George Arnett
George Arnett is intelligence and insights editor at Retail Week.
Contact info
- Tel:
- 020 7611 0000
- Email:
- george.arnett@wrbm.com
NewsWHSmith launches artisan coffee shop at Manchester airport
Grindsmith coffee store will open in Manchester Airport Terminal 2 alongside a newly designed travel essentials store. The company also announced a new store at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
NewsAmazon lines up $200bn in capital spending in 2026
The online giant announced net sales hit $213.4bn (£157.2bn) in the three months to December 31, 2025.
NewsThe retailers best meeting shopper expectations to be revealed in new digital index
LIVE 2026 will see the launch of the Digital Capability Index, a new collaborative report between Retail Week and The Grocer.
News2025 saw highest number of new female retail leaders on record
As new appointments to retail’s top jobs nearly doubled, UK retail firms picked more women than ever to take leadership positions with many of them first-time CEOs, Retail Week can reveal.
NewsLevi’s reports strong European trading driven by DTC
Jeans brand Levi’s has reported that net European revenues increased by 8% or 10% on an organic basis, powered by its growing direct-to-consumer (DTC) business
DataNearly two-thirds of major UK retailer websites had fewer visitors in 2025
Changes in consumer browsing behaviour are wreaking havoc on visitor numbers to retail ecommerce websites, with nearly two-thirds of major UK retailers facing falls in unique visitors last year.
NewsletterIntelligence Briefing: Say what you like about 2025… here’s your retail sales lowdown
The ONS verdict on the golden quarter landed last Friday, and on the “drab” to “disappointing” landing zone we were predicting, it probably leans towards the latter. Sales volumes dropped by 0.3% in Q4 after strong trading in Q3. Seasonally adjusted momentum slowed in most major sectors, with the exception ...
Chart of the WeekChart of the Week: 2016 retail nostalgia and a books bonanza?
Last year delivered the first meaningful sales volume growth in years, but retail is hankering after the growth rates it had back in 2016. The ONS numbers also showed a surprising boom in “books, newspapers and periodicals” sales
NewsB&M downgrades profit expectations again despite Christmas momentum
The value retailer said it now expected full-year group adjusted EBITDA for its 2026 financial year to be between £440m and £475m, down from a previous guidance of £470m to £520m.
NewsStrong revenue growth continues at Wickes
The home improvement retailer saw like-for-like revenues grow by 5.3% in the six months ending December 27, 2025, leaving it with full-year sales of £1.64bn
NewsletterIntelligence Briefing: Inflation up! Consumer confidence up! Online shopping turn-offs!
The headline inflation numbers for December showed a disappointing tick up in the costs headline rate to 3.4% (vs 3.2% November), with +5.2% on alcohol and tobacco costs (vs 4% in Nov), along with higher transport costs driving the rise. Food price inflation also increased to 4.5%, up from 4.2% ...
DataData: Grocery shoppers say meh to AI, yeah to loyalty discounts
New research commissioned by Retail Week and The Grocer shows that shoppers are sceptical about AI’s role in online grocery shopping, while over half say points and discounts for loyalty card members are what they value the most when shopping in-store
NewsIkea launches virtual products on Roblox
The home retailer is testing out their new experience in the Welcome to Bloxburg life-simulation game, where Roblox players can make and design homes.
NewsAmazon set to close Milton Keynes fulfilment centre
The online retailer is due to offer workers the chance to transfer to a different site as it opens a consultation on closing what was its first UK centre
NewsDunelm has ‘softer than anticipated’ golden quarter
The homewares retailer blames the “ongoing challenging macroeconomic environment” as it said profit before tax will now come in at the lower end of consensus expectations
Chart of the WeekChart of the week: Brits to cut fashion spend in new year budgeting push
Budget-conscious Brits are keen to cut down on discretionary spending in the new year and the number one target for cutting down on budgets is fashion purchases, according to new data from Barclays.
NewsNext executive Jane Shields retires
The company’s group sales, marketing and HR director joined the retailer as a sales assistant in 1985. She will retire from the company and step down from its executive board in May.
NewsSainsbury’s wins grocery market share for sixth Christmas in a row
The company reported strong grocery growth over the festive period, more than offsetting a fall in general merchandise and clothing.
NewsOwner of Very Group to launch £2bn auction of the company – reports
Private equity firm Carlyle, which took control of Very just months ago, is looking to sell the online retailer, according to Sky News.