More finance – Page 8
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Opinion‘Return on capital employed is the one KPI every board needs’
Too many ignore a metric that crucially reveals whether a management team is building a better business for its owners, not just a bigger one, argues True’s Matt Truman
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InterviewInterview: Majestic Wine CEO John Colley on creating a ‘Screwfix of wine’
Last year’s acquisition of wine bar chain Vagabond provides an opportunity to draw upon the power of data and take Majestic into a new phase, chief executive John Colley reveals as he explains the thinking behind the deal.
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AnalysisWhat next for WHSmith’s high street business as ownership race heads into final furlong?
Critics often said that if WHSmith didn’t exist, no one would bother to invent it. Yet, as things stand, there are at least two private equity firms battling it out to acquire the brand, even if it likely won’t come with the name.
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AnalysisDoes the Walgreens Boots Alliance have a future following $10bn mega sale?
Last week, Boots’ parent company Walgreens was acquired in a $10bn mega deal by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. Who are the brand’s new owners and where does the UK institution fit into its plans?
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Opinion‘Boots faces uncertain time as new owners prepare to take control’
Boots is doing well, but the sale of parent Walgreens Boots Alliance raises questions about the future ownership of the UK High street institution, says Retail Week executive editor George MacDonald. A sale or IPO of Boots may follow. And what role might dealmaker Stefano Pessina play?
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AnalysisOcado moves out of R&D phase, hoping for positive cash flow next year
The multifaceted technology and retail business is in for a year of big changes. It is hoping that its big spend on tech will start to bring dividends
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AnalysisNew BRC manifesto outlines how retail can drive economic growth
The retail sector has been battling rising crime, Budget policies, shop closures and higher costs.
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Opinion‘The future of struggling Poundland is likely to be revealed next week’
In the current trading environment, value specialist Poundland should be flying. It’s not.
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DataForget Blue Monday, growth in UK retail sales was another positive surprise from January
The release of the ONS’ retail sales on Friday was the latest in a surprisingly positive flurry of economic indicators in what is supposed to be the saddest month of the year
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Opinion‘You could be forgiven for thinking that a new cost-of-living crunch is upon us’
Hard-pressed consumers, like retailers, face unwelcome cost increases in the next few months and that has implications for spending, says Retail Week executive editor George MacDonald
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FeatureShow me the money – what incentives make staff act like they own the company?
What sort of schemes are operating, and which might be most effective? And will such schemes change as basic pay – powered by rising minimum wage costs – rises and the overall cost of employing people goes up?
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AnalysisWhat’s next for Shein as regulatory scrutiny and Trump tariffs threaten London float?
Caught between the rock of Trump’s protectionist tariffs in the US and the hard place of an EU crackdown on a “tsunami” of cheap goods, is Shein’s short-lived era of dominance over?
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AnalysisWages are rising but will that filter through to an uptick in consumer spending?
Retailers do not have many reasons to be cheerful right now, but a lift in consumer spending would be a very welcome balm for some of their troubles.
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FeatureAutomation: What does retail look like in a post-Budget world?
As retail navigates a world post-Budget, Retail Week looks at who is looking at automation as an aid, and how this will impact both customers and millions in the workforce.
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AnalysisIn pictures: How Asda is promoting its Rollback price offensive in-store
The return of Asda’s Rollback prices is a big moment for the grocer as it seeks to regain a once unchallenged reputation for value for money. Retail Week visited Asda’s Stockton supercentre to see how the Rollback launch was executed
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Opinion‘As they walk a tightrope, retailers wonder how Reeves’ vision for growth applies to them’
Amid a round of retail job cuts from big industry names, the chancellor needs to offer the industry a big olive branch. Action on business rates would be a good place to start, says Retail Week editor-in-chief Charlotte Hardie
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AnalysisClaws out: how do prices compare at Pets at Home and competitor Jollyes?
The claws are out between petcare market leader Pets at Home and its fast-growing competitor Jollyes as both announce new approaches to their pricing. But which is cheaper?
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Opinion‘I can see AI becoming as fundamental to business as electricity’
Rising costs following short-sighted regulation will propel retailers towards an automated future, believes True Global’s Matt Truman
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FeatureRetail’s 101 favourite stores as chosen by the bosses of M&S, John Lewis, Ikea, Boots and more
From hometown heroes to international inspiration, we asked retailer leaders, commentators and our journalists to name their favourite store in the world. The result is 101 stores that show bricks-and-mortar retail at its very best.
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AnalysisWhat will a potential sale mean for WHSmith’s high street business?
News emerged over the weekend that WHSmith is in talks to potentially sell off its high street division and focus solely on its travel arm.