Halpern back in fashion with consultancy role

Retail superstar and tabloid favourite Sir Ralph Halpern plans a return to UK retailing after a 13-year absence.

His most likely route is to set up a consulting arm via his daughter's PR agency - Halpern Associates - to advise fashion retailers on how best to improve profitability and appeal in new ways to today's consumers.

'I feel very strongly that it's time for the next stage of fashion retailing to begin, and I believe we could play a valuable part in that,' he said.

'Retailing evolves all the time, and while the obsession with price has dominated fashion groups in the past few years, consumers today are badly in need of something different. What about quality, interest, service?

They are fed up with the 'two-for-the-price-of-one' message. They're asking, what's next?'

Sir Ralph, one of British fashion retail's most prominent players, transformed Burton Group into a mass-market powerhouse, generating profits of more than£200 million.

- Retail Week 15th anniversary: page 14.