he faces
Sir Terry Leahy checks out

3-Mar-2011
Sir Terry Leahy waved to staff as he left the Tesco head office in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire yesterday.
Retail bosses warn Treasury urgent action needed

3-Mar-2011
The chiefs of several major retailers have warned the Treasury that urgent action is needed to prevent a double-dip recession and the possible closure of thousands of shops.
Jamie Oliver returns in Sainsbury's Comic Relief ad

2-Mar-2011
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver will star in a new TV campaign for Sainsbury’s encouraging staff and shoppers to get into the Comic Relief spirit.
Woman smashes up shop because it ran out of her favourite cup cake

2-Mar-2011
Police are investigating after a shop worker was attacked by a shopper after she was told that they had sold out of her favourite cup cake.
Morrisons poised for £1bn share buy-back

2-Mar-2011
Morrisons is reported to be poised to return about £1bn to shareholders when it reveals its full-year results next week.
Sainsbury's teams up with Gok Wan

1-Mar-2011
Sainsbury’s has struck a deal with TV stylist Gok Wan which will see the celebrity design womenswear ranges for its Tu brand.
Clinton Cards to place Birthdays Ireland into liquidation

1-Mar-2011
Clinton Cards is to place its Birthdays Ireland chain into liquidation.
Sainsbury's and Morrisons outperform, while Tesco and Asda lag

1-Mar-2011
Sainsbury’s and Morrisons outperformed in the latest Kantar Worldpanel figures, while Tesco and Asda were slightly behind the market.
Alliance Boots strikes deal with Carrefour

28-Feb-2011
Alliance Boots has struck a deal with Carrefour that will see it develop the grocer’s global beauty operation.
Tesco launches offensive against Asda

28-Feb-2011
Tesco has today launched an offensive against rival Asda promising to pay shoppers “double the difference” on any products that are cheaper at the Walmart-owned grocer.
Ocado signs for new distribution spoke in Wimbledon

25-Feb-2011
Online grocer Ocado has signed for a new distribution spoke in south west London with capacity for 14,200 orders per week.
Asda Income Tracker: Family spending power fell by £9 a week in January

25-Feb-2011
The average family’s spending power fell by £9 per week in January, the largest fall on record and the second record breaking month in a row.
Co-op disposals spark convenience space race

February 25 2011
Big grocers circle 40 Co-op stores in drive for larger share of £32.1bn c-store market.
Morrisons to create ‘store of the future’ from pilot shops

February 25 2011
Morrisons is to develop a new-build ‘store of the future’ taking in learnings from its three ‘lab’ shops.
A glimpse of the Morrisons of the future

February 25 2011
As Morrisons boss Dalton Philips prepares to update the City, Jennifer Creevy visits the Leeds ‘lab store’ to reveal the direction he is taking the grocer in
Waitrose rebrands site as it takes on Ocado

February 25 2011
Waitrose is expecting growth of 30% year on year in its ecommerce division as it prepares to relaunch its website and take on Ocado inside the M25.
Morrisons to double its female senior managers

24-Feb-2011
Morrisons has committed to identifying future female business leaders and targeted to more than double its number of female senior managers by 2014.
Land of Leather brand up for sale

24-Feb-2011
The Land of Leather brand is up for sale, just over two years after the business collapsed into administration.
Tesco close to buying Polish chain

23-Feb-2011
Tesco is understood to be close to buying Polish retail chain Zabka from private equity firm Penta Investments.
Tesco creates t-shirt for Climate Week

23-Feb-2011
Tesco has teamed up with designer Eley Kishimoto to create a T-shirt for Climate Week in aid of the Environmental Justice Foundation.
Lloydspharmacy appoints head of retail

23-Feb-2011
Lloydspharmacy has appointed former Carphone Warehouse buyer Jeff Wemyss as head of retail.
Halfords appoints David Adams as non-exec

23-Feb-2011
Cycles and automotive retailer Halfords Group has appointed former House of Fraser deputy chief executive David Adams as a non-executive director.
Shoppers expecting food prices to rise, says IGD

22-Feb-2011
Most shoppers are expecting food prices to rise and are actively seeking out value to cope with it, according to IGD’s latest research.
Asda staff to share £26.9m bonus pot

22-Feb-2011
Asda staff are to share a £26.9m bonus pot this year.
Laura Wade-Gery

21-Feb-2011
With bold ecommerce growth on the agenda it’s little wonder Marks & Spencer has poached Tesco’s online pioneer to work her magic.
Kiddicare deal to take Morrisons international

February 18th 2011
Grocer sizes up non-food and online opportunities after Kiddicare acquisition
Clarke needs to convince UK still offers growth for Tesco

February 18th 2011
New Tesco chief executive Phil Clarke needs to do more to reassure the market about its performance and growth prospects in the UK, while also convince it of the virtues of its international operations, broker Barclays Capital said this week.
Portfolio shake-up and sharper promotions planned at Thorntons

February 18th 2011
Thorntons’ new chief executive Jonathan Hart has begun a strategic review of the chocolatier that will reshape its property portfolio and emphasise its “uniqueness”.
Morrisons to send top managers on cricket coaching course

17-Feb-2011
Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips is to send his top managers on cricket coaching courses to help them improve their management skills.
Tesco poised to be fastest growing global retailer

17-Feb-2011
Tesco is set to be the fastest growing retailer of the global grocery top four, according to research house IGD.
Sports Direct retail sales up 13.8%

17-Feb-2011
Sports Direct has reported retail sales up 13.8% to £371m in the 13 weeks to January 23.
Kingfisher expects profit to be at top end of expectations, despite B&Q hit by snow

17-Feb-2011
DIY group Kingfisher expects to report full year pre-tax profit at the top end of analyst expectations, despite B&Q being hit by the snowy weather in December.
B&Q to sell Royal Wedding gnomes

16-Feb-2011
B&Q is celebrating the Royal Wedding with the sale of a commemorative pair of gnomes.
Tesco's F&F sponsors LFW designer Mark Fast

15-Feb-2011
Tesco clothing brand F&F has teamed up with London-based knitwear designer Mark Fast to sponsor his autumn 11 catwalk show at London Fashion Week.
Morrisons buys Kiddicare for £70m

15-Feb-2011
Morrisons has bought online baby products retailer Kiddicare for £70m in the first step in developing the grocer’s etail operation.
John Lewis to open website to Europe

14-Feb-2011
John Lewis is to open up its website for international orders to 25 European countries, enabling it to gather data on which cities could support physical department stores.
Bargain Booze owner mulls sale

14-Feb-2011
Discount off licence chain Bargain Booze’s private equity owner is understood to be considering a sale of the business.
Waitrose to open first Channel Islands shop this week

14-Feb-2011
Waitrose will this week to open the first of five shops in the Channel Islands, its first company-owned shop outside the UK.
Asda hits back in row over price guarantee

February 11 2011
Asda marketing chief Rick Bendel is confident the advertising regulator will dismiss rivals’ complaints about its 10% cheaper guarantee.
Blacks Leisure chief executive Neil Gillis resigns

10-Feb-2011
Blacks Leisure chief executive Neil Gillis is to resign from the retailer.
Rick Bendel

10-Feb-2011
The Asda marketing veteran has become a driving force at parent Walmart, but can he counter the criticism of his current ‘baby’, the Asda Price Guarantee?
Sainsbury's to source all Fairtrade cotton from supplier in India

9-Feb-2011
Sainsbury’s is to source all of its Fairtrade cotton from a co-operative supplier in Gujarat, India.
Tesco completes sale and leaseback of 21 shops

9-Feb-2011
Tesco has completed a sale and leaseback transaction as it continues with its programme to release value from its UK property portfolio.
Sainsbury's sells Valentine heart-shaped cucumbers

9-Feb-2011
Sainsbury’s is offering shoppers “a whole new way to show your love this Valentine’s Day” with the launch of a heart-shaped cucumber.
Sainsbury's suffers setback in plans to move HQ to King's Cross

9-Feb-2011
Sainsbury’s has suffered a setback in its plans to move its head office to King’s Cross after a lack of buyers for its current Holborn location.
WHSmith buys 22 shops from British Bookshops & Stationers

8-Feb-2011
WHSmith has bought 22 shops and intellectual property from collapsed books chain British Bookshops & Stationers for £1.05m.
Shoppers gloomier in 2011 than last year, says IGD

7-Feb-2011
Shoppers are feeling a lot gloomier about their financial prospects this year compared to last, according to the IGD’s latest ShopperTrack research.
Brian McBride joins venture capital firm

7-Feb-2011
Brian McBride, former managing director of Amazon UK, is to join venture capital firm Scottish Equity Partners.
Morrisons sells Valentine Steak for romantics

4-Feb-2011
Morrisons is offering the ultimate gift for romantics this year, a Valentine Steak.
John Lewis weekly sales dip

February 4, 2011
John Lewis has reported a slight dip in sales for the week ending January 29 and warned that the year ahead will be more “testing”.
Matt Brittin

February 4, 2011
Sainsbury’s has scored a coup by persuading Google’s UK chief to join its board. Jennifer Creevy profiles ‘the most influential person in the digital world’
Ocado makes first quarterly profit as it bids to grow range

February 4, 2011
Online grocer Ocado has promised to focus on value, range and quality after it reported its first pre-tax profit of £300,000 in its fourth quarter.
Viscount's son jailed for defrauding Tesco

3-Feb-2011
A viscount’s son has been sent to jail for using his credit card to defraud grocer Tesco out of £355,000 for a music festival.
Sainsbury's ramps up promotions

3-Feb-2011
Sainsbury’s is offering romantics half price Champagne for Valentine’s Day alongside its other raft of promotions.
Morrisons to complain about Asda's 10% cheaper claim

3-Feb-2011
Morrisons has said it plans to follow Tesco and complain about new adverts from rival grocer Asda which claim to be 10% cheaper.
Asda told to make Price Guarantee clearer, rules ASA

2-Feb-2011
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that Asda must adapt some of its price guarantee adverts following complaints from some of its rivals.
JD in talks to buy JJB

2-Feb-2011
JD Sports Fashion has confirmed that it is in early talks to buy rival sports chain JJB Sports.
Republic appoints Guy Critchlow as COO

1-Feb-2011
Fashion retailer Republic has appointed Guy Critchlow, formerly at Marks & Spencer and Kookai, to the position of chief operating officer.
Supermarket sales dip in January

1-Feb-2011
Supermarket sales were suffered from a seasonal hangover with a dip of 0.2% in the four weeks to January 22 according to Nielsen’s grocery figures.
Sainsbury's increases market share, while Morrisons dips

1-Feb-2011
Sainsbury’s was once again the only one of the big four to increase market share at the start of the year, while Morrisons experienced a slight dip.
Asda launches dating website

1-Feb-2011
Asda has launched a dating website to pair up singles looking for love based on their shopping habits.
Ocado records pre-tax profit in Q4 and reduces full year losses

1-Feb-2011
Ocado has made a pre-tax profit in the fourth quarter of £300,000 and reduced pre-tax losses for the year by 52%.
Waitrose hits £5bn sales

31-Jan-2011
Waitrose notched up sales of over £5bn for the first time in the year to January 29.
Asda poaches Tesco's personnel director

31-Jan-2011
Asda has poached Tesco’s UK personnel director to be its HR director.
Morrisons veteran Mark Gunter to retire

31-Jan-2011
Morrisons group retail director Mark Gunter is to retire in June 2012.
Burberry to move into Habitat store on Regent Street

31-Jan-2011
Luxury fashion retailer Burberry is to take the store on Regent Street which is currently occupied by Habitat.
Hamleys up for sale

January 28 2011
Frozen food chain Iceland also up for sale as Landsbanki sells off assets as part of winding up process
Sir Terry Leahy calls on governments to ensure low-carbon growth

27-Jan-2011
Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy has called on governments around the world to work with private companies to ensure innovation in low-carbon growth is not hindered by red tape.
Tesco's incoming boss sets up executive committee

27-Jan-2011
Incoming Tesco group chief executive Philip Clarke has set up an executive committee to take effect on March 1 when he succeeds Sir Terry Leahy.
Asda Income Tracker: average family's spending power suffered largest fall on record in December

27-Jan-2011
The average family’s spending power fell by £8 per week in December, the largest fall on record since the Asda Income Tracker began in January 2007.
Sainsbury's appoints non-exec from Google

27-Jan-2011
Sainsbury’s has appointed Matt Brittin from Google as a non-executive director.
Haldanes readies hard discounter model Ugo

27-Jan-2011
Independent food group Haldanes is to invest in a raft of initiatives to revitalise the hard discounter model when it launches its “Netto plus” chain at the end of April.
Sainsbury's unveils Royal Wedding t-shirt

26-Jan-2011
Sainsbury’s has been caught by Royal Wedding fever and has designed a celebratory t-shirt in honour of the couple.
Neal's Yard hires new MD

26-Jan-2011
Neal’s Yard Remedies has appointed Carl Atkinson as its new managing director.
Barry Hartog to retire from Clinton Cards

26-Jan-2011
Clinton Cards group commercial director Barry Hartog is retiring from the board and will leave the retailer at the end of May.
Tesco slashes laptops and clothing prices

26-Jan-2011
Tesco is slashing prices on all laptops and adults’ clothing lines by 20%, which the grocer said gives customers a VAT-free deal.
SRC challenges Scottish levy

26-Jan-2011
The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has challenged Scottish finance secretary John Swinney to answer five key questions about the proposed retail levy when he appears at the Scottish Parliament later today.
Tesco to open new DC for dotcom and Express

25-Jan-2011
Tesco is to open a new distribution centre later this year to service its dotcom and Express businesses.
The Co-op launches new food range

25-Jan-2011
The Co-operative has introduced a new product range to reflect the British seasons.
Ocado shares rise amid bid speculation

25-Jan-2011
Online grocery giant Ocado’s shares have been driven higher than ever by a mixture of takeover and stake-building speculation.
Holland & Barrett like-for-likes up 2.3% in December

24-Jan-2011
Holland & Barrett reported like-for-like sales up 2.3% in December as shoppers sought out health foods over the festive period.
Superdrug Christmas like-for-likes up 1.7%

21-Jan-2011
Superdrug has reported like-for-like sales up 1.7% over Christmas.
Feelunique.com Christmas sales up 50%

21-Jan-2011
Online beauty retailer Feelunique.com has reported sales growth up 50% over the Christmas period, despite the snow.
HobbyCraft appoints new chief executive

21-Jan-2011
HobbyCraft has appointed former trading and marketing director at Pets at Home Catriona Marshall as its new chief executive.
Inflation threat could prompt trading down

January 21 2011
Shoppers are increasingly likely to switch supermarkets or swap to cheaper brands in the face of soaring food price inflation.
Tesco launches attack on Asda price promise

January 21 2011
Tesco has squared up to Asda by taking out double-page spreads in several national newspapers this week, challenging Asda’s claim to be 10% cheaper than its rivals.
Boots to upgrade its Treat Street website

January 21 2011
Boots UK is to update its technology and ramp up marketing plans for its Treat Street online operation, which allows its customers to collect Advantage Card points when shopping at other retailers.
Poor UK Christmas update prompts Tesco share drop

January 21 2011
Tesco’s disappointing UK Christmas update resulted in a 4% drop in its share price last Thursday but the grocer insisted its performance was a blip because of the snow.
Sir Stuart Rose joins Woolworths South Africa

20-Jan-2011
South African food and clothing retailer Woolworths Holdings has appointed former Marks & Spencer chairman and chief executive Sir Stuart Rose as a non-executive director.
EBay reports strong Christmas, led by fashion

20-Jan-2011
Etail giant eBay has reported a strong fourth quarter in the UK. Sales rose 170%, led by fashion as sales of clothes, shoes and accessories outperformed.
Leading record companies lend backing to HMV

20-Jan-2011
The chiefs of seven leading record companies have come out in support of HMV, saying that they are continuing to supply the retailer as normal and praising the unique role it plays in supporting the music industry in the UK.
Laura Ashley profits to beat expectations

20-Jan-2011
Strong trading over Christmas means fashion and homewares business Laura Ashley now expects full year pre-tax profit to be “significantly higher” than previously expectated.
Primark Christmas sales leap but rising cotton prices pose threat

20-Jan-2011
Primark has reported first quarter sales up 12% year on year despite the snowy pre-Christmas weather, but warned that higher cotton prices are expected to affect margins.
The Co-op appoints Gill Barr as marketing director

19-Jan-2011
The Co-operative Group has appointed Gill Barr as its group marketing director.
Tesco's JV with British Land refinances 8-store portfolio

19-Jan-2011
Tesco’s joint venture company with British Land, BLT Properties, has refinanced its superstores portfolio.
Comet like-for-likes slump 7.3%

19-Jan-2011
Electricals chain Comet has reported a slump in like-for-like sales of 7.3% over Christmas, hit by the bad weather and intense promotional activity.
Retailers to be banned from selling cheap alcohol

18-Jan-2011
Retailers are to be banned from selling alcohol below a minimum price for the first time, under Government plans to be revealed today.
The Perfume Shop Christmas like-for-likes up 2%

17-Jan-2011
The Perfume Shop reported like-for-like sales up 2% for the four weeks to January 1, driven by classic fragrances and gift sets.
Asda HR director leaves

17-Jan-2011
Asda’s HR director left the grocer last week to seek opportunities in Europe.
Boots UK December like-for-likes up 3.8%

17-Jan-2011
Health and beauty giant Boots UK reported like-for-like retail sales up 3.8% in December, with fragrances and beauty electricals performing well.
The Original Factory Shop Christmas like-for-likes up 5%

17-Jan-2011
The Original Factory Shop has reported like-for-like sales up 5% over the Christmas period with sales of outdoor products strong in the snow.
Sainsbury’s to invest in own-brand after record Christmas

January 14 2011
Grocer to build on its bumper Christmas after overtaking Asda as second biggest supermarket
Ocado beats the bears

January 14 2011
If there is one retailer that could have convincingly used the snow as an excuse for lost sales over the Christmas period it is Ocado.
Sainsbury’s open first sandwich shop

13-Jan-2011
Sainsbury’s has opened its first sandwich shop this morning in Fleet Street, nearby to its Holborn head office.
Co-op sales hit by bad weather

13-Jan-2011
The Co-operative Group has reported like-for-like sales fell 3.2% in its food division for its fourth quarter, saying the weather took its toll on footfall and spending patterns.
Tesco reports modest Christmas growth

13-Jan-2011
Tesco has reported modest growth over Christmas with UK like-for-like sales for the six weeks to January 8 up 0.6%, saying it was “hindered” by the snow.
Asda sells 39 Netto stores as part of OFT disposal deal

12-Jan-2011
Asda has sold 39 out of the 47 Netto stores it had to dispose of as part of its £778m acquisition in summer last year.
Tesco explores opening in Vietnam

12-Jan-2011
Tesco is understood to be looking to open in Vietnam, in a move that would extend its empire to 15 countries.
Sainsbury's reports record Christmas

12-Jan-2011
Sainsbury’s has reported a record Christmas with like-for-like sales excluding petrol up 3.6% for its third quarter in the 14 weeks to January 8.
Sainsbury's emerges Christmas winner, says Kantar

11-Jan-2011
Sainsbury’s has emerged the Christmas winner among the big four grocers as it was the only one to have increased its market share over the festive period, according to Kantar Worldpanel.
Dunelm's Christmas like-for-likes slide

11-Jan-2011
Dunelm Group has reported a like-for-like sales fall of 4.2% in its second quarter over the Christmas period, resulting in a like-for-like dip of 1.2% for its first half.
Tesco China boss Ken Towle to move back to UK to head online

10-Jan-2011
Tesco China chief executive Ken Towle is to return to the UK to take over the online operation under the newly-created role of director of internet retailing.
Ocado Christmas sales up 26.7%

10-Jan-2011
Ocado has reported gross sales up 26.7% to £50.9m in the four weeks to December 26, with gross sales of £12.3m, up 43.5%, in Christmas week itself.
Morrisons Christmas like-for-likes up 1%

10-Jan-2011
Morrisons has reported like-for-like sales up 1% in the six weeks to January 2, saying it served an average of two million more customers each week over the Christmas period than five years ago.
Sainsbury's emerges Christmas winner, according to Nielsen

7-Jan-2011
Sainsbury’s has emerged the Christmas winner out of the big four grocers according to market research company Nielsen.
Tesco unveils UK board appointments

7-Jan-2011
Tesco has made a raft of appointments in its newly-created UK board, under UK chief executive Richard Brasher.
Grocers slash prices in battle to keep customers spending

January 7 2011
Morrisons vows to help shoppers beat VAT rise while Asda guarantees to be cheaper than competitors
Tesco promotes insider to new role of UK chief operating officer

January 7 2011
Incoming Tesco UK chief executive Richard Brasher has drafted in a Tesco lifer to the newly created role of UK chief operating officer.
Tesco is still the food retail star

January 7 2011
Predictably the new year not only started with the VAT rise but also with a pledge from Tesco to save customers money by slashing prices.
Morrisons makes four senior appointments

6-Jan-2011
Morrisons has made four senior appointments as new chief executive Dalton Philips bolsters his team.
Lush Christmas sales up 6.8%

6-Jan-2011
Ethical cosmetics retailer Lush has reported UK retail sales excluding VAT up 6.8% for the key Christmas trading month of December.
Majestic Wine reports strong Christmas

6-Jan-2011
Majestic Wine has reported strong Christmas with like-for-like UK sales for the nine weeks to January 3 up 3.7%.
Clinton Cards warns on profits

6-Jan-2011
Clinton Cards has warned its pre-tax profits will be “significantly lower” than market expectations after the snow hit its December sales.
Mothercare issues profit warning

6-Jan-2011
Mothercare has warned its profits will be below expectations after the snow impacted its third quarter like-for-likes by around 4%.
Asda vows to be 10% cheaper than its rivals

6-Jan-2011
Asda has thrown down the gauntlet to its rivals promising its customers that it will be 10% cheaper than its competitors.
John Lewis reports "outstanding" Christmas and Clearance Sales

5-Jan-2011
John Lewis has reported like-for-like sales up 7.6% over Christmas in the five weeks to January 1.
Waitrose new year like-for-likes up 5.9%

5-Jan-2011
Waitrose reported like-for-like sales up 5.9% on the five days between Christmas and up to December 31, driven by New Year’s Eve party products including Champagne and party food.
Andy Bond steps down as Asda chairman

4-Jan-2011
Asda chairman Andy Bond has stepped down from his position to focus on Walmart’s Massmart acquisition in South Africa and will leave once that deal is completed, expected at the end of March.
The Co-op launches food ad campaign

4-Jan-2011
The Co-operative Group has launched an advertising campaign for its food stores focusing on the importance of celebrating quality family time.
Morrisons launches biggest ever Price Crunch

4-Jan-2011
Morrisons is pledging to cancel out the effects of today’s rise in VAT by slashing prices, with January savings totalling £210m.
Tesco kicks off £340m of price cuts

4-Jan-2011
Tesco has kicked off a £340m investment to cut several product lines in a new year blitz.
Musgrave appoints marketing director

17-Dec-2010
Musgrave Retail Partners GB has appointed Anna Burleigh as marketing director.
ACS calls for OFT to investigate Tesco's Mills acquisition

17-Dec-2010
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called for the Office of Fair Trading to intervene in Tesco’s acquisition of convenience store chain Mills Group.
Morrisons hunts for brand director as part of management overhaul

December 17 2010
Morrisons has kicked off a search for a brand director as chief executive Dalton Philips shakes up his management team to position the grocer for future growth.
Nisa-Today launches first TV ad campaign

December 17 2010
Symbol group Nisa-Today is to embark on its first TV advertising campaign as it guns to build its brand profile with consumers and sign up new retailer members.
Tesco among last bidders for Poland's Zabka chain

15-Dec-2010
Tesco and Carrefour are among the final four bidders for Poland’s Zabka retail chain, it is understood.
Co-op to create 7,000 jobs

14-Dec-2010
The Co-operative Group is to create 7,000 jobs as it gears up to take on the big four grocers.
Carpetright profit slides

14-Dec-2010
Carpetright group pretax profit fell from £11m to £9.8m in the 26 weeks to October 30.
Walmart closes Moscow office

13-Dec-2010
Walmart is to close its office in Moscow, but said that it remains interested in entering the Russian market through “an attractive acquisition”.
Iceland in takeover talks

13-Dec-2010
Iceland is reportedly in talks with Middle East investors over a potential sale of the chain for up to £1.5bn.
The Body Shop seeks growth in India

13-Dec-2010
The Body Shop is gunning to reach 150 stores by 2014 in India.
Grocers suspend Scotland orders due to snow

13-Dec-2010
Tesco and Sainsbury’s have stopped taking orders on their websites from customers in Scotland, because of the bad weather.
Beverley Aspinall

December 10 2010
The former John Lewis stalwart has turned Fortnum & Mason around and with bold international and multichannel plans there is growth to come. Jennifer Creevy reports
Tesco hit with complaints over voucher redemption

9-Dec-2010
Tesco has been swamped with complaints over the way it has handled its Big Christmas Exchange Voucher campaign redemption.
HMV like-for-likes slump 16%, and losses at the group widen

9-Dec-2010
HMV UK & Ireland like-for-like sales for the 26 weeks to October 23 have slumped 16.1%, and losses have widened across the group.
Shop price inflation dips in November as retailers ramp up promotions

8-Dec-2010
Overall shop price inflation fell to 2% in November from 2.2% in October, outlining that retailers are running discounts and promotions in the highly competitive run up to Christmas.
Co-op trials city-centre home shopping service

7-Dec-2010
The Co-operative Group is to trial a home delivery service to shoppers living and working in Manchester city centre.
Tesco market share up, Morrisons share down

7-Dec-2010
Tesco has increased market share for the first time since May, while Morrisons market share has slipped for the first time since the end of 2007.
Asda director Doug Gurr to leave in January

7-Dec-2010
Asda executive director Doug Gurr is to leave the business in January.
Holland & Barrett expands into Cyprus

7-Dec-2010
Holland & Barrett has expanded into Cyprus via a franchise agreement.
Shoppers plan to spend more on Christmas meal but rein in spend on presents

7-Dec-2010
Three-quarters of shoppers are planning to spend more or the same on their Christmas meal this festive period compared to last year, according to the latest IGD ShopperTrack.
Tesco reports improving UK sales as international remains strong

7-Dec-2010
Tesco has reported improving sales in the UK in its third quarter, while its international markets delivered a “strong performance”.
Sainsbury's changes logo for Shrek film release

6-Dec-2010
Sainsbury’s has altered its logo for a promotion advertising the film release of Shrek Forever After.
Tesco sells canoes to promote its GB Canoeing sponsorship

6-Dec-2010
Tesco is to sponsor GB Canoeing for the next two years in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics and will sell a range of canoes and kayaks to promote the sport.
Retailers found charging different prices across the country

6-Dec-2010
High street retailers are charging different prices across the country with some stores pricing items 80% higher than in others, according to reports.
Tesco shop roof collapses in Scunthorpe under weight of snow

3-Dec-2010
Part of the roof of a Tesco store in Scunthorpe has collapsed due to the snow.
Retailers face shortages as ports forced to shut in severe weather

3-Dec-2010
High street retailers face Christmas shortages of toys, clothing, electrical goods and furniture after the snow caused several of the UK’s largest ports.
Grocery spend will top £180bn by 2015

3-Dec-2010
Consumers will spend £182.7bn in grocery retailers by 2015, an average annual growth of 3.9%, according to grocery research house IGD.
Waitrose weekly sales up 11%

3-Dec-2010
Waitrose total sales were up 11% last week, driven by shoppers stocking up on wintry foods for the cold weather.
Paul Mason

December 3 2010
After a successful career working for some of the biggest high street names, Paul Mason is set to be appointed chairman at Cath Kidston.
Sainsbury’s loses its clothing and homewares directors

December 3 2010
Blow to supermarket’s non-food ambitions as Sara Bradley and Adrian Mountford defect to rivals
Supermarkets lift local trade, research claims

December 3 2010
Supermarkets built in edge of town centre locations do not lead to the decimation of local trade or the crumbling health of the town centre’s retail offer, a report published this week claimed.
Tesco leads overseas charge

December 3 2010
Fresh from being shown around its Asian operations, brokers agree that international is Tesco’s most significant growth opportunity.
John Lewis reports flat week so far, with sales hit by snow

2-Dec-2010
John Lewis has reported flat sales from Sunday to Wednesday compared with last year, as the snow impacted footfall and sales.
Walmart trials new format in China

2-Dec-2010
Walmart has embarked on a new strategy in China in a bid to reach lower-income and rural shoppers.
OFT hits out at misleading price promotions

2-Dec-2010
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has sent a stark warning to retailers about misleading price promotion offers.
JJB likely to breach banking covenants

2-Dec-2010
JJB Sports has said it is likely it will breach its banking covenants as trading conditions have remained challenging and like-for-like sales remained below expectations.
Fortnum & Mason records first profit in six years

1-Dec-2010
Luxury department store Fortnum & Mason has recorded a profit for the first time in six years alongside record sales.
KPMG earns £11.3m fees from First Quench collapse

1-Dec-2010
Accountancy firm KPMG earned fees of £11.3m from the administration of off licence group First Quench.
The Co-op launches £200m Christmas promotional package

1-Dec-2010
The Co-operative Group is offering shoppers a £200m Christmas promotional package.
London's West End retailers score £250m weekend sales

29-Nov-2010
Retailers in London reported a bumper start to the festive shopping season with shoppers splashing out more than £250m in the West End over the weekend.
Value of online grocery sales to double to £9.5bn

29-Nov-2010
The value of grocery shopping on the internet is predicted to nearly double to £9.5bn in five years, according to grocery research house IGD.
John Lewis records weekly sales of £100m

29-Nov-2010
John Lewis sales for the week ending Saturday November 27 were just shy of £100m, showing shoppers were not deterred by the snowfall across the country.
John Lewis plans spas to create in-store theatre

26-Nov-2010
Department store chain to open beauty spas and hairdressers in bid to differentiate itself
Halfords puts acquisitions on hold to make core business top priority

November 26 2010
Halfords has put potential acquisitions on the back burner as it focuses on the core business.
Marketplaces

November 26 2010
A marketplace lets retailers be seen as a one-stop-shop for shoppers to source a particular product, but etailers need to avoid the potential pitfalls
Tesco Asia trip shows grocer is realising global rewards

November 26 2010
Analysts believe Tesco is “beginning to enjoy the benefits of its global scale” after the grocer ran an investor trip to Asia this week.
Tesco predicts biggest ever Christmas

25-Nov-2010
Tesco is predicting its biggest ever Christmas this year, backed by extended opening hours, expanded ranges and more services on offer.
John Lewis mid-week sales up 12%

25-Nov-2010
John Lewis has reported sales up 12% from Sunday to Wednesday this week, with trade strong across its sectors.
Kiddicare launches app and mobile site

24-Nov-2010
Online nursery retailer Kiddicare has today launched an iPhone app and mobile friendly version of its site.
Tesco's £16 Kate Middleton copycat dress sold out online in an hour

24-Nov-2010
Tesco’s £16 F&F dress in the style of the one Kate Middleton wore to announce her engagement sold out online in just one hour on Monday.
Asda income tracker: average UK family had £4 a week less to spend in October compared to 2009

24-Nov-2010
The average UK family had £4 a week less to spend in October compared to a year ago, according to the Asda Income Tracker.
Netto appoints new MD to lead Asda transition

23-Nov-2010
Netto UK’s parent company has appointed the hard discounter’s property director as managing director to oversee the integration to Asda.
Kurt Geiger sales soar as festive party season begins

23-Nov-2010
Kurt Geiger said Christmas would be strong for the footwear group after like-for-like sales soared 30% in the week commencing November 15 and the festive party season kicked off.
Tesco to quadruple sales in China

23-Nov-2010
Tesco plans to quadruple its sales in China to £4bn within five years.
Tesco readies 'quad ploughs' to cope with expected heavy snowfall

22-Nov-2010
Tesco has invested £1.3m to help its stores, dotcom operation and shoppers cope with the heavy snowfall expected this winter.
Sainsbury's to open food colleges

22-Nov-2010
Sainsbury’s is to open six food colleges across the UK and hire a further 500 staff.
Musgrave shuffles board roles

19-Nov-2010
Musgrave Group has appointed Donal Horgan managing director of the GB operation, replacing Phil Smith who has resigned.
Walmart's Jack Shewmaker dies

19-Nov-2010
Jack Shewmaker, one of Walmart’s leading figures, has passed away.
OFT shelves price-fixing investigation

19-Nov-2010
A multi-million pound investigation by the Office of Fair Trading into price-fixing allegations in the supermarket sector has been axed.
Majestic grabs share for first time in decade

November 19 2010
Majestic Wine has grown market share for the first time in 10 years after reducing its minimum order requirement and one of its key competitors exiting the market.
Spar UK MD Jerry Marwood to step down in summer 2011

November 19 2010
Spar UK managing director Jerry Marwood will step down from the symbol group in summer next year after more than a decade at the business.
Tesco to take on Amazon with online marketplace

November 19 2010
Grocer readies attack on etail giants with its own take on an online marketplace
Will Kernan

November 19 2010
The high energy COO has more than made his mark at New Look and remains confident of its future despite a recent drop in like-for-likes.
Holland & Barrett to launch 'buy one, get one for a cent' promotion in Ireland

18-Nov-2010
Holland & Barrett is to launch a ‘buy one, get one for a cent’ promotion in Ireland as it seeks to drive sales in the tough market.
Tesco to sell £16 copy of Kate Middleton's engagement dress

18-Nov-2010
Excited brides-to-be can snap up a similar dress to the one Kate Middleton wore to announce her engagement to Prince William for the bargain price of just £16.
Halfords profits up, like-for-likes fall

18-Nov-2010
Halfords has reported pre-tax profit up 12.8% to £68.7m, but like-for-likes suffered, falling 4.9%.
Spar UK confirms Jerry Marwood to stand down

18-Nov-2010
Spar UK has confirmed that UK managing director Jerry Marwood is to stand down after nearly nine years at the helm, as revealed by Retail Week on Tuesday.
Arcadia profits climb 6.4%

18-Nov-2010
Fashion chains Topshop and Topman had their best ever years in the 12 months to August 28, as pre tax profits at parent Arcadia Group climbed 6.4% to £213.2m.
Updated: Forever 21 confirms it will open in London's Oxford Street

17-Nov-2010
Updated: US fast fashion retailer Forever 21 has confirmed it has signed for a flagship store in London’s Oxford Street, currently occupied by HMV.
Spar UK MD to stand down

16-Nov-2010
Jerry Marwood, UK managing director of symbol group Spar, is understood to be stepping down from the business, Retail Week has learnt.
Asda Q3 like-for-likes up 1.3%

16-Nov-2010
Asda has reported like-for-like sales excluding petrol up 1.3% in its third quarter, reversing the declining sales trend it suffered earlier in the year.
The Co-op to open in The Strand

16-Nov-2010
The Co-operative Group has signed a contract with The Crown Estate to open a store in The Strand, London.
Debenhams launches 'Christmas Spectacular' Sale

16-Nov-2010
Debenhams is to launch its first ‘Christmas Spectacular’ Sale on Wednesday, offering price cuts of up to 25%.
Sainsbury's Christmas ad shows Jamie Oliver in fairytale festive party

15-Nov-2010
Sainsbury’s will air its first Christmas ad this evening which will see celebrity chef Jamie Oliver deliver a fairytale Christmas.
Majestic Wine profits up 20%

15-Nov-2010
Majestic Wine has reported pre-tax profit up 20% to £7.3m in its interim results as the specialist becomes more accessible to new customers.
Tesco considers drive-thru launch at dotcom-only stores

12-Nov-2010
Tesco is considering opening drive-thru pick up areas at its dotcom only stores in the latest plan to further grow its multichannel operations by providing customers with new ways to shop.
Feelunique.com guns for growth in bid to dominate online beauty

November 12 2010
Etailer Feelunique.com is gunning to become the “household name for beauty products” as it lays out its growth strategy for the next five years.
Sainsbury’s looks beyond China for further emerging markets

November 12 2010
Sainsbury’s is to explore other emerging markets alongside China as it seeks to outline long-term growth opportunities for the business.
Spaced out

November 12 2010
As the big four grocers battle it out in a race for space and online-only specialists increase their virtual capacity, Jennifer Creevy looks at whether returns will end up being hit
Waitrose Q3 like-for-likes up 4.4%

11-Nov-2010
Waitrose has reported like-for-like sales for its third quarter were up 4.4%, driven by new customers and larger basket sizes.
Charles Kay steps down from Netto UK

11-Nov-2010
Charles Kay, managing director of Netto UK, has stepped down from the business, just six months after the hard discounter was sold to grocer Asda.
JJB issues profit warning

11-Nov-2010
JJB Sports has issued a profit warning after like-for-like sales in its current trading period were lower than anticipated.
Sainsbury's profits up 8% with customer numbers at all-time high

10-Nov-2010
Sainsbury’s has reported an 8.1% increase in underlying pre-tax profit to £332m in its interim results, with customer numbers at an all-time high.
The Hut Group buys Lookfantastic.com in £19.4m deal

9-Nov-2010
The Hut Group has bought health and beauty etailer Lookfantastic Group in a £19.4m deal.
Grocery sales grew 4.1% in four weeks to October 30

9-Nov-2010
Sales in the grocery sector grew at 4.1% in the four weeks to October 30 as Halloween promotions helped keep the market steady, according to research house Nielsen.
Sainsbury's grows ahead of market

9-Nov-2010
Sainsbury’s was the only grocer out of the big four to build its market share again in the latest Kantar Worldpanel grocery figures.
Primark profits up 35%

9-Nov-2010
Primark has reported an 18% increase in sales and like-for-likes up 6% for the year ending September 18.
Just a third of former First Quench stores trading as off licences after collapse

8-Nov-2010
Just one year after the collapse of Threshers owner First Quench Retailing, only a third of the stores are trading as off licences.
Retail leaders join Prime Minister on China trip

8-Nov-2010
Leading retail figures are accompanying Prime Minister David Cameron on a trip to China today in a bid to secure their growth in the burgeoning Chinese market.
Tesco launches Tesco Direct mobile site

8-Nov-2010
Tesco has today launched a mobile optimized version of its Tesco Direct website.
Consumer confidence falls over job fears

5-Nov-2010
An increase in the number of people fearing for their jobs has driven a fall in consumer confidence, according to the latest Consumer Confidence Survey from Nielsen and the British Retail Consortium.
Blacks boss says bid interest shows turnaround has begun

November 5 2010
Blacks chief executive Neil Gillis said the bid interest in the outdoor retailer was a sign that the turnaround plan was working.
Boots banks on its gift ranges to secure Christmas market share

5-Nov-2010
Alliance Boots expects its “strong fun gifts” range to lift sales this Christmas and is confident of grabbing market share in the festive period.
Christmas shopping events

November 5 2010
It may be too soon to put up the Christmas lights, but it’s not too soon for retailers to plan how they can capitalise on the festive events geared to get shoppers spending
Co-founder steps down from My-wardrobe.com

November 5 2010
My-wardrobe.com co-founder Andrew Curran is stepping down from the fashion etail business to take up an advisory role at luxury homewares etailer Amara.
Alliance Boots health and beauty sales up 2%

3-Nov-2010
Alliance Boots has reported sales up 2% in its health and beauty division to £3.637m in its mid-year update with like-for-like sales for Boots UK up 1.8%.
Boots evolves 'Here come the girls' campaign for Christmas ad

2-Nov-2010
Boots UK has evolved its ‘Here come the girls’ campaign for this Christmas aiming to celebrate how the retailer can help women feel good during the festive period.
John Lewis raises second-half expectations

2-Nov-2010
John Lewis has raised its second-half sales expectations as it believes its core middle-income shoppers will be less scathed by the austerity measures than it first feared.
Asda appoints former Tesco man as COO

1-Nov-2010
Asda has appointed Simon King as its chief operating officer.
Tesco Christmas TV ad stars Amanda Holden

1-Nov-2010
Tesco has signed up actress Amanda Holden to star in its Christmas TV campaign alongside its existing duo Fay Ripley and Mark Addy.
M&S mulls plot to return to Europe

1-Nov-2010
Marks & Spencer is understood to be plotting a return to mainland Europe by buying back shops that it sold almost 10 years ago, according to reports.
Consumer confidence edges up in October

29-Oct-2010
Consumer confidence rose by one point in October, according to the GfK NOP Consumer Confidence Index.
Shore Capital hires new retail analyst

29-Oct-2010
Broker Shore Capital Markets has hired a new retail analyst.
Asda trials Argos-style ordering service

29-Oct-2010
Asda is trialling an Argos-style in-store ordering service in three stores in the north of England.
Cold weather boosts John Lewis and Waitrose

29-Oct-2010
John Lewis has delivered weekly sales up 9.7% as the cold weather drove a “strong seasonal uplift in trade”.
Morrisons innovations go on show at Leeds store ‘lab’ trial

October 29 2010
First fruits of Philips’ experimentation drive include vegetables displayed on ice at Kirkstall store
Christmas advertising campaigns

October 29 2010
As the growth of Christmas ad spend slows, how are retailers making the most of their budgets and catching the eye of the consumer?
Tesco to release Coronation Street album

28-Oct-2010
Tesco is to release an exclusive album to celebrate the 50th anniversary of favourite soap opera Coronation Street.
Five Stokes stores sold to Argyle Trading

28-Oct-2010
The administrators of independent grocer Stokes has sold five stores to Argyle Trading.
Go Outdoors emerges as bidder for Blacks

28-Oct-2010
Privately-owned specialist retailer Go Outdoors has emerged as a bidder for Blacks, Retail Week has learned.
Ahrendts salutes Burberry's 'style, structure and values'

27-Oct-2010
Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts outlined the soft strategies the fashion retailer has focused on during the recession at the World Retail Congress in Berlin.
Focus on staff key to recovery, says Maxeda CEO Tony DeNunzio

26-Oct-2010
A focus on staff, brand and the customer is the key to a successful retail recovery, according to a panel of leading retailers.
Tesco launches £1.3bn Christmas promotional campaign

22-Oct-2010
Tesco is claiming to save customers £1.3bn this Christmas with festive promotions and Clubcard deals.
Amazon reports 16% Q3 profit rise

22-Oct-2010
Online giant Amazon reported a 16% rise in third-quarter profit, as its e-book reader Kindle bolsters sales.
Holland & Barrett owner eyes £1bn sales for next five years

October 22, 2010
Holland & Barrett owner NBTY Europe is targeting £1bn of sales over the next five years following its takeover by US private equity firm Carlyle Group.
Grocer Stokes goes into administration

20-Oct-2010
Family-owned independent grocer Stokes has gone into administration.
Asda Income Tracker: Families £4 a week worse off in September

20-Oct-2010
Families suffered a £4 a week decline in spending power in September compared with the same month a year ago, according to the Asda Income Tracker.
Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy sells £3.3m of shares

20-Oct-2010
Tesco outgoing chief executive Sir Terry Leahy sold £3.3m shares yesterday in the retail giant he has run for the past 13 years.
Online sales expected to be 16% up at Christmas

19-Oct-2010
Online sales at Christmas are expected to be 16% higher than last year as shoppers hunt for bargains, according to IMRG.
Retail theft costs UK stores £4.4bn a year

19-Oct-2010
Retail theft costs UK stores £4.4bn in the year to the end of June, according to a survey of 42,000 European retailers.
Blacks Leisure in sale talks

19-Oct-2010
Blacks Leisure has appointed corporate advisory firm McQueen to advise on a possible sale of the company after receiving multiple bid approaches.
Retailers back coalition's public spending cuts

18-Oct-2010
Senior retailers are backing the coalition’s public spending cuts saying that anything less would result in £100bn of additional debt, a rise in interest rates and further tax rises.
Gap guns for international and online sales

15-Oct-2010
Gap is gunning to increase its share of the $1.4 trillion global apparel market with the aim that by its 2013 financial year international and online sales will account for more than a quarter of its total net sales.
Grocers warn on level of promotions

October 15, 2010
Record amount of goods being sold on promotion but Philips and Brasher warn levels can’t rise higher.
Nisa-Today relaunches own-label in shake up

October 15, 2010
Symbol group Nisa-Today will relaunch its own-label lines at the end of the month as it seeks to refresh its brand.
Quality takes upper hand in value battle

October 15, 2010
Customers are redefining value and ‘returning to quality’. So what does the future hold for discount retailers?
Clinton Cards cautious on economic environment

14-Oct-2010
Clinton Cards has said it is cautious on the economic environment as like-for-likes slip in the first ten weeks of its financial year.
Mothercare overseas sales overtakes UK sales

14-Oct-2010
Mothercare has said overseas sales have overtaken UK sales for the first time in its first half.
Asda sells exclusive Chris de Burgh album

13-Oct-2010
Asda has signed a deal to be the exclusive retailer of Chris de Burgh’s new album ‘Moonfleet & Other Stories’.
Shoppers crave the good life

13-Oct-2010
Most British shoppers are more attracted to ideas like self-sufficiency and achieving a zero-waste household than using modern technology to help them shop and live their lives in the future, according to new research.
Sainsbury’s Justin King says retail faces skills shortage

13-Oct-2010
The food industry is lacking in many of the technical and specialist skills that are required in retail, according to Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King.
Malcolm Walker offers £1bn to buy back Iceland

11-Oct-2010
Iceland boss Malcolm Walker has offered £1bn to buy back the frozen food supermarket that he founded.
Sainsbury’s stays a step ahead

8-Oct-2010
Sainsbury’s boss Justin King should be feeling pretty pleased with himself. Having successfully silenced all the naysayers who said Sainsbury’s would be the first to suffer in the height of the recession, he is continuing to steer his ship onto a winning course as the economy improves.
Savers narrows losses

7-Oct-2010
Value health and beauty chain Savers, part of the AS Watson Group, has narrowed its losses as it implements the second year of its turnaround.
Alliance Boots hires Home Retail director

7-Oct-2010
Alliance Boots has hired a former director of Home Retail to work on commercial development.
Asda receives rebate from parent Walmart

7-Oct-2010
Asda received a £115m rebate from its US parent which boosted profits but lifted its tax bill, according to figures filed at Companies House.
Mulberry’s figures ‘exceeded expectations’

7-Oct-2010
Luxury retailer Mulberry has said sales were stronger than expected in the 10 weeks to October 2, with like-for-like sales in its full price stores up 79%.
Halfords profits to rise 12% but like-for-likes fall

7-Oct-2010
Halfords is expecting to report group pre-tax profit up 12% in its first half, but like-for-likes were down 4.1%.
M&S UK like-for-likes climb 5.3%

7-Oct-2010
Marks & Spencer has said customers are “returning to quality” as it reported like-for-like UK sales up 5.3% in its second quarter.
Sainsbury's reports like-for-likes up 2.9% in Q2

6-Oct-2010
Sainsbury’s has reported like-for-like sales for its second quarter up 2.9% excluding petrol, with new stores, online and non-food all driving growth.
Tesco profits climb 12.5%

5-Oct-2010
Tesco has reported a 12.5% increase in group pre-tax profit in its interim results, with international sales helping to offset the subdued growth in the UK.
Alliance Boots to cut 900 non-store based roles

4-Oct-2010
Alliance Boots is to axe around 900 non-store based roles in the UK in a bid to reduce operating costs by around £56m a year by 2013/14.
Harrods profits surge 40%

4-Oct-2010
Harrods reported a 40% surge in profits in the final year under its colourful owner Mohamed Al Fayed.
The Carlyle Group buys NBTY

1-Oct-2010
Global asset management firm The Carlyle Group has completed its $4bn acquisition of NBTY, which operates the Holland & Barrett chain.
Boots signs up 50 retailers for new online loyalty venture

1-Oct-2010
Boots has agreed deals with about 50 companies that will allow its customers to pick up Advantage Card loyalty points when they shop online with other retailers.
Grocers and discounters prepare for bidding war over Netto shops

October 1, 2010
Grocers Tesco and Morrisons are thought to be among the interested parties for the 47 Netto shops that Asda has to dispose of as part of its £778m acquisition.
Vision Express fights to capture optical spend with promotions

October 1, 2010
Vision Express has launched a series of promotional initiatives after reporting strong figures for the 2009 financial year.
Tesco guns for £55m Halloween sales

30-Sep-2010
Tesco is gunning for its biggest ever Halloween with expected sales to top £55m.
Sainsbury's opens largest store in Crayford

29-Sep-2010
Sainsbury’s has today opened its first extended 100,000 sq ft store with a series of new areas.
Tesco to open babywear shop-in-shop

28-Sep-2010
Tesco is gunning to grab a larger slice of the babywear market with the launch of a Baby World shop-in-shop.
Topshop signs for Chicago store

28-Sep-2010
Topshop has signed a lease on a store in Chicago to open its second US standalone.
Game profits and sales slump

28-Sep-2010
Game has reported a pre-tax loss of £18.8m in its first half, against a profit of £14.5m in the same period last year, while revenue also slumped.
Online shopping to slow significantly, says Verdict

24-Sep-2010
Online shopping is set to slow down significantly as the channel matures and competition increases, according to Verdict Research.
Waitrose to open concept store in Leeds with a broader offer

September 24, 2010
Waitrose is to open a new concept store in Leeds next week with a homewares offer featuring products from sister chain John Lewis and other leading brands.
Asda and Sainsbury’s rejig own brands in fight for market share

September 24, 2010
Grocers Asda and Sainsbury’s went head-to-head this week with the relaunch of own-brand ranges.
Sainsbury’s relaunches top tier range

22-Sep-2010
Sainsbury’s has relaunched its £1bn range of upmarket food, just one day after rival Asda revealed it had relaunched its mid-tier range.
Asda invests £100m in relaunch of mid-tier brand

21-Sep-2010
Asda has invested £100m into the relaunch of its entire range of more than 3,500 Asda brand food products, which account for annual sales of between £8-9bn.
Sir Terry Leahy believes successor will press ahead with US strategy

20-Sep-2010
Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy is confident his protégé Phil Clarke will press on with the grocer’s US strategy when he succeeds him next March.
Charles Dunstone sells 10% of his stake in Carphone Warehouse

20-Sep-2010
Carphone Warehouse founder Charles Dunstone has raised £35m by selling 10% of his stake in the business.
Amazon in bid for Lovefilm

20-Sep-2010
Amazon is understood to have made a takeover offer for online movie rental firm Lovefilm, valuing the business at close to £200m.
Phil Clarke: My vision for Tesco’s global growth

17-Sep-2010
New Tesco boss reveals his strategy for UK and overseas domination to Retail Week
Tesco’s Far Eastern promise

September 17, 2010
Combining its global scale with local knowledge is key to Tesco’s growth in Asia, incoming chief executive Phil Clarke tells Jennifer Creevy
H&M launches transactional website

16-Sep-2010
Swedish fashion giant H&M has launched its first ever transactional website today, with the strapline ‘UK will never sleep again.’
Retail sales volumes fall in August

16-Sep-2010
The volume of retail sales in August fell 0.5% from July to August, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Confetti bought out of administration

16-Sep-2010
Online wedding retailer Confetti has been bought out of administration by a north-west entrepreneur George Buchan.
Comet like-for-likes up 4.3%

16-Sep-2010
Electricals retailer Comet has reported like-for-likes up 4.3% in its first quarter, buoyed by TV sales from a World Cup campaign.
Dunelm profits up, Halfords FD Nick Wharton to become new CEO

16-Sep-2010
Dunelm has reported a pre-tax profit surge of 46% to £76.8m in its full year, and revealed that chief executive Will Adderley will assume the new role of executive deputy chairman with Halfords group finance director Nick Wharton taking over as chief executive.
John Lewis and Waitrose report strong half year growth

16-Sep-2010
The John Lewis Partnership has reported pre-tax profit up 28% to £110.5m for the half year ending July 31, with strong growth in its John Lewis department stores and grocer Waitrose.
Asda launches student shopping card

15-Sep-2010
Asda is to launch a shopping card that parents can top up with money to pay for students’ groceries.
Ideal Shopping completes turnaround

15-Sep-2010
Ideal Shopping Direct has reported a pre-tax profit in its interim results against a loss in the same period the previous year and said its business turnaround is now complete.
Asda market share dips for 9th consecutive period

14-Sep-2010
Asda continues to underperform the grocery market and has seen a dip in its market share for the ninth consecutive report.
Incoming Tesco chief executive Philip Clarke vows China will be profitable in his tenure

13-Sep-2010
Tesco international boss Philip Clarke has vowed that its operation in China will be profitable in his tenure as chief executive as he outlines the “terrific” growth prospects in Asia.
Ocado poised to relaunch its own-label as Q3 sales rocket

September 10, 2010
Ocado is set to relaunch its own-label range after posting strong sales in its third quarter.
Lars Olofsson

September 10, 2010
Whether it’s scaling back internationally or piloting a new format, the Carrefour boss is taking bold steps to turn the world’s second biggest retailer around.
Lidl UK boss steps down

6-Sep-2010
Lidl UK managing director Frank-Michael Mros is understood to have stepped down from his post.
Tesco to launch Nadine Coyle's debut solo album

6-Sep-2010
Tesco has secured the exclusive launch of pop star Nadine Coyle’s debut solo album.
Sainsbury’s Justin King to advise Prime Minister

3-Sep-2010
Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King is understood to be among the business leaders to become advisers to Prime Minister David Cameron.
Shortage of gift vouchers hits John Lewis sales

September 3, 2010
The John Lewis Partnership has lost sales over the last two months after suffering a shortage of gift vouchers following its supplier’s collapse into administration.
George at Asda teams up with tailor for designer collection

September 3, 2010
Savile Row-inspired offer marks brand’s decision to switch from disposable fashion to quality clothing
Alliance Boots to outsource part of pension plan

1-Sep-2010
Health and beauty giant Alliance Boots is to offload about £300m of retirement fund liabilities to specialist buyout vehicle Pension Corporation.
Tesco rolls out schoolwear embroidery service

31-Aug-2010
Tesco is this week rolling out its schoolwear embroidery service nationwide following a trial earlier this year.
Tesco bought town centre and allowed it to become derelict, newspaper alleges

31-Aug-2010
Tesco bought a town centre through a front company and allowed it to become derelict as it tried to secure a regeneration deal, a report in today’s Times claims.
Tesco ramps up promotional music campaign

31-Aug-2010
Tesco is to ramp up the promotional campaign behind its exclusive Faithless album with a £100,000 push to put CDs into 420 of its petrol stations for the first time.
Andy Bond gets a Wiggle on

27-Aug-2010
Former Asda CEO Andy Bond is back in the saddle as he takes a stake in fast-growing bikes etailer Wiggle
Asda signals its intent to rebrand Netto stores ahead of OFT verdict

August 27, 2010
Asda has submitted planning applications to convert several Netto stores ahead of approval from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) on the deal.
Back to school

August 27, 2010
With competition in back to school heating up on both price and quality, and the total value of the market falling, which of the key players will go to the top of the class?
Marks & Spencer to open in Egypt

24-Aug-2010
Marks & Spencer is to open its first store in Egypt within the next year.
M&S shareholder gives thumbs-up to Robert Swannell’s appointment

24-Aug-2010
Marks & Spencer’s largest shareholder has welcomed the appointment of its new chairman Robert Swannell.
Asda Income Tracker: Families suffer 2.5% fall in discretionary income in July

23-Aug-2010
Families suffered a 2.5% decrease in discretionary income in July, according to the Asda Income Tracker.
Tesco to open drive-through supermarket

23-Aug-2010
Tesco will this week launch the UK’s first drive-through supermarket in Baldock in Hertfordshire.
Asda appoints Sam’s Club vice president as CMO

20-Aug-2010
Asda has appointed Charles Redfield, senior vice president for food and beverage at Walmart-owned Sam’s Club, as its chief merchandising officer.
Spar sponsors cookery TV series

20-Aug-2010
Spar has sponsored a cookery series called Meals in Moments on Channel Five which will air from September.
Myleene Klass fronts Marks & Spencer TV

20-Aug-2010
Marks & Spencer has launched an online fashion show fronted by its brand ambassador Myleene Klass.
Online sales jump 18% year-on-year

20-Aug-2010
Online sales leaped 18% year on year to £5bn in July, according to the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index.
Andy Clarke shifts focus to products as Asda’s sales decline again

August 20, 2010
New CEO looks to change strategy and customer perceptions as sales slip for second consecutive quarter
Tesco and Asda continue to underperform

17-Aug-2010
Tesco and Asda continued to underperform the market in the latest grocery figures from Kantar Worldpanel.
Asda Q2 like-for-likes fall 0.4%

17-Aug-2010
Asda like-for-like sales fell 0.4% in its second quarter to July 31 and total sales grew in the low single digits.
Ocado second warehouse site gets green light

17-Aug-2010
The green light has been given to a 124-acre extension to Birch Coppice Business Park where etailer Ocado is expected to open its second warehouse.
Sainsbury’s and Nectar launch iPhone apps

17-Aug-2010
Sainsbury’s and loyalty scheme Nectar have today launched mobile phone apps.
Retailers urge Government to tackle petrol prices

17-Aug-2010
Retailers are urging the coalition Government to urgently tackle the rising petrol prices.
Food prices up 59% over last three years

16-Aug-2010
Shoppers have been hit by grocery price rises of as much as 59% over the last three years, according to research from MySupermarket.co.uk.
10 ways Aldi changed retail

August 6, 2010
Theo Albrecht, who died last week, and brother Karl, created a pioneering grocery model. So what are the secrets of its success?
Morrisons sets the pace

6-Aug-2010
Morrisons has traditionally been the most shy of the big four grocers towards City analysts, investors and the media. Some believe that has led, in part, to its de-rating.
Furniture chain Mark Elliot rescued from administration

5-Aug-2010
Furniture chain Mark Elliot has been bought out of administration by investor SKG Capital.
Tesco launches first transactional mobile app

5-Aug-2010
Tesco is launching its first transactional mobile app next week on mainstream handset Nokia Ovi Store.
Primark to open second store on Oxford Street

5-Aug-2010
Primark is to open another store on famous shopping destination Oxford Street at the eastern end of the road.
Non-food inflation lowest since November 2009

4-Aug-2010
Non-food inflation in July was the lowest since November 2009, slowing to 1% compared to 1.4% in June.
Government moves closer to setting up grocery ‘ombudsman’

3-Aug-2010
The Government has moved closer to introducing legislation to set up a Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), its version of what was previously dubbed the ‘supermarket ombudsman’.
Carphone Warehouse launches mobile music service

3-Aug-2010
Carphone Warehouse has launched a mobile music service that allows users to access their entire music collection on the move.
Sainsbury's launches Facebook campaign

3-Aug-2010
Sainsbury’s has today launched a summer online campaign via Facebook in what is being dubbed ‘Junior Masterchef meets Ready Steady Cook’.
Tesco launches £140m Clubcard mailing

2-Aug-2010
Tesco has today sent out its August Clubcard mailing alongside the launch of a new five-week promotion for customers.
Co-op to lay off 872 Somerfield HQ staff

2-Aug-2010
The Co-operative Group is to lay off 872 Somerfield staff with the closure of its head office in Bristol by next year.
Boost for Ocado as Fidelity buys stake

30-Jul-2010
Ocado has been given a boost as it has emerged that Fidelity, one of the world’s largest fund managers, has taken a 13% stake in the business.
Superdrug plans Christmas ad campaign to win back shoppers

July 30, 2010
Health and beauty retailer Superdrug is to launch its first TV advertising campaign for 10 years in October, in a bid get customers to rediscover the brand.
Waitrose goes mobile with website and app

July 30, 2010
Waitrose has optimised its website for mobile phones and launched an iPhone app as it seeks to widen the brand’s appeal.
Retail Employment Monitor

July 30, 2010
The British Retail Consortium’s new tool will analyse job figures and aims to improve understanding of the role of retail as an employer
Tesco takes on M&S in back to school campaign

29-Jul-2010
Tesco is taking on Marks & Spencer in the back to school clothing battle and has frozen its uniform prices to be the same as last year.
Nisa-Today reports record turnover

29-Jul-2010
Symbol group Nisa-Today has reported record turnover of £1.42bn for the year ending March 28, an 11.9% increase on the previous year.
Sainsbury’s trials prescription vending machines

29-Jul-2010
Sainsbury’s has today started a trial of prescription vending machines, aimed at allowing customers to securely and conveniently collect NHS prescriptions.
Bedroom furniture sales to grow, says Verdict

29-Jul-2010
Brits continue to spend money on beds and bedroom furniture, despite all other areas of the furniture area struggling, according to research house Verdict.
Retailers already responsible on alcohol, says BRC

28-Jul-2010
Retailers already have a proud record as responsible sellers of alcohol, says the British Retail Consortium, in response to the start of the Home Office alcohol consultation.
Waitrose hires supply chain director

28-Jul-2010
Waitrose has appointed David Jones as its supply chain director.
Habitat hires retail director

27-Jul-2010
Habitat has hired Gary Waldron as retail director, following his departure from fashion retailer Fat Face earlier this year.
Co-op marketing director leaves

26-Jul-2010
The Co-operative director of marketing Patrick Allen has left the business.
HMV completes refinancing

23-Jul-2010
HMV Group has completed the refinancing of its £240m revolving credit facility with its existing group of eight banks.
Amazon sales up driven by Kindle

23-Jul-2010
Etail giant Amazon has reported a 41% uplift in sales in its second quarter to $6.57bn, driven by growth in Kindle.
Aquascutum seeks fresh capital to drive turnaround

23-Jul-2010
Fashion retailer Aquascutum is working with debt advisory firm Litmus Advisory to raise fresh capital and drive its turnaround, following its acquisition by Jaeger bosses Harold Tillman and Belinda Earl last September.
John Lewis sales up nearly 10% in last week of Sale

23-Jul-2010
John Lewis has reported weekly sales up 9.8% in the final week of its Clearance Sale.
Ocado vows to engage with City after criticism over float

23-Jul-2010
Disappointing start to life as a public company for online grocer as shares fall on day of float
Angus Thirlwell

July 23, 2010
With an innovative bond offer recently netting the business £3.7m for expansion, the Hotel Chocolat boss is flying. Will life continue to get sweeter?
The Perfume Shop to trial Superdrug tie-up

July 23, 2010
The Perfume Shop is gunning to be the number one perfume retailer in the UK, after signing a deal with sister firm Superdrug to trial shop-in-shops in its stores.
Retail sales value up 3.2% in June

22-Jul-2010
The value of retail sales excluding fuel rose by 3.2% in June compared with the same month last year, according to the ONS.
Asda Income Tracker: average UK family £7 a week worse off in June

21-Jul-2010
The average UK family was £7 a week worse off in June compared to the same time last year, according to the Asda Income Tracker.
Ocado IPO priced at 180p

21-Jul-2010
Ocado has priced its IPO at the bottom end of its revised price range after investors baulked at the original valuation.
Ocado lowers its IPO price range

20-Jul-2010
Ocado has lowered the anticipated price range for its IPO to between 180p to 200p.
Tesco and Asda market share slips during World Cup

20-Jul-2010
Tesco and Asda’s market share slipped during the World Cup, despite aggressive promotions and an increase in sales growth since June.
Some FSA responsibilities handed to Defra and DoH

20-Jul-2010
Some of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) responsibilities will be transferred to the Department of Health (DoH) and the Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Government has confirmed.
Ocado secures 80% of orders for IPO shares

20-Jul-2010
Ocado is understood to have secured orders for about 80% of the shares it is seeking to sell in its flotation.
Debenhams completes refinancing

19-Jul-2010
Debenhams has confirmed that it has completed the refinancing of its borrowing facilities, with the signing of a new £650m credit facility.
Sainsbury’s director to champion women

July 16, 2010
Sainsbury’s new customer service and colleague director, Gwyn Burr, is aiming for 20% of its store managers to be female by next year.
Tim Steiner

July 16, 2010
Dismissed by some, Ocado aims to make a big splash with its IPO. As its founder sets out to sell his dream to investors, Jennifer Creevy finds out more about the man behind Ocado
Thorntons like-for-likes slump 6%

14-Jul-2010
Thorntons has reported like-for-like sales are down 6% in its fourth quarter, which it said in part is due to higher than anticipated discounting of excess stock which it has now cleared.
The Body Shop first half like-for-likes up 0.2%

13-Jul-2010
The Body Shop has reported like-for-like sales up 0.2% in the first half of 2010, but slipped in the second quarter 0.1%.
Hotel Chocolat raises £3.7m in chocolate bonds

13-Jul-2010
Hotel Chocolat has raised £3.7m via its first Chocolate Bond offer, just shy of the £5m it originally targeted.
Ideal Shopping up for sale

12-Jul-2010
Ideal Shopping Direct has confirmed that it is to undertake a review of its options, which could include a sale of the company.
Best Buy facing trademark claims

12-Jul-2010
US electricals giant Best Buy is facing claims that it does not control its trading name in Europe.
Ocado hits out against funding fear claims

12-Jul-2010
Ocado advisers have hit out against suggestions that the etailer is facing funding problems.
Sainsbury's sets out tree pledge

9-Jul-2010
Sainsbury’s has set itself the task of planting two million trees over the next five years, as it unveiled its 2010 corporate responsibility report.
Ocado valued at 128p a share by independent analysis

9-Jul-2010
Independent analysis by broker Collins Stewart values etailer Ocado at just 128p per share – 46% below the mid-point it has outlined in its IPO prospectus.
Tesco eyes West End for standalone F&F fashion shop

9-Jul-2010
Grocery giant Tesco is looking for a standalone store for its clothing brand F&F in central London.
City split on Ocado IPO as Amazon launches online grocery offer

July 9, 2010
Competition from Waitrose and Amazon adds to questions over Ocado’s valuation and profitability
Superdrug plans new focus on own brand

July 9, 2010
Superdrug is to push its own-brand and exclusive ranges after reporting it has reduced its losses in its full-year accounts to December 26, 2009.
Fragrance Shop on better footing as new management drives sales

July 9, 2010
The Fragrance Shop has reported EBITDA of £5.1m and like-for-like sales up 9.2% in the year to March 10 as cost savings across the business led to a stronger year for the speciality chain.
Ocado 'won't comply' with governance code

8-Jul-2010
Ocado has admitted that its board of directors will not comply with the UK Corporate Governance Code that regulates best practice when it floats on the stock market.
Vuvuzela warning sounded

8-Jul-2010
Shops in the UK selling vuvuzelas could face serious financial consequences because of question marks over the name.
Tesco in £950m property deal

7-Jul-2010
Tesco has confirmed a sale and leaseback deal in excess of £950m.
Ocado outlines target depot and delivery efficiencies

6-Jul-2010
Ocado has outlined the delivery and depot efficiencies it is aiming to reach at its Hatfield depot in a bid to maximise profitability.
Lloyds sells TM Lewin stake

6-Jul-2010
Lloyds Banking Group is to sell its portfolio of 40 private equity investments including shirtmaker TM Lewin.
Tesco understood to be interested in Carrefour’s Asian operations

6-Jul-2010
Tesco is understood to be among the leading supermarket chains interested in parts of French giant Carrefour’s assets in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.
Ocado expects £1.18bn IPO valuation

6-Jul-2010
Home shopping group Ocado has set a price range of between 200p to 275p per share for its IPO and expects a market capitalisation of about £1.18bn.
Superdrug reduces full-year losses

5-Jul-2010
Superdrug has reduced its losses in the full year to December 26, 2009, by improving margins and reducing operating costs.
Ocado to publish prospectus and start roadshow

5-Jul-2010
Ocado is poised to publish its prospectus tomorrow and press ahead with a valuation of £900m-£1bn for its IPO.
Travis Perkins said it is making market share gains

2-Jul-2010
DIY giant Travis Perkins’ retail division has reported like-for-like sales have declined 0.4% in the 26 weeks to June 30 but total sales have increased 2.1%.
Tesco survives shareholder rebellion

2-Jul-2010
Tesco faced rebellion over the pay and bonus packages it allocates to directors at its annual general meeting today with over 37% voting against the approval of the grocer’s remuneration report.
Ocado moves to deliver on flotation

July 2, 2010
Ocado is bullish about its plans to float, but with the online grocer yet to make a pre-tax profit, is the IPO a good deal for investors
Morrisons unveils revamped Bradford store

1-Jul-2010
Morrisons has unveiled a new look for its store in Idle in Bradford, which features a concession for clothing retailer Peacocks.
Sainsbury’s ad celebrates British summer

1-Jul-2010
Sainsbury’s today launched its latest advertising campaign with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, with the first ad aired during breakfast show GMTV.
Tesco under scrutiny over accounting policies

1-Jul-2010
Tesco has come under scrutiny from a leading City analyst over its accounting policies.
Tesco sells log cabins

30-Jun-2010
Tesco already sells most of anything shoppers could ever need and now it is adding flat-pack log cabins to its portfolio.
Tesco to raise £950m in property deal

29-Jun-2010
Tesco is to undertake a sale and leaseback deal to raise £950m, it is understood.
Walmart appoints new US head

29-Jun-2010
Walmart has appointed Eduardo Castro-Wright to president and chief executive of Global.com and Global sourcing while Bill Simon is promoted to president and chief executive of Walmart US.
Sainsbury’s shuffles management team

June 25, 2010
Sainsbury’s is to appoint a marketing director to report to newly promoted group commercial director Mike Coupe as part of the management reshuffle revealed this week.
TV shopping

June 25, 2010
Although a relatively small sector of the home shopping market, compared with online, TV shopping is set to grow and will be worth almost £2bn by 2013
Waitrose trials sign of smaller things to come

June 25, 2010
Waitrose is trialling a series of initiatives at its first smaller convenience store, in Cambridge, which it will roll out if successful.
Asda market share slips

22-Jun-2010
Asda continues to underperform with its market share back down to a level not seen since November 2008, according to grocery figures from Kantar Worldpanel.
Asda Income Tracker: Average household discretionary income falls in May

22-Jun-2010
The average UK family had £6 a week less disposable income in May than the same month a year earlier, according to the Asda Income Tracker.
Sainsbury’s eyes China after management changes

22-Jun-2010
Sainsbury’s is considering entering the Chinese market after revealing its management shake-up.
Sainsbury’s shuffles board responsibilities

21-Jun-2010
Sainsbury’s has shuffled responsibilities on its main and operating board which will see finance director Darren Shapland take up a new role to drive new business developments.
Findel profits reduced after accounting errors found

21-Jun-2010
Home shopping firm Findel has said its full-year profit will be reduced by £6.4m after it found accounting errors in its education division.
Ocado to push button on float this week

21-Jun-2010
Ocado is gearing up to push the button on its plans for a £1bn stock market flotation this week, it is understood.
Sainsbury's rolls out ‘bee hotels’

18-Jun-2010
Sainsbury’s has recruited its first bee keeper as it gears up to roll out a network of ‘bee hotels’ at 38 stores across London.
Honking all the way to the bank

18-Jun-2010
Sainsbury’s scored with the sales of its vuvuzelas, but for the grocery market in general, the World Cup is just what is needed right now.
George at Asda pushes for wider appeal to double sales in 5 years

June 18, 2010
George at Asda is introducing a series of initiatives to broaden its appeal as it attempts to double sales within five years.
Tesco and Sainsbury’s insist growth to come

June 18, 2010
Grocers positive despite high petrol prices and low inflation hitting Q1 sales
Back to black for Space NK with customers ‘cautiously optimistic’

June 18, 2010
Beauty specialist Space NK has pulled itself out of the red with pre-tax profits in the year to April 30 of £270,000, against a pre-tax loss of £1.4m the previous year.
Majestic Wine’s broadened appeal drives sales up

June 18, 2010
Majestic Wine is confident it will continue to widen its appeal and forge growth despite the difficult climate, after it posted a 117% lift in pre-tax profits to £16m.
Co-op share payout tops £50.4m

17-Jun-2010
The Co-operative is to pay out £50.4m to its members in a share payout.
Game appoints new CEO

17-Jun-2010
Game has appointed Vodafone UK consumer director Ian Shepherd as its new chief executive.
Boots to trial contactless payment

16-Jun-2010
Boots UK has become the first major retailer to trial MasterCard’s Tap & Go contact less payment.
Lush rapped on knuckles by ASA

16-Jun-2010
Ethical cosmetics retailer Lush has been rapped on the knuckles by the Advertising Standards Authority for claims it made about fox-hunting in an in-store leaflet.
Sainsbury’s like-for-likes slow

16-Jun-2010
Sainsbury’s has reported like-for-like sales in its first quarter up 1.1% excluding petrol in the 12 weeks to June 12.
Tesco’s UK performance hit by petrol prices and low food inflation

15-Jun-2010
Tesco has reported UK like-for-like sales were up just 0.1% excluding petrol and VAT-adjusted in the 13 weeks to May 30, hit by rising petrol prices and low food inflation.
Sainsbury's HR director steps down

14-Jun-2010
Sainsbury’s HR director Imelda Walsh is to leave the grocer on July 16.
Waitrose to open first small convenience shop this week

14-Jun-2010
Waitrose will open its first smaller format convenience stores in Cambridge on Thursday.
Majestic Wine pre-tax profits leap 117%

14-Jun-2010
Majestic Wine has reported a 117% increase in pre-tax profit to £16m in its full year results as its minimum order change drove volume.
Dalton Philips means business

11-Jun-2010
Morrisons’ new chief executive Dalton Philips has wasted no time in beefing up his board with the appointment of Waitrose commercial director Richard Hodgson to join as its group commercial director.
John Lewis reports strong bank holiday trade

11-Jun-2010
John Lewis reported weekly sales up 20.6% in the week to June 5, buoyed by trade over the bank holiday although the hot weather by the end of the week took the edge off sales.
Tesco fresh foods chief Colin Holmes quits

11-Jun-2010
One of Tesco’s rising stars announced his resignation yesterday, in the same week that Sir Terry Leahy stepped down and international chief Philip Clarke was named his successor.
Asda claims Price Guarantee will be as revolutionary as Clubcard

June 11, 2010
Asda has claimed that its Price Guarantee will go down as a “moment in history” with the capability to become as important a part of its business as Clubcard is for Tesco.
Sir Terry Leahy, the visionary who transformed Tesco

June 11, 2010
With his constant focus on the customer, Sir Terry is hailed for turning Tesco into a global operation
Successor Philip Clarke ‘cut from the same cloth’ as fellow Liverpudlian Sir Terry Leahy

June 11, 2010
Philip Clarke, who will become only the sixth Tesco chief executive in the company’s 80-year history when he takes the helm next year, has been picked to succeed Sir Terry Leahy for his “wide experience, drive and energy”.
Tesco signals global push with Philip Clarke’s promotion

June 11, 2010
The international chief’s appointment points to a step up in grocer’s global growth
Walmart’s bid for world domination

June 11, 2010
With a renewed focus on price transparency, the US retailer plans to bring its value message to other countries. Jennifer Creevy reports from Bentonville
Morrisons poaches Richard Hodgson as group commercial director

8-Jun-2010
Morrisons has poached Waitrose commercial director Richard Hodgson to become its group commercial director.
Sir Terry Leahy to retire from Tesco in March 2011 and Philip Clarke to take over

8-Jun-2010
Sir Terry Leahy is to retire from Tesco in March 2011.
Will Netto deal make Asda ‘the clear number two’ grocer

June 4, 2010
Asda’s £778m acquisition of hard discounter Netto’s UK operation has catapulted it from third to second place in food. But opinion is divided about whether the deal will fulfil Asda’s ambition to be “the clear number two” in grocery.
Julian Graves on track to make profit

June 4, 2010
Holland & Barrett Group has vowed that its Julian Graves chain will be profitable in the 2010/11 financial year as it gears up to revitalise the business.
Co-op hires independent directors to bolster food board

1-Jun-2010
The Co-operative Group has appointed two independent directors to bolster the board of its food subsidiary.
Ocado appoints five further banks for IPO

1-Jun-2010
Online grocery retailer Ocado has appointed five further banks to prepare for its planned flotation in July.
That’s Asda price

28-May-2010
Asda’s surprise buy of Netto shows it means business and is determined to make good on its ambitions. But will more stores automatically mean success?
Less healthy foods face ‘fat VAT’ threat, Justin King warns

28-May-2010
Sainsbury’s boss envisages tax change as Government tries to balance the books
Alex Gourlay

May 28, 2010
The chief executive of Alliance Boots’ health and beauty division is a ‘lifer’, with the brand running in his veins.
Hotel Chocolat to fund overseas expansion with chocolate bonds

May 28, 2010
Hotel Chocolat is targeting the US, the Middle East, Scandinavia and Germany in its international drive, following its attempt to raise £5m of development funds through the launch of ‘chocolate bonds’.
Thorntons ‘in limbo’ as Davies makes exit

May 28, 2010
Thorntons faces a period “in limbo” after chief executive Mike Davies stepped down on Tuesday.
Sainsbury's launches triple Nectar points giveaway

27-May-2010
Sainsbury’s will this week launch its biggest ever Nectar points giveaway with the launch of a triple points event from Friday 28 to Monday 31 May.
Next appoints Francis Salway as non-exec

27-May-2010
Next has appointed Francis Salway, the chief executive of property giant Land Securities, as a non-executive director.
JJB Sports posts £68.6m pre-tax loss

27-May-2010
Embattled JJB Sports has reported a pre-tax loss of £68.6m in its full year results and sales collapsed 42% as the retailer warned its recovery will be “neither quick nor easy”.
Asda Income Tracker: Families had £8 a week less disposable income in April

26-May-2010
The average UK household had £8 less a week in disposable income in April compared to the same period a year ago, according to Asda’s Income Tracker.
Asda suffers fifth consecutive market share drop

25-May-2010
Asda has suffered its fifth consecutive monthly market share drop and growth behind the market at 2.5% according to Kantar Worldpanel.
Sainsbury's becomes largest Freedom Food retailer

25-May-2010
Sainsbury’s has become the UK’s largest Freedom Food retailer in both range and volume sales of higher welfare products.
Hotel Chocolat aims to raise £5m through ‘chocolate bonds’

24-May-2010
Hotel Chocolat wants to raise £5m of development funds through the launch of a ‘chocolate bond’ which will reward members with chocolates.
Government outlines food plans

21-May-2010
The new coalition Government has set out its plans for the next Parliament, which will include an ombudsman to enforce the Grocery Supply Code of Practice.
Tesco wants to curb sale of cheap alcohol

21-May-2010
Tesco has said it wants to see curbs on the sale of cheap alcohol during this parliament.
Tesco to roll out mobile app beyond iPhone

May 21, 2010
Tesco is to expand the services on its Clubcard mobile phone app as it sends out £119m of vouchers in its summer mailing this week.
Boots to open Advantage Card to other retailers

21-May-2010
Loyalty card tie-up aims to generate new growth through strategic partnerships
Morrisons in talks with former Asda director Darren Blackhurst over trading role

May 21, 2010
Darren Blackhurst, the former Asda trading director who exited the business suddenly at the start of the month, is understood to be having informal conversations about a role at rival grocer Morrisons.
New chief shuffles top team to ‘put Fat Face back on the map’

May 21, 2010
New Fat Face chief executive Anthony Thompson has reshuffled his top team to streamline the business and help “put Fat Face back on the map”.
Poll shows consumers want loyalty card from Asda

21-May-2010
Almost half of consumers would be more likely to shop at Asda if it had a loyalty scheme - an initiative the retailer has consistently ruled out despite pressure from rivals that run such programmes.
Sainsbury’s performance buoyed by Nectar scheme

May 21, 2010
Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King has said the grocer will continue to focus on “genuine promotions” on products bought frequently as it continues to exploit its Nectar loyalty scheme.
Andy Clarke: turning Asda around?

May 21, 2010
Asda’s new chief executive will use his operational experience to try to turn round the grocer’s performance.
Asda to sell privately prescribed cancer treatment drugs

20-May-2010
Asda is to sell privately prescribed cancer treatment drugs on a not-for-profit basis from Monday.
Sainsbury's launches first TV ad for non-food website

19-May-2010
Sainsbury’s has launched its first TV ad campaign for its non-food website.
Asda Q1 like-for-likes fall 0.3%

18-May-2010
Asda’s like-for-like sales excluding VAT and petrol have fallen 0.3% in its first quarter and the grocer expects conditions to remain tough.
Asda staff to pocket £47m

18-May-2010
Asda staff are to pocket an estimated £47m following the maturity of a three-year Walmart sharesave scheme.
Alliance Boots profit tops £1bn

17-May-2010
Health and beauty giant Alliance Boots has reported profit has topped £1bn for the full year to March 31.
A new dawn

14-May-2010
Grocery chiefs believe the forming of the new Government will calm shoppers’ nerves. But with taxes expected to go up, they will undoubtedly be slugging it out in non-food for the rest of the year.
Sainsbury’s to expand stores in push for clothing market share

May 14, 2010
Sainsbury’s is aiming to lift its total share of the clothing market by volume from 10th to fifth place in four years.
New Asda boss Andy Clarke faces ambitious targets

14-May-2010
Asda’s incoming chief executive Andy Clarke faces an “uphill battle” to achieve the retailer’s ambitious targets in food and non-food, according to City analysts.
Morrisons presses on with promotions as sales slow

May 14, 2010
Morrisons is to continue its promotional drive this year after revealing a steep slowdown in sales growth in its first quarter.
Tesco loses to Sainsbury's in planning row

13-May-2010
Tesco has lost out to Sainsbury’s in a ten-year planning row in Wolverhampton.
Clinton Cards like-for-likes dip

13-May-2010
Clinton Cards has reported like-for-like sales excluding VAT were 1.7% lower in the 13 weeks to May 13 than the same period the previous year.
Sainsbury’s profits ahead of expectations

13-May-2010
Sainsbury’s has reported underlying pre-tax profit ahead of expectations up 17.5% to £610m in its full year results.
Waitrose like-for-likes up 3.4%

11-May-2010
Waitrose has reported its like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks to the end of April are up 3.4%.
Andy Clarke named Asda CEO

11-May-2010
Asda has appointed Andy Clarke as its new chief executive.
Asda marketing chief Rick Bendel to oversee trading operations on interim basis

11-May-2010
Asda international chief marketing officer Rick Bendel is to oversee trading operations after the sudden departure of chief merchandising officer Darren Blackhurst last week.
Asda in talks with Prince Charles on organic food

10-May-2010
Asda is understood to have had discussions with Prince Charles about how to persuade its shoppers to buy more organic food.
Elephants on parade

May 7, 2010
Fashion designers are supporting four pop-up shops as part of the London Elephant Parade charity event.
Andy Clarke tipped to take over as Asda CEO as Darren Blackhurst leaves

6-May-2010
Asda chief operating officer Andy Clarke is tipped to take over as chief executive and chief merchandising officer Darren Blackhurst has left the grocer, Retail Week has learnt.
Tesco to launch 50% off clothing Sale

6-May-2010
Tesco will launch a 50% Sale on its clothing website on Friday May 7 to celebrate the site’s first six months of trading.
Charles Dunstone warns of dangers of hung Parliament

5-May-2010
Carphone Warehouse founder Charles Dunstone has backed a letter warning voters of the dangers of a hung parliament.
Sainsbury’s to sponsor Paralympic Games

5-May-2010
Sainsbury’s is to sponsor the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the largest ever sponsorship of a Paralympic Games.
Co-op chairman backs Peter Marks

4-May-2010
The Co-operative Group chairman has publicly backed chief executive Peter Marks amid claims of a boardroom bust up.
Virgin retail cosmetics business wound up

4-May-2010
The remnants of Virgin’s retail cosmetics business has been liquidated.
Alliance Boots to introduce new pension scheme in July

30-Apr-2010
Alliance Boots is to introduce a new defined contribution pension scheme from July.
The OFT drops part of its dairy investigation

30-Apr-2010
The Office of Fair Trading has concluded that it has insufficient evidence to support an infringement in its dairy investigation in regard to liquid milk in 2002 and value butter in 2003.
Focus on food, City tells Bolland as first day at M&S approaches

April 30, 2010
New Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland has been urged to focus on getting the company’s food business back on track when he joins the company next week.
Walmart is world’s most valuable retail brand

29-Apr-2010
Walmart tops a list of ten retailers found to be among the world’s 100 most valuable brands, according to research commissioned by WPP.
HMV Group Q4 like-for-likes slump 13.2%

29-Apr-2010
HMV Group has reported difficult fourth quarter with like-for-likes slumping 13.2% but said its full year pre-tax profits will meet City expectations.
Home Retail pre-tax profits slip 11%

28-Apr-2010
Home Retail Group – owner of Argos and Homebase – has reported pre-tax profit down 11% to £293m and announced a share buy-back of £150m.
Asda heralds ‘the official end of the grocery price war’ with price guarantee

28-Apr-2010
Asda is putting its money where its mouth is with a guarantee that it offers shoppers lowest prices on groceries or will give them their money back, a step which it said “heralds the official end of the grocery price war”.
Asda lags behind the market

27-Apr-2010
Asda is still under-performing the market with year-on-year growth well behind the growth of the other major retailers, according to Kantar Worldpanel.
Farepak customers to receive less than £50 each

27-Apr-2010
Customers who paid for Farepak hampers are expected to receive less than £50 each, after handling fees are paid.
Footwear supplier interested in rescuing Faith

27-Apr-2010
Footwear supplier Logo 69 has emerged as an interested party in rescuing the Faith footwear business from administration.
Dunelm like-for-likes up 10%

27-Apr-2010
Dunelm has reported like-for-like sales up 10% in the 42 weeks to April 24, boosted by a positive response to its new shop fit.
Asda Income Tracker: UK families worse off in March than a year earlier

26-Apr-2010
The UK family was £2 a week worse off in March than a year earlier, according to this month’s Asda Income Tracker.
Sainsbury's pushes sourcing ethics in new Jamie Oliver ad

24-Apr-2010
Sainsbury’s latest advert with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver will air this evening during the break for reality TV show Britain’s Got Talent.
Tesco’s food fight

23-Apr-2010
Tesco showed once again this week why it is market leader, but with rivals hot on its heels, the sector is squaring up for an interesting food fight.
North Face buys stake in Blacks

23-Apr-2010
The North Face owner VF Corporation has bought a 5% stake in Blacks Leisure in a move that seems to be designed to block any future bid by rival Sports Direct.
Five big questions for Asda’s new boss

April 23, 2010
Asda is finding trading tough but has big ambitions. As Andy Bond prepares to take a back seat, Jennifer Creevy looks at the big issues his successor will need to tackle to get the grocer back on track
Ocado poised to appoint banks for IPO

April 23, 2010
Ocado is understood to be poised to appoint JPMorgan Cazenove, UBS and Goldman Sachs to advise on a possible £1bn flotation this summer.
Tesco ‘back in the lead’

April 23, 2010
Leahy laughs off Asda’s non-food ambitions as Tesco posts strong year’s sales and record profits
Judith McKenna and David Cheesewright rule themselves out of Asda top job

22-Apr-2010
Asda chief financial officer Judith McKenna and Walmart Canada boss David Cheesewright are understood to have ruled themselves out of the running to replace Andy Bond as head of the grocer.
Retail sales up in March

22-Apr-2010
The value of retail sales rose by 4.4% in March and 2.2% in volume, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Alexon reports full year loss but focused on turnaround

22-Apr-2010
Alexon Group has reported a pre-tax loss before exceptional items of £900,000 in its full year results but said it has laid the foundations for to accelerate its turnaround plan.
Tesco launches first social networking site

21-Apr-2010
Tesco has launched a social networking site aimed at people taking part in or supporting Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.
Flying Brands’ garden division suffers from bad weather

20-Apr-2010
Flying Brands’ garden division has been behind expectations due to bad weather with sales of bedding plants during spring.
Tesco tops £3.4bn profits

20-Apr-2010
Tesco has recorded a 10.1% increase in underlying pre-tax profit to £3.4bn in its full year results, in line with City estimates.
Lloydspharmacy MD Richard Smith to leave

19-Apr-2010
Lloydspharmacy managing director Richard Smith is to leave the retailer.
Abercrombie & Fitch pays CEO £2.5m to curb his use of corporate jet

15-Apr-2010
Abercrombie & Fitch is paying its chief executive $4m (£2.5m) to compensate him for curbing his use of the company’s corporate jet.
The Hut Group raises £14m

15-Apr-2010
Online retailer The Hut Group has raised £14m from investors including former chief executive of Matalan Angus Monro as it gears up for further acquisitions.
More high street retailers caught selling ‘sexy’ kids’ products

15-Apr-2010
Further high street stores have been caught selling sexy clothes for children, according to an investigation by The Sun.
Political parties address Asda shoppers

14-Apr-2010
Video messages from the three major political parties addressing Asda’s shoppers have been posted on the grocer’s website today.
Whole Foods Market revives UK expansion

14-Apr-2010
US organic grocer Whole Foods Market has revived its plans for expansion in the UK as its US business starts to recover from the economic slump.
Co-operatives

March 26, 2010
Co-operative Group has just posted record profits and is now the fifth biggest grocer. What is the appeal of its business model and how is it different?
Ocado to up geographical reach and range as it considers IPO

March 26, 2010
Home shopping group Ocado is to focus on increasing its range, geographical reach and services for customers this year as it mulls a post-election IPO.
Supermarket profile key for thriving Co-op

March 26, 2010
The Co-operative Group is to focus on building its profile in the small supermarkets sector, after it revealed underlying group operating profit surged 20% to £473m in the year to January 2.
Signet results "exceed expectations"

25-Mar-2010
Jewellery chain Signet has reported its full year results have “exceeded expectations” buoyed by sales in the UK in the fourth quarter.
Private equity firm buys Cath Kidston

25-Mar-2010
US private equity group TA Associates has agreed to buy Cath Kidston in a deal worth about £100m.
Next profits soar 18%

25-Mar-2010
Fashion retailer Next has reported an 18% increase in group pre-tax profit to £505m in the full year to January 30 in what chairman John Barton said was “an extraordinary year”.
Retail sales grow for second consecutive month

23-Mar-2010
Retail sales have grown for the second consecutive month, and growth is expected to continue at a similar pace through Easter, according to the CBI Distributive Trades Survey.
Carpetright issues profit warning

23-Mar-2010
Carpetright has issued a profit warning, citing the “pace of recovery seen towards the end of 2009 has not been sustained”.
SuperGroup IPO retail offer ‘oversubscribed’

23-Mar-2010
Fashion retailer SuperGroup has announced the closure of the retail offer for its IPO, which it said has been oversubscribed.
Ocado narrows operating losses as sales rise

22-Mar-2010
Ocado has narrowed its operating losses and increased its gross sales by a quarter to £427.3m in the year to November 29.
Waitrose's Delia and Heston ads break on Sunday

19-Mar-2010
Waitrose’s debut ad starring celebrity chefs Delia Smith and Heston Blumenthal will break at lunchtime on Sunday.
DSGi steps up roll out of 2-in-1 shops

19-Mar-2010
DSGi is to accelerate the roll out of its 2-in-1 Currys and PC World stores with 60 locations identified.
Blacks rejects Sports Direct bid

19-Mar-2010
Blacks Leisure has rejected a takeover offer from Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct as “wholly inadequate”.
Former Baugur boss to launch low-cost supermarket in UK

19-Mar-2010
Former Baugur executive chairman Jon Asgeir Johannesson is plotting to launch a low-cost supermarket called Best Price in the UK.
Tesco plots homewares line to propel F&F as global brand

March 19, 2010
New non-food chief Richard Jones will spearhead project to add homewares range to F&F label
VAT on food ‘could cut grocers’ profits by 16%’

March 19, 2010
The imposition of a 5% rate of VAT on food could hit the three quoted grocers’ operating profits by up to 16%, says broker Bernstein.
Richard Jones: Can he make Tesco the clothing leader?

March 19, 2010
Having put non-food on the map at Sainsbury’s, Terry Green’s successor Richard Jones is to head clothing and home at Tesco. Can he make it clothing market leader?
Co-op reports bumper profits, lifted by Somerfield acquisition

18-Mar-2010
The Co-operative Group has reported underlying operating profits up 20% to £473m, buoyed by its acquisition of Somerfield.
Sainsbury's bonus payouts to be brought forward

15-Mar-2010
Bonus payouts for Sainsbury’s staff are to be brought forward to beat the introduction of the new 50% tax rate.
Tesco MasterCard to hit retailers with higher interchange fees

March 12, 2010
Retailers face higher interchange fees after retail giant Tesco’s bank switched its Finest Platinum MasterCard to World MasterCard.
Grocers pledge jobs and training to address youth unemployment

March 12, 2010
Grocers Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda have vowed to create more jobs, invest in more training and called on the Government to improve education.
Sainsbury’s considers sale and leasebacks to back expansion

March 12, 2010
Grocer mulls funding options to support aggressive growth plans in non-food and convenience
Tesco’s dotcom model

March 12, 2010
Tesco is widely thought to be the only grocer to make a profit from its dotcom operation. And judging by the reaction from the City after analysts visited its dotcom-only store in Aylesford, Kent, on Friday, the grocer looks poised to widen the gap on its competitors.
John Lewis Partnership pre-tax profits up 9.7%

11-Mar-2010
John Lewis Partnership has reported pre-tax and bonus profits up 9.7% to £306.6m and staff shared a £151.3m bonus pot, 15% of salary.
Tesco clothing chief Terry Green replaced by Richard Jones

11-Mar-2010
Tesco clothing chief Terry Green is to be replaced by the grocer’s head of non-food Richard Jones.
Morrisons profits up 30%

11-Mar-2010
Morrisons has reported pre-tax profits have hiked 30% to £858m, up from £655m, in its full year results ending January 31.
Sainsbury's and Asda set up youth training schemes

10-Mar-2010
Sainsbury’s and Asda are setting up training schemes to push food as a career choice to young people.
George at Asda launches 100-day returns policy

8-Mar-2010
George at Asda has launched a 100-day returns policy across its entire range, as it seeks to step up the competition on rivals Primark, Tesco and Marks & Spencer.
Blacks Leisure starts store expansion

8-Mar-2010
Blacks Leisure has begun a store rollout programme which it said is the next phase in the company’s turnaround plan.
Government mulls imposing VAT on food

8-Mar-2010
Government could begin charging VAT on food as a means of reducing the national defecit.
John Lewis Partnership staff to receive 14% bonus

8-Mar-2010
John Lewis Partnership staff are expected to receive around 14% of their annual salary as a bonus as the retailer reveals strong full-year profits.
Mark Price: Leader of the pack

5-Mar-2010
Named Retail Leader of the Year at last night’s Oracle Retail Week Awards, Mark Price has transformed Waitrose.
Tesco and M&S warn on need for transparent sourcing in fashion

March 5, 2010
Tesco clothing chief Terry Green has warned that fashion retailers must make the provenance of their product transparent because offering value is not enough for today’s customers.
RWC2010: Multichannel retailers debate future role of catalogues

4-Mar-2010
N Brown chief executive Alan White has said the ultimate goal for multichannel retailers is to ditch catalogues and concentrate on digital sales.
South African president to tour Sainsbury’s

4-Mar-2010
The South African president has asked for a tour of Sainsbury’s – the first time a visiting head of state has requested an official tour of a British supermarket.
Asda in pledge to end unfair treatment of temporary workers

4-Mar-2010
Asda has teamed up with union Unite to launch an initiative to end discrimination and unfair treatment across the supermarket’s 29 meat and poultry suppliers.
RWC2010: Retail poised for period of M&A activity, says Debenhams chief

3-Mar-2010
Debenhams chief executive Rob Templeman has said the sector is poised for a period of mergers and acquisitions as the recovery gains momentum.
Waitrose hires celebrity chefs as ‘food ambassadors’

3-Mar-2010
Waitrose has hired celebrity chefs Delia Smith and Heston Blumenthal to act as food ambassadors for the brand.
Food inflation hits three-year low

3-Mar-2010
A fall in fresh food process has pushed annual food inflation down to a three-year low of 1.3% in February, according to the British Retail Consortium Shop Price Inflation report.
Thresher franchisees to negotiate with landlords on shops

2-Mar-2010
First Quench administrator KPMG is offering the majority of the Threshers franchisees the chance to negotiate directly with landlords for new leases on their shops.
Andy Bond: Asda is ready for battle ahead

February 26, 2010
Asda hasn’t become ‘boring’ and is approaching 2010 in an aggressive mood with a raft of new initiatives, chief executive Andy Bond tells Jennifer Creevy
Tesco fires up Dobbies

February 26, 2010
Tesco-owned garden centre chain Dobbies is to unveil a new model store next week as part of ambitious plans to quadruple its number of shops to 100 over the next 10 years.
Morrisons hopes England World Cup backing will drive footfall

February 26, 2010
Morrisons retail director Mark Gunter expects the grocer’s support of England’s FIFA World Cup 2018 bid to drive new shoppers to its stores.
Asda promotes Andrew Moore to George MD

25-Feb-2010
Asda has promoted Andrew Moore to the position of managing director for its clothing brand George.
Dunelm’s value proposition drives growth

25-Feb-2010
Dunelm has reported like-for-like sales up 15.4% in its interim results, bolstered by its “simply value for money” proposition.
Ethel Austin and Au Naturale to shut 114 stores and make 1,048 redundancies

25-Feb-2010
The administrators of value clothing chain Ethel Austin and sister homewares retailer Au Naturale have confirmed the closure of 114 stores and 1,048 redundancies.
Ocado appoints former Reuters director as non-exec

24-Feb-2010
Ocado has lined up former finance director of Reuters David Grigson as a senior non-executive director.
Asda income tracker: UK family no better off in January than last year

24-Feb-2010
The average UK family was no better off in January than a year earlier, marking the second consecutive month where there was no change in discretionary income, according to the Asda Income Tracker.
Whole Foods UK launches online offer

23-Feb-2010
Whole Foods Market has launched an online grocery offer in the UK.
An end to grocery promotions?

19-Feb-2010
Asda will take an aggressive stance on the grocery sector this year. But will its price strategy be enough to hold off the likes of Tesco and Morrisons?
Blockbuster in rent renegotiation talks

19-Feb-2010
Blockbuster is understood to be working with restructuring firm KPMG on negotiations with more than 600 landlords as part of cost cutting plans.
Tesco to launch property website

19-Feb-2010
Tesco is expected to go head to head with estate agents within weeks with the launch of a property website, allowing home owners to advertise their properties for a flat fee of around £200.
Asda on a mission to take crown in non-food using etail and home

February 19, 2010
Asda is gunning to be the UK’s number one retailer in non-food in the next five years, and intends to hit its target by growing online and opening more Living stores.
Thorntons invests in products to reverse second-half losses

February 19, 2010
Thorntons intends to reduce its dependency on Christmas by investing in products to drive sales in the quieter summer months.
Alexander McQueen

February 19, 2010
Last week the news of Alexander McQueen’s suicide shook the fashion world. Here, we explain his importance to British fashion and why his loss will be mourned so deeply.
Holland & Barrett moves in on food to go with Suffolk opening

February 19, 2010
Holland & Barrett is to make a play for the food-to-go sector with the unveiling of a new-look store concept today.
Asda reveals 2010 plans after reporting Q4 like-for-likes up 4.6%

18-Feb-2010
Asda has reported that comparable sales excluding fuel were up 6% for the full year and 4.6% in the fourth quarter.
B&Q sales hit by snow

18-Feb-2010
B&Q has reported the snow at the beginning of the year affected trade as it recorded like-for-like sales fell 3.5% in its fourth quarter.
Asda staff share £26m bonus pot

18-Feb-2010
Asda staff will share a record £26m bonus pot this month with each employee receiving up to £437.50, as the retailer reveals it will create new jobs and unveil an enhanced buying deal with parent Walmart.
US giant Walgreens buys Duane Reade

17-Feb-2010
US health and beauty retailer Walgreen has bought New York-based chain Duane Reade for $1.075bn.
Thorntons sales drop but profits up

17-Feb-2010
Thorntons has reported a 0.7% drop in sales in its interim results but a 24.6% increase in pre-tax profit.
‘Boring’ Asda prepares fightback

16-Feb-2010
Asda bosses have conceded that the grocer has become ‘boring’ and laid out plans to tackle its underperformance, Retail Week has learned.
VAT increase pushes inflation up to 3.5% in January

16-Feb-2010
The Consumer Prices Index rose to 3.5% in the year to January, up from 2.9% in December, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The Body Shop reports resilient trading

16-Feb-2010
The Body Shop has reported total retail sales up 1% and like-for-like growth at up 0.7% in its full year 2009 figures.
Tesco extends Clubcard double points offer

15-Feb-2010
Tesco has extended its double Clubcard points offer until the summer, piling further pressure on rivals to keep up promotions.
Sainsbury's claims to be world's biggest Fairtrade retailer

15-Feb-2010
Sainsbury’s has claimed it has become the world’s biggest retailer of Fairtrade products after hitting sales of £218m in the past year.
Doubts raised over Ocado IPO

15-Feb-2010
Doubts have been raised about the stock market flotation potential of Ocado, after it emerged that Waitrose is to launch a competing online operation in central London within two years.
What, more regulation?

12-Feb-2010
Both Labour and the Conservatives have lent support to a supermarket ombudsman. But does it actually protect suppliers? And does it matter at all to the consumers?
Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy slams ombudsman

12-Feb-2010
Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy hit out at plans for a supermarket ombudsman, saying a watchdog would work in the interests of suppliers rather than consumers.
Boots mulls click-and-collect tie-ups with other retailers

February 12, 2010
Alliance Boots is weighing up allowing other retailers to use its stores as collection points for online orders, as it accelerates its strategy of forming partnerships withother retailers.
Analyst opinion mixed as Ocado eyes spring flotation

February 12, 2010
Online grocer Ocado has moved a step closer to a potential IPO and is understood to be gearing up for a spring flotation.
Retailer partnerships will build Boots’ legacy

February 12, 2010
Boots sees partnerships with other retailers as key to its future growth. Three years on from Stefano Pessina’s takeover, Jennifer Creevy visits its Nottingham HQ
Nectar programme launches in Italy

11-Feb-2010
The Nectar loyalty programme has launched in Italy in partnership with supermarket chain Auchan, marking the first time the scheme has gone international.
Scottish retailers ‘hindered by business rates policy’

11-Feb-2010
Retailers in Scotland will be harmed by the Scottish Government’s failure to introduce business rates transitional arrangements, according to the Scottish Retail Consortium.
Sports Direct retail sales climb 9.4%

11-Feb-2010
Sports Direct has reported retail sales increased 9.4% in the 13 weeks to January 24 to £326m.
Increase in CVAs expected

10-Feb-2010
Further company voluntary arrangements (CVA) are expected in the next few months as the lagged impact of the recession takes effect, restructuring expert KPMG said.
Boots and Mothercare team up on children's clothing brand

9-Feb-2010
Boots and Mothercare have struck a partnership which will see a new children’s clothing and accessories brand sold exclusively in Boots.
Iceland launches X-Factor style search for new face of brand

8-Feb-2010
Frozen foods retailer Iceland has today started a nationwide search for a customer to become the new face of the brand after Coleen Nolan stepped down last week.
Asda changes strategy as market share stalls

February 5, 2010
Asda has said it would consider using vouchers again as part of its promotional mix after revealing it was “pleased” with the response from its unprecedented coupon offer last week.
City backs ‘inspired’ choice for Morrisons chief exec role

February 5, 2010
The City has welcomed the appointment of Dalton Philips as chief executive of Morrisons, and many analysts expect the grocer to adopt a more aggressive growth plan.
Dalton Philips: A good fit for Morrisons

February 5, 2010
As all eyes focus on the incoming Morrisons chief executive, Jennifer Creevy discovers what the Irishman is made of and asks what his impact on the grocery giant will be
Waitrose links with chefs for top-end line

February 5, 2010
Waitrose has this week launched a high-end range in collaboration with three top chefs as it seeks to reinforce its position as a food specialist.
Suits You confirms CVA proposal

4-Feb-2010
UPDATED: Menswear retailer Speciality Retail Group (SRG), which trades as Suits You, has proposed a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), as predicted by Retail-Week.com this morning.
Sports Direct lines up criminal QC

3-Feb-2010
Sports Direct is understood to be lining up a leading criminal QC to advise founder Mike Ashley.
Card Factory appoints KPMG to advise on sale

3-Feb-2010
Greetings card retailer Card Factory has appointed KPMG to advise on a sale of the business, which could fetch up to £400m.
Marc Bolland to join Marks & Spencer on May 1

1-Feb-2010
Marc Bolland is to take up his role as chief executive of Marks & Spencer on May 1.
New Look prepares for March IPO

1-Feb-2010
New Look is preparing for an inital public offering in March that could value the fast fashion retailer at up to £2bn.
John Lewis to open Olympic Games shop

1-Feb-2010
John Lewis is to open an official Olympic Games shop at its Stratford store as it has been appointed official retailer to the London Olympics.
Sales of locally-produced food soar

1-Feb-2010
Nearly a third (30%) of shoppers say they have bought locally-produced food over the last month, double the number in 2006.
Morrisons to train 5,500 apprentices

1-Feb-2010
Morrisons is to reveal that 5,500 of its staff have signed up to a state-funded apprentice scheme in a boost to the Government’s push to promote training in the UK.
Fresh & Easy expands gluten-free products

29-Jan-2010
Fresh & Easy has expanded its range of gluten-free products in response to customer feedback.
Morrisons’ outside man

29-Jan-2010
Dalton Philips’ appointment at Morrisons is set to shake up the grocery market once more. Will Morrisons’ move pay off?
B&Q embroiled in row as Titchmarsh fronts campaign

29-Jan-2010
B&Q has been drawn into a row after hiring gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh after some critics argued BBC presenters must be impartial.
Anthony Thompson: new Fat Face chief is a product man

January 29, 2010
If what he did for George at Asda is any indication, Fat Face’s new chief executive is well qualified to get the business back in shape.
George at Asda insiders tipped as favourites to succeed Thompson

January 29, 2010
Three internal candidates are among the front-runners to take over from Anthony Thompson as managing director of George at Asda.
Hair and beauty chain Sally ramps up retail

January 29, 2010
Hair and beauty specialist Sally is to test a new format in five stores as it seeks to push its retail offer.
Shop Direct puts 1,500 jobs in consultation

28-Jan-2010
Home shopping group Shop Direct is considering closing three contact centres with the possible loss of 1,500 jobs.
Asda launches voucher campaign

28-Jan-2010
Asda has today launched a voucher campaign to drive shoppers to its stores.
H&M reports strong Christmas trading

28-Jan-2010
Swedish fashion giant H&M has reported sales in over the Christmas period of December were up 15% in local currencies.
Findel like-for-likes slip 3%

28-Jan-2010
Home shopping retailer Findel has reported like-for-like sales were down 3% for the 39 weeks to January 1.
Sir David Jones steps down from JJB Sports

28-Jan-2010
Sir David Jones is to step down from his role of chairman at JJB Sports due to ill health.
Asda trials vending machine to reduce waste

26-Jan-2010
Asda has launched a trial with fabric conditioner sold in reusable pouches from vending machines in a bid to reduce packaging waste.
Walmart axes 11,200 jobs at Sam’s Club

25-Jan-2010
Walmart is cutting 11,200 jobs at its Sam’s Club warehouse chain in the US.
Sainsbury’s to double size in non-food

January 22, 2010
Grocer will roll out click-and-collect to build on strong growth already achieved in non-food sector
Ocado introduces online ratings and reviews

January 22, 2010
Online grocer Ocado is testing a ratings and reviews section for shoppers to rate food products, which it claims is a first for a UK supermarket.
B&Q partners with Alan Titchmarsh

21-Jan-2010
B&Q has partnered with celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh to help drive sales in its garden and outdoor product categories.
Morrisons like-for-likes up 6.5%

21-Jan-2010
Morrisons has reported strong Christmas trading with like-for-like sales up 6.5% on the six weeks to January 3.
Morrisons appoints home and leisure director

20-Jan-2010
Morrisons has appointed Mike Snell as its home and leisure director.
Tesco launches ‘Buy One, Get One Free Later’ deals

20-Jan-2010
Tesco has this week launched a ‘Buy One, Get One Free Later’ deal, which it claims will help customers cut down waste.
Co-op reshuffles marketing and commercial teams

19-Jan-2010
The Co-operative Group has shaken up its food management team following the acquisition of Somerfield.
Best Buy Europe like-for-likes up 6.3%

19-Jan-2010
Best Buy Europe - the joint venture between Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy - has reported UK like-for-like sales up 6.3% in its third quarter and remains on track to unveil its first big-box shops in spring.
DFS considers IPO

18-Jan-2010
DFS, the UK’s largest furniture retailer, is considering a float or third-party investment.
London retail sales up 12%

18-Jan-2010
Central London’s retail like-for-like sales in December were up 12% over a year ago, when sales had fallen 0.7% as the financial crisis hit consumer confidence.
Boots joins Christmas winners

15-Jan-2010
Alliance Boots will today unveil a strong performance over Christmas, with UK like-for-like sales growth at its retail arm approaching 5%.
How John Lewis won the festive retail battle

January 15, 2010
By investing cleverly in product, price and customer service the John Lewis Partnership has emerged the Christmas winner.
Snow chaos to cost grocers ‘millions’

January 15, 2010
Major transport disruption wreaks havoc with supermarkets’ supply chains
Primark sales up 19%

14-Jan-2010
Primark has reported sales 19% ahead of last year in its first quarter for the 16 weeks to January 2.
Thorntons like-for-likes fall but held margins

14-Jan-2010
Thorntons has reported like-for-like sales fell 4.4% for the 14 weeks to January 9 but said it had benefitted from higher gross margins.
DSGi smashes Christmas expectations

14-Jan-2010
DSG International has reported like-for-like sales up 8% in the 12 weeks to January 9 with a record-breaking Christmas in the UK in key categories.
Tesco trials school uniform embroidery service

13-Jan-2010
Tesco is trialling a schoolwear embroidery service as it seeks to give parents whose kids need bespoke uniforms a cheaper alternative to specialist suppliers.
Debenhams Christmas like-for-likes up 0.1%

12-Jan-2010
Debenhams has reported like-for-like sales up 0.1% for the 18 weeks to January 2 and warned that the economic environment remains uncertain.
Game like-for-likes slump after disappointing Christmas

12-Jan-2010
Game Group has reported UK and Ireland like-for-like sales slumped by 17.5% after a disappointing Christmas performance.
Tesco reports stongest Christmas for three years

12-Jan-2010
Tesco has reported its strongest Christmas for three years with its Double Clubcard promotions providing a huge boost to sales.
Shoppers return to premium food lines at Christmas

11-Jan-2010
Supermarkets enjoyed shoppers’ return to premium foods at Christmas, according to research house TNS Worldpanel.
Poundland festive like-for-likes up 4.4%

11-Jan-2010
Poundland has reported shoppers’ continued flight to value over Christmas with like-for-like sales from the five weeks to January 3 up 4.4%.
Ocado fits winter tyres to delivery fleet

11-Jan-2010
Ocado is to fit its delivery van fleet with special winter tyres for the remainder of the season to tackle the adverse weather conditions.
Co-op reports Christmas like-for-likes up 5%

11-Jan-2010
The Co-operative Group has reported a strong Christmas, with like-for-like sales up 5% including VAT and excluding fuel in the three weeks to January 2.
Spar festive total sales jump 10.3%

8-Jan-2010
Convenience store chain Spar has reported total sales from December 14 to date up 10.3%.
Food price war intensifies as grocers ramp up cuts for 2010

January 8, 2010
Grocers have kicked off the new year with an intense price war, signalling a year of even tougher competition in the food sector.
First Quench brands sold to property firm

7-Jan-2010
The off-licence brands Threshers, Victoria Wine, Bottoms Up and The Local have been bought by property investment and consultancy firm SEP Properties.
Amazon to ship larger Kindle to UK this month

7-Jan-2010
Amazon will start shipping the large-screen version of its Kindle e-reader to the UK later this month.
Grocery sales robust in December

7-Jan-2010
Grocery sales were robust in December, up 6.7% in the four weeks to December 26 against the same period last year.
John Lewis retail director Gareth Thomas steps down

7-Jan-2010
John Lewis retail director Gareth Thomas has taken early retirement from the partnership and will leave the employee-owned retailer after 30 years.
JD Sports festive like-for-likes up 6.6%

7-Jan-2010
JD Sports Fashion has reported group like-for-like sales for the five weeks to January 2 up 6.6%.
Sainsbury's reports record Christmas

7-Jan-2010
Sainsbury’s has reported a record Christmas performance, delivering like-for-like sales for its third quarter up 3.7% excluding petrol.
Snow causes retailers to shut up shop

6-Jan-2010
The heavy snow has caused havoc for retailers with many of the major chains shutting shops early so staff can get home safely.
Majestic Wine festive like-for-likes up 11.7%

6-Jan-2010
Wine specialist Majestic has reported like-for-like UK sales were up 11.7% over the festive period.
Booths reports 8.4% festive uplift

5-Jan-2010
Regional grocer Booths has reported a 8.4% uplift in sales for the 12 trading days of Christmas and New Year, and like-for-like sales up by 2.5%.
Asda launches biggest price rollback for a decade

5-Jan-2010
Asda has today launched its biggest price rollback for a decade and has launched a campaign which claims to rid the industry of “phoney price claims”.
Original Factory Shop reports record Christmas

5-Jan-2010
Value department store chain Original Factory Shop has reported record sales over the Christmas period, with a year-on-year sales lift of 48.3%.
John Lewis reports bumper Christmas trading

5-Jan-2010
John Lewis has delivered a bumper Christmas trading update, with like-for-like sales up 12.7% in the five weeks to January 2.
Co-op launches brand campaign

4-Jan-2010
The Co-operative Group has today launched an advertising campaign to communicate the benefits of the merger of its food business with Somerfield.
Ken Clarke signals VAT rise

4-Jan-2010
Shadow business secretary Kenneth Clarke has signalled that a Conservative government would be ready to raise taxes – including VAT – if they win this year’s general election.
Taxman biggest loser from First Quench collapse

4-Jan-2010
The taxman has emerged as the biggest loser from the collapse of Threshers owner First Quench Retailing, as it owes £13.7m in unpaid alcohol duty.
Does good food cost less?

18-Dec-2009
Asda created a stir this week when it borrowed one of Sainsbury’s catchphrases. While some might view the theft of a strapline as a sin, having a giggle at Christmas is more important to customers.
Ikea buys retail park near Reading

18-Dec-2009
Swedish furniture giant Ikea has bought a retail park in Theale, near Reading.
John Lewis sales 5% ahead of last week

17-Dec-2009
John Lewis has reported that sales from Sunday to Wednesday are 5% ahead of last week and over 16% ahead of 2008 levels.
Ideal Shopping confident of profitability

17-Dec-2009
Ideal Shopping Direct has said trading since its last update has been ahead of internal forecasts and it is confident the year end outcome will be ahead of current market consensus.
JJB Sports reports sales plunge

17-Dec-2009
JJB Sports has reported group revenue for the 20-week period to December 13 was 52% lower than the same period last year.
Laura Ashley like-for-likes rise 4.9%

16-Dec-2009
Homewares and womenswear retailer Laura Ashley expects full year trading to be broadly in line with company expectations after like-for-like sales rose 4.9% over the first 19 weeks of the second half to 12 December.
Sainsbury’s Dido Harding to head up TalkTalk

16-Dec-2009
Dido Harding, head of Sainsbury’s convenience stores, is to join TalkTalk – the soon to be demerged broadband arm of Carphone Warehouse, as chief executive.
ASA throws out M&S ‘sexist’ ad claims

15-Dec-2009
The Advertising Standards Authority has thrown out claims of sexism over the Life on Mars actor Philip Glenister’s part in Marks & Spencer’s Christmas TV campaign following about 100 complaints.
Tesco music and DVD boosted by X-Factor

15-Dec-2009
Tesco has said the X-Factor effect has boosted music and DVD sales since Sunday’s final, and the grocer predicts winner Joe McElderry’s single will be the fastest-selling of the year.
Asda borrows Sainsbury’s slogan

15-Dec-2009
Asda borrowed one of rival Sainsbury’s advertising catchphrases at the weekend, declaring “Good food costs less at Asda”.
Spar Q2 like-for-likes climb 4.8%

15-Dec-2009
Convenience store group Spar has reported like-for-like sales up 4.8% in the three months to October 31.
London retail sales rise in November

14-Dec-2009
London retail sales in November were the best since October 2006, raising hopes for a good Christmas period.
Boots brand will span the globe, says Stefano Pessina

December 11, 2009
Alliance Boots executive chairman Stefano Pessina has vowed that the Boots brand will be sold in all the major countries in the world within five years.
Tesco quietly impresses

December 11, 2009
Tesco’s trading updates often split the City, and Tuesday’s third-quarter announcement was no exception. Some highlighted that UK like-for-like growth was below expectations, while others reiterated the longer-term benefits of being more than just a UK food retailer.
BRC shop price inflation flat

9-Dec-2009
Overall shop price inflation edged up marginally in November to 0.2%, according to the BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index.
Tesco reports solid Q3 UK growth, but lower than some City estimates

8-Dec-2009
Tesco has reported a steady sales growth in the UK in its third quarter, but lower than some analysts had expected.
Tesco targets upmarket grocers in price war

7-Dec-2009
Tesco is to ramp up its price cuts this week targeting the upmarket grocers with heavy discounts on its Finest range.
Marc Bolland to step down from Morrisons

4-Dec-2009
Morrisons chief executive Marc Bolland will step down from the Bradford-based grocer today (Friday).
Asda's happily ever after

4-Dec-2009
Asda’s deal to sell official FIFA merchandise for next year’s World Cup is a marriage made in heaven for the grocer. And one that is likely to have rattled rivals. The partnership shows how lucrative such deals can be for the supermarkets - something they are all trying to cash in on.
Ocado mulls partnership with Carrefour

4-Dec-2009
Online grocer Ocado is understood to have held talks with French retailer Carrefour about a partnership to deliver shopping to customers’ homes in France.
Debenhams to open in Vietnam

4-Dec-2009
Department store group Debenhams is to open in Vietnam as it seeks to bolster its international portfolio.
Specsavers on course for strong year as value strategy pays off

December 4, 2009
Specsavers is confident of hitting a £1.4bn turnover in its full year to the end of February after reinforcing its value credentials.
Waterstone’s challenges not over

December 4, 2009
The collapse of Borders UK won’t have surprised many market watchers. Specialist booksellers have been having a tough time for years – firstly hit by the bargain basement prices offered by the supermarkets, then the rise of online giants such as Amazon. Borders didn’t help itself either, but its collapse is bad news for the high street and many will still lament its demise.
Need to know: Pop-up shops

December 4, 2009
Pop-up shops typically open in the Christmas run-up to cash in on festive spending. But do they have any other applications in the recession?
John Lewis sales boosted by cold weather

3-Dec-2009
Department store group John Lewis has reported trade from Sunday to Wednesday is up 12% on last year and 19% up on last week.
B&Q strong sales helps Kingfisher beat forecasts

3-Dec-2009
DIY giant B&Q has reported like for like sales up 5.7%, helping parent company Kingfisher to beat City forecasts with a 28% increase in group profits.
Findel reports first half loss

3-Dec-2009
Home shopping group Findel has reported a loss for its first half but the retailer said it is confident its cost savings should help it to generate profit.
Asda wins rights to sell official FIFA World Cup merchandise

3-Dec-2009
Asda has won the rights to sell official World Cup products next summer after its parent Walmart struck a deal with FIFA’s worldwide master licensee.
Supermarkets launch Champagne price war

2-Dec-2009
The supermarkets have launched a price war on Champagne today as the party season gets into full swing.
Co-op and Somerfield launch £200m price war

30-Nov-2009
The Co-operative and Somerfield have waded into the supermarket Christmas price war with the launch of a £200m promotional assault.
Tesco tempts Christmas shoppers with early Clubcard offers

30-Nov-2009
Tesco is today sending out a surprise pre-Christmas Clubcard statement to its customers, in a bid to win their festive spend.
Retail property body urges Government to kick-start development pipeline

30-Nov-2009
Retail industry body BCSC has written to the Government to make a firm commitment to measures to kick-start the retail property development pipeline in its pre-budget report next week.
First Quench to close a further 391 shops and sells off two small groups of the business

27-Nov-2009
First Quench Retailing administrator KPMG has announced the closure of a further 391 shops, while selling off two small chunks of the business.
Will Asda and Tesco be the winners next year?

27-Nov-2009
Asda and Tesco have soaked up the majority of the market share from Woolworths’ collapse. Will their strength in non-food mean they emerge the winners in 2010?
Wine Rack brand sold to wholesaler

27-Nov-2009
First Quench Retailing administrator KPMG has sold the Wine Rack brand and 13 shops to wholesaler Venus Wine & Spirit Merchants.
Richard Pennycook tipped as next Morrisons chief

November 27, 2009
Morrisons group finance director Richard Pennycook has emerged as the bookies’ favourite to take over as chief executive when Marc Bolland leaves to head Marks & Spencer.
Marc Bolland: taking the helm at Marks & Spencer

November 27, 2009
As the Morrisons chief lines up to take the helm at Marks & Spencer, Jennifer Creevy asks if he has got what it takes to realise the high street legend’s potential.
Retail sales volumes up for second month running, according to CBI

26-Nov-2009
Retail sales volumes rose for the second month running in November, and further growth is expected in December, according to the CBI.
Hamleys and H&M open at Glasgow’s St Enoch centre

26-Nov-2009
Hamleys and H&M were among the first stores to open their doors in the new £100m extension to Ivanhoe Cambridge’s St. Enoch shopping centre in Glasgow this morning.
Alexon like-for-likes slump 14%

26-Nov-2009
Fashion group Alexon has reported a 14% slump in like-for-like sales for the 16 weeks to November 21 after its planned lower level of summer Sale activity affected footfall and sales.
Clinton Cards like-for-likes up 3.9%

26-Nov-2009
Clinton Cards has reported like-for-like sales for the 16 weeks to November 22 have climbed 3.9%, helped by consistent performance across all product categories and Halloween boosting sales.
Postal strikes hit etailers’ growth

25-Nov-2009
The postal strikes in October led to a £53m fall in growth for online retailers in the last week of the month.
Grocers’ non-food sales to increase 40% by 2014

25-Nov-2009
Non-food sales from grocers are expected to increase by 40% to £16.2bn in 2014, representing nearly 10p in every pound spent in supermarkets.
Ebay technical hitch raises fears about retailer listings

24-Nov-2009
Ebay’s technical failure on Saturday has raised fears about the auction site’s ability to handle bulk listings by large retailers.
Asda Income Tracker: Average family £10 a week better off

24-Nov-2009
The average UK family is £10 a week better off compared to October 2008, according to the latest report from the Asda Income Tracker.
Malcolm Walker tapped for cash by ex-Baugur chief

24-Nov-2009
Malcolm Walker, chief executive of frozen foods retailer Iceland, is understood to have been tapped up by Jon Asgeir Johannesson, founder of collapsed high street chain Baugur, about investing in his Hagar retail empire.
Mark Price named contender to replace Marc Bolland at Morrisons

23-Nov-2009
Waitrose managing director Mark Price has been named as a leading contender to replace Marc Bolland as chief executive of Morrisons.
381 further First Quench shops to close, making 1,908 redundancies

20-Nov-2009
The administrator to Threshers owner First Quench Retailing has announced the closure of a further 381 stores, resulting in 1,908 shop staff redundancies.
Marc Bolland was the answer to Marks & Spencer’s prayers

20-Nov-2009
As Retail Week predicted back in July, Marc Bolland is just what Marks & Spencer has been looking for. His success at Morrisons will stand him in good stead, but the difficulty of managing Britain’s most loved retail brand is great.
Marks & Spencer brand top of agenda for Marc Bolland

November 20, 2009
Marc Bolland, newly appointed chief executive of Marks & Spencer, is expected to focus on breathing new life into the Marks & Spencer brand.
Asda George boss vows to hold prices when VAT rise takes effect

November 20, 2009
George at Asda managing director Anthony Thompson has vowed not to push up prices with the VAT change on January 1, as the value retailer embarks on the roll-out of a productivity scheme in Bangladesh.
Majestic Wine ‘optimistic’ as six-bottle initiative lifts sales

November 20, 2009
Wine specialist Majestic Wine is “optimistic” about Christmas trading after reporting a better than expected UK interim like-for-like sales rise.
EU votes against extension of anti-dumping duties

19-Nov-2009
The EU has voted against the extension of anti-dumping duties on footwear sourced from China and Vietnam.
Ted Baker retail sales grow 19.8%

19-Nov-2009
Ted Baker reported retail sales were up 19.8% in the 13 weeks to November 14, resulting in a better than anticipated performance in the UK, offset by difficult trading conditions in its overseas markets.
Marc Bolland: Marks & Spencer was an opportunity I couldn't miss

19-Nov-2009
Morrisons chief executive Marc Bolland has said that Marks & Spencer was an opportunity he couldn’t miss, but he remains dedicated to Morrisons until his last day.
Net-a-porter does not intend to float

18-Nov-2009
Luxury fashion etailer Net-a-porter.com said it is trading strongly and does not intent to float on the stock exchange.
Archie Norman named as ITV chairman

18-Nov-2009
Former Asda chief executive Archie Norman has been named as the new chairman of struggling broadcaster ITV.
Sainsbury’s gears up for promotional weekend

18-Nov-2009
Sainsbury’s has today launched its first-ever “Buy now free next time” promotional offer alongside further Christmas in-store activity.
Former owners could face Threshers liability

17-Nov-2009
Punch Taverns and Whitbread could be forced to take over Threshers stores in the wake of its parent First Quench Retailing falling into administration.
London retail sales climb in October

16-Nov-2009
Retail sales in central London were 4.2% higher on a like-for-like basis last month over a year ago, when sales had fallen 2.6%.
Richard Baker to front bid for Matalan

16-Nov-2009
Former Boots chief executive Richard Baker is poised to launch a bid for discount retailer Matalan in his role at private equity firm Advent International.
John Lewis buoyed by Christmas shoppers

16-Nov-2009
John Lewis has revealed that sales in the week to Saturday November 14 rose 17.1% on the year to £71.9m, £500,000 ahead of the equivalent week in 2007.
Asos reports strong growth in sales and profits

16-Nov-2009
Online fashion retailer Asos continues to defy the downturn with growth in sales and profits in the six months to September 30.
Sainsbury’s loses market share to rivals

16-Nov-2009
More than £11m of spending was switched from Sainsbury’s to its competitors in the 12 weeks to November, according to TNS Worldpanel data leaked to The Times.
Who can shout the loudest?

13-Nov-2009
As the grocers gear up for the key Christmas trading period, they launch into claim after counter claim about how much they can save customers this year. But who will win the battle?
Dollar General makes NYSE debut

13-Nov-2009
US discount retailer Dollar General is today making its debut on the New York Stock Exchange in what is one of the most anticipated IPOs of the year.
Sainsbury’s pushes loyalty and non-food

November 13, 2009
Sainsbury’s is launching an ad campaign today focusing on its loyalty scheme Nectar card for the first time as it seeks to capture more of shoppers’ Christmas spend.
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.
Judith McKenna could one day have the top job at Asda

November 13, 2009
In the week McKenna presented Asda’s third-quarter results, Jennifer Creevy says the sharp but likeable woman who runs Asda’s finances could one day be in the frame for the top job.
Indie grocer Booths wins back shoppers with value range push

November 13, 2009
Independent grocer Booths nudged up pre-tax profits and like-for-like sales last year.
Savers reduces losses and pins hopes on rallying like-for-likes

November 13, 2009
Value health and beauty chain Savers reduced its losses in the last financial year and is confident it is moving towards profitability.
Tesco is going all out this Christmas

November 13, 2009
No retailer is safe this Christmas as Tesco goes all out to grab market share with new products and expanded ranges. Retail and logistics chief David Potts outlines its plans to Jennifer Creevy.
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.
Argos launches financial services price comparison site

12-Nov-2009
Argos has today launched a financial services price comparison website called Argos Compare.
Threshers franchisees form action group

11-Nov-2009
Updated: 55 of the 65 Threshers’ franchisees have formed an action group to resist being bought by a buyer they view as “unfavourable”.
Tesco strikes partnership with DreamWorks

10-Nov-2009
Tesco has struck an exclusive partnership with film studio DreamWorks to offer DVDs and merchandise in its stores.
Games retailers cheer at Call of Duty release

10-Nov-2009
Games retailers will be rubbing their hands in glee today with the release of the most anticipated title of the year, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Alliance Boots loses out in Sweden

10-Nov-2009
Alliance Boots is understood to have lost out in Sweden’s auction of part of its state-owned Apoteket pharmacy chain.
Retailers experience best October for seven years

10-Nov-2009
Retailers have experienced the best October for seven years, with like-for-like sales up 3.8% on a year ago during the month.
The customer is king

6-Nov-2009
The administrator to Threshers owner First Quench has started shutting stores. If the retailer had listened to customers, would it have collapsed in the first place?
The Body Shop reports like-for-likes down 0.9%

6-Nov-2009
The Body Shop reported like-for-like sales down 0.9% in its third quarter to September 30.
Mid-market retailers report 2.1% uplift in October

6-Nov-2009
Mid-market retailers reported a 2.1% uplift in like-for-like sales in October, marking a tentative recovery in high street spending.
Postal strikes called off

6-Nov-2009
Etailers will be breathing a sigh of relief this morning as the postal strikes have been called off until at least the New Year.
Alliance Boots on track to hit targets after healthy half-year

November 6, 2009
Alliance Boots has said customer service and value have been the main drivers in helping it deliver sales growth of 11.6% to £9bn in the six months to September 30.
Dairy Crest to ramp up food home delivery

November 6, 2009
Dairy company Dairy Crest is gunning to reach 250,000 customers by March for its home delivery, direct-to-customer Milk&More offer.
Neil Gillis

November 6, 2009
Nothing fires Blacks’ quietly determined chief like a turnaround challenge. And, despite the losses announced last week, he insists the challenge won’t beat him.
Shop price inflation at zero after two months of deflation

4-Nov-2009
Overall shop price inflation stood at zero last month after two consecutive months of deflation.
Primark like-for-likes up 7%

3-Nov-2009
Value fashion retailer Primark has reported sales up 20% in the year to September 12, with like-for-likes up 7%.
Alliance Boots revenue up 11.6%

3-Nov-2009
Health and beauty group Alliance Boots has reported revenue up 11.6% to £9bn for the six months to September 30 and said it is well positioned for the second half including the key Christmas trading period.
Potential buyers circle Threshers owner First Quench

2-Nov-2009
Rival off-licence chains and private equity groups are understood to be circling collapsed drinks retailer First Quench.
Kidswear most resilient clothing sector

2-Nov-2009
Kidswear has been the most resilient clothing sector in the recession, according to market research house Verdict.
Tesco holds talks with Tony Blair

2-Nov-2009
Tesco is understood to have held talks with former Prime Minister Tony Blair about helping the grocer to move into the Middle East.
Morrisons seeks supplier support

2-Nov-2009
Morrisons is understood to be asking for suppliers for more support for its promotions as competition in the grocery sector intensifies.
Consumer confidence at highest level for 18 months

2-Nov-2009
Consumer confidence is at its highest level for 18 months, despite consumers remaining anxious about the possibility of unemployment.
The writing was already on the wall

30-Oct-2009
Threshers owner First Quench has plunged into administration. Where does that leave its some 6,200 staff?
Threshers owner First Quench makes 81 redundancies

30-Oct-2009
Threshers owner First Quench Retailing has made 81 redundancies at head office following its collapse into administration last night.
Patrick Lewis appointed to Ocado board

30-Oct-2009
Patrick Lewis, partners’ counsellor at the John Lewis Partnership, has been appointed to the board of online grocer Ocado.
Shop Direct fires warning shot at Alworths

30-Oct-2009
Shop Direct has sent a legal letter to Alworths over the use of its name as the group argues it is too similar to Woolworths.
Fresh & Easy website refreshed to back ads

October 30, 2009
Tesco’s US operation Fresh & Easy has revamped its website in line with its refreshed stores and marketing drive.
John Cleland vows teetering First Quench has future

October 30, 2009
Embattled off-licence operator First Quench Retailing has a future despite a question mark hanging over it, director John Cleland vowed this week.
Threshers owner First Quench Retailing goes into administration

29-Oct-2009
Threshers owner First Quench Retailing has plunged into administration.
Sainsbury's launches biggest ever toy promotion

29-Oct-2009
Sainsbury’s has today launched its biggest ever toy promotion, slashing 50% off prices of all toys for one week.
O'Neill buys four Sandcity shops

28-Oct-2009
The administrators of Sandcity, the boardwear subsidiary of Blacks Leisure, have sold four shops to O’Neill.
Tesco Bank to create 1,000 jobs in Newcastle

28-Oct-2009
Tesco is to create 1,000 new jobs in Newcastle in its banking division with the opening of a customer service centre in the city.
Threshers owner on the brink of administration

28-Oct-2009
Threshers owner First Quench is on the brink of going into administration, Retail Week has learned.
One in 10 UK retailers shut up shop in 2009

27-Oct-2009
One in 10 retailers closed their doors between January and September this year according to research released today by the Local Data Company.
Sports Direct loses stakes in rivals

27-Oct-2009
Sports Direct has lost its stakes in rivals JD Sports Fashion and Blacks Leisure as the administrator of collapsed Icelandic bank Kaupthing took control of the holdings.
Marks & Spencer launches climate change campaign

27-Oct-2009
Marks & Spencer has created a virtual patchwork quilt in a bid to push for decisive action at the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen.
John Lewis reports surge in online fashion sales

26-Oct-2009
John Lewis has reported that online fashion sales have performed ahead of expectations since the launch of the revamped clothing site last month.
Holland & Barrett kicks off TV campaign for in-store deal

October 23, 2009
Health foods retailer Holland & Barrett has launched a TV campaign to promote its buy-one-get-one-half-price offer on everything in-store, which it claims is a first for any retailer in the UK.
Need to know: Jobs in grocery

October 23, 2009
Asda’s Andy Clarke is concerned about unemployment and has pledged to tackle it head on, but what are all the big four grocers doing about this issue?
Co-op needs to toughen up

16-Oct-2009
The Co-operative Group has achieved a lot since buying Somerfield. But it’s chief executive Peter Marks needs to toughen up to take on the big boys.
Carrefour to pull out of Russia

16-Oct-2009
Carrefour is to pull out of Russia just months after opening its first stores in the country.
Clinton Cards reports improvement in second half

16-Oct-2009
Clinton Cards has reported a marked improvement in second half like-for-like sales after reducing borrowings and ditching its loss-making Birthdays business.
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.
Asda’s Andy Clarke promises to hire more disadvantaged youth

October 16, 2009
Asda is to launch a three-year campaign to hire more young people, as chief operating officer Andy Clarke said “something needs to be done to give young people a chance”.
Barcodes

October 16, 2009
Last week marked the 30th anniversary of the first barcode being scanned at a till in a UK shop. Today they are universally used, but what’s next?
Co-op plans price cuts as like-for-likes swell

October 16, 2009
Co-operative Group is to continue to drive down prices at its food division to compete with the big four grocers after revealing market-beating like-for-like food sales in its interim results.
Sainsbury’s shares rise amid bid rumours

15-Oct-2009
Sainsbury’s shares have risen by as much as 20% amid speculation that the Qatari Investment Authority was planning a renewed offer for the grocer.
Harrods to sell gold bars

15-Oct-2009
Upmarket department store Harrods will today start selling a luxury accessory out of reach for most of the UK’s shoppers - gold bars.
Flying Brands raises £1.76m in share placing

15-Oct-2009
Flying Brands has raised £1.76m in a share placing to repay part of its outstanding debt.
WHSmith profits up, but sales slip slightly

15-Oct-2009
WHSmith has reported group pre-tax profit has increased to £81m in its full-year results from £76m the previous year but sales have dipped slightly.
Mothercare reports UK like-for-likes up 4.1%

15-Oct-2009
Mothercare has reported UK like-for-like sales up 4.1% in its first half and remains “confident” for the rest of the year.
Sir Terry Leahy lambasts government over education

13-Oct-2009
Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy has hit out on the Government’s track record in education, stating that standards in schools are “still woefully low”.
M&S unveils details of website relaunch

12-Oct-2009
Marks & Spencer is to unveil a revamped website tomorrow, as the retailer holds its first investor day in nearly a decade.
M&S internal candidates to pitch to investors

12-Oct-2009
Marks & Spencer’s internal candidates to succeed Sir Stuart Rose are expected to make presentations to the City tomorrow at the retailer’s first investor day for nearly a decade.
Co-op food sales soar

12-Oct-2009
The Co-operative Group has reported a 17 per cent rise in first-half profits to £229m, driven by its acquisition of Somerfield and strong growth in its food business.
JJB reconfirms equity raising will go ahead

12-Oct-2009
JJB has reconfirmed this morning that its plans for an equity raising will go ahead, despite it being dogged by speculation and rumours in relation to its executive chairman Sir David Jones at the weekend.
Around the world with Tesco

9-Oct-2009
Tesco is not only gearing up for a UK bounce back, it is gaining good ground internationally. The next year will see it invest most in international markets and it is well set up for growth.
George claims top spot in clothing market share

9-Oct-2009
Asda’s George has seized the top spot in clothing market share, delivering managing director Anthony Thompson’s target to take first place 18 months early.
Grocery giants upbeat on recovery prospects

9-Oct-2009
Tesco and Sainsbury’s chiefs gave hope to the high street in the run-up to Christmas with rare optimism that the UK is recovering from the slump that has undermined consumer sentiment.
European Commission reportedly proposes footwear anti-dumping extension

8-Oct-2009
The European Commission is reportedly proposing an extension to the anti-dumping duties on EU imports of Chinese and Vietnamese leather footwear for at least 15 months.
Ted Baker pre-tax profits down 18.4%, but UK arm remains strong

8-Oct-2009
Ted Baker has reported a better than expected 18.4% drop in pre-tax profit in its interim results to £6m, buoyed by the performance of its UK arm.
Halfords like-for-likes up 2.2%

8-Oct-2009
Halfords has reported like-for-like sales are up 2.2% in its second quarter and said it is confident it will deliver further profit growth in the second quarter.
Amazon cancels Royal Mail contract

8-Oct-2009
Online retailer Amazon has reportedly cancelled its contract for certain items with Royal Mail after continued strike action threatens its pre-Christmas deliveries.
Sainsbury's sales slow in second quarter

7-Oct-2009
Sainsbury’s has reported that like-for-like sales has slowed in its second quarter and the grocer said it expects a further slow down in the coming months.
Sainsbury’s launches financial services campaign

6-Oct-2009
Sainsbury’s has unveiled a campaign to drive shoppers to its financial services products.
Tesco unveils sale and leaseback

5-Oct-2009
Tesco has carried out a new sale and leaseback transaction worth £514m in the latest phase of its ongoing programme to release value from its UK property portfolio.
First Quench acting chief executive resigns

5-Oct-2009
First Quench Retailing acting chief executive and financial director Martin Healy has resigned and the group has drafted in a new chief financial officer.
Waitrose pulls advertising from Fox News slot

5-Oct-2009
Waitrose has pulled its advertising from the Fox News slot shown on Sky in the UK after customers complained about presenter Glenn Beck’s remarks about US president Barack Obama.
TJ Hughes turnover up 9.1%

5-Oct-2009
Discount department store operator TJ Hughes has reported a 9.1% increase in turnover to £261.3m in its full year results.
Tesco launches online fashion shop

3-Oct-2009
Tesco has launched its standalone online fashion shop and hopes that sales will grow to account for 10% of total clothing turnover.
David Tyler: Sainsbury’s new chairman is ‘no wallflower’

October 2, 2009
After winning over the City with his management of GUS’s demerger, the former finance chief seems a smart choice as Sainsbury’s chairman, says Jennifer Creevy
Waitrose strikes Boots deal and plans convenience stores

October 2, 2009
Waitrose has partnered with Boots in a deal enabling both to sell each other’s products in their shops and unveiled plans for a 300-strong network of convenience stores.
Should Marks & Spencer be scared?

25-Sep-2009
Waitrose is making a major play for convenience, stepping into prime Marks & Spencer territory. Should Marks & Spencer be scared, or is it confident of its position?
Waitrose chases convenience market and signs deal with Boots UK

24-Sep-2009
Waitrose is to make a major play for the convenience market, and has embarked on a partnership with Boots UK to sell select product ranges in each others’ stores.
Dan Brown book smashes booksellers’ records

24-Sep-2009
The smash hit Dan Brown conspiracy thriller The Lost Symbol has sold 550,946 copies in the first five days the book has been on sale, according to Nielsen BookScan.
JJB Sports suffers £42.9m pre-tax loss

24-Sep-2009
JJB Sports suffered a £42.9m pre-tax loss in its half year results, after admitting it was on the “brink of going into administration” earlier this year.
Blacks Leisure places Sandcity into administration

23-Sep-2009
Blacks Leisure has appointed administrators to its boardwear business, Sandcity.
Paul Kelly reinstated at Brown Thomas

23-Sep-2009
Selfridges chief executive Paul Kelly has been reinstated as head of Irish upmarket department store Brown Thomas, in a reshuffle which has also seen managing director Nigel Blow leave the group.
CBI: UK economy to emerge from recession in Q3

23-Sep-2009
The UK economy is expected to emerge from recession through modest growth in the third and fourth quarters of this year, but constraints on demand will mean that growth in 2010 is fragile, according the CBI.
Blacks Leisure warns covenant breach likely

22-Sep-2009
Blacks Leisure has warned that it is likely to breach a banking covenant following difficult trading at its boardwear division and has struck a standstill agreement with its bank.
Asda report: UK families £8 a week better off last month

22-Sep-2009
The average UK family was £8 a week better off last month compared to a year ago, thanks to inflation being at its lowest level since February 2005 and low interest rates on mortgages, according to data from Asda.
Retail chiefs predict ‘flat’ Christmas

22-Sep-2009
Andrew Higginson, chief executive of Tesco’s Retailing Services division, said the market will be “flat at best” for UK retailers over Christmas.
Shop Direct Group sales up 7.4%

22-Sep-2009
Shop Direct Group reported group sales up 7.4% to £1.7bn for its financial year ending April 30, but is taking a cautious view of consumer debt in the year ahead.
The Church of England must shed its ‘Marks & Spencer’ image, says senior bishop

22-Sep-2009
The Church of England must shed its middle class “Marks & Spencer” image to bring in the “Asda or Aldi” worshippers, according to a senior bishop.
Findel concentrates on further reducing debt

22-Sep-2009
Home shopping group Findel has reported like-for-like sales down 5% for the first 23 weeks of its financial year as it continues to focus on cash generation to further reduce net debt.
Tesco UK finance chief moves to Virgin Media

18-Sep-2009
Tesco UK finance director Eamonn O’Hare has left to join Virgin Media as chief financial officer.
Waitrose hits the spot for its loyal customers

18-Sep-2009
Waitrose was the shining star in the John Lewis Partnership half-year results this week. How is it continuing to grow, even in a recession?
Tesco muscles in on digital market

18-Sep-2009
Tesco is gearing up to relaunch its entertainment website Tesco Digital, as it seeks to give its brand credibility in the highly competitive digital market.
Mike Clare plots outsize fashion site

18-Sep-2009
Mike Clare, the colourful founder of beds retailer Dreams, is in the advanced stages of launching an outsize clothing etailer.
Marc Bolland vows to maintain growth at Morrisons in tough second half

September 18, 2009
Morrisons chief executive Marc Bolland has vowed that the Yorkshire-based grocer will continue to increase sales ahead of the market, despite facing tougher comparatives in its second half.
Sainsbury's confirms David Tyler as chairman

17-Sep-2009
Sainsbury’s has confirmed that David Tyler has been appointed as non-executive chairman.
Burberry to launch social networking site

17-Sep-2009
Luxury fashion retailer Burberry is to launch a social networking site next month as it seeks to forge closer relationships with customers and attract new shoppers.
John Lewis Partnership profits fall, despite Waitrose's strength

17-Sep-2009
The John Lewis Partnership has posted a 19.6% slide in half-year profits, despite a resurgent performance from its Waitrose supermarket chain.
Ocado appoints investment banker as new FD

16-Sep-2009
Ocado has appointed seasoned investment banker Andrew Bracey as its chief financial officer, fuelling speculation it is gearing up for an IPO.
Next raises annual earnings forecast

16-Sep-2009
Fashion retailer Next has raised its annual earnings forecast after delivering a 6.9% rise in first-half pre-tax profit to £185.5m.
Dunelm sales recovery in the second half

15-Sep-2009
Value homewares retailer Dunelm has reported pre-tax profit is up 6.8% to £52.5m in its full year results, helped by a strong sales recovery in the second half.
Sainsbury’s appoints David Tyler as chairman

14-Sep-2009
Sainsbury’s is understood to have hired David Tyler to become its next chairman.
There is more to come from Morrisons

11-Sep-2009
Morrisons is showing good growth in its expansion strategy. But could its confidence mean it steps up plans in other areas of the business?
Asda slashes petrol prices

11-Sep-2009
Asda has cut the price of petrol by 2p a litre and diesel by 1p and challenged other retailers to follow suit.
Controversial Lidl chief to head up UK division

11-Sep-2009
Discount grocer Lidl has drafted in the former managing director of its German operation Frank-Michael Mros to head up its UK division.
High & Mighty sold to N Brown

10-Sep-2009
High & Mighty has been sold to JD Williams & Company, part of the N Brown Group, as part of a pre-pack administration.
Al Gore invests in Ocado

10-Sep-2009
Online grocery retailer Ocado has completed a £50m financing to continue to grow the company, including an investment from former US vice-president and environmental campaigner Al Gore.
Waitrose strikes deal with Duchy Originals

10-Sep-2009
Waitrose is to launch a top-end range, after striking a deal with Prince Charles’ organic food company Duchy Originals.
Thorntons shows recovery in second half

9-Sep-2009
Thorntons has revealed 4.5% drop in pre-tax profit to £8.1m but showed signs of recovery in the second half.
Deflation returns to the high street

9-Sep-2009
Shop prices have fallen on the British high street for the first time since February 2007, as the retail sector revealed a drop of 0.1% last month compared with inflation of 0.5% in July.
New Look to launch online TV show

8-Sep-2009
Fast fashion retailer New Look is to launch a weekly online interactive TV show to be distributed by YouTube.
Shop workers hardest hit in recession

8-Sep-2009
The retail industry has seen the largest rise in people claiming jobseekers’ allowance in the last year, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
Tesco continues to invest in Fresh & Easy

8-Sep-2009
Tesco is continuing to invest in its US Fresh & Easy shops, despite it saying it had put its expansion in northern California on hold.
Burberry set for FTSE 100 listing

8-Sep-2009
British fashion stalwart Burberry is poised to add its distinctive red, black and tan check livery to the FTSE 100 index of leading shares.
Aquascutum bought by Harold Tillman

8-Sep-2009
Fashion brand Aquascutum is to return to British ownership after entrepreneur Harold Tillman announced a deal to buy the business.
Kingfisher forced to reveal profits

8-Sep-2009
B&Q owner Kingfisher has revealed adjusted pre-tax profits for the six months to August 1 will be between £285m and £290m.
John Lewis to launch Value range

7-Sep-2009
John Lewis is to launch a low-priced ‘Value’ range this week in a bid to compete with the non-food ranges of the supermarkets.
Asda’s George brand launches heat-sensitive baby range

7-Sep-2009
Asda clothing brand George has launched a heat- sensitive range of baby clothes that alert parents when their baby is too hot.
Majestic toasts new customers

4-Sep-2009
Majestic Wine has switched its minimum order policy, and the move — along with its customer service proposition — is likely to bring in new customers.
Acorn Pet Centres collapses into administration

4-Sep-2009
Scottish pets retailer Acorn Pet Centres has fallen into administration.
Alchemy boss Jon Moulton quits the private equity firm

4-Sep-2009
Alchemy Partners boss Jon Moulton has quit the private equity firm after a bust-up over strategy.
Sainsbury’s boss Justin King insists he will remain at the grocer

4-Sep-2009
Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King has reaffirmed his commitment to the grocer, and dampened speculation he will move to head up Marks & Spencer.
Tesco criticised for offering CT health scan vouchers

4-Sep-2009
Radiation risks from X-rays has led to criticism of Tesco’s promotion of vouchers for CT health scans through its Clubcard loyalty scheme.
John Lewis reports strong bank holiday trade

4-Sep-2009
John Lewis reported an upbeat weekly trading report, helped by new product lines in home and fashion.
Tesco enlists former shoplifter to help with in-store crime

3-Sep-2009
Tesco has enlisted a former professional shoplifter to give the grocer advice on how to stay ahead in terms of crime in its stores.
Asda's George hits the Christmas spot

3-Sep-2009
Asda has unveiled a glamorous and stylish range for Christmas from its clothing brand George. But the collection also shows how far the value fashion retailer has come in terms of quality.
DSGi reports ‘encouraging’ start to its year

2-Sep-2009
DSG International has reported an “encouraging” start to the year with total group sales down 6% in Sterling and like-for-like sales down 6%.
Tesco wages war on WHSmith with back to school campaign

August 21, 2009
Tesco aims to conquer the ‘back to school’ market with a price comparison campaign against WHSmith.
Asda cites low prices and quality as key to success across markets

August 21, 2009
Asda has claimed its food, home and leisure and George clothing departments are all outperforming their respective markets.
Paul Foley: The boss who broke Aldi’s secretive mould

August 21, 2009
The Aldi boss broke the company mould to bang the grocer’s drum during the recession. As he steps down, Jennifer Creevy asks if he was a victim of his own success
Sainsbury's launches first non-food catalogue

19-Aug-2009
Sainsbury’s has launched its first-ever home catalogue to accompany its non-food online offer.
Jessops like-for-likes down 4.7%

19-Aug-2009
Jessops has reported like-for-like sales down 4.7% in the 12 weeks ending August 16, against the continuing difficult retail environment.
Sony slashes price of PlayStation 3

19-Aug-2009
Sony has slashed the price of its PlayStation 3 games console in an attempt to boost sales for the vital Christmas season.
Sainsbury’s increases graduate places by 30%

18-Aug-2009
Sainsbury’s has increased the number of places available on its graduate training programme by 30%, providing a rare glimpse of hope for students graduating in a recession.
Own-label goods are gaining market share

17-Aug-2009
Supermarket own-label goods are gaining market share against branded competitors, according to Datamonitor.
Will Aldi retreat under its stone?

14-Aug-2009
Aldi UK and Ireland managing director Paul Foley shocked the grocery world by stepping down this week. Will his departure mean Aldi returns to its secretive roots?
Tesco launches new Clubcard offer

14-Aug-2009
Tesco has today launched a Double Points offer for its Clubcard customers, giving shoppers two points for every £1 they spend across the store and online.
Ex-Dixons COO’s etail foray to sell art brands

August 14, 2009
David Gilbert, former chief operating officer of Dixons Group, now DSGi, has launched an etail venture to sell key products from more than 60 leading art institutions.
Need to know... Ethical trading

August 14, 2009
Retailers continue to come under fire over ethical trade issues. Here, we outline how stores can ensure they stay out of trouble
Asda grows market share

13-Aug-2009
Asda has said it is continuing to grow market share, driven by attracting more customers with its low prices and improving product quality.
Allied Carpets administrator closes 142 shops

13-Aug-2009
The administrators of Allied Carpets have closed 142 shops after struggling to offload the portfolio as a going concern.
What is Harrods’ secret?

13-Aug-2009
Harrods has delivered a strong set of results in a difficult climate. What is its secret?
Government pledges £3m to save Britain's high streets

13-Aug-2009
The Government has unveiled a £3m fund to help regenerate high streets which have been hit by the recession.
Habitat drafts in marketing expert

13-Aug-2009
Habitat has drafted in a marketing specialist as it seeks to develop a new marketing strategy.
Glasgow launches shopping campaign

13-Aug-2009
Glasgow city centre is launching a £300,000 marketing initiative in a bid to fight off competition from out of town shopping centres.
Marks & Spencer unveils new menswear collection

13-Aug-2009
Marks & Spencer has unveiled a new collection of menwear staples for its Autograph range.
Aldi UK boss Paul Foley steps down

12-Aug-2009
Aldi UK and Ireland managing director Paul Foley is to step down from the discount grocer with immediate effect.
Co-op electricals site switches to greener servers

12-Aug-2009
The Co-op Group’s online subsidiary Co-operatives E Store is to replace its website servers with a much greener hosted infrastructure provided by Maginus.
Bogofs could be banned

11-Aug-2009
The supermarket buy-one, get-one free (bogof) offers could be banned under a Government plan to reduce Britain’s food waste.
Abel & Cole MD Duncan Gibson quits

11-Aug-2009
Abel & Cole managing director Duncan Gibson has left the organic food home shopping retailer.
Homeowners boost furniture sales in July

11-Aug-2009
Holidaymakers deciding to revamp their homes instead of going away have been credited with boosting the furniture retail sector, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.
Mackays suffers operating profit fall

10-Aug-2009
Value retailer Mackays, which trades as M&Co, has suffered a fall in operating profits before amortisation and goodwill from £9.8m to £8.6m in the year to February 20.
BRC: Food policy should be driven by customers

10-Aug-2009
Food policy has to be driven by customers if it is to be successful, the British Retail Consortium has said as the Government launched its food security consultation.
Embracing digital media could give Asda an edge

7-Aug-2009
Asda will next week steam ahead of the rest of the big four grocers in the social networking arena. And the bold move may well help it give the grocer an edge.
Auditors raise concerns about Borders UK

7-Aug-2009
Borders UK auditor Ernst & Young raised doubts about the ability of the bookseller to continue as a going concern, according to accounts filed at Companies House.
Asda builds social site to push transparency

7-Aug-2009
Asda is to launch a social networking website next week as part of its plan to become a more transparent business.
Jeremy Seigal says AS Watson is back on track

August 7, 2009
In his first interview since taking the helm of Superdrug owner AS Watson, Jeremy Seigal tells Jennifer Creevy the business is back on track
Superdrug to focus on beauty as it posts loss

August 7, 2009
Superdrug is confident it can increase its beauty market share despite suffering a pre-tax loss of £7.4m in the year to December 2008.
Morrisons to pull 'misleading' price ad

5-Aug-2009
Morrisons has been ordered to pull an advert after complaints that its price comparison with rival supermarket chains was “misleading” were upheld.
Food price inflation continues to drop

5-Aug-2009
Food inflation has fallen to its lowest level for more than a year and a half, according to the British Retail Consortium.
Grocers' ombudsman formally recommended

4-Aug-2009
The Competition Commission (CC) has formally recommended to the Government that it should establish an ombudsman to rule on disputes between grocers and suppliers, after retailers failed to agree a voluntary arrangement.
Shoppers are increasingly switching to own-brands

4-Aug-2009
The number of shoppers buying own-brands has almost trebled during the past year, according to a report from price comparison website uSwitch.com.
Whole Foods makes £35.9m loss in UK

4-Aug-2009
Upmarket grocer Whole Foods Market made a £35.9m loss in the UK last year, according to accounts filed at Companies House.
Marks & Spencer could add £1bn to earnings by 2014

4-Aug-2009
Marks & Spencer could add £1bn to earnings by 2014, according to a note issued by Goldman Sachs.
Waitrose to sell John Lewis homewares

3-Aug-2009
Waitrose is to sell John Lewis kitchen and homewares products on its website and in its top performing stores.
Should grocers only advertise about price?

31-Jul-2009
Tesco has been taken down a peg over its price-oriented advertising. But are the other grocers any better? And, more importantly, do shoppers believe the ads?
Retailers hit by increased cost of lending

31-Jul-2009
Retailers fear that banks are hoarding cash and not passing on historically low interest rates, as the British Retail Consortium (BRC) revealed more than four out of 10 retailers had seen the cost of lending increase.
Flying Brands improves trading after cost efficiency programme

31-Jul-2009
Multichannel retailer Flying Brands has reported improved trading in its interim results as it reaps the benefits from its cost efficiency programme.
John Lewis ends Sale on a high

31-Jul-2009
John Lewis reported a strong week of trading as the last day of its clearance Sale helped it achieve sales up 6.3 per cent.
Sainsbury’s launches non-food online to rival Tesco and Asda

31-Jul-2009
Sainsbury’s this week locked horns with rivals Tesco and Asda as it launched its non-food online offer.
Carpetright rules the roost

July 31, 2009
Lord Harris must be licking his lips. The carpet king has long dominated the sector but the collapse of his nearest rival Allied Carpets is set to consolidate his control of the UK’s floorings market.
Currys to open in ill-fated Thurrock shop

29-Jul-2009
Electricals retailer Currys has taken over the lease for the former Marks & Spencer Lifestore at Lakeside in Thurrock, which has proved ill-fated for retailers.
HMV's Simon Fox on shortlist for ITV job

29-Jul-2009
HMV chief executive HMV Simon Fox has emerged as one of the shortlist candidates to take over as chief executive of ITV.
Thorntons hires new finance director

27-Jul-2009
Thorntons has hired former Somerfield finance director Mark Robson to take up the same position at the chocolatier.
Debenhams sends extra stock to seaside shops

27-Jul-2009
Debenhams is sending extra stock to its department stores in seaside towns to meet demand from the record number of people holidaying in the UK.
Sainsbury’s launches its non-food online offer

27-Jul-2009
Sainsbury’s launched its online non-food offer at the weekend, initially stocking 4,500 products from toys to kitchenware and luggage.
Could Marc Bolland be the answer to Marks & Spencer’s prayers?

24-Jul-2009
Morrisons chief executive Marc Bolland has become a darling of the City, so could he be the man for Marks & Spencer?
British Retail Consortium devises action plan to save UK’s struggling high streets

July 24, 2009
The British Retail Consortium has unveiled a 20-point plan to secure the long-term future of retailing high streets as it reveals some town centres are already recording vacancy rates of almost 40 per cent.
Need to know...The competition test

July 24, 2009
The controversial competition test has divided the grocers. This week it moved a step closer to being introduced, so how has the news been received and what does it mean?
Holland & Barrett's merger with Julian Graves provisionally cleared

23-Jul-2009
Holland & Barrett’s acquisition of rival Julian Graves has been provisionally cleared by the Competition Commission.
90 per cent of retailers are on Sale

22-Jul-2009
90 per cent of retailers are currently on Sale or discounting, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Morrisons posts 22nd period of market share growth

21-Jul-2009
Morrisons has posted its 22nd successive period of market share growth, according to TNS Worldpanel grocery data.
Morrisons confident it will beat full-year expectations

21-Jul-2009
Morrisons has reported that it is confident its full-year results will be ahead of earlier expectations as it has achieved strong trading in its first and second quarters.
First Quench commercial director replaced

20-Jul-2009
First Quench Retailing commercial director Lloyd Stephens has exited the retailer and been replaced by former board director at Somerfield Mike Osmond.
Tesco mulls separate credit rating for banking arm

20-Jul-2009
Tesco is considering a separate credit rating for its financial services arm as it seeks to step up its banking operation.
Allied Carpet Properties in administration and 51 shops sold to retail arm

17-Jul-2009
Allied Carpet Properties has been placed into administration, and 51 of its stores have been immediately sold to Allied Carpets Retail.
Metro Cash & Carry unveils turnaround plan

17-Jul-2009
Metro Cash & Carry Germany has unveiled its turnaround programme, designed to turn around the flagging wholesaler.
Instore reports uplift but expects tough trading

17-Jul-2009
Poundstretcher owner Instore has enjoyed an uplift in trade with the sunny weather but warned that the positive trend does not yet signal a turnaround for the retailer.
Asda unveils blueprint for future store model

17-Jul-2009
Asda opened a mould-breaking store on Monday, which will be a blueprint for wide-ranging changes in other shops if successful.
Tables could turn in grocery

July 17, 2009
Auctioning off a 25lb pork pie could only have happened at a Marks & Spencer AGM, and it could only have been fronted by the showman himself Sir Stuart Rose.
Threshers owner hit by another departure

July 17, 2009
Struggling Threshers owner First Quench Retailing has suffered a further blow as its head of supply chain left the retailer.
Waitrose sales outpace Marks & Spencer food for first time

July 17, 2009
Waitrose managing director Mark Price has revealed that the grocer has overtaken Marks & Spencer in food sales for the first time in its 105-year history.
Borders UK completes management buyout

16-Jul-2009
Borders UK has been bought out by its management team, with backing from Valco Capital Partners.
Retail crime is on the up

16-Jul-2009
More than 90 per cent of retailers said retail crime has increased over the last year, with more than four fifths blaming the recession.
Thorntons dips in Q4 but remains positive in second half

15-Jul-2009
Thorntons like-for-like sales in its fourth quarter fell by 1.6 per cent but rose by 1.5 per cent in the second half.
Asda offers 100-day guarantee on George school uniforms

15-Jul-2009
Asda is offering shoppers a 100-day money back guarantee on its George school uniforms in a bid to stamp out the price wars among competitors.
Threshers just needs a little care

10-Jul-2009
Off-licence chain Threshers has been hit with several problems, but it’s a business model that works. Will it be given the opportunity to shine?
Aldi vows to keep expanding despite missing stores target

10-Jul-2009
Aldi UK chief executive Paul Foley has admitted that the hard discounter will not hit its store-a-week opening target but vowed that there is still strong growth potential for the German grocer.
Asda launches first eco-friendly depot

July 10, 2009
Asda opened its first environmentally friendly depot this week in Didcot, Oxfordshire.
Marc Bolland: Morrisons chief’s fresh take on a crowded grocery market

July 10, 2009
Since Marc Bolland joined the grocer three years ago Morrisons’ revival has been dramatic. He tells Jennifer Creevy why fresh is working best
Sainsbury’s extends carbon reduction scheme for farmers

8-Jul-2009
Sainsbury’s has extended its carbon reduction scheme for farmers which supply the supermarket with beef, lamb, pork, poultry and eggs.
June food price inflation lowest in 14 months

8-Jul-2009
Food inflation was its lowest in 14 months in June, according to the British Retail Consortium Shop Price Index.
Can Aldi win the taste test?

3-Jul-2009
Hard discounter Aldi has always claimed its quality is as good as the leading brand. Can it really pass the taste test? Or will its ABC1 customers start flocking back to the likes of Waitrose and Marks & Spencer when they have more money in their pockets?
Tesco refutes global trade union claims

1-Jul-2009
Tesco has refuted claims from an international trade union which criticised the grocer’s employment practices in some of its overseas markets.
Marks & Spencer reports improved sales in first quarter

1-Jul-2009
Marks & Spencer reported an improvement in UK sales in its first quarter, buoyed by its 125th anniversary campaign and the timing of Easter.
Consumer confidence returns to growth in June

30-Jun-2009
Consumer confidence has returned to growth after an all time low last year as shoppers started to believe that their own financial situation would improve.
HMV Group posts robust results

30-Jun-2009
HMV Group delivered an 11.5 per cent rise in pre-tax profit to £63m in its full year results.
M&S shareholder backs Sir David Michels to replace Sir Stuart Rose

29-Jun-2009
Marks & Spencer shareholder the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) is backing Sir David Michels to replace Sir Stuart Rose as the retailer’s chairman.
The supermarket cyberspace war

26-Jun-2009
Sainsbury’s, Asda and Tesco are all ramping up their grocery websites in an attempt to make them more interactive for customers. Sainsbury’s seems to have the edge, but what will its rivals do to catch up?
Morrisons to open a farm

26-Jun-2009
Morrisons has teamed up with the Scottish Agricultural College to open a farm at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire.
Tesco partners with insurer Fortis UK

25-Jun-2009
Tesco Personal Finance (TPF) has struck a deal with Fortis UK for the insurer to provide its motor and household insurance.
What will Sir Philip Green and Simon Cowell give birth to?

25-Jun-2009
The new entertainment cum merchandising company that Sir Philip Green and Simon Cowell are setting up could throw up some interesting opportunities for Arcadia’s brands such as Topshop. But will it be a positive move? Or is it just another celebrity whim?
New Best Buy chief Brian Dunn takes up the reins

25-Jun-2009
Brian Dunn has officially stepped into the position of chief executive at Best Buy.
Sainsbury’s to launch Jamie Oliver TV ad tonight

24-Jun-2009
Sainsbury’s is to launch a new Jamie Oliver TV ad on Wednesday evening as part of its “Feed your family for a fiver” campaign.
Asda says UK family £7 a week better off in May

23-Jun-2009
The average UK family was £7 a week better off in May compared to the same time last year, according to Asda.
Focus mulls CVA

22-Jun-2009
Struggling DIY retailer Focus is considering a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in a bid to secure its future.
Thorntons launches online sweet shop

29-May-2009
Chocolatier Thorntons has launched an online sweet shop to tap into customers’ nostalgia for retro sweets.
Do we really need more regulation?

29-May-2009
As a decision on the proposed grocery ombudsman remains up in the air, supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s need to focus on efficiencies to help customers through the tough times.
John Lewis reports strongest week of the year so far

29-May-2009
John Lewis has recorded its strongest week of the year so far, with sales up 2 per cent.
Foreign retailers welcome new Indian government

May 29, 2009
Last week India’s new government, with Manmohan Singh as prime minister, was sworn in in Delhi. Singh and the Congress Party won a decisive mandate with his pledge to tackle the impact of the global economic crisis and by ensuring growth for the country.
Lloydspharmacy to roll out online doctors

May 29, 2009
Lloydspharmacy is to roll out its online doctor service to about 300 stores this year as it seeks to drive its health-related sales.
ONS Retail Sales Index

May 29, 2009
The Office for National Statistics has admitted its Retail Sales Index may have overstated sales figures. So how has it re-evaluated its methodology and will this ensure more accurate results?
Competition Commission to update on ombudsman at end of June

28-May-2009
The Competition Commission is expected to update the industry on the proposed grocery ombudsman at the end of June, as the deadline for responses on the consultation concludes today.
Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy takes pay cut

27-May-2009
Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy took a £370,000 cut in his pay and bonus package last year after the US business failed to hit some targets.
Jessops shareholders unlikely to see return

27-May-2009
Jessops has reported a loss of £5.9m in its first half and said that while it was still working “towards a solvent solution for the business” it does not expect “any value will be attributed to shareholders”.
Waitrose launches campaign for Essential range

27-May-2009
Waitrose has today launched a direct marketing campaign to promote its recently-launched value range Essential Waitrose.
Tesco clothing boss registers new fashion website

26-May-2009
Tesco’s clothing boss Terry Green has registered a fashion website for the company which he mentored as part of a student project.
Households £3 a week better off last month, according to Asda

26-May-2009
The average UK family was £3 a week better off last month compared to the same period in 2008, according to a survey from grocer Asda.
Era of transparency for retailers?

22-May-2009
Asda’s Andy Bond says grocers need to be more transparent, so how can they use social networking sites to improve their customer relationships?
Coles scores another UK hiring

22-May-2009
Australian grocer Coles has snapped up another UK stalwart with the appointment of former Boots group financial controller Tony Buffin as its finance director.
Brand Alley UK appoints new chief executive

22-May-2009
Private sales e-tailer BrandAlley.com has appointed Rob Feldmann as chief executive of its UK division.
Asda chief Andy Bond heralds a ‘new era of consumer power’

22-May-2009
Asda chief executive Andy Bond has heralded a “new era of democracy” as consumers now shape the way retailers do business.
Stefano Pessina is picture of good health at Boots

May 22, 2009
Despite pressure from the supermarkets, Boots is prospering under private ownership. Jennifer Creevy explains how Stefano Pessina’s vision is working
Mothercare posts 12.4 per cent profit hike

20-May-2009
Mothercare has reported underlying pre-tax profit up 12.4 per cent to £37.1m in its full year ending March 28.
New era of supermarket loyalty wars?

8-May-2009
Tesco has led the charge on loyalty cards. Will its Clubcard relaunch next week win it back customers from competitors Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons?
Carphone Warehouse buys Tiscali UK

8-May-2009
The Carphone Warehouse and Tiscali have reached an agreement for TalkTalk to acquire Tiscali’s UK operations for £236m.
M&S admits ‘we boobed’ over larger bra sizes

8-May-2009
Marks & Spencer has admitted it was wrong to charge a £2 surcharge on larger bra sizes, after campaigners hit out earlier this week.
John Lewis reports steady week

8-May-2009
John Lewis has reported a consistent week of trading, with weekly sales down 3.1 per cent.
Tesco invests £150m in Clubcard relaunch

8-May-2009
Tesco has invested £150m in the relaunch of its Clubcard next week, allowing customers to double the value of their vouchers.
Oxfam suffers first drop in donations in eight years

8-May-2009
Oxfam has felt the effects of the recession as it reports its first drop in donations for eight years.
Lush launches first of six in-store spas as profits skyrocket 89%

May 8, 2009
Handmade cosmetics retailer Lush has opened its first in-store spa as it revealed group pre-tax profit soared 89 per cent to £19.4m.
Vision Express profits up despite downturn

May 8, 2009
Vision Express has reported an uplift in underlying profits in its full-year results as it eyes acquisition opportunities this year.
Space NK hires Fraser Allan as new chief executive

7-May-2009
Beauty retailer Space NK has hired a former finance director of Liberty as its new chief executive.Fraser Allan is understood to have joined this week, following the departure of Judith Pilkington last month.A source told The Independent that his “remit is to energise and focus the business and get it back to basics in the UK market”.Pilkington said she was stepping down from the retailer as she had achieved all she set out to in her five-year tenure.
Recession ‘will change retail for good’

7-May-2009
The recession will fundamentally change retail for good, according to a report from Verdict Research.
Best Buy scales back UK plans

7-May-2009
US electricals retailer Best Buy is scaling down its UK plans but remains committed to the market.
Game finance director David Thomas steps down

7-May-2009
Game group finance director David Thomas is to leave the retailer to join Barratt Developments.
Sainsbury's airs 140th birthday ad

6-May-2009
Sainsbury’s will tonight air a 60-second ad to commemorate the grocer’s 140th birthday.
M&S under fire for surcharge on larger bra sizes

6-May-2009
Marks & Spencer has come under fire from campaigners over a £2 surcharge on bras sized DD and above.
Co-op reports record full year results

6-May-2009
The Co-operative Group had reported record full year results, with operating profit before significant items up 11 per cent to £393m.
Pharmacies: convenience or community?

1-May-2009
Supermarkets keep broadening their offer and time- and cash-strapped shoppers are only too happy take advantage. But when it comes to health and pharmaceuticals, can the supermarkets’ convenience trump the specialists’ customer care?
Westfield London backs down over service charges

1-May-2009
Westfield has backed down over a dispute with tenants over service charges after months of wrangling with retailers at its London shopping centre.
John Lewis reports mixed week

1-May-2009
Department store chain John Lewis has reported a mixed week with sales down 5.1 per cent.
Tesco to roll out pharmacies in smaller-format superstores

1-May-2009
Tesco is to roll out pharmacies in its smaller-format superstores following a trial last year as it seeks to reach its target of 350 within the next three years.
Coles: Can the Brits save Australia’s fallen star?

May 1, 2009
Australian grocer Coles is the greatest turnaround opportunity in global food retailing. And an all-star UK line-up is doing it. Jennifer Creevy learns how
Boots proves anti-ageing cream is genuine

29-Apr-2009
Health and beauty giant Boots has carried out an independent test to prove its No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum has long-term anti-ageing benefits.
HMV reports strong growth but books remains weak

29-Apr-2009
HMV UK and Ireland has reported like-for-like growth of 4.3 per cent for the 16 weeks ending April 25 while Waterstone’s like-for-likes slumped 4.5 per cent.
Today’s Group reports strong first quarter

28-Apr-2009
Today’s Group - the wholesale arm of Nisa-Today’s - has reported a year-on-year volume increase of 13.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year.
Tesco thinks ahead

24-Apr-2009
With promotions and price cuts everywhere you turn it is clear that the grocers need something else in their arsenal to make vacillating customers more loyal to their offer in the long run.
John Lewis says trade remains challenging

24-Apr-2009
John Lewis has reported a slump in weekly sales of 11.6 per cent as the department store chain said the “trading climate remains challenging”.
Liberty losses widen but sales climb

24-Apr-2009
Iconic London department store Liberty has reported that pre-tax losses widened slightly for the year to December 31, but sales rose 9 per cent to £50.2m.
Bay Trading in administration

24-Apr-2009
Alexon has placed its Bay Trading fascia into administration following losses reported earlier this week and the withdrawal of credit insurance.
Asda launches Hannah Montana dress

24-Apr-2009
Asda clothing brand George has today launched a replica of a dress worn by US film star Hannah Montana for £10.
Carpetright on solid ground

April 24, 2009
The latest BRC retail sales figures showed that while some sectors were up after several months of poor trade, the furniture and floor coverings sector worsened. But next week we may well see one retailer faring better than most in its sector – Carpetright.
Sir Terry Leahy heralds signs of economic stability

April 24, 2009
Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy says confidence is bouncing back as the grocer records profits of £3bn.
Wal-Mart plan to cut costs in China raises concerns

April 24, 2009
Wal-Mart sent a disappointing signal to the Chinese retail market last week when it revealed it was launching a job optimisation programme to reduce staff costs in the country.
Thorntons reveals strong post-Christmas growth

22-Apr-2009
Thorntons has revealed like-for-like growth of 3.3 per cent in the 14 week period to April 18 as it benefited from a longer selling season ahead of Easter than last year.
Tesco to ramp up telecoms shops

20-Apr-2009
Tesco is to double the number of in-store telecoms shops in its supermarkets by the end of the year.
Why Tesco's short-term mistakes could end up being long-term triumphs

17-Apr-2009
Tesco has come in for plenty of stick lately, but the grocer came out of the last recession strongly, so who’s to say it doesn’t know what it is doing this time around?
BRC demands credit insurance redress at Budget

17-Apr-2009
Half of large retailers say the reduction or withdrawal of trade credit insurance has undermined their ability to trade.
John Lewis reports strongest week of year

April 17, 2009
Department store group John Lewis has reported its strongest week of the year to date, with sales down just 1.5 per cent.
Ocado ups ante as online food battle hots up

April 17, 2009
With soaring sales and a price campaign taking on Waitrose and Tesco, Ocado’s confidence is growing. Jennifer Creevy meets co-founder Jason Gissing
Zandra Rhodes designs range for M&S

16-Apr-2009
Celebrity designer Zandra Rhodes has struck a deal with Marks & Spencer to design a range for the retailer.
Ocado has carved itself a niche

14-Apr-2009
Ocado has had a tough first few years setting up and competing with the likes of Tesco and Sainsbury’s but the e-tailer is starting to see the light.
Co-op launches digital TV channel

14-Apr-2009
The Co-operative Group has today launched a digital TV channel to showcase its ethical projects.
Ocado targets £3bn business as sales soar

April 9, 2009
Grocery e-tailer posts market-defying sales as it tackles pricing and range
Asda rolls back prices for Easter

7-Apr-2009
Asda is to roll back prices this week as it gears up for a supermarket price war over the key Easter trading period.
Aldi sales jump 16.8 per cent

6-Apr-2009
Discount grocer Aldi has recorded a 16.8 per cent sales uplift in the first two months of the year.
Cautious Next sets the standard

April 3, 2009
Next chief executive Simon Wolfson was his usual cautious self last week, revealing to the City that the fashion retailer would be “sticking to the knitting”.
Ocado targets £3bn business as sales soar

April 3, 2009
Grocery e-tailer posts market-defying sales as it tackles pricing and range
Value stance pays off as George volumes rocket

April 3, 2009
Asda brand a step closer to taking top spot by 2011 as volume growth outpaces the market
Waitrose heads for the road

April 3, 2009
Waitrose’s latest expansion route will take it to motorway service stations. Will it knock Marks & Spencer off its post?
Topshop New York opens its doors

2-Apr-2009
Topshop opens its doors today in New York with owner Sir Philip Green telling local reporters it is “the best store we have ever built”.
Waitrose to open in motorway service stations

2-Apr-2009
Waitrose has struck a deal with motorway services operator Welcome Break to open two food shops at its sites.
UK household discretionary spend falling, says Asda

2-Apr-2009
The average UK household had £131 a week of discretionary spend in February, 9.2 per cent less than a year earlier.
Kaupthing Sainsbury's shares sold

1-Apr-2009
Around 27 million Sainsbury’s shares once owned by Icelandic bank Kaupthing were placed in the market yesterday.
Tesco faces stiff competition

27-Mar-2009
Sainsbury’s is well and truly on the up. Its fourth-quarter like-for-like sales, excluding petrol, were up 6.2 per cent and it is continuing to win new customers.
Value-hungry shoppers power Q4 sales gains at Sainsbury’s

27-Mar-2009
Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King said the grocer is catering better for customers than some rivals as he revealed strong fourth-quarter sales.
Tesco will find its feet again

27-Mar-2009
With the grocers’ reporting season well under way, all eyes will be on Tesco next month when it reveals its preliminary results.
Next will not discount, despite 14 per cent profit slump

26-Mar-2009
Next has reported a 14 per cent slump in pre-tax profits to £428.8m in its year-end results, but vowed not to change its Sales strategy in line with the rest of the high street.
Today's rent day is 'harshest for 18 years'

25-Mar-2009
Today’s quarterly rent payment will be the harshest for at least 18 years, the British Retail Consortium has warned.
Sainsbury's like-for-likes up 6.2% in fourth quarter

25-Mar-2009
Sainsbury’s has revealed like-for-like sales up 6.2 per cent, excluding petrol, in its fourth quarter as its “universal appeal” continues to draw in customers.
Food suppliers do their bit

20-Mar-2009
Food suppliers are getting a hard time from the grocers over pressure to bring their prices down. While it is essential that prices remain low for shoppers in the downturn, suppliers are doing their bit.
Morrisons to relaunch 500 lines to up stakes in non-food

20-Mar-2009
Morrisons is to relaunch 500 of its home and leisure lines in the second quarter as it seeks to make its non-food range work harder.
Asda clinics to save £2m on staff absence

20-Mar-2009
Asda expects to net £2m of cost savings this year by cutting absentee levels when it rolls out in-store occupational health clinics.
Justin King: Making life taste better for everyone

20-Mar-2009
Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King talks exclusively to Jennifer Creevy about defying critics and the grocer’s ‘universal appeal’.
Kaupthing takes stake in Mulberry

20-Mar-2009
Kaupthing Bank Luxembourg, a subsidiary of the Icelandic bank, is understood to have bought retail entrepreneur Kevin Stanford’s stake in Mulberry.
Marc Bolland: Morrisons well positioned for downturn

19-Mar-2009
Morrisons chief executive Marc Bolland has revealed that the grocer is well positioned to steer through the downturn and that it would also succeed when the economy starts to pick up.
Restructuring officer installed at Jessops

19-Mar-2009
HSBC is understood to have placed a chief restructuring officer at Jessops as the downturn continues to take its toll on the camera specialist.
Wal-Mart relaunches Great Value brand

17-Mar-2009
Wal-Mart is to relaunch its Great Value brand in the US this week as it seeks to widen its offer in the economic downturn.
Morrisons has every reason to be happy

13-Mar-2009
Morrisons reported stellar results this week and its concept of fresh and value has helped it win new customers. As it nears the end of its turnaround plan, there is still so much more growth to come.
John Lewis reports 2.1 per cent weekly sales dip

13-Mar-2009
John Lewis reported a dip of 2.1 per cent in its weekly sales as further uncertainty in the financial markets hit its business.
All Saints agrees financial restructure

13-Mar-2009
Fashion chain All Saints is understood to have been saved from administration with a financial restructure.
HMV Group appoints Channel 4 boss Andy Duncan as non-executive

13-Mar-2009
HMV Group has appointed Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan as a non-executive of the retailer.
JJB poised to sell health clubs arm to Dave Whelan

13-Mar-2009
JJB is understood to be in the final stages of negotiations to sell its health clubs business to the chain’s founder Dave Whelan.
Flying Brands profits plummet

13-Mar-2009
Multichannel retailer Flying Brands has reported pre-tax profit plummeted 53 per cent in its full-year results to £1.5m.
Baugur flogs head office designer furniture

6-Mar-2009
Baugur founder Jon Asgeir Johannesson is understood to have angered former staff by trying to sell them thousands of pounds worth of designer furniture from its head office.
Asos appoints new finance director

6-Mar-2009
Fashion e-tailer Asos has appointed Nick Beighton as finance director.
John Lewis weekly sales dip as late Easter knocks comparisons

6-Mar-2009
Department store chain John Lewis suffered a 10.3 per cent fall in weekly sales as the shift in timings for Easter hit its comparables.
Bhs to review store management roles

6-Mar-2009
Department store chain Bhs is understood to be carrying out a review of its senior managers across its 185 shops.
Asda sales up in February

6-Mar-2009
Sales at Asda remained strong last month, with food continuing to outperform, according to parent Wal-Mart’s February sales results.
Asda plans online forum to increase price transparency

6-Mar-2009
Asda is gearing up for the launch of an interactive online forum to engage with customers as it continues its drive for “absolute transparency”.
Tesco's victory puts the cat among the pigeons

5-Mar-2009
Tesco recorded a landmark victory over the Competition Commission this week, winning its appeal over the proposed competition test in the planning system. Does this throw the other recommendations from the Commission into doubt?
Topshop wins favour in President Obama's house

5-Mar-2009
Sir Philip Green’s US venture has been given a welcome boost as Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s wife gave Barack Obama’s daughters gifts from Topshop.
Tesco wins competition test appeal

4-Mar-2009
Tesco has won its appeal against the competition test in the planning system.
Sainsbury's buys 24 stores from Co-op

4-Mar-2009
Sainsbury’s has bought 24 stores from the Co-operative Group for £83m.
Paul Mason steps down from Somerfield

4-Mar-2009
Somerfield chief executive Paul Mason has stepped down from the day-to-day running of the grocer but will carry on in an advisory position, as The Co-operative Group seals its £1.7bn bid for the business.
Asda records highest growth rate of the big four

3-Mar-2009
Asda has recorded the highest year-on-year growth rate of the big four supermarkets at 8.8 per cent, according to the latest TNS Worldpanel grocery research.
Tesco to create 200 jobs in financial services

3-Mar-2009
Tesco will create more than 200 jobs in Edinburgh as it expands its financial services operation.
The Co-op completes its Somerfield deal

2-Mar-2009
The Co-operative Group has completed its £1.6bn acquisition of the Somerfield supermarket chain.
Waitrose boss vows to trump M&S food sales

20-Feb-2009
Waitrose boss Mark Price has thrown down the gauntlet to Marks & Spencer, vowing to overtake Sir Stuart Rose’s food business in terms of sales this year.
21 years of Sainsbury's

February 20, 2009
It’s been a turbulent 21 years for Sainsbury’s. The grocer has had its crown as the UK’s largest retailer stolen, it has survived boardroom bust-ups, it has been the subject of endless bid speculation – and yet it has risen each time from the ashes.
21 years of Tesco

February 20, 2009
When Retail Week was born, Tesco was not the grocery leader it is today. But it was well on its way to achieving that status. Having laid the foundations of its national store network, the retailer was expanding aggressively.
Supermarkets must still be ethical in the era of frugality

13-Feb-2009
The era of frugality is upon us and Tesco has revealed customer shopping patterns are changing. Can Tesco and its competitors face up to the challenge and is it a chance for an alternative like The Co-operative Group to shine?
John Lewis sales drop 17.1% in week of snow

13-Feb-2009
John Lewis weekly sales were down 17.1 per cent as the snow heavily affected trade across the country.
Asda staff share £22m bonus pot

13-Feb-2009
Some 133,000 Asda store and depot staff will today share a record £22m bonus pot.
Stylo to go into administration

13-Feb-2009
Shoe retailer Stylo is poised to go into administration after its creditors and landlords voted against the proposed Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) for its Barratts and Priceless chains.
Tesco launches superstore format at Liverpool One, piling pressure on non-food rivals

13-Feb-2009
Tesco will next week unveil a new store fascia – Superstore – in the centre of Liverpool.
Tesco buys Woolworths' Easter eggs stock

12-Feb-2009
Tesco is poised to become the UK’s biggest Easter egg retailer after buying forward orders of its exclusive lines destined for now-defunct Woolworths.
John Lewis to open Milton Keynes distribution centre

11-Feb-2009
John Lewis is to close its Stevenage Distribution Centre in 2010 to open a new warehouse near Milton Keynes, and will create 3,000 jobs at the group over the next three years.
Tesco staff share £126m savings payout

9-Feb-2009
Tesco staff are to share in a £126m payout from its Save as You Earn share scheme.
Marks & Spencer plans exhibition for 125th anniversary

9-Feb-2009
Marks & Spencer is to showcase highlights of its history at the University of Leeds as it celebrates its 125th anniversary this year.
Tesco launches £9 Valentine's Day promotion

6-Feb-2009
Tesco is to take on Marks & Spencer with its Valentine’s Day luxury meal promotion, offering a meal for two for £9.
Tesco develops new department store format for Czech Republic

6-Feb-2009
Tesco is to open a department store under a new fascia in the Czech Republic at the end of February.
Baugurs house of cards collapses

6-Feb-2009
A chill fell on the high street in more ways than one this week. As the big freeze bit, Icelandic investor Baugur filed for its home country’s equivalent of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Ideal Shopping direct: buyout speculation

6-Feb-2009
Ideal Shopping Direct chief executive Mike Hancox has denied that its founders are plotting to take the TV shopping group private after they ousted board members.
Iceland should cut the Baugur cord

5-Feb-2009
The meltdown of Icelandic investor Baugur has implications for frozen food chain Iceland, and the management need to take charge.
Zavvi to close a further 17 stores

5-Feb-2009
Defunct retailer Zavvi is to close a further 17 stores, leading to the redundancy of 242 employees.
Zara to open stores in India

5-Feb-2009
Spanish fashion giant Inditex has signed a deal to open stores in India in 2010.
Alliance Boots promotes Alex Gourlay to health and beauty chief

3-Feb-2009
Alliance Boots has promoted Alex Gourlay to chief executive of its health and beauty division.
Co-op uses entire Coronation Street ad break for brand campaign

3-Feb-2009
The Co-operative Group is to launch its £10m brand campaign on February 16, having secured the entire commercial break in Coronation Street.
Carpetright UK and Ireland like-for-likes slip

3-Feb-2009
Carpetright’s UK and Ireland like-for-like sales fell 2.9 per cent in the five weeks to January 31.
Deal for Woolworths brand imminent

30-Jan-2009
A deal for the purchase of the Woolworths brand is imminent, but Woolworths’ former stores chief Tony Page’s hopes to acquire the brand are dashed.
Tesco talks fashion

30-Jan-2009
Tesco will launch a new-look clothing website in autumn. Will it be enough to take on the might of online leaders such as Asos? And will it be enough to take on value giants such as Primark and George?
John Lewis reports weekly sales dip of 0.8 per cent

30-Jan-2009
John Lewis has reported a slight drop in weekly sales, but remains confident new stock and promotions will stand it in good stead.
Jessops losses widen

30-Jan-2009
Camera specialist Jessops has reported widening losses in its full-year results as the digital camera market showed a sharp slowdown.
Boots Opticians merges with Dollond & Aitchison

29-Jan-2009
Alliance Boots has merged its Boots Opticians business with rival Dollond & Aitchison.
The Co-op uses Bob Dylan soundtrack in new ad campaign

29-Jan-2009
The Co-operative Group will use legendary singer Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind as the soundtrack in an advertising campaign to be aired next month.
Landlords trial service charge reduction

28-Jan-2009
Landlords British Land and Land Securities are trialling a reduction in service charge at two of their shopping centres in the north of England.
Asda to create 7,000 jobs

28-Jan-2009
Asda will create 7,000 jobs this year, which will include taking on 3,000 of the UK’s long-term unemployed.
Barratts and Priceless Shoes go into administration

26-Jan-2009
Shoe retailer Stylo's Barratts and Priceless Shoes have gone into administration.
Asda: UK households £4 a week worse off

26-Jan-2009
UK households are £4 a week worse off than a year ago and further pressure is likely to be piled on throughout this year, according to Asda's income tracker.
Sofa Workshop sinks into administration

23-Jan-2009
Sofa Workshop has plunged into administration, after last-ditch attempts to save the business failed.
Morrisons takes the crown

23-Jan-2009
Morrisons outperformed the industry over the Christmas period, but as we officially enter a recession, can it stay on top this year and continue to beat Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda?
Threshers confirms store sell-offs

23-Jan-2009
First Quench Retailing – owner of Threshers, Wine Rack and The Local – has confirmed it is in negotiations with landlords to sell off unprofitable stores.
John Lewis weekly sales up 4 per cent

23-Jan-2009
Department store group John Lewis has continued its strong start to the year with weekly sales up 4 per cent.
Debenhams appoints refinancing adviser

23-Jan-2009
Debenhams has appointed financial adviser Lazard to look at options to revise the department store’s capital structure.
Stylo's margins dented by downturn

23-Jan-2009
Shoe retailer Stylo revealed margins continue to be affected by the downturn and the outlook for the company remains challenging.
Carrefour loses out to rivals with weak Q4 sales growth

23-Jan-2009
Carrefour has posted its slowest quarterly sales growth in five years and been outperformed by its European counterparts.
Sainsbury’s head office jobs to go in shake-up

23-Jan-2009
Sainsbury’s has restructured its head office central support teams in a move that could lead to up to 300 jobs being axed.
Sainsbury's jobs to go in head office restructuring

21-Jan-2009
Sainsbury’s is to restructure its London head office which could lead to up to 300 jobs being cut.
Superdrug launches price campaign

21-Jan-2009
Health and beauty retailer Superdrug has today launched a price campaign to help save customers in excess of £3m every month.
Spar buys 11 former Somerfield stores

20-Jan-2009
Symbol group Spar has bought 11 former Somerfield stores, following the Co-operative Group’s acquisition.
A new era for grocery chiefs

16-Jan-2009
As Co-op's merger with Somerfield draws near, chief executive Peter Marks should look at how his competitors' businesses are run to emerge as a grocery favourite.
John Lewis weekly sales up 3.5 per cent

16-Jan-2009
John Lewis has reported another week of solid trading, with sales up 3.5 per cent.
Co-op gets green light for Somerfield deal

16-Jan-2009
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has said it will not refer Co-operative Group’s acquisition of Somerfield to the Competition Commission.
Instore festive sales hit by Woolworths discounting

16-Jan-2009
Value retailer Instore has reported like-for-like sales down 1.9 per cent for the five weeks to January 3 as it was hit by the heavy discounting at Woolworths in the run-up to Christmas.
Asda merchandising team to up efficiency

16-Jan-2009
Asda has revealed it is to create a merchandising department to drive efficiencies in its non-food business.
Waitrose to open 22 stores in 2009

15-Jan-2009
Waitrose has bought a package of stores from The Co-operative Group and will create 4,000 jobs this year.
Boots UK celebrates record Christmas

15-Jan-2009
Health and beauty giant Boots UK enjoyed record Christmas sales up 3 per cent like for like in December, although like-for-like retail sales fell 1.7 per cent for the quarter.
Alliance Boots and Co-op eyeing Rowlands stores

14-Jan-2009
Alliance Boots and The Co-operative Group are understood to be considering buying some of the 500 stores of UK pharmacy chain Rowlands, which was put up for sale following the death of German business tycoon Adolf Merckle.
Morrisons to hire 5,000 extra staff in 2009

12-Jan-2009
Morrisons is to create more than 5,000 jobs this year as part of its ongoing store expansion plans.
Grocers are bucking the jobs gloom

9-Jan-2009
As Retail Week launches its Backing UK Retail campaign, grocers including Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco and Morrisons are likely to play a huge part in staff recruitment.
Nisa-Today's notches up record Christmas week

9-Jan-2009
Symbol group Nisa-Today's notched up record sales in the week leading up to Christmas despite the “challenging economic environment”.
John Lewis sales rocket 27%

9-Jan-2009
John Lewis has delivered a barnstorming start to its clearance with weekly sales soaring 27.4 per cent on the previous year.
Jessops festive like-for-likes up 3.1%

9-Jan-2009
Jessops has reported a strong performance over Christmas despite the “challenging market conditions”.
JD Sports reports strong Christmas

9-Jan-2009
JD Sports posted strong growth over the Christmas period as it held its nerve and only went on Sale on Boxing Day.
Iceland sales growth tops 14 per cent

8-Jan-2009
Frozen food chain Iceland stormed ahead of market averages in the 12 weeks to December 27 with sales growth in excess of 14 per cent.
Sofa Workshop on brink of administration

8-Jan-2009
Sofa Workshop is teetering on the brink of administration as it faces financial difficulties in the tough economic climate.
Wal-Mart reveals Asda had strong December

8-Jan-2009
Asda parent Wal-Mart revealed the UK grocer reported one of its strongest ever Christmas trading seasons, despite its international sales dipping 10.4 per cent in December.
Thorntons reports dip in like-for-likes

7-Jan-2009
Thorntons has reported a dip in like-for-like sales of 6.6 per cent for the 12 weeks to December 27.
Ocado celebrates record Christmas

6-Jan-2009
Online retailer Ocado has reported its best Christmas to date with year-on-year sales growth up 25 per cent in the four weeks to January 3.
The Co-operative Group reports strong Christmas

6-Jan-2009
The Co-operative Group has reported a strong Christmas performance in its food stores with like for like sales, excluding petrol, for the three weeks to 3 January up 6 per cent.
Waitrose reports buoyant new year trading

6-Jan-2009
Grocer Waitrose reported a buoyant week of trading over the new year with like for like food sales up 4.7 per cent for the week ending 3 January.
Tesco hits back at rivals with £100 million of price cuts

6-Jan-2009
Tesco has today hit back at rival Asda’s price cuts with an investment of £100 million this month on a combination of permanent price cuts and promotions on more than 3,000 products.
Viyella in talks over future of business

5-Jan-2009
The future of iconic womenswear retailer Viyella hung in the balance today amid speculation the company is facing financial difficulties.
Wedgwood falls into administration

5-Jan-2009
Ceramics and crystal retailer and wholesaler Waterford Wedgwood has entered administration.
Asda's George launches £20 City suit

5-Jan-2009
Asda’s clothing brand George has launched a City suit for women costing just £20.
New retail insolvency rules will improve communication

23-Dec-2008
It’s Christmas, but with the torrid time retailers and landlords have had this year, is it the season to be jolly? From the list of retailers that have collapsed into administration, it doesn't feel like it.
Whittard poised for administration

22-Dec-2008
Tea and coffee retailer Whittard of Chelsea is on the brink of administration, although it is understood a buyer is still likely to be found for part of the business.
Tesco completes property deals

22-Dec-2008
Tesco has concluded two UK property deals totalling £308 million.
Tesco completes TPF deal

22-Dec-2008
Tesco has completed the acquisition of Tesco Personal Finance, following approval from the UK Financial Services Authority.
Sainsbury's boss Justin King courted for Olympics role

22-Dec-2008
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has reportedly approached Sainsbury’s boss Justin King to become his principal adviser on the London 2012 Olympics.
Sir Geoff Mulcahy in 11th hour rescue talks for Woolworths

22-Dec-2008
Update: Deloitte has released closing dates for all of Woolworths' stores while former Woolies boss Sir Geoff Mulcahy will today talk with Ardeshir Naghshineh, the company's biggest shareholder, about a possible 11th hour rescue plan for the pick and mix retailer.
Retail insolvency practice set for reform

19-Dec-2008
Retail insolvency regulations will come into force next year, designed to stymie quick sales of retailers in administration.
Laura Ashley reports slump in sales

19-Dec-2008
Laura Ashley has reported UK like-for-like sales down 9.9 per cent as it suffers under “tough trading conditions”.
Tesco slashes optical prices in Christmas Sale

18-Dec-2008
Tesco has added prescription glasses to its Sale as it seeks to drive shoppers through its doors in the key Christmas trading period.
Tesco makes its non-food mark

18-Dec-2008
Tesco has perfected its non-food image and now ranks among the specialists as a formidable player.
Superdrug set for its biggest January Sale

18-Dec-2008
Superdrug will launch its biggest ever January Sale next month, offering swingeing price cuts of up to 90 per cent.
Retail sales volume up 0.3 per cent

18-Dec-2008
Retail sales volume rose by an unexpected 0.3 per cent between October and November, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Tesco to open raft of stores on Boxing Day

17-Dec-2008
Tesco is to open nearly 200 of its stores on Boxing Day this year as it fights for its share of spend in the worsening economic downturn.
H&M reports like-for-like sales decline

15-Dec-2008
Swedish fashion outfit H&M reported a like-for-like sales fall of 4 per cent in November as the downturn continues to hit the high street.
The new frugal grocers

12-Dec-2008
The era of frugality is here, it’s official, according to Asda chief executive Andy Bond. But what does that mean for the grocers?
Hundreds of shoppers bag Woolworths bargains

12-Dec-2008
Woolworths recorded its biggest-ever trading yesterday as the defunct retailer launched a closing down sale across the 800-store chain.
Asda prepares for era of frugality

12-Dec-2008
Asda chief executive Andy Bond warned that the downturn has changed consumer habits for the long term and retailers need to adapt to a new era of frugality.
Zavvi creditors call in restructuring team, reports claim

12-Dec-2008
Zavvi has denied reports this morning that creditors have drafted in an emergency restructuring team from Ernst & Young as the Woolworths fallout hits the retailer hard.
Travis Perkins results to be in line with expectations

12-Dec-2008
DIY group Travis Perkins said today that trading across both trade and retail divisions remains broadly in line with its expectations.
Somerfield: Somer’s day

11-Dec-2008
The days of the Somerfield brand on the high street are numbered, but the chain is signing off on a high. Chief executive Paul Mason tells Jennifer Creevy how he achieved the transformation.
Morrisons sales shine as it woos customers

11-Dec-2008
Morrisons delivered an industry-beating like-for-like sales performance in its third quarter as it won new customers.
Somerfield sales revive as Co-op takeover nears

11-Dec-2008
Somerfield has posted a strong full-year performance as it moves into the final stage of its £1.57 billion sale to Co-operative Group.
Woolworths closing down Sale starts as administrator fails to find buyer

10-Dec-2008
Updated: Woolworths has launched a closing down Sale and could close some stores before the end of December if administrators Deloitte fail to find a buyer.
OFT warns fashion retailers over VAT cut co-operation

10-Dec-2008
The Office of Fair Trading has warned fashion retailers to be mindful of competition law following their discussions on how to pass on the 2.5 percentage point cut in VAT.
Peacocks hit by credit insurer

9-Dec-2008
Fashion retailer Peacocks is understood to have become the latest retailer to have some of its credit insurance cut.
M&S faces lawsuit from Interflora over Google searches

9-Dec-2008
Flowers delivery business Interflora is reportedly suing Marks & Spencer for buying its brand name as a keyword on Google.
Asda people director David Smith steps down

8-Dec-2008
David Smith, Asda's people director, will retire from the grocer in January.
Woolworths: 450 redundancies among head office and support staff

5-Dec-2008
Woolworths’ administrator Deloitte has made 450 head office and support staff at the retailer redundant.
Can Morrisons stay on top?

5-Dec-2008
Morrisons delivered a strong performance in its third-quarter results this week, while Tesco reported its lowest sales growth in 15 years.
John Lewis lifted by early VAT cut

5-Dec-2008
John Lewis has reported strong trading on last Friday and Saturday, when it reduced prices early to reflect this Monday's VAT reduction.
Primark hits back at War on Want demonstrators

5-Dec-2008
Primark will this morning defend itself from charity War on Want's claims that workers producing its clothes face growing poverty as a result of meagre pay.
Tesco opens 100th store in Turkey

5-Dec-2008
Tesco has today opened its 100th store in Turkey, just five years after entering the market when it bought a chain of five hypermarkets.
Virgin Group caught up in Woolworths' collapse

5-Dec-2008
Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is reported to be embroiled in the collapse of Woolworths through the music chain it sold to the management more than a year ago.
Asda reveals strong November sales

4-Dec-2008
Asda has said it has delivered another strong month of sales in November with core food categories all performing well.
Tesco introduces Direct kiosks in Metro stores

4-Dec-2008
Tesco has begun testing its non-food Tesco Direct offer in its small-format city centre Tesco Metro stores.
M&S confirms second one-day Sale

3-Dec-2008
Marks & Spencer has confirmed it will hold a second one-day Sale on Thursday.
Tesco expected to report lowest UK sales growth for a decade

1-Dec-2008
Tesco is set to reveal its worst UK sales results in more than a decade, as the slowdown continues to take its toll on retailers.
Asda: In good company

27-Nov-2008
Celebrating long-serving staff is great for morale and keeping staff turnover down. Jennifer Creevy finds out how they do it at Asda.
Business rates are out of kilter with the modern world

20-Nov-2008
Retailers’ focus is clearly on Christmas and if this week’s Sales are anything to go by, stores are already worried that trade will be tough. So why do retailers have to convince the Government to revalue massive hikes to business rates for next year and 2010?
Sir Terry Leahy: Retailers' vital role in regeneration

20-Nov-2008
Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy believes retailers have a vital role to play in regenerating areas – even in the downturn. He shows Jennifer Creevy how his native Liverpool has benefited.
Andy Bond: Christmas will be OK but new year won’t

20-Nov-2008
Asda chief executive Andy Bond has warned that while shoppers will spend slightly less this Christmas, the first quarter of next year will be “when things get really tough” for retailers.
Tesco launches Christmas dinner for £7.93

19-Nov-2008
Tesco has hacked the price of a family Christmas dinner with all the trimmings to just £7.93 – less than the cost five years ago.
Woolworths in talks to sell retail arm to Hilco for £1

19-Nov-2008
Woolworths is understood to be in talks to sell its high street business to specialist distressed fund Hilco for £1.
Asda launches Christmas TV ads

17-Nov-2008
Asda is using ordinary people in favour of celebrities in its £10 million Christmas TV campaign that debuts tonight.
Tesco hires Des O'Connor for Christmas TV ad

14-Nov-2008
Tesco has hired family entertainer Des O’Connor to star in its Christmas TV campaign, designed to deliver a traditional Christmas with a modern twist.
Asda is hitting the mark

14-Nov-2008
With a 40-year heritage in offering value prices, Asda is well positioned to benefit from the economic slowdown. But as its figures show yesterday, the grocer is not just benefiting, it is stealing a march on its competitors.
Shoppers rush for exclusive H&M designer collection

14-Nov-2008
Shoppers queued from 6am yesterday to get their hands on the exclusive Comme Des Garçons collection at H&M’s flagship London stores.
John Lewis reports weekly sales slump of 9.7%

14-Nov-2008
Department store chain John Lewis has reported a 9.7 per cent slump in weekly sales as the economic uncertainty and grim weather made trade difficult.
Waitrose celebrates homeward journeys in Christmas ad campaign

14-Nov-2008
Waitrose is to focus on festive homeward journeys in its Christmas TV campaign which debuts on Tuesday.
Asda reports like-for-like sales up 6.9 per cent

13-Nov-2008
Asda has revealed its like-for-like sales, excluding petrol, have jumped 6.9 per cent in its third quarter, driven by increased customer numbers and higher basket spend.
Sir Philip Green buys Baugur’s 28% in Moss Bros

12-Nov-2008
Sir Philip Green has bought Baugur’s 28 per cent stake in struggling menswear chain Moss Bros.
Fresh & Easy: Tesco may be forced to slow US roll-out

12-Nov-2008
Tesco’s US chief said the roll-out of its fledgling Fresh & Easy business could be forced to slow down because of the meltdown in the American economy.
Tesco boss calls for delay of business rates revaluation

11-Nov-2008
Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy today said that the business rates revaluation set for 2010 should be postponed to allow retailers to steer their way through the downturn.
Ant and Dec star in Sainsbury's Christmas ad

10-Nov-2008
Sainsbury’s has hired TV duo Ant and Dec to star in its Christmas ad campaign, which is set to launch on Wednesday evening.
One in five shops could be empty after the recession

10-Nov-2008
One in five stores could be voids by the time the economy picks up again, according to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Asda cuts petrol prices

7-Nov-2008
Asda has cut the price of unleaded petrol for the ninth time since July by a further 2p per litre.
Sainsbury's Justin King is a man of the people

7-Nov-2008
For a while, retailers didn’t want to mention the R word. But now we’ve officially been told we’re moving into a recession, it seems many retailers are having to think about the other R word – redundancies.
Alliance Boots steps up store integration

6-Nov-2008
Alliance Boots has accelerated the integration of its Alliance Pharmacy and Boots stores, as it revealed first-half revenues up 11.3 per cent.
Tesco to build Discounter range after stellar start

6-Nov-2008
Grocer to bring in non-food range and cheaper clothing as drive for value hots up.
City insider Jennifer Creevy: Debenhams is in safe hands

6-Nov-2008
Just a week after leading a preview tour of its new store at Westfield London, Debenhams revealed managing director Angela Spindler is to leave the business.
Asda reports strong clothing and grocery sales in October

6-Nov-2008
Asda's comparable store sales last month were strongest in grocery and clothing, parent company Wal-Mart’s October results have revealed.
Nicky Kinnaird: The Beauty of it

6-Nov-2008
Nicky Kinnaird’s Space NK launch was a bold move for beauty retailing and there’s more growth to come. By Jennifer Creevy.
Food inflation slows in October

5-Nov-2008
Food inflation has finally started to fall, down to 7.5 per cent in October from 9.1 per cent the previous month.
George at Asda launches £12 little black dress

5-Nov-2008
George at Asda is giving customers the chance to glam up on a budget with the launch of a £12 little black dress.
Tesco rolls out national clothes hanger recycling initiative

4-Nov-2008
Tesco is to introduce collection bins for clothes hangers in stores in its aim to prevent 1,000 tonnes of plastic going into landfill.
Homebase in head office shake up

4-Nov-2008
DIY retailer Homebase is understood to be poised to announce a reorganisation of its head office that could lead to job cuts.
Tesco best placed to survive downturn, report claims

3-Nov-2008
Tesco is the retailer most likely to survive the economic downturn, a new report claims.
Can the food discounters steal shoppers this Christmas?

31-Oct-2008
Speak to any chief executive at the moment and they will all say that Christmas will be tough.
Carrefour and Ahold buck slump with robust Q3 sales

31-Oct-2008
French giant Carrefour and Dutch grocer Ahold bucked the downturn to reveal resilient third quarter sales in the face of global economic turmoil.
Boots to launch Secret Santa Christmas TV ad

31-Oct-2008
Health and beauty giant Boots is to celebrate the art of choosing gifts this season with its Christmas TV ad, which debuts next week.
Marks & Spencer to launch womenswear range for over-45s

31-Oct-2008
Marks & Spencer is to introduce a new clothing range aimed at women aged over 45 next February.
John Lewis sales fall

31-Oct-2008
John Lewis has reported a drop of 9.8 per cent in its weekly sales and said the third quarter of the year has ended on a “subdued note”.
Blacks Leisure losses widen in first half

31-Oct-2008
Blacks Leisure has reported that its half-year losses have widened, but the group is making “good progress” with its turnaround plan.
Asda to expand online offers after Daily Deals drive traffic

30-Oct-2008
Asda is to make its daily non-food special online offers a permanent fixture after a trial over the summer helped push traffic on its site up 25 per cent.
Sainsbury's launches campaign for 'ugly' fruit

29-Oct-2008
Sainsbury’s is lobbying the Government and the European Commission in an effort to relax strict specifications that limit its ability to sell unusually shaped fresh produce.
Tesco extends non-food supplier payment terms

27-Oct-2008
Tesco is understood to be asking all its non-food suppliers to wait an extra 30 days for payment as it seeks to free up cash for the critical Christmas trading period.
HBOS appoints KPMG to review Wyevale

27-Oct-2008
HBOS is understood to have appointed KPMG to conduct an independent review of Wyevale Garden Centres.
Ann Summers appoints new managing director

24-Oct-2008
Ann Summers has hired a former Asda director as managing director.
Asda’s George growth bodes well for Christmas

24-Oct-2008
Anthony Thompson, managing director of Asda’s clothing brand George, said this week that Christmas was going to be “tough, late, and a bit of a rollercoaster”.
Carrefour and Ahold post resilient third-quarter sales

24-Oct-2008
French retailer Carrefour and Dutch grocer Ahold posted resilient third-quarter trading updates.
Piracy threatens Christmas product supply

24-Oct-2008
Shoppers could face shortages of products such as clothing and fuel unless action is taken to stop pirates hijacking ships off the coast of Somalia.
John Lewis suffers another tough week

24-Oct-2008
Department store group John Lewis has suffered another tough week, with sales down 7.6 per cent as customers continue to rein in spending.
Grocers fire new salvo in petrol price wars

24-Oct-2008
Sainsbury’s, Asda and Tesco today ratcheted up the price war by dropping the price of fuel to the lowest levels for more than a year.
Hollister’s house takes shape at Westfield London

23-Oct-2008
US fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch will unveil a Casa Mexicana-style store for its Hollister brand at Westfield London next Thursday.
Booths posts profits jump but stays wary

23-Oct-2008
Upmarket grocer Booths has reported a 32 per cent jump in pre-tax profits to £6.9 million in its full-year results but warned of a “tightening economy”.
Iceland: The show must go on

23-Oct-2008
There was precious little talk of economic woes at Iceland’s Store Managers’ Conference last week – apart from how they are benefiting the retailer. Jennifer Creevy went to find out more.
Retail sales growth slows further

23-Oct-2008
Retail sales volume growth has continued to slow in the three months to September, rising only 0.1 per cent.
Co-op gets green light for Somerfield deal

20-Oct-2008
The Co-operative Group's £1.5 billion acquisition of Somerfield has been given the green light by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
Iceland’s motivational culture stands it in good stead

17-Oct-2008
The spotlight is firmly on discounters because of their market-beating growth in the food sector. Yet it should also be noted that frozen food retailer Iceland is outperforming the market, too.
Debenhams signs wind power deal with Scottish Power

17-Oct-2008
Debenhams has signed a deal with Scottish Power to supply all its UK stores with electricity provided by wind power.
Bargain-hunters storm Currys’ megastore opening

17-Oct-2008
Chaos broke out yesterday over slashed Sales prices at the opening of Currys’ J9 megastore near Birmingham.
John Lewis posts 4.8 per cent sales slide

17-Oct-2008
John Lewis department stores recorded a 4.8 per cent dip in sales last week as the global banking crisis worsened and the sun came out at the weekend.
Baugur: Food retailers allay concern

15-Oct-2008
Baugur-backed food retailers have insisted that they remain focused on trading despite doubts about the Icelandic investor’s future.
Justin King: bank rescue has begun to restore confidence

15-Oct-2008
Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King believes the Government’s banking bail-out this week has dramatically “moved the dial” and already started reviving consumer confidence.
Sainsbury's covering all bases

10-Oct-2008
Sainsbury’s delivered second-quarter results that were above expectations this week.
Borders UK exposed to Landsbanki

10-Oct-2008
Bookseller Borders UK has been dragged into Iceland’s financial difficulties as it has emerged that it received a loan from troubled bank Landsbanki earlier this year.
John Lewis sales pick up

10-Oct-2008
John Lewis reported a much-needed boost to the UK high street today with an improvement in its weekly sales.
Coface pulls Baugur credit insurance

10-Oct-2008
One of the UK’s three biggest credit insurers has withdrawn cover for suppliers to several Baugur-backed retailers as the situation in Iceland worsens.
Sir Alan Sugar takes stake in Woolworths

10-Oct-2008
The Apprentice star Sir Alan Sugar has reportedly acquired a near 4 per cent stake in Woolworths.
Malcolm Walker: no Iceland meltdown

9-Oct-2008
Iceland chief executive Malcolm Walker reassures suppliers as Icelandic economic collapse threatens retailers.
Martin Bailie: A Lidl goes a long way

9-Oct-2008
It’s been one of the biggest retail successes of the year, but Lidl has stayed silent — until now. In an exclusive interview, Lidl UK director Martin Bailie explains the secret of its success.
Robert Tchenguiz 'to sell Sainsbury's stake'

8-Oct-2008
Property billionaire Robert Tchenguiz has reportedly been forced to put his 10 per cent stake in J Sainsbury up for sale.
Asda reveals strong George sales in September

8-Oct-2008
Asda exceeded expectations for sales of its autumn and winter George clothing ranges last month, Wal-Mart has revealed.
MFI retail and property divisions placed into administration

7-Oct-2008
MFI placed its retail and property divisions into administration yesterday after the completion of a management buyout led by chief executive Gary Favell.
Tesco banking on banking

3-Oct-2008
In an ironic about-turn, consumers were this week knocking down the doors of Northern Rock to open savings accounts.
TK Maxx jackets with knives spark outrage

3-Oct-2008
Designer discount fashion retailer TK Maxx has been lambasted for selling jackets with a hidden knife attached.
Evans Cycles joins BRC

3-Oct-2008
Bicycle retailer Evans Cycles has joined the BRC.
John Lewis weekly sales dive

3-Oct-2008
John Lewis has reported a slump of 8.3 per cent in weekly sales, which it blames on a combination of sunny weather and coverage of the global economic situation.
Blacks Leisure losses to widen

3-Oct-2008
Outdoor clothing retailer Blacks Leisure expects to report its pre-tax loss has widened in its interim results to about £4.5 million as it reveals “difficult” trading in August.
Superdrug to offer travel vaccinations

2-Oct-2008
Health and beauty retailer Superdrug is to ramp up its pharmacy credentials with the launch of travel clinics next week.
Sir Terry Leahy: Tesco will adapt to downturn

2-Oct-2008
Tesco has admitted its Finest and Organics ranges have stopped growing, as shopper patterns change in the wake of the economic downturn.
Waitrose to open first convenience store

1-Oct-2008
Waitrose is to open its first convenience format store on December 11 in Nottingham.
Hardy Amies files notice for an administrator

1-Oct-2008
Upmarket tailor Hardy Amies has today filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator after failing to finalise an offer to secure funding.
Tesco plans current accounts and mortgages

30-Sep-2008
Tesco is to offer current accounts and mortgages as part of its long-term plans for its personal finances division.
Joy enters administration

30-Sep-2008
Fashion and homewares retailer Joy has fallen into administration.
Sainsbury's connects with its customers

26-Sep-2008
It’s difficult sometimes to see the difference between the grocers’ price promotion campaigns.
Hermes offers tenants option to pay monthly

26-Sep-2008
Hermes, one of the UK’s largest retail landlords, has broken ranks to offer its tenants the chance to pay their rents monthly in advance.
JJB posts appalling interims

26-Sep-2008
JJB Sports has reported an adjusted pre-tax loss of £9.7 million for the 26 weeks to July 27, as it faces “the worst retail recession” it has ever known.
Hardy Amies’ future hangs in balance

26-Sep-2008
Upmarket tailor Hardy Amies is fighting for survival after its major shareholder failed to come up with expected further financial support for the business.
Shoppers shun luxury food as crunch takes hold

26-Sep-2008
Shoppers have been turning their backs on luxury foods in favour of cheaper meals as the credit crunch bites, according to research revealed today.
Wal-Mart gears up to take on Fresh & Easy

25-Sep-2008
Wal-Mart will open its first four Marketside stores a week tomorrow, four days after Tesco reveals much-anticipated figures for its fledgling Fresh & Easy business.
Co-op senses renaissance as ethics top the agenda

25-Sep-2008
The Co-operative Group plans to capitalise on its ethical credentials to differentiate itself from conventional retailers, as consumers recoil from “corporate greed” in the wake of the financial crisis.
Sainsbury’s online initiative to help shoppers counter crunch

25-Sep-2008
Sainsbury’s is ramping up its price credentials with the launch of a digital strategy to give shoppers tips on how to save money.
Financial services: A market retail can bank on?

25-Sep-2008
As a string of financial players collapse and consumers’ trust in high street banks falters, should retailers step up their own offerings? Jennifer Creevy investigates
Food drives Co-op profit jump

24-Sep-2008
The Co-operative Group has reported a 60.5 per cent uplift in pre-tax profits to £197.6 million, driven by a strong performance in its food business.
Can Tesco beat the discounters at their own game?

19-Sep-2008
It seems strange that the mighty Tesco should be worried about a competitor that is just a fraction of its size. Yet this week the grocer launched its biggest package of money-saving measures since it launched its iconic Value range 15 years ago.
Lidl store opening causes stampede

19-Sep-2008
Shoppers clashed in their rush to secure a bargain at the opening of discount grocer Lidl’s new store in Southall yesterday.
John Lewis weekly sales climb

19-Sep-2008
John Lewis has recorded a 7.5 per cent sales lift for last week and revealed its store at the new Highcross scheme in Leicester had “an outstanding first week”.
Asda slashes price of petrol

19-Sep-2008
Asda has cut its national fuel prices this morning in a move that is likely to spark a fresh petrol price war among the grocers.
Morrisons plans non-food offensive with new range

18-Sep-2008
Morrisons is gearing up for a major non-food push next spring as chief executive Marc Bolland aims to further extend the grocer’s appeal.
Tesco wades in to price war against discounters

18-Sep-2008
Tesco this week waged war on competitors with a £100 million investment in the launch of its Discounter range.
Holland & Barrett buys Julian Graves

17-Sep-2008
Holland & Barrett’s parent company NBTY Europe has bought its high street competitor Julian Graves from Icelandic investor Baugur.
Sainsbury's extends welfare pork range

17-Sep-2008
Sainsbury’s has more than doubled its range of higher welfare pork as it claims demand for affordable meat raised in better conditions has soared.
Tesco launches into discounter arena

16-Sep-2008
Tesco has today launched its biggest package of money-saving measures since the launch of its iconic Value range in a bid to become Britain’s biggest discounter.
Asda's Bond says food price inflation has peaked

16-Sep-2008
Asda chief executive Andy Bond is confident that food price inflation has peaked, as the grocer launches over 5,000 price cuts across its ranges.
Tesco targets discounters with low-cost food offer

16-Sep-2008
Tesco has launched a new low-cost food line in its supermarkets as it gears up to take on discounters Aldi and Lidl.
Sainsbury’s kicks off hunt for Christmas temps

15-Sep-2008
Sainsbury’s is to draft in 12,000 temporary staff to work in its stores over the Christmas period.
Are discount grocers a threat?

12-Sep-2008
Defiant grocers Morrisons and Waitrose both delivered results yesterday and were predictably having to explain their position in light of the growth in the discounter sector.
Tesco launches meat-free range

12-Sep-2008
Tesco will this weekend launch a meat-free food range, targeting “bi-tarians” – meat eaters who regularly opt for vegetarian meals.
French Connection's losses widen

12-Sep-2008
French Connection’s pre-tax loss has increased in its half-year results, despite what it described as the “encouraging” performance of its retail business in the difficult economic climate.
John Lewis posts robust weekly sales

12-Sep-2008
John Lewis delivered a strong set of sales results last week, up 9.2 per cent year on year.
Asda: George revamp to target AB customers

11-Sep-2008
Asda’s clothing brand George aims to draw in AB shoppers with its refreshed image, as consumers rein in their spending.
Faith sold in pre-pack deal

11-Sep-2008
Faith Shoes has been sold in a pre-pack administration deal for an undisclosed sum to retail entrepreneur John Kinnaird and investment fund Agilo.
Waitrose challenges Aldi prices

11-Sep-2008
Waitrose boss Mark Price has thrown down the gauntlet to the discounters, claiming the upmarket grocer is cheaper than Aldi on its entry price points in five out of 25 product categories.
Thorntons defies gloom with profit jump

10-Sep-2008
Thorntons has bucked the high street gloom to report a pre-tax profit boost of 19.6 per cent to £8.5 million in its preliminary results.
Thresher to expand in time for Christmas

9-Sep-2008
Drinks retailer Thresher Group is to open 15 stores before December to ramp up its portfolio for the key Christmas trading period.
Aldi should avoid airs and graces

5-Sep-2008
Aldi is certainly enjoying its moment in the sun.
Lush rethinks format to spotlight skincare

4-Sep-2008
Health and beauty specialist Lush is to roll out a new store design to its UK portfolio to promote its natural cosmetics credentials.
Malcolm Walker’s magic touch

4-Sep-2008
Malcolm Walker has defied critics with his turnaround of Iceland, but could he do the same with Woolworths? Jennifer Creevy meets him to discover what can be learnt from the chain’s recovery.
Aldi signs celebrity chef

3-Sep-2008
Discount grocer Aldi has struck a deal with celebrity chef Phil Vickery as part of its quest to push its market share in the UK to 10 per cent.
Food inflation growth slows

3-Sep-2008
Food inflation growth has slowed for the first time since March, according to the BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index for August.
Berghaus to open second UK store

3-Sep-2008
Outdoor specialist Berghaus is to open a second store in the UK and has laid out plans to enter the Chinese market next year.
Sainsbury's embarks on own-brand drive

2-Sep-2008
Sainsbury’s has launched a multimillion-pound campaign to drive sales of its own-brand products.
Charity shops post profit rises

1-Sep-2008
Charity shops have recorded profits up 7.4 per cent this year as shoppers try to manage their budgets in the face of the economic downturn.
A forgotten age

29-Aug-2008
In all the clamour to convince shoppers that they are the cheapest grocer, some supermarkets have forgotten one demographic group relatively unscathed by the credit crunch – the silver surfers.
John Lewis sales dip

29-Aug-2008
Department store group John Lewis reported a fall in weekly sales of 2.4 per cent as continued uncertainty in the economy and the poor weather hit trade.
M&S revises redundancy proposals

29-Aug-2008
Marks & Spencer is understood to have amended planned changes to redundancy terms after feedback from staff.
Bid rumour bumps up Sainsbury’s shares

29-Aug-2008
Shares in Sainsbury’s rose more than 8 per cent yesterday as speculation mounted about a potential takeover bid.
Walker awaits Woolies talks as doubts emerge

28-Aug-2008
Retail entrepreneur Malcolm Walker’s consortium is keen to start discussions with the Woolworths board about the possible acquisition of its retail arm, but doubts that a deal can be struck started to creep in.
Aldi reaches tipping point as discount enters mainstream

28-Aug-2008
Shoppers unlikely to desert value grocers even when economy picks up as snobbery is ditched.
Boots pilots drive-through model as it shakes up team

28-Aug-2008
Boots UK opened its first drive-through pharmacy last week, as managing director Alex Gourlay rejigged his top team to accelerate the integration of the former Boots the Chemists and Alliance Pharmacy businesses.
Aldi: Flavour of the year

28-Aug-2008
The discounters are the biggest story in retail right now, but Aldi boss Paul Foley doesn’t want to be bracketed with Lidl and Netto. Jennifer Creevy meets him and finds out why.
Sainsbury's chops fruit and veg prices

27-Aug-2008
Sainsbury’s has slashed the price of packs of basic fruit and vegetables to just 40p and will add a selection of “aesthetically challenged” items to its range that would normally not make it onto supermarket shelves.
Are discount grocers the new black?

22-Aug-2008
Aldi and Lidl are no longer dirty words for the majority of consumers. In the same way that Primark was once sneered at, discount grocers are becoming fashionable. The question is, how long can it be sustained?
Debenhams winter fashion sales rocket

22-Aug-2008
Debenhams has revealed that sales of winter clothes are booming as the wet summer continues and shoppers prepare for high winter fuel bills.
Mamas & Papas bucks gloom with soaring sales

22-Aug-2008
Mamas & Papas is to open four stores after bucking the high street downturn with a 46 per cent year on year uplift in fashion sales for the spring/summer period.
John Lewis sales slide

22-Aug-2008
John Lewis blamed the summer exam results and the Olympics as a distraction for its customers as it suffered a 4.2 per cent drop in sales for the week to August 16.
Lidl pushes into convenience with Express format

21-Aug-2008
German discount grocer Lidl has entered the fiercely competitive convenience store arena with the launch of a new format, Lidl Express.
Walker’s back to basics vision for Woolworths

21-Aug-2008
Retail entrepreneur Malcolm Walker will take Woolworths back to basics and restore its appeal as a traditional variety store if he succeeds in buying it.
On a health kick

21-Aug-2008
Lloydspharmacy managing director Richard Smith believes that high street pharmacists have a growing role supporting the NHS. Jennifer Creevy meets him.
Retail sales up in July

21-Aug-2008
Retail sales volume unexpectedly jumped in July by 0.8 per cent, giving some respite to the UK’s struggling high street.
Tesco goes live with online opticians

21-Aug-2008
Tesco has launched an online optical prescription service to take advantage of the fast-growing eyecare market.
M&S brings forward trading statement

21-Aug-2008
Marks & Spencer has fuelled fears of a deeper downturn on the high street by bringing forward its next trading statement by a month.
Netto launches non-food Sale

21-Aug-2008
Discount grocer Netto will launch a discount bonanza for the end of August to drive shoppers to its stores.
Boots UK shakes up top team

21-Aug-2008
Boots UK – the pharmacy-led health and beauty retail arm of Alliance Boots – has rejigged its senior team to further accelerate the integration between the former Boots the Chemists and Alliance Pharmacy groups.
Tesco price ads banned

20-Aug-2008
Tesco has been rapped over the knuckles by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for misleading the public in two of its ads comparing prices with Asda and Morrisons.
M&S benefits move triggers redundancy fears

19-Aug-2008
Marks & Spencer is planning to cut redundancy benefits for its 60,000 staff, sparking fears of job losses.
The grocers shouldn’t rely on price alone

15-Aug-2008
Supermarkets Tesco and Asda will be fighting tooth and nail this weekend to make sure customers choose to visit their stores to do the weekly shop.
Asda reveals strong second quarter growth

14-Aug-2008
Asda has revealed its coastal stores have traded 'phenomenally well' this summer with Britons holidaying at home, as the grocer unveils like for like sales, excluding petrol, up 5.5 per cent in its second quarter.
Sainsbury’s to step up Tu Home introduction

14-Aug-2008
Sainsbury’s is to roll out its Tu Home brand ahead of schedule following a three-month trial.
Tesco Indian stores on agenda after Tata deal

14-Aug-2008
Tesco is likely to open a retail chain in India if restrictive foreign investment laws in the country are lifted.
Tata and Tesco tie-up is ideal

14-Aug-2008
Tesco this week finally secured a long-awaited deal enabling it to enter what many believe is the most exciting and potentially lucrative market in the world – India.
Co-op to sell 107 Somerfield stores

12-Aug-2008
The Co-operative Group is understood to have appointed Credit Suisse to manage the sale process of 107 Somerfield stores.
Gap axes European design team

11-Aug-2008
US fashion retailer Gap has made its London-based European design team redundant, affecting up to 80 jobs.
DSGi to review Italian and Spanish stores

11-Aug-2008
DSG International is understood to have instructed Citigroup to carry out a strategic review of its Italian and Spanish chains with a view to possibly selling the businesses.
Tesco introduces price-busting milk brand

11-Aug-2008
Tesco has today launched a brand of semi-skimmed milk in stores that costs just £1.06 for a two-litre carton.
Cheap and cheerful?

8-Aug-2008
Back to school used to involve a few sacred things – making sure you had a new pencil case to fit your protractor and compass, having your feet sized in Clarks for your new shoes and going to the specialist school uniform shop to get kitted out.
Wal-Mart lays out Marketside plans

8-Aug-2008
Wal-Mart could expand its small-format Marketside grocery chain to more than 1,000 stores, delivering annual sales of US$10 billion-plus.
John Lewis sales revive

8-Aug-2008
John Lewis delivered some good news to the sector as it posted a strong start to its new half with sales up 3.7 per cent last week.
Alliance Boots closes on India deal

8-Aug-2008
Alliance Boots is understood to be close to signing an agreement with Reliance Retail to enter India’s health and beauty market.
Iranian tycoon builds Woolworths stake

8-Aug-2008
Iranian property tycoon Ardeshir Naghshineh has raised his stake in troubled retailer Woolworths, sparking fresh speculation that he could mount a bid for the business.
Wellcome Trust emerges as mystery M&S stakebuilder

8-Aug-2008
The UK’s largest charity, The Wellcome Trust, has emerged as the mystery company that has been stakebuilding in Marks & Spencer.
Asda tests new logo as George relaunch approaches

7-Aug-2008
Asda has been quietly testing a revamped logo for clothing giant George as it gears up to relaunch the brand in September.
Superdrug confident despite slip in profits

7-Aug-2008
Health and beauty retailer Superdrug has reported a sales uplift of 6.8 per cent in its full year accounts, but a dip in pre-tax profits.
One year on the crunch still bites

7-Aug-2008
August is the quietest month in the retail calendar, with most store chiefs taking well-earned holidays. Yet last August those chief execs – and indeed the world – were hit with something that made them put down their cocktails and dust off their blackberries.
Neal’s Yard to carve niche in Middle East with 50 stores

7-Aug-2008
Hook: Neal’s Yard chief believes the Middle East is a key market for global growth.
Netto effects: discounters boom in credit crunch

7-Aug-2008
The credit crunch is turning out to be the coming of age for hard discounters in the UK. Jennifer Creevy tours Netto’s latest store with managing director Richard Lancaster.
General Trading Company sold

6-Aug-2008
Iconic London department store the General Trading Company has been sold as a going concern to an unknown investor.
Land of Leather faces lawsuit

6-Aug-2008
Furniture retailer Land of Leather is reported to be facing a £250,000 lawsuit from an investment group Agilo, which wanted to inject £5 million into the struggling retailer two months ago.
Oddbins bought by ex-MD's son

6-Aug-2008
Wine retailer Oddbins has been sold to a consortium of investors led by the son of a former managing director of the company.
Tesco undercuts Asda school uniforms

5-Aug-2008
Tesco has undercut rival Asda today with the launch of its Tesco Value school uniform for £3.50.
Cash rich, time poor

1-Aug-2008
Grocers talk about shoppers trading down out of restaurants to snap up ready meals in their stores to treat themselves at home. And for the likes of Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, plus the big four grocers, this may well be the case.
Asda launches £4 school uniform

1-Aug-2008
Asda will launch a £4 school uniform, its lowest price to date, sparking a new price war among the grocers.
Ahold Q2 beats expectations

1-Aug-2008
Dutch retail group Ahold has beat analysts expectations for the second quarter of its financial year, reporting net sales of €5.8 billion (£4.57 billion).
Nose for the job

31-Jul-2008
The Perfume Shop chief operating officer Jo Walker is so passionate about her job that she hardly ever takes a holiday. Jennifer Creevy asks why scents mean so much.
Carrefour picks new board to streamline management

31-Jul-2008
Shareholders at French grocery giant Carrefour have this week approved the creation of a board of directors to simplify its management structure.
OFT invites comments on Co-op’s Somerfield buy-out

30-Jul-2008
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has invited interested parties to lodge comments about the Co-operative Group’s £1.57 billion acquisition of Somerfield.
Government responds to grocery inquiry

30-Jul-2008
The Government has responded to the Competition Commission’s inquiry into the UK grocery sector, saying that it will consider establishing an ombudsman itself if the body cannot come to an agreement with grocers.
White Stuff halts investor search

30-Jul-2008
Fashion retailer White Stuff has called off its search for a strategic investor, as it revealed that like-for-like sales rose 15 per cent in the quarter to the end of July.
Qataris raise Sainsbury's stake again

29-Jul-2008
The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has raised its stake in Sainsbury’s for the third time in a month.
Harrods faces strike action

28-Jul-2008
World famous department store Harrods could be faced with strike action in a dispute over pay.
Hilco bosses join MFI board

28-Jul-2008
Two senior directors at turnaround specialist Hilco are understood to have joined the board of furniture giant MFI in a move that throws further speculation on the retailer’s future.
Space NK to open in US Bloomingdale’s stores

25-Jul-2008
Health and beauty retailer Space NK has struck a deal with US department store Bloomingdale’s to open concessions in the US.
Waitrose opens third market town store

25-Jul-2008
Waitrose opened its latest market town store last week at Brackley in Northamptonshire.
Discounters have a chance to turn shoppers for good

25-Jul-2008
Shoppers are voting with their feet and figures released this week show that consumer spend in discount supermarkets has reached record levels.
Price war hots up as Netto slashes staples

24-Jul-2008
Danish discount supermarket Netto has waded into the UK’s grocery price war by slashing the price of key staple items.
Tesco to revive British tea break

22-Jul-2008
Tesco is to give away tea and biscuits at 252 stores across the UK this week in an effort to revive the traditional British tea break and lift sales.
Boots UK rejigs marketing and trading teams

21-Jul-2008
Boots UK, the UK health and beauty arm of Alliance Boots, has restructured its marketing and trading teams as part of its ambition to become the world’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer.
Ocado to expand beyond food

21-Jul-2008
Ocado is to expand beyond food into areas such as clothing and health and beauty as it notches up sales of £1 billion.
Retailers unite against landlords

21-Jul-2008
The UK’s biggest retailers have united against their landlords, calling for a radical change in the way they pay rents as the credit crunch continues to bite.
Co-op should focus on what it does best

18-Jul-2008
The long-awaited Co-op-Somerfield deal was finally completed this week with little pomp and ceremony.
Thorntons: the city view

18-Jul-2008
Thorntons will open five new-format stores next month after posting a like-for-like sales increase of 3.6 per cent for the 10 weeks to June 28, writes Jennifer Creevy.
Medicine man

18-Jul-2008
With his passion for organic produce, Jonathan Hook was the natural choice to head Neal’s Yard Remedies. He tells Jennifer Creevy why the retailer has a strong future
M&S slashes men's suit to £24

18-Jul-2008
Marks & Spencer slashed the price of selected men’s suits yesterday to only £24 as it started its summer Sale.
John Lewis Sale puts retailer back on course

18-Jul-2008
John Lewis has ended its falling sales trend with a strong week for its clearance Sale, recording sales up 5.9 per cent for the week to July 12.
Asda launches price-cuts weekend

17-Jul-2008
Asda is to slash the price of a dozen core groceries this weekend as shoppers start to feel the pinch towards the end of the month.
Co-op chief: Somerfield integration will be easy

17-Jul-2008
Co-operative Group chief executive Peter Marks has insisted the retailer’s integration of Somerfield will be smooth and without culture clashes.
Asda pencils in September relaunch date for George

17-Jul-2008
Asda will relaunch its George clothing brand in September as it seeks to make the label the UK’s biggest-selling fashion brand by volume before the end of 2011.
Co-op buys Somerfield for £1.56bn

16-Jul-2008
The Co-operative Group has sealed its long-awaited £1.56 billion deal to buy Somerfield.
MFI calls in restructuring expert

15-Jul-2008
Furniture retailer MFI is understood to have called in corporate restructuring company Kroll Talbot Hughes (KTH) as the credit crunch bites.
Retailers fined over tobacco price fixing

14-Jul-2008
Five retailers and a tobacco manufacturer have agreed to pay the biggest collective penalty ever imposed by the Office of Fair Trading after admitting their role in cigarette price fixing.
Waitrose to spotlight promos in value push

11-Jul-2008
Waitrose is to ramp up its in-store promotional displays in a bid to change shoppers’ perceptions that it is more expensive than its rivals.
Asda non-food chief to leave

11-Jul-2008
Asda non-food trading director Peter Pritchard is to leave the grocer, as chief executive Andy Bond reshuffles the management team.
Waitrose to spotlight promos in value push

11-Jul-2008
Waitrose is to ramp up its in-store promotional displays in a bid to change shoppers’ perceptions that it is more expensive than its rivals.
Everybody’s got their price

11-Jul-2008
In a week when grocers launched even more price wars – the latest being Morrisons’ Price Crunch offer of a range of eight products for 50p each – it is clear that price is king.
BPF sets up hotline for empty rates complaints

11-Jul-2008
The British Property Federation (BPF) is stepping up its campaign against charging full rates on empty shops, calling on businesses to rally together to explain the effects of the “stealth tax”.
Shopper loyalty hits new low

11-Jul-2008
UK consumers are more disloyal than ever, with 22 per cent saying they are dissatisfied with the store they shop most at and would prefer to shop somewhere else.
John Lewis sales slide

11-Jul-2008
Department store chain John Lewis has reported a 1.3 per cent drop in weekly sales – the eighth decline in nine weeks – but said its clearance Sale is performing well.
Shoppers queue for latest iPhone

11-Jul-2008
Shoppers are queuing across the UK this morning to get their hands on the latest must-have Apple iPhone.
Spar targets emerging markets to beat crunch

10-Jul-2008
Symbol group Spar International is attempting to defy the credit crunch with a strong global expansion campaign.
Waitrose hiring signals convenience push

9-Jul-2008
Waitrose is understood to have hired a head of convenience as it gears up to take on the likes of Sainsbury’s Local and M&S Simply Food.
Morrisons ups ante in price war

8-Jul-2008
Morrisons has delivered another blow in the supermarket price wars with the creation of a fresh family meal for £4.
Iceland eyes Somerfield shops to drive growth as profit flies

4-Jul-2008
Iceland has confirmed it wants to snap up as many as 30 Somerfield stores to further its expansion as it revealed a 4.5 per cent increase in profits.
Wal-Mart transforms logo as part of image overhaul

4-Jul-2008
Wal-Mart is to revamp its logo and unveil its new-look branding on US store fascias from this autumn.
Cookware retailer ProCook enters administration

2-Jul-2008
Kitchen equipment and cookware retailer ProCook has gone into administration.
Out-of-town retail hit as fuel prices soar

2-Jul-2008
Out-of-town retail destinations have borne the brunt of the petrol price rises, suffering a 5.8 per cent fall in visitors last month compared with the same period last year.
Tesco to withdraw from Zimbabwe

1-Jul-2008
Tesco is to stop sourcing products from Zimbabwe after the re-election of President Robert Mugabe.
Tesco challenges Competition Commission

30-Jun-2008
Tesco today launched a legal challenge to one of the remedies recommended by the Competition Commission’s two-year long probe into the grocer sector.
Asos profits rocket 117%

30-Jun-2008
Online fashion retailer Asos continues to buck the downturn, recording pre-tax profits up 117 per cent to £7.3 million.
Beales sales slump

30-Jun-2008
Department store operator Beales has recorded a 6.4 per cent drop in like-for-like gross sales and warned there will be no uplift for the remainder of its financial year.
Anyone for chicken?

27-Jun-2008
Forget Glastonbury – the best gig in town was Tesco’s AGM today.
Focus raises curtain on new store format

27-Jun-2008
Focus has opened its first new-look store since it was bought by Cerberus for £1 last June.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't

26-Jun-2008
It’s hard to know who will get the most attention at Tesco’s AGM today. It could be the chicken campaigners, the Barack Obama-supported US union or the Unite protesters presenting chief executive Sir Terry Leahy with a “golden loo”.
Carrefour to rebrand French stores

26-Jun-2008
Carrefour Group is to convert all its supermarket formats in France to its Carrefour and Carrefour Market fascias.
Wal-Mart unveils Marketside web site

25-Jun-2008
US grocery giant Wal-Mart has unveiled a web site for its new-launch smaller format stores, Marketside.
Kesa warns on consumer confidence

24-Jun-2008
Electricals giant Kesa has reported a 3.1 per cent increase in group retail profit to £141.3 million for its new financial year, but warned of difficult trading ahead.
Sainsbury's non-food boss defects to Tesco

24-Jun-2008
Sainsbury’s head of non-food Richard Jones is quitting the grocer to take a top job at competitor Tesco.
Tesco under fire for planning application

23-Jun-2008
Tesco is under fire after it was revealed that it used a local retailer to front a planning application for a development in Barnstaple, Devon.
Superdrug launches rival to Boots' anti-ageing range

20-Jun-2008
Superdrug has launched a rival to Boots’ popular anti-aging cream Perfect & Protect Beauty Serum.
Waitrose to sponsor Reading FC

20-Jun-2008
Waitrose has signed up to sponsor Reading Football Club, marking the first time a food retailer in Britain has sponsored a major football club.
Advertising blast

20-Jun-2008
When anyone – retailer or non-retailer – gets into a conversation about food shopping, they always point out that they have seen an increase in their bills.
Summer Fair to host Mary Portas

18-Jun-2008
TV celebrity and retail branding expert Mary Portas is gearing up to speak at the Summer Fair, which starts this Sunday.
Sainsbury's growth slows

18-Jun-2008
Sales growth at grocer Sainsbury’s has slowed in the past three months as the “challenging economic environment continued throughout the quarter”, the company said.
Consumer inflation hits 3.3 per cent

17-Jun-2008
Rising food and fuel prices have pushed UK consumer inflation up to 3.3 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics.
EBTM profits soar

17-Jun-2008
Multichannel music retailer EBTM has increased its revenue 401 per cent to £6.7 million in its full-year results, driven by acquisitions it made last year.
Average price of grocery basket up 21 per cent

17-Jun-2008
The price of a shopping basket containing 24 staple items of food has increased by an average of 21 per cent year on year, according to online price comparison site Mysupermarket.co.uk.
Instore bidder emerges

17-Jun-2008
The owner of Crown Crest Group, a Leicester cash-and-carry and wholesale company, has emerged as the likely bidder for discount variety chain Instore.
Land of Leather and ScS review finances

16-Jun-2008
Furniture retailers Land of Leather and ScS Upholstery have this morning confirmed that they are both examining the structure of their businesses.
London like-for-likes sparkle in May

16-Jun-2008
London retail like-for-like sales last month were 8.2 per cent higher than a year earlier, as shoppers came out with the sunshine.
Fresh look for Fresh & Easy

13-Jun-2008
Tesco rethinks format to create a ‘warmer’ feel as it prepares to press on with US store openings
Tesco combines school and club voucher schemes

12-Jun-2008
Tesco is to merge its two voucher schemes to create one bumper offer, following feedback from participating schools and clubs.
Grocers face uncertain prospects

12-Jun-2008
Food prices are never far from the headlines and are likely to have further profound effects both on consumer behaviour and retailer strategy.
Retailers can't quantify global sourcing savings

11-Jun-2008
Cost is the main driver for retailers seeking global sourcing, yet many companies are unclear on cost savings, according to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Co-op to sponsor Pride of Britain Awards

10-Jun-2008
The Co-operative Group has struck a deal to be the sole sponsor of the Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards.
Wal-Mart sells property firm Gazeley

10-Jun-2008
Wal-Mart is to sell Gazeley, the property development subsidiary of Asda, to Dubai World company Economic Zones World.
Tesco cautious on non-food

10-Jun-2008
Tesco has reported a 3.5 per cent like-for-like sales uplift, excluding petrol, in its first quarter for its domestic market, but warned that its rate of growth for non-food has eased as consumers become more cautious.
Superdrug hires new finance director

9-Jun-2008
Superdrug owner AS Watson has appointed Gill Smith as finance director for its UK health and beauty group.
Alliance Boots to move HQ to Switzerland

9-Jun-2008
Alliance Boots is to move its headquarters from the UK to Switzerland to signal that the health and beauty giant is a big international player, according to newspaper reports.
If the price is right…

6-Jun-2008
Morrisons revealed once again that it is leading the grocery pack in terms of like-for-like growth. Yesterday, the grocer posted a 7 per cent increase in like-for-likes for the 13 weeks to May 4, which chief executive Marc Bolland said is “industry leading” and, again, “outperforms the market”.
Asda posts strong sales

6-Jun-2008
US grocer Wal-Mart has reported that sales for May at Asda were 'strong', driven by traffic gains in the UK market where customers are increasingly seeking the lowest prices and best value for money.
On the money

5-Jun-2008
As Andy Bond packed his bags for Wal-Mart’s annual shareholders’ meeting in the US this week, Jennifer Creevy got his take on the r-word, food inflation and why the competition test will be good news for Asda
Jessops at last regains its focus

5-Jun-2008
Camera specialist Jessops is finally catching up with the sector in which it operates. Selling cameras – which these days are updated at a similar rate to mobile phones – requires a fast-paced and flexible operation. And that is what executive chairman David Adams is striving to achieve.
Asda pulls out stops for Christmas online launch

5-Jun-2008
Combined food and general merchandise offer planned for late October, challenging Tesco’s strength
Habitat boss resigns

4-Jun-2008
Habitat chief executive Jens Nordahl has resigned to take up a post at Lego Holding.
Rosebys hires new chief

4-Jun-2008
Curtains and textiles retailer Rosebys has appointed David Barrett as its new chief executive.
Justin King calls for more government action on obesity

4-Jun-2008
Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King will urge the Government to dedicate more resources to educating consumers about healthier lifestyles in a speech today.
Primark gears up for European expansion

3-Jun-2008
Value fashion retailer Primark is preparing to push the button on European expansion plans.
Asda sells sausages for 2p

3-Jun-2008
Asda has launched a mouth-watering offer for shoppers, with packs of eight sausages for the bargain price of 2p each.
Orange to review stores and operations

3-Jun-2008
Mobile phone network operator Orange is understood to be poised for an overhaul of its stores and operations under new chief executive Tom Alexander.
Online sales soar

3-Jun-2008
Online shopping rose by 35 per cent to £14.7 billion in the UK last year – a rate of growth almost 10 times higher than that of the total retail market.
Asda takes up recycling baton

30-May-2008
Asda is urging consumers to take recycling seriously with the launch of its first online viral game, starring the character Landfill Bill.
Sight for sore eyes

30-May-2008
Specsavers co-founder Dame Mary Perkins was at the forefront of opticians shaking their tired image to become fashion-led businesses. She tells Jennifer Creevy how her chain has grown
A discounter’s market

29-May-2008
Shoppers, of course, have been watching the pennies this year. Yet, with the trend leaning towards staying in rather than going out to restaurants, the grocers have still achieved growth in sales of quality food.
Liverpool One opens

29-May-2008
Grosvenor’s £1 billion retail, leisure and residential scheme Liverpool One opens its doors today.
Jessops sales plummet after stores close

29-May-2008
Struggling camera chain Jessops sales slumped 24.7 per cent to £134.8 million in the six months to March 30.
Blacks full-year profits poor

29-May-2008
Outdoor fashion retailer Blacks Leisure has reported full-year pre-tax profits of £300,000 after a “second difficult year”.
Laura Ashley like-for-likes fall

28-May-2008
Fashion and homewares retailer Laura Ashley today reported total UK sales had increased 7.9 per cent in the first 17 weeks of its present financial year, but like-for-likes had slumped.
Co-op in talks to sell unwanted Somerfield stores

27-May-2008
The Co-operative Group is understood to be in early talks with rival supermarket groups about selling some of the Somerfield stores if its bid for the retailer is successful.
Alliance Boots to reinvest profits

27-May-2008
Alliance Boots’ backers have vowed not to take any cash out of the business for at least two years as they plough profits back into the retail and wholesale company’s growth plans.
Baugur scraps Moss Bros bid

27-May-2008
Icelandic investment group Baugur has scrapped its offer for menswear retailer Moss Bros after a drawn-out four-month process.
Moda In Pelle to roll out ‘feminine’ stores

23-May-2008
Footwear retailer Moda In Pelle has pushed the button on the roll-out of its new store format after a three-month, three-store trial.
Morrisons targets customers with in-store green campaign

23-May-2008
Morrisons has launched a store campaign to communicate its green credentials to shoppers.
Let’s not lose sight of those who matter most

23-May-2008
The UK’s biggest grocers were summoned to Downing Street yesterday by Chancellor Alistair Darling to discuss soaring food prices.
Focus to shrink 40 stores in turnaround plan

23-May-2008
DIY retailer Focus is to downsize approximately 40 of its 176 stores as chief executive Bill Grimsey steers the business into the next phase of its recovery plan.
MK One enters administration

21-May-2008
Value fashion retailer MKOne, which was bought by restructuring firm Hilco from Baugur earlier this month, has gone into administration.
Conran Shops poaches Natuzzi boss to be MD

21-May-2008
Conran Shops has appointed former Natuzzi boss Nick Moore as managing director.
Private equity firms circle Paperchase

20-May-2008
Private equity firms HgCapital, Isis Equity Partners and Change Capital are understood to be the frontrunners to buy stationery retailer Paperchase.
JJB Q1 sales slip

20-May-2008
JJB Sports’ like-for-like sales fell 5.3 per cent in its first quarter as trade remained challenging.
M&S profits top £1 billion

20-May-2008
Marks & Spencer’s pre-tax profit has topped £1 billion, but the retailer warned that the market would remain challenging for the forseeable future.
Feather & Black plans to open 50 new-format mattress shops

19-May-2008
Furniture retailer Feather & Black is to shake up the bed market by rolling out a new-format store selling its adjustable mattresses.
London’s April sales buck national trend

19-May-2008
London has bucked the high street gloom reporting April sales up 2.7 per cent on the previous year, compared with a 1.5 per cent fall nationally.
Tough market claims Habitat’s Irish stores

19-May-2008
Habitat’s franchise partner in the Republic of Ireland has been forced to close its two stores because of a “severe downturn in sales”.
Better customer service will get you a slice of American pie

16-May-2008
Over the past week, much has been made of US electricals giant Best Buy’s move into the UK. Above everything, many analysts believe that Best Buy will deliver a level of customer service in electricals retailing that does not yet exist in the UK, aside from at department store John Lewis.
MFI to slash a third of head office and support jobs

16-May-2008
Furniture retailer MFI is to axe about a third of its head office and central support staff, as it enters a new phase of its five-year turnaround plan.
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.
Wal-Mart to push customer service at Marketside stores

16-May-2008
Wal-Mart has upped its game in its fight against Tesco’s Fresh & Easy format, promising to deliver “the highest level of customer service” at its small neighbourhood grocery stores.
Bankers agree deal to offload Alliance Boots’ debt

16-May-2008
KKR-owned Alliance Boots’ bankers are understood to have reached an agreement in principle to sell at least £2 billion of the health and beauty chain’s debt to a private equity consortium comprising Apollo, Blackstone and TPG.
Tesco urges ASA to ban Ocado ad

16-May-2008
Tesco has urged the Advertising Standards Authority to force Ocado to scrap its ad campaign claiming that it is price-matching the UK’s biggest supermarket on 3,500 branded products.
Sir Tom Hunter fails to halt Dobbies rights issue

15-May-2008
Tycoon Sir Tom Hunter has failed in his attempt to halt a rights issue by garden centre Dobbies.
Dobbies refuses Sir Tom Hunter’s order

15-May-2008
The board of Dobbies Garden Centres has confirmed that Sir Tom Hunter’s application for an interim order has been refused.
Phones 4U to face Ofcom inquiry

15-May-2008
Phones 4U faces investigation by telecoms regulator Ofcom for alleged phone mis-selling.
Argos faces strike action

14-May-2008
Home Retail Group faces possible strike action at its catalogue retailer Argos after union Unite said it will hold a ballot to take industrial action over pay.
Will Best Buy be retail parks’ saviour?

13-May-2008
All eyes will be on new DSGi chief executive John Browett on Thursday when he reveals the first stage of his strategic review.
New Heights enters administration

13-May-2008
Upmarket furniture retailer New Heights has collapsed into administration, the latest furniture retailer to fall victim to the tough economic climate.
April retail sales worst since 2005

13-May-2008
UK retail sales values fell 1.5 per cent for April, compared with the same month last year, when sales were up 2.4 per cent.
Travis Perkins expects slowdown

13-May-2008
Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins has reported turnover for the 17-week period to April 26 up 3.3 per cent in its retail division.
New Heights shuts its shops

12-May-2008
Upmarket furniture retailer New Heights has shut all its stores, as speculation mounts about the future of the company.
Land of Leather and chief exec Briant fined by FSA

12-May-2008
Struggling furniture retailer Land of Leather has been fined £210,000 by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for allowing its sales force to sell Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) on loans without monitoring or training to ensure insurance was sold fairly.
DSGi to slash store count

12-May-2008
Electricals giant DSGi is expected to cut its dividend and announce the closure of up to 200 of its 700 stores in the first stage of new chief executive John Browett’s strategic review this week.
Home Depot to axe 15 stores as US housing slump strikes

9-May-2008
Home Depot is to rein in its store expansion programme and close flagship stores as the US housing market takes its toll.
Back of the net

9-May-2008
Jonathon Brown’s work as B&Q head of multichannel will be under the microscope, as this area is a key priority for new Kingfisher boss Ian Cheshire. Jennifer Creevy reports
LK Bennett bidders emerge

9-May-2008
Private equity firms Phoenix Equity Partners and Golden Gate Capital are understood to be vying to buy fashion and footwear retailer LK Bennett.
Land of Leather sales slump set to continue

8-May-2008
Land of Leather’s negative like-for-like sales are expected to continue for the rest of the year, as the City forecasts that there will be no upturn for the troubled furniture sector.
Specsavers setting its sights on £1bn sales

8-May-2008
Optician Specsavers is gunning to hit sales of £1 billion next year as it steps up its plans for global expansion.
Uniqlo unveils UT Gallery spin-off in East End

8-May-2008
Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo has opened a pop-up shop off east London’s Brick Lane, called UT Gallery.
Internacionale Limited enters administration

7-May-2008
Internaçionale Limited, the company which operated value womens fashion stores Internaçionale and homewares retailer Au Naturale, has gone into administration.
Bolland scoops £760,000 bonus

7-May-2008
Morrisons chief executive Marc Bolland received a £760,000 bonus last year, almost 100 per cent of his salary, after leading a turnaround at the grocer.
Blacks to shut Sandcity HQ

6-May-2008
Blacks Leisure Group will close its Sandcity Washington, Tyne & Wear head office and distribution centre and merge the business with its Freespirit operation in Northampton.
Snapping up rivals is becoming the norm

6-May-2008
The news today that Vision Express has bought 100-year old family business G C Bateman sets out a new trend for retailers.
Kingfisher finance director to step down

6-May-2008
DIY group Kingfisher’s finance director Duncan Tatton-Brown is to step down after seven years with the retailer.
Vision Express snaps up G C Bateman

6-May-2008
High street Optician Vision Express has bought 70-store family business G C Bateman Group for an undisclosed sum.
Baugur reviews Moss Bros bid

6-May-2008
Icelandic group Baugur is continuing to evaluate its 42p a share offer for struggling menswear retailer Moss Bros.
Westfield London to land top retail names

2-May-2008
Australian developer Westfield is poised to defy critics of its Westfield London shopping centre after securing a raft high-profile national and international retailers.
Gillis ups ante for Blacks chiefs with £4m incentive bonanza

1-May-2008
Outdoors specialist Blacks is to launch a £4 million incentive scheme for 25 top executives in an attempt to improve shareholder value and restore the retailer to its former glory.
Bank launches attack on OFT

30-Apr-2008
Investment bank Cazenove has hit out at the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) after the governing body launched a series of allegations into a wide range of price-fixing.
Gerry Weber to up its presence in the UK

29-Apr-2008
German womenswear retailer Gerry Weber has pushed the button on its UK and Ireland roll-out after trading in the country for just over two years.
Westfield should not be too hard on retailers

29-Apr-2008
It was not all doom and gloom at last week’s Retail Week Property Directors’ Club, as you might expect in the present climate. Property directors were sounding a note of caution, but also enthused about certain projects and opportunities coming up this year.
Carpetright on track to hit targets

29-Apr-2008
Carpetright recorded challenging trade for the second half of its financial year in the UK and Ireland, but expected the group’s underlying pre-tax profit for the full year to be in line with City forecasts.
Baker to join Virgin Active

28-Apr-2008
Former Boots chief executive Richard Baker is to become chairman of Sir Richard Branson’s health and fitness chain Virgin Active.
OFT launches fresh probe into supermarket price fixing

28-Apr-2008
The UK’s four biggest grocers are under investigation by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for allegedly fixing prices of health, beauty and grocery products.
Asda sells mobile handsets for a fiver

25-Apr-2008
Asda is battling for its share of the lucrative mobile phone market with its launch of a pay-as-you-go mobile handset for just £5 today.
Brantano picks MD as it looks at costs

24-Apr-2008
Out-of-town family footwear retailer Brantano has hired former Deichmann UK managing director David Short as managing director.
Moss Bros founders give nod to Berwin

24-Apr-2008
The family shareholders of Moss Bros have welcomed interest from menswear supplier Simon Berwin in buying Baugur’s stake in the retailer, as the Icelandic investor’s intentions remain unclear.
PPR reports solid growth

24-Apr-2008
Revenue at global luxury goods group PPR climbed 4 per cent year on year to E4.9 billion (£3.9 billion) in the first quarter of 2008.
Amazon sales rise 37 per cent

24-Apr-2008
Online retailer Amazon has reported first quarter sales up 37 per cent to US$4.1 billion (£2.08 billion), but warned that changes in global economic conditions could affect profit margins this year.
Rose lambasted over Lane Fox investment

24-Apr-2008
Marks & Spencer chief executive Sir Stuart Rose has come under fire for investing in a business venture of one of M&S’s non-executive directors.
Sports Direct trading tough

24-Apr-2008
Sports Direct has revealed that trading has remained challenging since it updated the City on March 13 this year.
High street woes will filter down to retail parks

22-Apr-2008
The past week there has been a bloodbath on the high street.
Ethel Austin circled by up to 40 suitors

22-Apr-2008
Ethel Austin administrator Menzies Corporate Restructuring revealed it has received 30 to 40 expressions of interest from potential bidders for the value fashion chain.
Primark posts storming sales and profits

22-Apr-2008
Revenues at value fashion retailer Primark soared 25 per cent to £899 million and operating profit jumped 22 per cent to £111 million in the first half, despite a background of tough trading for UK clothing retailers.
National Schoolwear Centres enters administration

21-Apr-2008
National Schoolwear Centres – a nationwide chain of school uniform shops – went into administration last week.
Health professional

11-Apr-2008
Eight months ago, Boots UK stores director Simon Roberts took on the job of integrating 2,300 Boots and Alliance stores. Jennifer Creevy finds out how he’s getting on
Jysk makes UK debut with 500-store target

3-Apr-2008
Danish furniture and homewares retailer Jysk opened its first two UK stores in Lincoln and Mansfield today and revealed ambitious plans for 500 shops around the country.
Naked ambition

3-Apr-2008
Neil Gillis, who once stripped off to motivate staff, finds himself in the spotlight once again as chief executive of Blacks. He tells Jennifer Creevy about his vision for the outdoor retailer
Ferrari gears up for UK debut on Regent Street

3-Apr-2008
Italian car giant Ferrari is set to power into London’s Regent Street with the opening of its first UK store.
Findel on course to deliver record sales

2-Apr-2008
Home shopping group Findel is expected to achieve record sales of about £640 million, an increase of 17 per cent, it said in a trading update for the year ending March 31.
Empty property rates mean bad news

1-Apr-2008
Prime Minister Gordon Brown isn’t popular in many camps at the moment. And the retail property market is no exception.
Retailers lash out at changes to empty property tax

1-Apr-2008
Retailers have hit out at the Government over a new tax on empty property, which comes into force today.
Land Securities hires DSGi director as non-exec

1-Apr-2008
Land Securities has appointed DSGi group finance director Kevin O’Byrne as non-executive director.
Carpetright snaps up rival retailers

1-Apr-2008
Floorcoverings specialist Carpetright has bought two competitors in the UK and the Netherlands.
Sleep Depot falls into administration

1-Apr-2008
Bed specialist Sleep Depot, which operates through more than 100 stores and concessions nationwide, has gone into administration.
Inditex profits soar

31-Mar-2008
Spanish fashion giant Inditex has posted a net profit increase of 25 per cent to €1.25 billion (£995.5 million) in its full-year results and plans to launch a standalone accessories and footwear chain called Uterque.
Tough talking

27-Mar-2008
It’s no secret that life on the high street is tough at the moment and it’s the same story at out-of-town retail parks, with traditional tenants from a wide range of sectors all feeling the pinch.
Blacks chief targets growth through acquisition of rivals

27-Mar-2008
Blacks Leisure chief executive Neil Gillis has set his sights on acquiring rival outdoor retailers and expanding overseas once he has whipped the UK business into shape.
Geox launches spring ad campaign

26-Mar-2008
Footwear retailer and manufacturer Geox this week launched its spring/summer ad campaign.
Laura Ashley ups stake in Moss Bros

26-Mar-2008
Laura Ashley raised its stake in troubled menswear retailer Moss Bros yesterday for the fifth time this month.
Gant to make standalone debut in Ireland

25-Mar-2008
Fashion retailer Gant has signed for its first standalone store in Ireland at south Dublin’s Dundrum shopping centre.
Do centres have it covered?

25-Mar-2008
While those who booked Easter weekends by the sea were cursing the British weather, UK shopping centres – with their covered roofs – hit the jackpot.
WHSmith angers union over bonus

25-Mar-2008
WHSmith chief executive Kate Swann has angered union Unite after securing a maximum bonus payout after removing staff’s long-standing pension benefits.
Oz tea retailer bags first UK store at Westfield London

19-Mar-2008
Australian speciality tea retailer T2 is to take its first store in the UK at the Westfield London shopping centre in White City.
Schuh completes refinancing

19-Mar-2008
Schuh is understood to have completed a £36 million refinancing package, provided by the Bank of Scotland.
Poor weather threatens Easter sales

19-Mar-2008
The eight days of Easter are expected to be worth £8 billion to UK retailers, but poor weather means they are likely to fare worse than last year.
Niche retailers need a break

18-Mar-2008
“I hate landlords,” exclaimed William Landale, chief executive of furniture retailer Lombok. Speaking at last week’s Retail Week Conference, Landale rather descriptively said what many small, up-and-coming retailers were thinking.
Work on Ravenscraig’s second phase imminent

18-Mar-2008
Work is about to begin on the second phase of Wilson Bowden Developments’ Ravenscraig redevelopment in Lanarkshire.
Liverpool One lands trio of retailers

18-Mar-2008
Gap, Build-A-Bear Workshop and WHSmith are among the latest retailers to sign to Grosvenor’s Liverpool One scheme.
Blacks suspends director after accounts probe

18-Mar-2008
Blacks Leisure Group has suspended the head of its Sandcity subsidiary following the discovery of £2 million worth of accounting discrepancies.
Debenhams like-for-likes slip

18-Mar-2008
Department store Debenhams has reported first-half like-for-like sales down 0.7 per cent on last year, reflecting the challenging trading conditions in January and February.
Morrisons scoops Retailer of the Year award

14-Mar-2008
Supermarket giant Morrisons stormed the Retail Week Awards last night, walking away with Retailer of the Year.
RWC08: ethics still second to price, claim value chiefs

13-Mar-2008
Value retail shoppers are more concerned about price than ethical sourcing, according to a panel debate at the Retail Week Conference.
Wickes on mission to double store empire

13-Mar-2008
Travis Perkins-owned DIY chain Wickes has embarked on an ambitious expansion programme, with plans to double its store portfolio in the next seven years.
Women to abandon the 'it bag'

12-Mar-2008
UK women will turn their backs on expensive, celebrity endorsed bags this year, according to Mintel.
Does your scheme service a clear need?

11-Mar-2008
The property industry has been talking about it for a long time, but it has finally begun – last week marked the start of the opening of a huge glut of space in the UK.
M&S investors slam Rose's promotion

11-Mar-2008
Marks & Spencer investors have hit out against the retailer’s announcement yesterday to elevate Sir Stuart Rose to executive chairman, which some claim is in clear defiance of the UK’s corporate governance code.
February sales hit by belt tightening

11-Mar-2008
Retail sales slowed in February as consumers started to tighten their belts in earnest, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has reported.
Dreams sold to private equity group Exponent

10-Mar-2008
Bed specialist Dreams has been bought by private equity specialist Exponent for an undisclosed sum.
Aga appoints non-exec chairman

7-Mar-2008
Ovens manufacturer and home retailer Aga has appointed former House of Fraser chief executive John Coleman as non-executive chairman.
Abercrombie sales jump, while Gap posts flat performance

6-Mar-2008
US fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch reported a hike in net sales for the four weeks to March 1, while competitor Gap revealed flat sales for the same period.
Carrefour’s Halley family halves its shareholder voting rights

6-Mar-2008
Boardroom upheavals at Carrefour took an unexpected turn last night after the Halley family decided to cede its position as leading shareholder at the world’s second largest retailer.
Selfridges appoints Oxford Street director

6-Mar-2008
Selfridges has appointed Meave Wall as store director for its flagship Oxford Street branch.
John Lewis profits soar, but second half slows

6-Mar-2008
John Lewis Partnership has reported pre-tax profits up 18.7 per cent to £379.8 million in its full-year results, but expects trading conditions to remain challenging this year.
Debenhams to charge for carrier bags

6-Mar-2008
Department store Debenhams is the latest retailer to join the plastic bag campaign and will start charging 5p for carrier bags.
H&M acquires majority stake in Swedish outfit

6-Mar-2008
H&M has bought a 60 per cent stake in Swedish fashion group Fabric Scandinavien, which operates store chains Weekday and Monki, for Skr564 million (£46.3 million).
Crabtree & Evelyn to double stores as it transforms brand

5-Mar-2008
Crabtree & Evelyn is to overhaul its image this summer as it guns to double its UK store numbers.
Fnac scours London for debut sites

5-Mar-2008
French entertainment and electricals specialist on the hunt for debut UK store in London
Retailers must be coaxed back to the high street

4-Mar-2008
Next week’s Retail Week Conference tackles, among other things, the challenge that retailers face this year with their property plans.
Ideal Shopping Direct pre-tax profits drop

4-Mar-2008
Ideal Shopping Direct has reported a 6.2 per cent fall in full-year pre-tax profit to £5.8 million, but pointed to an encouraging start to 2008.
Travis Perkins profits soar

4-Mar-2008
Builders merchants Travis Perkins reported adjusted pre-tax profit up 18.7 per cent to £261 million in its full-year results, but warned that the outlook for 2008 is challenging.
Umbro chief steps down

3-Mar-2008
Umbro chief executive Steve Makin will step down from his role, as the England football shirt manufacturer’s takeover by Nike is completed.
Dreams mulls £200m private equity deal

3-Mar-2008
Bed retailer Dreams is understood to be on the verge of agreeing a £200 million deal to sell the retailer to Exponet Private Equity.
Majestic chief to step down

3-Mar-2008
Majestic Wine chief Tim How is to step down from his post, making way for his deputy Steve Lewis to take over the reins.
Game appoints two MDs

28-Feb-2008
Game Group has promoted two senior staff members to drive the development of its dual brand strategy in the UK and Ireland.
JJB Soccer Dome cash earmarked for refurbs

28-Feb-2008
JJB Sports will invest in re-energising its stores using the proceeds of Tuesday’s £17.4 million sale of its Soccer Domes division to five-a-side football centre company Powerleague.
Dunelm: the city view

28-Feb-2008
Homewares retailer Dunelm has reported interim pre-tax profit up 24.4 per cent to £27.2 million, but warned that second-half trading will prove tougher, writes Jennifer Creevy.
Peacocks on the hunt for 120 concessions

28-Feb-2008
Peacocks is seeking retail partners to open about 120 concessions in the UK.
Retail Week founder appointed non-executive of Shaftesbury

27-Feb-2008
West End property investment group Shaftesbury has appointed Patience Wheatcroft as a non-executive director.
Sir Philip Green warns of tough trading

27-Feb-2008
Arcadia boss Sir Philip Green has warned that business will get tougher and the early Easter holiday will put further pressure on British retailers.
Dunelm sales and profits soar

27-Feb-2008
Homewares retailer Dunelm has reported sales up 10.6 per cent to £197.4 million in its interim results, but warned trading in the second half will prove tougher.
Alliance Boots launches Chinese joint venture

26-Feb-2008
Alliance Boots executive chairman Stefano Pessina confirmed his commitment to becoming a global leader at a celebratory ceremony for the retailer’s joint venture in China.
Mayoral candidates should address congestion

26-Feb-2008
Tonight the New West End Company (NWEC) will lobby the London Mayoral Candidates to pedestrianise Oxford Street by 2012.
M&S in talks to take food offer to India

26-Feb-2008
Marks & Spencer is understood to have held talks with Reliance Industries about selling its food range in India.
JJB Sports sells Soccer Domes

26-Feb-2008
JJB Sports has sold its Soccer Domes division to five-a-side football centre operator Powerleague for £17.4 million.
Fairtrade sales rocket 81 per cent

25-Feb-2008
Sales of Fairtrade products hit £493 million in the UK last year, up 81 per cent on the previous year, according to the Fairtrade Foundation.
Kinnaird vows to return Envy to profit by end of the year

21-Feb-2008
John Kinnaird has vowed to make struggling menswear chain Envy break even by the end of this year.
Dunelm profits to rise but tough year ahead

21-Feb-2008
Value homewares retailer Dunelm is expected to deliver a rise in profits from £41 million to about £47 million when its posts interim figures next Wednesday.
Tesco set to double its in-store opticians

21-Feb-2008
Tesco is to more than double its number of in-store opticians over the next 12 months.
LK Bennett ups profile as it lands Regent Street site

21-Feb-2008
LK Bennett has secured a flagship store at a prestigious site on London’s Regent Street, propelling the retailer onto the global stage.
WHSmith to return £90m to investors

21-Feb-2008
WHSmith shareholders will net £90 million through a special dividend and share buy-back programme.
Kingfisher reports poor trading in fourth quarter

21-Feb-2008
Kingfisher reported weak trading in its fourth quarter to February 3, but said full-year pre-tax profit will be in line with expectations.
Asda to invest £400m in expansion

20-Feb-2008
Asda will open about 20 stores over the next year and push its online operation as part of a £400 million expansion programme.
Tesco defends its £2 chickens

20-Feb-2008
Tesco has defended its decision to sell whole chickens for less than £2, vowing that it is the grocer itself that shoulders the price cut.
New formats, new shoppers?

19-Feb-2008
The London property scene has been awash with flagship debuts in the past few weeks.
Strong West End footfall

19-Feb-2008
Footfall in London’s West End was up 5.6 per cent year on year for January, according to the New West End Company.
Supermarkets accused of bullying suppliers

19-Feb-2008
The European Parliament declared yesterday that big European supermarket chains may be abusing their market position to drive down prices paid to suppliers.
John Lewis eyes up India

14-Feb-2008
Department store giant embarks on hunt for a partner to make its debut on the sub-continent
Ikea launches 90-day mattress policy

14-Feb-2008
Swedish furniture retailer Ikea has launched its 90-day Love It or Exchange It mattress policy today and exclusively revealed the bedroom antics of the UK population in a UK-wide survey.
Don’t all pounce at once

12-Feb-2008
Landlords were finally given something to be pleased about last week when US retailer Hollister confirmed it had taken its first store in the UK.
Morrisons seeks judicial review of milk inquiry

12-Feb-2008
Supermarket Morrisons, which is suing the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for libel over allegedly fixing the price of milk, is also seeking a judicial review of the competition watchdog’s handling of the case.
January sales bounce may prove short-lived

12-Feb-2008
UK retail like-for-like sales rose 2.6 per cent in January compared with last year, when sales were up 3.1 per cent against a weak January 2006.
John Lewis tests ban on cheques

11-Feb-2008
Department store John Lewis has taken a step away from accepting personal cheques with a trial in two of its branches.
On top of tiles

7-Feb-2008
With the clout of new owner Travis Perkins behind him, Tile Giant chief Mo Iqbal believes he’s got the armoury he needs to take on market leader Topps Tiles. He talks shop with Jennifer Creevy
Kinnaird must put his best foot forward

7-Feb-2008
Retail entrepreneur John Kinnaird, whose shoe chain Dolcis went into administration last month, made a bold comeback this week with the acquisition of struggling clothing chain Style Menswear for a token sum of £1.
Hollister to make its UK debut at Brent Cross

7-Feb-2008
Abercrombie & Fitch sister brand Hollister has signed for its first store in the UK at Hammerson’s Brent Cross shopping centre in north London.
Habitat pins hopes for revival on new format

7-Feb-2008
Homewares retailer Habitat will launch its next generation of stores this year in an effort to revive flagging sales and profitability.
Kensington to taste-test fresh M&S food format

7-Feb-2008
Marks & Spencer will open a new-format standalone sandwich shop in London this spring, called M&S To Go.
Jagtiani reignites Debenhams bid speculation

7-Feb-2008
Retail tycoon Micky Jagtiani has renewed speculation that he may yet make a bid for department store Debenhams.
The Works’ collapse has a silver lining

5-Feb-2008
Having lunch last Friday in a typical property haunt, I noticed one agent give another a knowing nod. He was referring to the collapse of bargain books retailer The Works, which went into administration that day.
M&S puts squeeze on suppliers

5-Feb-2008
Marks & Spencer was reported today of demanding bigger price discounts from its suppliers, only a couple of weeks after its sales fell.
Cheshire could earn £16m over four years

5-Feb-2008
Kingfisher boss Ian Cheshire could earn more than £16 million over the next four years in salary, bonus and shares if he succeeds in turning around the DIY and home improvement group.
Sports Direct strikes deal to enter China

5-Feb-2008
Sports Direct International has struck a deal with apparel retailer ITAT Group in China to supply some of its portfolio of brands to ITAT’s larger stores.
Carpetright hit by slowdown

5-Feb-2008
Carpetright has reported an increase in total sales of 3.9 per cent at its UK and Ireland division for the third quarter, although like-for-like sales fell 4 per cent.
WHSmith looks overseas for expansion

1-Feb-2008
Stationery and book retailer WHSmith is eyeing Ireland and Scandinavia as it seeks to expand overseas.
Cheshire: Kingfisher needs culture change

31-Jan-2008
Kingfisher boss Ian Cheshire has vowed to change the culture of the home improvement giant as he takes up his position as group chief executive this week.
Home for beds

31-Jan-2008
Homestyle beds chief Bill Carrahar has taken a disparate group of stores and created a brand identity as he aims to give Dreams a run for its money. Jennifer Creevy meets him
JJB gives green light for Nike’s Umbro deal

29-Jan-2008
JJB Sports has backed sports brand Nike’s proposed acquisition of England football shirt manufacturer Umbro.
Shoe Zone completes purchase of Stead & Simpson

29-Jan-2008
Stead & Simpson has today confirmed that a newly formed company backed by Shoe Zone has bought the footwear business.Stead & Simpson went into administration late last night and Shoe Zone bought the majority of the business, saving some 2,700 jobs.Stead & Simpson had been experiencing a difficult trading environment with significant pressure for consolidation within the specialist footwear retail sector. It embarked upon a disposal process in December last year.PricewaterhouseCoopers ...
Landlords are living in the past

29-Jan-2008
The poor Christmas that many retailers suffered has meant this year has started on a glum note. The usual flux of property stories from retailers setting out their expansion plans for the year has been replaced by stories of caution.
Alliance Boots seals China partnership

29-Jan-2008
Alliance Boots has completed the formation of its joint-venture company in China, Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation (GP Corp), for approximately £41 million.
Netto sales soar

29-Jan-2008
Total sales at Netto rose 11 per cent for the 2007 calendar year.
Woolworths shakes up management

29-Jan-2008
Variety store group Woolworths has made high-level management changes at its entertainment supply business EUK and retail division in an effort to drive the business forward this year.
Shoe Zone poised to swoop on Stead & Simpson

28-Jan-2008
Footwear chain Shoe Zone is understood to have bought Stead & Simpson in a deal that is likely to be finalised today.
Footwear specialists suffer

24-Jan-2008
Cost inflation has compounded the problems facing the UK’s footwear specialists, according to a report from Verdict Research.
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.
B&Q targets grey pound

24-Jan-2008
DIY giant B&Q is to aggressively chase the lucrative grey pound by launching hundreds of affordable products aimed at the over-55s.
Suitors circle Dolcis

24-Jan-2008
Dolcis administrator KPMG has been contacted by about 40 parties that have expressed an interest in the footwear chain.
Sports Direct takes stake in Amer

23-Jan-2008
Sports Direct has bought a 4.96 per cent stake in multi-branded sports equipment and apparel manufacturer Amer Sports Corporation.
The White Company to launch expansion drive

22-Jan-2008
Homewares and accessories retailer The White Company is to embark on ambitious expansion after reporting bumper full-year profits for the second year running.
Agency conflict rears its head

22-Jan-2008
Many property agencies have had to juggle conflict between retailers and landlords for some time.
Morrisons’ Christmas ahead of the pack

22-Jan-2008
Morrisons trounced its supermarket competitors to report a bumper Christmas, when like-for-like sales advanced 9.5 per cent in the six weeks to January 6.
3 to overhaul stores to attract more women

21-Jan-2008
Standfirst
Dolcis enters administration

21-Jan-2008
Beleaguered footwear chain Dolcis has today been placed in administration after owner John Kinnaird lost the battle to save the retailer.
Kinnaird in talks to buy Envy

18-Jan-2008
Retail entrepreneur John Kinnaird is understood to be in talks with fashion group Alexon to buy its struggling menswear chain Envy.
Retail sales slow down

18-Jan-2008
Shoppers opened their purses sparingly at Christmas, as official figures showed retail sales started to slow down.
New boss Gillis unveils Blacks shake-up plan

17-Jan-2008
New Blacks Leisure chief executive Neil Gillis set out his turnaround plans for the business as the retailer reported that its full-year profits are likely to be below market estimates.
Tchibo to axe 33 UK stores to focus on larger format

17-Jan-2008
German general merchandise café-cum-retailer Tchibo is understood to have put nearly half of its UK stores on the market, as it seeks to scale back its portfolio of smaller shops.
Sainsbury's buys Curley’s in Northern Ireland

16-Jan-2008
Sainsbury’s has bought two supermarkets from independent, Northern Ireland family retail business Curley’s in a multimillion-pound deal.
Clinton Cards enjoys positive Christmas

16-Jan-2008
Clinton Cards, the UK’s largest specialist greetings card retailer, reported group like-for-like sales for the Christmas period up 2.5 per cent.
London could fuel the UK

15-Jan-2008
Last week, Sir Stuart Rose sent shivers through the City when Marks & Spencer reported downbeat sales for the Christmas period.
Blacks Leisure unveils turnaround plan

15-Jan-2008
Blacks Leisure expects full-year profits to be below market estimates, although like-for-like sales over Christmas rose 2.8 per cent and total sales climbed 2 per cent.
Debenhams sales pick up at Christmas

15-Jan-2008
Debenhams enjoyed a strong Christmas, reporting a 2 per cent like-for-like increase in sales over the Christmas period.
Tesco growth slows over Christmas

15-Jan-2008
Tesco has felt the effects of customers tightening their belts as it reported slower like-for-like UK sales growth over Christmas.
JJB warns on profit

14-Jan-2008
Total revenue at JJB Sports rose 2.5 per cent over Christmas.
Zavvi restructures board

11-Jan-2008
Entertainment retailer Zavvi has restructured its board following a bumper Christmas sales performance.
DFS bucks trend as it secures flat January Sales

10-Jan-2008
Furniture giant DFS has emerged from the crucial post-Christmas Sales relatively unscathed as beleaguered competitors fall by the wayside.
Metro Group full-year sales soar

10-Jan-2008
Metro Group reported a record sales growth in its 2007 full-year report, with group sales up 10 per cent to €65.9 billion (£49.62 billion).
On the back foot

10-Jan-2008
2007 was another tough year for specialist shoe retailers and more recent news of floundering footwear players has done little to assuage fears for the new year. But, as Jennifer Creevy discovers, there is still a place for those with the right offer
Land of Leather profit fall stifles growth plan

10-Jan-2008
Furniture retailer Land of Leather is to scale back expansion plans after dismal trading over the January Sale period forced it to issue a profit warning last week.
JJB agrees to pay back customers

9-Jan-2008
Sports retailer JJB Sports will pay back consumers who bought certain replica shirts sold during 2000 and 2001, after consumer group Which? took legal action against the chain.
Lush Christmas sales climb

9-Jan-2008
Ethical beauty retailer Lush Cosmetics has reported a bumper Christmas with like-for-like sales up 5 per cent in December.
Dreams store count to rise in 2008

8-Jan-2008
Bed specialist Dreams wants to open 50 stores in 2008 to take its portfolio to 220 by the end of the year.
Tenants will call the shots in 2008

8-Jan-2008
This morning, homewares retailer Dunelm reported a strong performance in its trading update in a market that has shown little or no growth over the past year.
Topps Tiles reports sales rise

8-Jan-2008
Tile specialist Topps Tiles has reported that trading in the first 13 weeks of its new financial period remained positive, despite a tough retail market.
Dunelm reports strong sales growth

8-Jan-2008
Homewares retailer Dunelm has reported total sales growth of 10.6 per cent for the 26 weeks to December 29, 2007 – up from £178.4 million to £197.4 million.
Worst December sales in three years

8-Jan-2008
Retail sales rose only 0.3 per cent in December on a like-for-like basis, compared with the previous year when sales were up 2.5 per cent, marking the worst December performance in three years.
Dolcis owner insists chain is safe as backer pulls out

3-Jan-2008
John Kinnaird vows Dolcis will break even this year, despite crisis talks to secure new investor
MFI to up marketing team in product push

3-Jan-2008
Furniture giant MFI is to expand its commercial and marketing team by nearly a quarter as it seeks to continue its recovery this year.
Shoppers hit the streets this Christmas

2-Jan-2008
UK shoppers hit the shops on mass this Christmas, raising retail sales by 3.8 per cent year on year, according to SpendingPulse.The growth represents a slight upturn compared to the 3.5 per cent growth in November. This year’s growth shows the strongest upsurge in Christmas spending in the last few years. Retail sales were up by 3.2 per cent between the 2006 and 2005 Christmas seasons and by only 0.9 per cent between the 2005 and 2004 seasons.An upsurge in electronics sales helped ...
Umbro issues profit warning

21-Dec-2007
England shirt manufacturer Umbro issued a profit warning this morning, because sales of England product will slump next year.
Peacocks to focus on prime sites

21-Dec-2007
Peacocks is gearing up to open 30 stores in the new year, as it focuses on more prime locations.
Retail sales volumes creep up

21-Dec-2007
The volume of retail sales increased 1.1 per cent in the three months to November, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Prada to float in 2008

20-Dec-2007
Italian luxury goods house Prada has appointed advisers to work on an initial public offering next year.
Sports Direct profits collapse

19-Dec-2007
Pre-tax profits at Sports Direct slumped 35.2 per cent to £52 million in the first half.
The Mall sets sights on Luton expansion

18-Dec-2007
The Mall has submitted a £150 million proposal to Luton Borough Council to extend its shopping centre in the town.
Multi unveils Wolverhampton's Summer Row designs

18-Dec-2007
Multi Development UK today unveiled an artist’s impression of the iconic building that will form the focal point of Wolverhampton’s £300 million Summer Row development.
Will the property market be flooded in January?

18-Dec-2007
While most of the UK tuck into their turkey on Christmas Day, retailers will be all too aware of another significance to the day – December 25 is the fourth and final rent day of the year.
Sports Direct deputy chairman candidate 'pulls out'

18-Dec-2007
Sports Direct is understood to have been dealt a further blow as the candidate expected to take over as deputy chairman of the sports retailer is believed to have rejected the job.
JJB Sports buys Original Shoe Company

18-Dec-2007
Sports giant JJB has bought Original Shoe Company from Sports Direct for £5 million.
Laura Ashley like-for-likes slide

17-Dec-2007
Laura Ashley reported total UK retail sales up 3.1 per cent in the first 19 weeks of the second half, but difficult trading conditions hit like-for-like sales, which fell 10.8 per cent.
Bensons eyes distinct premium bed format

13-Dec-2007
Bensons for Beds is mulling the launch of a standalone format for its top-end range of beds.
Mosaic snaps up Anoushka G

13-Dec-2007
Fashion group Mosaic has bought occasionwear brand Anoushka G and will relaunch the brand in spring.
Retailers look East for European expansion

11-Dec-2007
Central and Eastern European cities are top of the list for retailers that want to expand into new territories over the next five years, according to an annual survey produced in association with the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC).
Business rates set to soar in 2010

11-Dec-2007
Spiralling property values could mean retailers will be hit with dramatic increases in business rates, according to a report from property consultancy GL Hearn and Investment Property Databank.
The more stores the merrier?

11-Dec-2007
Last week, the John David Group brought a touch of rock and roll to London’s Oxford Street with a party to celebrate the opening of its refurbished flagship JD store.
Food price inflation hits 14-year high

11-Dec-2007
Food prices are rising at more than three times the rate of inflation, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Carpetright profits climb

11-Dec-2007
Carpetright posted a pre-tax profit increase of 1.4 per cent to £27.7 million in the first half and remains in talks with founder Lord Harris about a management buy-out.
JD snaps up Bank

10-Dec-2007
The John David Group, owner of sports fashion chain JD, has bought branded fashion retailer Bank for £18.5 million.
Swatch’s Omega brand targets Regent Street

6-Dec-2007
Watch brand Omega is understood to be eyeing a store on Regent Street for its second UK opening.
Finnish home chain to enter UK with Regent Street deal

29-Nov-2007
Finnish home chain to enter UK with Regent Street deal
Keeper of dreams

29-Nov-2007
Mike Clare has come a long way since selling condoms at college. And, as Dreams celebrates its 20th birthday, Jennifer Creevy finds out how he plans to own sleep
Body Shop hires chief executive from L’Oréal

29-Nov-2007
The Body Shop has drafted in L’Oréal executive Sophie Gasperment to be chief executive from June.
Topps Tiles confident despite slide in profit

29-Nov-2007
Tiles and wood flooring specialist Topps Tiles reported a dip in full-year profits, but remained bullish about the coming year.
JJB Sports revenues creep up

29-Nov-2007
Sports fashion retailer JJB said it remained cautious about the retail market, as it reported total revenue up 1.6 per cent for the 17-week period to November 25.
Ashley plots masterplan to put Lillywhites back on top

29-Nov-2007
Sports Direct boss to revive famed store’s reputation with massive makeover
Roll out the red carpet to BIDs

27-Nov-2007
Retailers in London’s West End are this week preparing for what they hope will kick start the Christmas shopping frenzy – Shop West End VIP Day on Saturday, December 1.
High Wycombe’s Eden almost full five months early

27-Nov-2007
The Eden development at High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire has signed a swathe of retailers, pushing the scheme to more than 90 per cent let, five months ahead of opening.
Sports Direct’s Ashley plans to up stake

27-Nov-2007
Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley has set out plans to buy back a further 5 per cent of its shares, sparking fresh speculation that he plans to buy back the business he floated 10 months ago.
Topps Tiles pre-tax profits dip

27-Nov-2007
Tile and wood flooring retailer Topps Tiles reported a fall in pre-tax profit for its full-year after the refinancing of its share buy-back resulted in a higher interest charge. However, the retailer said the “business is in excellent shape”.
Gap warns shoppers about fake discount voucher

26-Nov-2007
Fashion chain Gap has told shoppers that 60 per cent off vouchers being circulated by e-mail are fake.
Top towns are still raising the bar

23-Nov-2007
There’s no change at the top as heavyweight towns spring into action to retain their lead
Shoppers will still splash out this Christmas

23-Nov-2007
Despite the doom and gloom on the UK high street, shoppers will still splash out this Christmas, according to a report from Mintel.
Furniture retailers brace for tough 2008

23-Nov-2007
Furniture and floorcoverings retailers have enjoyed a sales lift this year but should prepare for tougher conditions in 2008, according to Verdict Research.
Ocado reaches financial milestone

23-Nov-2007
Internet grocery retailer Ocado expects to become profitable next year after ploughing £350 million over eight years into the business.
New Look chairman steps down

22-Nov-2007
Richard Lapthorne, chairman of value fashion retailer New Look, has stepped down from the board and retired from his position.
Hollister targets Covent Garden for UK debut

22-Nov-2007
London’s Covent Garden is the favourite destination to land the first UK store for Abercrombie & Fitch’s teen brand Hollister.
Blacks allays City fears by hiring external chief

22-Nov-2007
Outdoor specialist Blacks has calmed City fears about a leadership vacuum with the appointment of former Esporta boss Neil Gillis as chief executive.
Bata mulls its return to the UK high street

22-Nov-2007
Global footwear giant Bata is mulling a return to the UK high street after pulling out of the market more than 40 years ago.
TK Maxx to shake up market with new homewares chain

22-Nov-2007
Value retailer to bring its Canadian HomeSense fascia to the UK next year with Southeast stores.
Moscow retail rent most expensive in Europe

20-Nov-2007
Moscow is the most expensive retail location in Europe and second in the world, according to property agency CBRE.
UK is not the only country

20-Nov-2007
While the activity at property conference Mapic last week was much the same as last year – doing deals, networking and dashing around – there seemed to be a shift in retailers’ mindset.
Bluewater has Christmas all wrapped up

20-Nov-2007
Bluewater in Kent has covered parts of its shopping centre with gift wrap as part of its Christmas marketing campaign.
Clinton’s reports slowing October sales

20-Nov-2007
Clinton Cards has reported like-for-like sales up 2 per cent for the 16 weeks to November 18.
Blacks appoints chief executive

20-Nov-2007
Blacks Leisure Group has appointed former Esporta boss Neil Gillis as its chief executive with immediate effect.
New Bond Street rent is most expensive in UK

16-Nov-2007
London’s New Bond Street remains the UK’s most expensive shopping street to rent space on, buoyed by a glut of new luxury retailers opening stores there.
Deichmann plans tenfold increase in UK store count

15-Nov-2007
German shoe retailer Deichmann Shoes has revealed its long-term ambition to become one of the UK’s largest shoe retailers.
Little Miss Matched eyes 50 UK stores in five years

13-Nov-2007
Children’s clothing retailer Little Miss Matched intends to open up to 50 shops in the UK in the next three to five years, after opening its first store in the UK at Bluewater shopping centre in Kent this summer.
St Pancras is a shopping haven

13-Nov-2007
Last week, the Queen reopened St Pancras station and the new Channel Tunnel rail terminal for Eurostar and said she hoped that people would consider it as a destination and not just as a station.
Grocers face turkey shortages

13-Nov-2007
Supermarkets could face a shortage of turkeys this Christmas as tests are carried out on a farm in Suffolk where the turkeys are understood to have contracted avian flu.
Former Jimmy Choo boss to build fashion brands

13-Nov-2007
Robert Benoussan, former chief executive of designer shoe retailer Jimmy Choo, is understood to be on the hunt for investment opportunities in British fashion brands, with a view to take them onto an international platform.
Athlone Towncentre scheme opens to 15,000 shoppers

12-Nov-2007
Ireland’s Athlone Towncentre scheme opened last weekend with more than 15,000 shoppers converging on the 500 million (£348.3 million) mixed-use development.
Developers pick town centre jobs over out-of-town

12-Nov-2007
Three quarters of developers would prefer to develop a town centre scheme rather than an out-of-town equivalent, according to research from Hartnell Taylor Cook.
PMA launches shopping mall benchmark scheme

12-Nov-2007
The Property Managers Association (PMA) has created an audit programme designed to help retailers see exactly what they’re paying for at shopping centres.
Leases shorten as challenging market conditions take effect

9-Nov-2007
Average lease lengths were cut this year as retailers struggled to maintain flexibility in a tough market.
Dutch cosmetics chain seeks to conquer UK

8-Nov-2007
Cosmetics retailer Rituals is to open its first UK store at the east end of Oxford Street tomorrow.
Bank of England holds interest rate

8-Nov-2007
The Bank of England has kept the interest rate unchanged at 5.75 per cent for the fourth month in a row.
Dunelm sales up, but growth hit as spend slowdown strikes

8-Nov-2007
Dunelm’s growth slowed in the 18 weeks to November 3, despite total sales climbing 10.9 per cent and like-for-likes 5.6 per cent.
Fresh & Easy stores open in the US

8-Nov-2007
Tesco opened six of its much anticipated Fresh & Easy stores in Southern California today, with plans to open in Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas before the end of the year.
Carphone profits soar ahead of iPhone launch

8-Nov-2007
Carphone Warehouse reported a hike in pre-tax profits to £56 million, up from £14 million, as it prepares for the onslaught of the launch of the iPhone tomorrow.
Sustainability is becoming more important

6-Nov-2007
The BCSC Conference and Showcase kicked off this morning with a call to action on sustainability.
Marks & Spencer weathers first half

6-Nov-2007
Marks & Spencer has reported an increase in pre-tax profit of 11.5 per cent for its first half, the 26 weeks to September 29 and revealed further details of its international expansion plans.
Dunelm reports slower growth

5-Nov-2007
Dunelm reported that growth rate slowed slightly in a trading update today.
JJB strikes exclusive deal with Champion

2-Nov-2007
JJB Sports has struck a five-year agreement with Champion Europe to become the exclusive UK retailer of Champion products.
Clare to sell Dreams stake to fund homewares move

1-Nov-2007
Dreams founder and managing director Mike Clare is in talks with several private equity firms to sell a stake in the store chain to finance the acquisition of a complementary retail business.
Boots revs up growth strategy as it chases global leadership

1-Nov-2007
Health and beauty giant invests in better stores and more innovative services
Glasgow holds onto crown for top UK retail destination

1-Nov-2007
Glasgow is still the UK’s top shopping location, according to the annual Venuescore retail rankings report.
Blacks eyes women in Freespirit rethink as like-for-likes increase

1-Nov-2007
Outdoors retailer Blacks is to develop its Freespirit brand with a greater focus on womenswear, following its decision to retain its interest in the label.
Ed Hardy to make UK debut in spring after Paris opening

1-Nov-2007
US designer denim brand Ed Hardy is to make its UK debut with a standalone store in London in spring next year.
Boots unveils festive ad campaign

1-Nov-2007
Alliance Boots will launch its Christmas TV ad campaign this Sunday, focusing on women looking gorgeous for their Christmas parties.
SRG seeks units to expand Suits You chain

1-Nov-2007
Menswear retailer Speciality Retail Group (SRG) is to expand its Suits You format by between five and 10 stores over the next year.
Comptoir des Cotonniers accelerates UK growth

1-Nov-2007
French womenswear retailer Comptoir des Cotonniers is ramping up its expansion in the UK and plans to open 30 outlets by 2010.
Mikey to break into Spain with El Corte

1-Nov-2007
Fashion jewellery brand Mikey London has teamed up with Spanish department store chain El Corte Inglés to expand throughout Spain.
Silverburn shopping centre in Glasgow opens

30-Oct-2007
Retail Property Holdings’ £350 million Silverburn shopping centre in Glasgow opened its doors last week.
Online shopping malls put internet threat centre stage

30-Oct-2007
This evening the UK’s first online shopping mall goes live, with more than 250 fashion retailers to choose from. Casobi.com has rounded up some of the best names in independent fashion such as Bench, Converse, Diesel, Guess, Gucci, Paul Smith and Puma and arranged them in the familiar form of a shopping centre.
Minister urges retail to work with authorities

30-Oct-2007
Minister for Local Government John Healey this week called for the retail sector and local authorities to work more closely to bring investment to deprived areas.
Piasecki steps down from Goldsmiths

30-Oct-2007
Goldsmiths chairman Jurek Piasecki is to step down as chairman after more than 25 years with the jewellery retailer.
Supermarkets “do not have a monopoly”

30-Oct-2007
The supermarket sector is one of the most competitive segments of UK retailing and it is virtually impossible for one player to form a monopoly, according to Verdict Research.
Baugur plans joint bid for Saks

30-Oct-2007
Baugur is understood to be interested in a joint bid for US luxury department store Saks Fifth Avenue with Dubai-based Landmark Group.
United Carpets tells AGM trading as expected

29-Oct-2007
United Carpets has reported at its Annual General Meeting this morning that trade is continuing in line with expectations, driven by its strategy to maximise revenues from existing stores and expand its franchise business.
SRG seeks units to expand Suits You chain

25-Oct-2007
Menswear retailer Speciality Retail Group (SRG) is to expand its Suits You format by between five and 10 stores over the next year.
Mikey to break into Spain with El Corte

25-Oct-2007
Fashion jewellery brand Mikey London has teamed up with Spanish department store chain El Corte Inglés to expand throughout Spain.
JJB and Sports Direct to give Nike/Umbro deal thumbs up

25-Oct-2007
Sports Direct and JJB Sports are expected to sanction Nike’s £285 million takeover of global football brand Umbro.
Comptoir des Cotonniers accelerates UK growth

25-Oct-2007
French womenswear retailer Comptoir des Cotonniers is ramping up its expansion in the UK and plans to open 30 outlets by 2010.
Westfield launches leasing campaign for Eat Gallery

23-Oct-2007
Westfield London has begun a leasing campaign for the food quarter of its shopping centre at White City, due to open at the end of next year.
Russia tops Euro league for upcoming centre space

23-Oct-2007
Russia has more than 49.5 million sq ft (4.6 million sq m) of shopping centre space opening in the next 18 months, topping the ranking for the whole of Europe.
Louis Vuitton to open Maison store in London

23-Oct-2007
Luxury retailer Louis Vuitton is to open a flagship Maison store on London’s New Bond Street, after securing the property next door to its Louis Vuitton store.
Louis Vuitton to open Maison stoe in London

23-Oct-2007
Luxury retailer Louis Vuitton is to open a flagship Maison store on London’s New Bond Street, after securing the property next door to its Louis Vuitton store.
Happy days are here again

23-Oct-2007
November is always manic for the property industry, with the two big events of the year crammed into two weeks and cocktail reception after cocktail reception ensuring no delegate gets a good night’s sleep.
Flying Brands downgrades expectations

23-Oct-2007
Strikes, the weather and Australian launch cited as home shopping group Flying Brand posts downbeat trading update.
Nike buys Umbro

23-Oct-2007
US sports brand Nike has struck a deal to buy England football team kit-maker Umbro for US$580 million (£284.4 million).
Debenhams full-year profits rise

23-Oct-2007
Debenhams has reported pre-tax profits up 11.5 per cent in the year to September 1.
Boots’ first beauty salon opens at Kingston shop

18-Oct-2007
Alliance Boots has struck a deal with beauty guru George Hammer to open a salon on the first floor of its Kingston store.
Grimsey hails 100-day turnaround at Focus

18-Oct-2007
DIY veteran Bill Grimsey has delivered his promised turnaround for ailing retailer Focus in just 90 days.
Tommy Hilfiger considering European float

17-Oct-2007
Fashion label Tommy Hilfiger is understood to be considering a European flotation in a deal that could see the company valued at up to US$3 billion (£1.47 billion).
Claire’s targets Germany in Euro expansion

16-Oct-2007
Claire’s Accessories is to ramp up its expansion in Germany, and has set a target of opening 30 stores there next year.
Blenheim puts in second-phase proposal for Hounslow centre

16-Oct-2007
Developer Blenheim has submitted an application for the second phase of development of the Blenheim Centre in Hounslow, west London.
Design matters to shoppers

16-Oct-2007
The Bristol Alliance – a joint venture between Land Securities and Hammerson – has this week unveiled what is destined to become one of Bristol’s signature buildings. The newly constructed House of Fraser store is a key part of the scheme and the 170,000 sq ft building will soon become Bristol’s equivalent of the Bullring.
Rugby fever grips retailers

16-Oct-2007
Sports retailers are scrambling to stock up on England rugby shirts now that the team has made it to the World Cup Final this Saturday.
US player Saks mulls sale

16-Oct-2007
Luxury US retailer Saks could be up for sale, with at least two interested buyers eyeing the business.
Retail arm propels Burberry sales

16-Oct-2007
Total revenue at luxury retailer Burberry Group jumped 19 per cent for the six months to September 30, driven by the performance of its retail and wholesale businesses.
Mattel warns of toy price hike

16-Oct-2007
Toy maker Mattel has warned that the appreciating Chinese yuan and rising raw material costs will lead to the cost of its famous Barbie dolls rising from early next year.
Retail sales up 3 per cent

15-Oct-2007
UK retail sales rose 3 per cent on a like-for-like basis last month, compared with September 2006 when sales were up 2.4 per cent, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Crossrail is beacon of hope for east Oxford Street

15-Oct-2007
While Prime Minister Gordon Brown is being attacked from every political corner at the moment, the property industry should be thanking him. Last week, he gave the go-ahead for the Crossrail link – something that has been mooted since 1990.
Zavvi unveils new logo

15-Oct-2007
Zavvi managing director Simon Douglas has unveiled the company’s new logo, which has been “designed to reflect Zavvi’s dedication to being a truly multi-channel, independent entertainment retailer”.
New Look heir killed in car crash

15-Oct-2007
Andrew Singh, heir to the New Look clothing fortune, has been killed in a car crash in London.
Lord Harris on brink of making Carpetright bid as sales soar

15-Oct-2007
Lord Harris, chairman and chief executive of Carpetright, is poised to make a cash offer for the retailer after receiving the go-ahead to make a bid from the carpet retailer’s board.
Delta Two to bid for Sainsbury's this week

15-Oct-2007
Delta Two is understood to have finished examining Sainsbury’s books and it appears likely the suitor will make a firm offer for the grocer this week.
The tide is turning for retail parks

10-Oct-2007
A tough market has forced landlords to be more creative with their space to pull in retailers
Cambridge centre signs fashion trio

9-Oct-2007
Fashion retailers Hugo Boss and Ted Baker and jeweller Links of London have signed up to the Grand Arcade retail scheme in Cambridge.
Crossrail link to drive sales in the West End

9-Oct-2007
London’s West End is set to benefit from the Crossrail project, which was given the go-ahead last week.
Westfield’s Derby centre opens six months early

9-Oct-2007
Westfield and Hermes opened their £340 million shopping centre in Derby this week, six months ahead of schedule.
Crossrail is beacon of hope for east Oxford Street

9-Oct-2007
While Prime Minister Gordon Brown is being attacked from every political corner at the moment, the property industry should be thanking him. Last week, he gave the go-ahead for the Crossrail link – something that has been mooted since 1990.
New Look heir killed in car crash

9-Oct-2007
Andrew Singh, heir to the New Look clothing fortune, has been killed in a car crash in London.
Retail sales up 3 per cent

9-Oct-2007
UK retail sales rose 3 per cent on a like-for-like basis last month, compared with September 2006 when sales were up 2.4 per cent, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Lord Harris on brink of making Carpetright bid as sales soar

9-Oct-2007
Lord Harris, chairman and chief executive of Carpetright, is poised to make a cash offer for the retailer after receiving the go-ahead to make a bid from the carpet retailer’s board.
Zavvi unveils new logo

9-Oct-2007
Zavvi managing director Simon Douglas has unveiled the company’s new logo, which has been “designed to reflect Zavvi’s dedication to being a truly multi-channel, independent entertainment retailer”.
Delta Two to bid for Sainsbury's this week

8-Oct-2007
Delta Two is understood to have finished examining Sainsbury’s books and it appears likely the suitor will make a firm offer for the grocer this week.
Fabric Warehouse on concession offensive

4-Oct-2007
Specialist textiles retailer Fabric Warehouse has instructed restructuring firm Hilco to examine a potential refinancing in an effort to raise funds for a concession assault.
JJB to test new-look store as it sets overhaul strategy in motion

4-Oct-2007
Sports retailer JJB Sports is to trial a new-format store in November, as part of chief executive Chris Ronnie’s reinvigoration plan.
The day the music dies

4-Oct-2007
Music retailers are disappearing from the high street, but is anybody bothered?
Developers are proving doommongers wrong

4-Oct-2007
For the past two years the industry has bemoaned the amount of space coming onto the market. Cries of “too much space” and “retailers not expanding” have been heard up and down the country. While everyone eagerly awaits the plans for new shopping developments, they also adopt a cautionary view on how those plans will evolve.
American Apparel signs two as it bolsters London footing

4-Oct-2007
US casual clothing retailer American Apparel is to increase its presence in London with two West End signings.
Sainsbury's plans head office move to King's Cross

4-Oct-2007
Supermarket Sainsbury’s is to relocate its headquarters from its central London location in Holborn to King’s Cross.
Fit for a princess

4-Oct-2007
The Princesshay opening has gone down a storm with shoppers, not least because of the raft of new retailers it houses. Jennifer Creevy takes a tour
Carluccio's turnover surges 18 per cent

3-Oct-2007
Turnover at Italian homewares and catering company Carluccio’s jumped 18 per cent against the previous year.
Trio land stores in Birmingham Beatties rework

2-Oct-2007
New Look, Mothercare and JJB Sports will open stores in the former Beatties department store in Birmingham following the redevelopment of the building.
Peterborough Westgate to get a mixed-use makeover

2-Oct-2007
Hammerson and Morley have submitted a planning application to Peterborough City Council for a mixed-use scheme in the North Westgate area of Peterborough city centre.
Argos withdraws furniture range

2-Oct-2007
Argos is understood to have withdrawn a line of furniture from its stores after customers suffered burns and sores.
Americana hires ex-Burberry boss

2-Oct-2007
Fashion group Americana, which owns brands Bench and Hooch, has appointed former Burberry Group chief operating officer Mike Metcalf as chairman.
Ashley factor scares off would-be Blacks chiefs

28-Sep-2007
Sports Direct chief’s stake makes candidates unwilling to commit
Original Factory Shop up for sale

27-Sep-2007
Barclays Private Equity has put clothing retailer Original Factory Shop up for sale for an estimated £70 million to £80 million.
Bonmarché to march into footwear sector

27-Sep-2007
Value fashion retailer Bon-marché is to launch a footwear collection next year.
Former Safeway boss joins UBS

27-Sep-2007
Carlos Criado-Perez, former boss of supermarket Safeway, has joined global investment banking business UBS.
Faith heads upmarket with new look to fend off rivals

27-Sep-2007
Footwear retailer Faith opened a new-look store last week aimed at taking the brand upmarket.
JD Group first-half profits soar 9%

26-Sep-2007
Store refurbishments and product rationalisation benefited sales
Exeter scheme opens almost fully let

25-Sep-2007
Land Securities opened its Princesshay scheme in Exeter last week with about 95 per cent of units let.The 530,000 sq ft (49,235 sq m) development is anchored by Debenhams and Next and has pulled in many new retailers to the city, including All Saints, Apple, Coast, Crew, Cult, Faith, Hobbs, Hotel Chocolat and Karen Millen. It also features 130,000 sq ft (12,075 sq m) of residential space and restaurants including Giraffe, Café Rouge, Chandos and La Tasca.
Playstation 3 launch drives profits at Game

25-Sep-2007
International growth and sales of Playstation 3 drive profits at games retailer
Luke Johnson leads Borders UK deal

21-Sep-2007
Private investor Risk Capital Partners buys majority stake in bookstore chain
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.
Ethical jeweller’s launch in West End store

19-Sep-2007
Ethical jeweller Ingle & Rhode opened its first store and transactional web site this week, as it campaigns to reduce the conflict in the jewellery industry.
H and M to expand east Oxford Street store

19-Sep-2007
Fashion retailer H&M is to extend its branch at the eastern end of London’s Oxford Street to create a 25,000 sq ft (2,325 sq m) flagship store.
Dunelm posts 12.5% sales uplift

19-Sep-2007
Profits up as homewares retailer posts maiden prelims
Big three supermarkets share climbs

19-Sep-2007
Iceland performs strongly
Retailers back £34m West End revamp plan

18-Sep-2007
The West End of London is set to receive a cash injection of£34 million over the next five years to help reduce congestion, improve signage and push forward the Mayor’s proposals for a new transit network on Oxford Street.
Debenhams posts 5% like-for-like slump

18-Sep-2007
Fall blamed on store refits
Blockbuster snaps up 59 Choices UK stores

17-Sep-2007
Stores to be rebranded but 450 staff retained
Primark opens 85,000 sq ft store in Liverpool

13-Sep-2007
Store set to become number three in Primark's portfolio
Next boss attacks Tories' car-parking tax proposals

12-Sep-2007
Wolfson slams motion to charge for car parking
Body Shop founder Roddick dies

11-Sep-2007
Tributes paid to retail pioneer
Retailers should not fear a Land Securities break up

11-Sep-2007
Landlord's reputation in retail would not be dented
Body Shop founder Roddick dies

11-Sep-2007
Tributes paid to retail pioneer
Next profits jump 11%

11-Sep-2007
Retail division remains flat, but Directory business on the up
Robotham makes exit at Borders as sale of its UK arm approaches

6-Sep-2007
Property chief moves on as UK business puts expansion on hold
Land Securities launches business review

6-Sep-2007
Shares hit by property market fears
Carphone strikes deal with Virgin

6-Sep-2007
Retailer to sell Virgin Media products in stores as part of range expansion drive
Findel snaps up Choices UK wholesale arm

6-Sep-2007
Deal comprises online and mail order business
Mattel recalls third batch of Chinese-made toys

5-Sep-2007
750,000 products recalled in fiasco with Chinese sub-contractors
UK retail sales remain flat

4-Sep-2007
Sunnier weather for August, but no respite for retailers
Hammerson reveals net retail income of £138.3 million

4-Sep-2007
Half-year results show stable finances
BRC calls on retailers to work with BIDs for transparent rates

4-Sep-2007
Five retailers join push
Raft of fashion retailers join Bullring

4-Sep-2007
Armani Exchange, DKNY Jeans, Tommy Hilfiger, Kurt Geiger and Ben Sherman join iconic scheme
Retailers should give time to BIDs

4-Sep-2007
BIDs should not all be tarnished with the same brush
Shopper numbers plummet in August

4-Sep-2007
Further slowdown expected later this year
Woolworths gets go-ahead to buy Bertram

4-Sep-2007
Competition Commission unconditionally clears the acquisition
Saviour of Carnaby Street to build new West End quarter

3-Sep-2007
Developer Shaftesbury has been given the green light to transform 2 acres (0.8ha) of derelict buildings close to London’s Leicester Square with a retail and restaurant scheme.
Next profit expected to climb despite sales slide

3-Sep-2007
Fashion retailer Next is expected to post a slight increase in profits at its interim results on September 11, although first-half like-for-likes could be down as much as 6 per cent.
Matthew Williamson sells 22% stake

29-Aug-2007
Cash will fund store roll outs
Delta Two seeks OFT advice

29-Aug-2007
Qatari fund pushes to seal Sainsbury’s deal
Giant retail scheme planned in massive Victoria overhaul

28-Aug-2007
London's Victoria to get facelift
Shaftesbury to develop central London retail destination

28-Aug-2007
Longmartin scheme to bring in fresh retailers
Property industry gears up for autumn

28-Aug-2007
Fears about deals falling through take hold
Blooming Marvellous snapped up for £5m

28-Aug-2007
Icelandic investor Arev to expand chain
Jen testing Tridion

24-Aug-2007
The first line
Competition Commission to unveil grocery findings

23-Aug-2007
Findings to come as supplier probe continues
Ann Summers profits slump

21-Aug-2007
Sales drop despite openings
ChoicesUK to go into administration

21-Aug-2007
Selling or refinancing negotiations fall flat
Landlords give Floors-2-Go rent request cold shoulder

16-Nov-2006
Flooring specialist Floors-2-Go has had the door slammed in its face by the majority of its landlords it has approached to switch existing leases to monthly rental payments.

Retail WeekJennifer Creevy

Retail Week
Jennifer Creevy