Retail news round-up: UK retail sales improve in June and Triumph shuts its UK stores.

UK retail sales surge in June

British shops have recorded an increase in sales during June, according to the BDO High Street Sales Tracker.

Like-for-like sales increased 1.3% in June, the survey said, with fashion sales advancing 1.4%.

Lifestyle goods and homeware sales grew 1.2% and 0.5% respectively.

BDO head of retail and wholesale Sophie Michael said: “This June, consumers were distracted by a general election, but that didn't stop them heading to the shops when the sun came out.”

Triumph to shutter UK stores

Swiss lingerie brand Triumph will shutter all of its UK shops in an attempt to replace them with new concept stores in higher footfall areas, Drapers reported.

The Churchward store closed this week, while sites in Bluewater, Cambridge, Exeter and Walton are set to be closed in the coming months.

Triumph’s managing partner Roman Braun said: “Our objective is to operate a chain of very profitable Triumph retail stores”.

“To that end, we are implementing a strategy to both invest further into current profitable stores and new stores, and rigidly review stores that are not performing to our financial expectations.”