Timeline - Coronavirus (COVID-19) response from UK retailers

As all non-essential stores close across the UK, Retail Economics takes a look beyond the closures and rounds-up how retailers have been responding to the coronavirus in the timeline below.

Click on the link to view our Covid-19 Retailers Trading Status table: List of UK retailers’ trading status from Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Thursday 18 August

• AO has reported a pre-tax loss of £37m in the year to 31 March, against a pre-tax profit of £20m the previous year, as the etailer battles “one of the most challenging operating environments”. Group adjusted EBITDA came in at £8.5m during the period, down 87% on last year, attributed to inflated staff costs during the pandemic, as well as increased marketing and logistics spend. Group revenue declined 6% YoY to £1.5bn, but was up 52% on a two-year basis. UK revenue declined 5% YoY to £1.4bn, but was up 52% on two years ago. It forecasts declining sales for its current financial year, in the region of £1bn to £1.25bn, but expects adjusted EBITDA to rise to a range of £20m and £30m.
• Frasers Group has made an offer for Australian flash sales site MySale amid international expansion. Frasers Group is currently MySale’s largest shareholder with a 28.7% stake, and has made a cash offer of 2p per share for the remaining shares, marking a value of £13.6m.

Wednesday 17 August

• Iceland is offering shoppers interest-free loans on their food shop with ethical lender Fair For You, following a trial across Wales. Repayments are £10 per week, with borrowers able to choose the day they are made, with the option to overpay.
• Asos chief financial officer and chief operating officer Mathew Dunn is set to exit the business in the coming months amid a restructure of the top team, coming two months after new chief executive and former chief commercial officer José Antonio Ramos Calamonte was appointed.
• Boohoo has made a “strategic investment” by taking a 7.1% stake in Revolution Beauty’s share capital as part of a beauty push. Boohoo intends to be a long-term partner for the beauty retailer, as it believes “in the growth potential of Revolution Beauty”.

Tuesday 16 August

• Ted Baker has accepted a £211m takeover bid from Reebok owner Authentic Brands Group. The deal at 110p per share represents a premium of 18.2% on Ted Baker’s share price of 93.1p when markets closed on Monday.
• Watches of Switzerland saw group sales jump 25% on a constant currency basis to £391m in its first quarter to 31 July, as it says demand for luxury “remains robust”.  Core UK sales increased 8% year-on-year to £239m in the period. It now plans to relocate its Rolex Boutique from its 900 sq ft property to a 7,200 sq ft flagship also on Old Bond Street next year.
• For a second time this year, Aldi is increasing pay for warehouse workers. Hourly paid staff in its distribution centres will receive at least £12.66 per hour from September, marking a 9% increase on the wages they were receiving at the start of the year. Night shift premiums will also increase from 20% to 25% of the normal hourly rate for logistics staff. The move benefits 4,200 workers.
• Asda is rolling out its Rewards loyalty scheme across stores and online following trials. The scheme allows shoppers to build “cashpots” based on their spend, with customers incentivised for “in-app missions” such as back-to-school purchases or for buying “star products”.

Monday 15 August

• Harrods wrote to some 150 Unite union members who work across its departments such as services, engineering, maintenance and security, warning that a recent change to legislation “now allows ­agencies to provide temporary workers to perform duties normally performed by a worker who is on strike”. It comes as Unite members plan to vote on a strike after rejecting a 5% pay offer. Harrods cautioned workers that: “We are no longer restricted from engaging temporary workers should any industrial action take place now or in the future.”
• Amid tough trading conditions, Zalando pledged to cut back marketing expenses rather than jobs this year. The etailer has been able to offset price increases and softening sales by focusing on profitability, through reduced marketing spend and limiting free shipping.
• Frasers Group has secured a 15-year lease on a Next Beauty & Home store in the Metrocentre in Gateshead – which only opened in October 2020 – earmarked as the site for a new Flannels and Sports Direct flagship in the Northeast. Next committed that it would continue to operate its remaining three Beauty & Home stores in Milton Keynes, Reading and Watford. 

Friday 12 August

• John Lewis is scrapping its infamous ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ price match on 22 August, but is yet to unveil a slogan that will succeed it. The retailer plans to launch a marketing campaign in the coming weeks that commits to “outstanding value”.
• After a four-month refurbishment project, Lego has reopened its largest global store in London’s Trafalgar Square.

Thursday 11 August

• Online specialist Marks electricals reported a 13.7% uplift in revenue in the four months to 31 July 2022 despite the challenging backdrop. Market share gains were made in large domestic appliances and consumer electricals supported by items such as TVs, washing machines and air conditioning units.
• Halfords has lowered prices within its motoring categories and introduced initiatives to reduce motoring costs for consumers against the backdrop of rising prices. 

Wednesday 10 August

• Amazon warehouse staff continue to strike at several sites across the country over an ongoing dispute over pay. Workers are unhappy with the current offer of a 35p raise in hourly pay which falls short of their £2 demand.

• Deliveroo’s losses widened to £147mn in the first half of the year as cost of living pressures shrunk order sizes. Gross transaction values per order rose 8% in the UK but fell 3% across the group. This news comes just a month after it cut its full-year growth forecasts to more than half its previous estimate due to “increased consumer headwinds”.

• Deliveroo also revealed that Next boss Lord Wolfson, who joined the business prior to its stock market listing 18 months ago, stepped down from the board with immediate effect and said the “time required to continue in my role is not compatible” with other commitments.

Tuesday 9 August

• Technical system issues at Waterstones warehouses are impacting stock levels at stores following the implementation of a new system. Problems are expected to last until September.

• Iceland has partnered with The Rothesay Foundation to offer pensioners a £30 voucher for their food shop to support them during the cost of living crisis. Research by Age UK showed that 15% of pensioners lived in poverty in 2020/2021.

• New chairman of JD Sports Andrew Higginson has bought £400,000 in shares in the retailer.

• Aldi is donating 80,000 essential baby items to support new parents. This follows a study that found over three-quarters of new parents are worried about the cost of baby products in the current climate.

• After a four-month refurbishment project, Lego has reopened its largest global store in London’s Trafalgar Square.

Monday 8 August

• Amazon buys iRobot for $1.7bn, expanding its reach into home electronics following the success of its Ring doorbell and Alexa products. iRobot’s most popular product, the Roomba robot vacuum, is a best seller within its segment on the Amazon website.

• Next has come under scrutiny from HMRC following the rollout of a new payroll system which led to thousands of employees being paid incorrectly. HRMC’s investigation will focus on whether any staff were paid less than the UK’s statutory minimum wage.

• Joules confirms it has been involved in discussions with Next about it acquiring a minority stake of around £15m. If a deal is reached, Joules will adopt Next’s Total Platform services to support its future growth plans, joining the likes of Victoria Secrets and Reiss.

Friday 5 August

• Asda is the latest grocer to partner with Deliveroo offering consumers on-demand grocery deliveries. The partnership will initially cover 15 stores with the aim of expanding the offer to 300 stores by the end of the year.

• Pets at Home sales rose 7.1% on a total basis (+6.0% like-for-like) compared to the previous year. A surge in demand during the pandemic and an improved omnichannel offering has seen customer numbers reach new heights. It maintained its full-year profit outlook.

Thursday 4 August

• Next reported full-price sales rose by 4.7% in the second quarter of the year, on the back of “unusually warm weather” in June and July and pent-up demand for social events. Online sales growth slowed to just 0.2% while store sales surged 12% during the period, reflecting “a short-term reversal of pandemic trends and are unlikely to be indicative of longer-term trends in consumer behaviour”. Next increased its full-year profit guidance by £10m to £860m. It said said online return rates have returned to pre-Covid levels of 42%, following two years of “extremely low” rates.
• ScS posted like-for-like orders rose 3.9% YoY in the year to 30 July, with an order book of £71.7m – some £31.8m lower than a year ago amid fewer visitors, but £28.8m higher than in 2019. The retailer announced full-year profit would be ahead of expectations, but did not give a figure. It said: “We expect the low consumer confidence will continue to adversely impact the group in financial year 2023”.

Wednesday 3 August

• The Co-op has extended its partnership with Deliveroo by three years as it looks to offer rapid home delivery from 110 additional stores across the UK.
• Just Eat sales in UK and Ireland grew 10% to €658m (£550.2m) in the first half of the year, as it grew partnerships by 16% YoY to 680,000. However, UK order numbers dropped 7% to 132.1m. Group pre-tax losses widened to €3.54bn (£2.96bn) in the six months from €395m (£330.3m) last year – driven by a €3bn (£2.5bn) writedown in the value of its US business GrubHub.

Tuesday 2 August

• Greggs sales rose by 27% YoY to £695m in the first half, and were up 22% YoY on a like-for-like basis. Profit remained broadly flat at £55.8m in the period amid the reintroduction of business rates. The results come as former Tesco UK boss Matt Davies is appointed as n independent non-executive director and chair designate.

Monday 1 August

• TikTok has launched a fresh food offer on its platform, with users able to buy food directly from brands such as Pasta Evangelists, The Veg Box Company and The Fish Society, with merchants handling delivery. It comes as food content grows in popularity, including #FoodTok attracting 26 billion views to date.
• Following an order by the Competition Markets Authority, JD Sports has offloaded its Footasylum business to German investment group Aurelius.
• From September, Waitrose will remove the best-before dates on 500 fruit, salad and vegetable products as it looks to reduce food waste.

Friday 29 July

• The Competition and Markets Authority is investigating the sustainability credentials of online fashion specialists Asos and Boohoo, as well as Asda’s George clothing division.
• The national store vacancy rate improved 0.5 percentage points on last year to 14% - marketing an improvement for the third quarter in a row, but remains above the pre-pandemic level.
• Amazon reported a second consecutive quarterly loss despite sales rising. The giant reported a net loss of $2bn (£1.6bn) in the quarter to 30 June, compared with earnings of $7.8bn (£6.4bn) in the second quarter of 2021. Net sales increased by 7% to $121.2bn (£99.0bn) in the quarter, compared to $113.1bn (£92.4bn) last year.

Thursday 28 July

• Primark has pledged to freeze the prices of more than a thousand items across its children’s clothing range this autumn for the new school term.
• Hotel Chocolat’s Japanese arm Hotel Chocolat KK has secured court approval to undergo restructuring in order to secure new sources of funding.
• A group of campaigners has launched a £20,000 crowd-funding campaign to argue against Marks & Spencer’s Marble Arch redevelopment plans, which include demolition of the existing store.
• Frasers Group acquired online fast fashion brand I Saw It First, which has around five million active customers.
• KitKat maker Nestle reported it had increased prices by 6.5% in the first half of this year amid "unprecedented" cost increases.

Wednesday 27 July

• Iceland warned in its latest annual report that it is exposed to “considerable uncertainty and volatility in global energy prices” because of its reliance on freezers in-store, meaning it “will be unable to avoid a temporary reduction in our profits during the current year” unless prices stabilised. Iceland’s energy bill was around £70m in the year to March 2022, equivalent to some 2% of sales.
• McDonald’s is raising the price of its signature 99p cheeseburger for the first time in 14 years, from 99p to £1.19. It will also increase the price of other products by between 10p and 20p. McDonald’s said it is considering adding more discounted menu options, as inflation prompts consumers to switch to cheaper alternatives.
• Ecommerce platform Shopify is to axe 1,000 employees after founder and chief executive Tobi Lütke said it made the “wrong” bet on the long-term growth of online retail post-pandemic, as it now believes physical retail spend is “reverting to where pre-Covid data would have suggested it should be” in 2022, rather than “permanently leaping ahead by five or even 10 years” as it previously thought.
• A share option agreement for a division of Japanese investment titan Softbank to acquire a 20% stake in THG’s Ingenuity division at $1.6bn (£1.3bn) has been terminated.
• Music Magpie posted a pre-tax loss of £0.7m for the six months to 31 May, down from a profit of £4m last year. Revenue declined 2% YoY to £71.3m, as sales of disc media and books plunged 23.6% to £25.3m in the period.

Tuesday 26 July

• Consumer group Unilever warned of a “truly unprecedented cost landscape”, with prices across its brands — including Dove soap, Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Cif cleaning products — rising by 11.2% YoY in the second quarter.
• Wickes downgraded its full-year profit expectations to between £72m-£82m, having previously forecast a figure of over £83m. It said trading across DIY and do it for me sales has softened as shoppers tighten their belts, with like-for-like sales up 0.8% YoY in the 26 weeks to 2 July.
• Amazon is increasing the cost of its Prime subscription in the UK by 20% from £79 to £95 a year as its operating costs step up.

Monday 25 July

• Morrisons has partnered with international grocer British Corner Shop Smart, which will see products available on a wholesale basis through retailers such as Alphamega in Cyprus, CRV in Hong Kong, Smart in Malta and Thorpes in St Helena.
• Aldi has increased pay for shopfloor staff for the second time this year to become the UK’s highest paying supermarket chain. From September, store staff will receive a 40p per hour increase in their pay to a minimum of £10.50 per hour across the UK, or £11.95 within the M25.

Friday 22 July

• The Co-op is to cut 400 head office jobs, with the majority of the redundancies will be in its customer support centre team, amid “tough trading environment”.
• In a trading update, JD Sports reported that total like-for-like sales were up by 5% YoY in June 2022. The retailer expects profits and total sales for the current year to be “in line with the record performance for the year ended January 29”.

Thursday 21 July

• Marks & Spencer bought logistics provider Gist fir £145m as it aims to take control of its end-to-end food supply chain. Gist provides the majority of M&S Food logistics services through a network of eight primary and 10 secondary distribution centres across the UK and Ireland.
• Ocado suffered a pre-tax loss of £211.3m in its half year to 29 May, deepening from the £27.9m loss a year earlier. UK retail sales through its joint venture with Marks & declined by 8.3% to £1.12bn in the period, despite its customer base growing 12% to 867,000.
• Frasers Group recorded a pre-tax profit of £366.1m in the year to 24 April, up from £8.5m a year ago. Group sales surged 30.9% to £4.75bn in the period (excluding recently acquired online business Studio Retail). UK sports retail sales jumped 31.2% to £2.58bn, while sales across its premium lifestyle division surged 43.6% to £1.06bn.

Wednesday 20 July

• Sainsbury’s has launched a £1m incubator programme to invest in Black-led food and drink start-ups. Nine successful businesses will receive a £20,000 “welcome grant” and “more than 150 hours of practical, one-to-one support and group learning opportunities” to help “scale up to supermarket-level distribution”.

Tuesday 19 July

• After almost two years, AO has ended its five shop-in-shop tie-ups with Tesco, as the electricals retailer looks “to rationalise, simplify and refocus its UK operations, exiting some lines of business and driving operational efficiencies”.
• Joules expects profits to be ahead of expectations for the year due to cost reductions, as it recorded sales growth of 8.5% in the first six weeks of its 2022/23 financial year. However, it warned margins remain under pressure, with more markdowns in a “heavily promotional environment”.
• Aldi and Lidl saw its UK market share hit a record high at 9.1% and 7.0% respectively in the three months to 10 July according to Kantar.
• In The Style slipped into the red with a pre-tax loss of £1.5m in the year to 31 March, down from a pre-tax profit of £100,000 a year earlier, despite group revenue rising 28% YoY to £57m. The fashion etailer expects to post an adjusted EBITDA loss of £2m for its current financial year in “uncertain market conditions”.
• Waitrose has partnered with Dobbies to launch a food offer across 50 garden centres by the end of 2023, replacing Dobbies’ former deal with Sainsbury’s, as the grocer looks to drive convenience.
• Made.com issued its second profit warning in as many months, expecting annual losses of £50m to £70m in 2022, as boss Nicola Thompson says “worsening consumer confidence has impacted demand for discretionary big-ticket items”. The retailer reported sales were down 19% YoY in the first half of the year and now expects full-year revenue to decline as much as 30%. It is facing a £20m headwind on the back of disruptions at ports and warehouses, leading to increased promotional activity to clear delayed and excess inventory.
• In a trading update, Hotel Chocolat reported sales were up 37% YoY in the year to 26 June, while underlying pre-tax profit would be in line with the market expectations. But it warned that “given the current global macro-economic climate” it will “now deliberately focus its efforts over the next three years on its most proven and lowest-risk strategies with the greatest potential for further increased profitability and scaled cash generation”. This includes “materially” reducing investment in the US and Japan, which is likely to see sales slide in the short term.
• eBay said UK searches for air conditioning units and fans quadrupled and tripled respectively over the last week as temperatures hit a record 40C.

Monday 18 July

• H&M plans to permanently withdraw from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, following similar moves by Nike and Ikea.
• Next apologised to staff as new IT systems caused parts of its workforce to be underpaid for months.
• Deliveroo downgraded its full-year sales forecast to growth of 4-12% in gross transaction value, compared to its previous forecast of 15-25%, amid “increased consumer headwinds”.
• Amazon Fresh said online prices will be “matched and locked” to Tesco Clubcard deals every week across fruit, vegetables, meat and fish in order “to help our customers save on their weekly shop”.
• Marks & Spencer is removing best before dates across fruit and vegetable to reduce food waste.

Friday 15 July

• Aldi, Morrisons and Tesco are taking part in a three-month recycling trial in Welshpool, Powys, which offers shoppers 10p to return empty drinks containers such as glass and cartons.
• Amazon is set to create a further 4,000 jobs in the UK with plans for two new fulfilment centres by the end of the year. This move comes despite a fall in demand and revenue.

Thursday 14 July

• Go Outdoors is set to open 11 new stores this year as consumers focus has switched to spending more time outdoors. The outdoor specialist, owned by JD Sports, has seen demand surge in areas such as outdoor living and cycling. Website traffic has been markedly against 2019 levels with searches for cycling rising by 21%, while camping accelerated 44%.
• Sports Direct has asked staff to work in the office full time. This follows a two-year trial of flexibility on Friday’s which it found caused a notable dip in productivity levels.
• Dr Martens reveals strong sales growth in its first quarter and was trading in line with expectations. Its wholesale order book has continued to expand past 85% of pre-pandemic levels.

Wednesday 13 July

• Boohoo has started charging £1.99 for customer returns as it tries to offset rising cost pressures. This follows a similar move by Zara earlier this year.
• Morrisons planned takeover of McColl’s is being investigated by the CMA with the launch of a merger enquiry into the acquisition set to run until 8 September.
• Crew clothing recorded a 22% rise in turnover in 2021 compared with 2019 while performance was up 40% on 2020 levels. It’s partnership with John Lewis proved successful, increasing its customer base.
• Pepco Group, who owns discounters Poundland and Dealz, announces a 17.1% rise in revenue in its third quarter sales. Demand has surged amid the cost of living crisis.

Tuesday 12 July

• Former ASOS CEO, Nick Beighton is set to take over at online luxury fashion specialist Matchesfashion in August.
• Sosander posts a 142% rise in revenue in the 12 months to 31 March 2022. Its losses were considerably reduced to £200,000 from £2.9 million in the previous year.
• Falling sales growth and increasing cost pressures saw Gap CEO and President Sonia Syngal, step down with immediate effect. The apparel retailer issued a profit warning as it struggles in a post-pandemic environment which has seen its share price fall c.50% this year. Net sales in its second quarter are expected to fall in line with its previous estimates.
• Boots is to stop making its suncreams with a protection level lower than SPF 50 for children and SPF 15 for adults to promote safer sun behaviour. This follows warnings from the Met Office that temperatures could hit 37C at the start of next week, with extreme weather events becoming increasingly more common.

Monday 11 July

• Amazon launches a two-day Prime Day sales event in the hope of driving demand amid slowing sales growth. Rising operating costs and overexpansion has seen its stock fall by more than 30% since the start of the year.
• Joules has appointed KPMG to help shore up is cash position. This follows rumours over the weekend that the retailer was seeking a cash injection as costs have risen sharply in recent months depleting cash reserves.
• Matalan records a 29% year-on-year rise in revenue in the 13 weeks to 28 May. Encouragingly sales grew on pre-pandemic levels with customers said to be searching for better-value deals amid the cost of living crisis.

Friday 8 July

• Heinz and Tesco reach an agreement after supplies were paused in a dispute over cost price rises.
• JD Sports appoints former Morrisons Chairman, Andrew Higginson, will take over from Peter Cowgill as its new chairman.
• Asda announces a new initiative to allow children to eat in its stores for £1 over the summer holidays without the need to purchase an adult meal. The scheme will run from July 25 to September 4 in the hope of combating holiday hunger against the backdrop of surging prices.
• Superdrug announced a 5.1% rise in revenue in its fiscal year 2021 supported by an almost 50% surge in online sales compared with 2019 levels. This strong performance saw pre-tax profits rise by 141%.

Thursday 7 July

• Currys posted a 19% rise in adjusted pre-tax profit to £186m in the year to 30 April, with adjusted EBIT up 5% to £274m. Group sales were down 2% YoY on a reported currency basis to £10.14bn and slumped 3% on a like-for-like basis in the period. UK sales declined 3% YoY in reported currencies to £5.48bn, or down 4% on a like-for-like basis. The retailer cautioned the outlook remains “uncertain” and is taking a “prudent view” of the tech market.
• Watches of Switzerland’s group revenue jumped 37% on a reported currency basis to £1.24bn in the year to 1 May. The watch retailer doubled statutory pre-tax profit to £126m in the period, up from £64m last year. Its core UK business grew 34% YoY to £810m, as demand for such luxury products is “consistently exceeding supply”, as rising living costs disproportionately impact poorer households.
• Amazon is being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority, to examine whether its third-party online marketplace has a dominant position that gives an unfair advantage to Amazon or its sellers.
• Hedge fund giant Citadel has built up a 5% stake in Boohoo, becoming its fifth-biggest backer.

Wednesday 6 July

• AO is raising £40m through a share placing following Atradius cutting the retailer’s credit insurance for suppliers.
• Mars Petcare, which operates brands such as Whiskas, has paused its supply to Tesco until an agreement can be reached on price. It similarly follows The Kraft Heinz Company stopping supply of products including beans and ketchup to Tesco over buying terms.
• Mango plans to expand to the Canadian market, partnering with Israeli retail management firm Fox Group in a ten-year agreement.
• Lululemon plans to launch in Spain with two new stores and a local ecommerce site.

Tuesday 5 July

• Sainsbury’s sales excluding fuel were down 4.5% in its first quarter to 25 June and down 4% on a like for like basis. Total general merchandise sales were down 11.2% in the quarter: Argos was down 10.5%, Sainsbury’s general merchandise down 14.6%, and clothing down 10.1%. Grocery sales declined 2.4% “against last year’s elevated Covid-19-driven levels”, but were 8.7% ahead of pre-pandemic levels. The results came as the retailer named Bláthnaid Bergin as its new chief financial officer to replace Kevin O’Byrne.
• Kingfisher has upped its sustainability targets, aiming for sustainable home products to account for 60% of sales by 2025/26, up from 50% previously. This includes 70% of sales coming from its own-label brands. It also aims to be net-zero by 2040 across Scope 1 and 2 emissions, including switching delivery vehicles to low- and no-carbon alternatives and electrifying heating across its stores.
• Quiz's sales surged 97% YoY to £78.4m in the year to 31 March. Gross profit came in at £47.3m in the period, against £21.2m the previous year.

Monday 4 July

• Pret a Manger reported sales rocketed 230% YoY to £357.8m in its first half, with sales in regional locations surpassing those in London. Pret is tracking ahead of its targets to double its business in the next five years, The coffee and sandwich chain said it will launch a new affordable menu range in response to the cost-of-living crisis.
• Amazon is s rolling out a fleet of e-cargo bikes and on-foot delivery staff to replace van deliveries in London, which will make over a million deliveries per year across around a tenth of London’s ultra-low emission zones.

Friday 1 July

• Reliance Industries will open outlets of Pret a Manger in India under a franchise deal, with up to 100 coffee and sandwich shops planned over the next five years.

Thursday 30 June

• Investor Hilco is understood to have acquired fashion retailer Cath Kidston from Baring Private Equity Asia, which bought it out of administration just two years ago.
• Frasers bought a 28.7% stake in fashion marketplace MySale. Frasers said the deal “creates an opportunity for a strategic partnership whereby end-of-line group products can be cleared via an established clearance channel”.

Wednesday 29 June

• H&M reported pre-tax profit more than doubled on last year to SEK3.9bn (£315m) in the six months to 31 May. Sales increased by 20% in Swedish krona and 15% in local currencies to SEK103.7bn (£8.4bn) in the period.
• Morrisons reported that sales (exc. Fuel) declined by 6.4% YoY in its second quarter, amid surging inflation, subdued customer sentiment and a step back in grocery as hospitality recovers. Adjusted EBITDA jumped from £9m to £71m in the period, on the back of cost-cutting measures and a “recovery of profit from areas impacted by Covid”.
• H&M announced it is looking to double sales by 2030 and halve its carbon emissions. It plans to do this through: (1) store expansion into new markets, with a particular focus on Latin America; (2) growing its wider portfolio of brands, including second-hand marketplace Sellpy; and (3) partnerships in sustainability projects including renewable materials.
• Mulberry has reported a 32% rise in group revenue to £152.4m for the 52 weeks to 2 April. Pre-tax profit came in at £21.3m in the period, including a one-off profit of £5.7m from the disposal of a lease in Paris.
• Card specialist Moonpig posted a 17.3% decline in YoY sales to £304.3m in the year to 30 April, while adjusted pre-tax profit slumped 30.9% to £51.5m.

Tuesday 28 June

• Walgreens Boots Alliance has turned off the sale of Boots as interested parties fail to meet its asking price. The US giant said that no bidder had made an offer that “adequately reflects the high potential value of Boots” and its No7 beauty brand.
• Poundstretcher sales are said to have declined 15% to £277m in the year to March, while its pre-tax profit is expected to have fallen from £88m to £45m. Despite this, the value retailer plans to open 50 stores a year over the next three years as it looks to secure declining rents.
• Nike’s sales increased by 5% YoY to $46.7bn (£38bn) in the year to 31 May, but were flat in its fourth quarter amid a decline in wholesale sales. The brand’s net income for the year was $6.0bn (£4.9bn), up by 6% YoY.

Monday 27 June

• Hobbycraft sales rose by 14.8% YoY to £203.1m in the year to February, while adjusted pre-tax profit rose 8.7% to £15m. The retailer is set to expand its store estate to three new locations in Bromborough in Merseyside, Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, and Southend, Essex. The move will create 40 new jobs.
• Spanish beauty brand Freshly Cosmetics has closed its store in London’s Carnaby Street, after just six months of trading. The store has been affected by the collapse in retail footfall on city high streets, driven by a mixture of the cost-of-living crisis and the impact of the growth in hybrid working.
• Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) has solicited PwC to find a new buyer for the now pureplay retailer Cath Kidston. The high street chain collapsed into administration in April 2020 just after the pandemic hit, costing 900 jobs.
• Cake Box’s pre-tax profit grew by 83.3% to £7.7m in the year to March, while revenue jumped by 50.7% to £33m. Online sales rose by 41% in the period, while the number of franchise stores increased to 185 following 31 new openings.

Friday 24 June

• Zalando downgraded its full-year performance after a worse-than-expected second quarter as “macroeconomic conditions have further deteriorated”. Revenue is expected to grow by 0% to 3% or €10.4bn (£8.9bn) to €10.7bn (£9.2bn), with an adjusted EBIT of €180m (£154.5m) to €260m (£223m) in the same period.
• Britvic-owned Robinsons and Wimbledon have ended their 86 year-long partnership, as Britvic has reportedly wanted to promote its other drinks.

Thursday 23 June

• Matalan realised a 38% jump in sales to £1.02bn in the 52-weeks period to February 26, 2022. The fashion retailer recorded EBITDA up 145% YoY to £198m in the same period. Matalan’s out-of-town stores were appealing destinations for customers when shops reopened during the pandemic.
• Deliveroo has partnered with convenience grocery chain Spar, to deliver food and drink products from the latter’s 2,160 stores to its consumers in as little as 20 minutes across England, Scotland, and Wales.
• Naked Wines recorded an adjusted EBIT of £2m for the 52 weeks to March 28, against a £1.5m loss the previous year. Sales also rose 5% year on year on a constant currency basis to £350.3m, up 76% compared with pre-pandemic levels two years ago.

Wednesday 22 June

• B&M has introduced an online home delivery for the very first time since opening its first UK store back in 1978. The online range features 1,000 products, including garden and indoor furniture, electrical equipment and toys and games.
• JD Sports saw its revenues rise from £6.17bn to £8.56bn in the year ending January 29, while headline profit before tax and exceptional reached £947.2m last year, this compares with the previous high of £438.8m set in the year to February 1, 2020 (just before the pandemic hit).
• Aldi is predicted to overtake Morrisons as the UK’s fourth largest supermarket in less than a year, according to data taken from the most recent Kantar results. Kantar data revealed the discounter’s market share was just 0.6% behind Morrisons.
• Harrods has delayed its famous summer sale because the global supply chain crisis has held up the arrival of new season stock.
• John Lewis will be offering skincare, facials, and aesthetic treatments at clinics across its stores in partnership with The Cavendish Clinic
• Rail workers across the UK are striking on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, over salaries and working conditions as a result, footfall is expected to drop across city centre shopping destinations as many people chose to work from home to avoid the strikes across both the UK rail network and TfL services in London.
• JD Sports has acquired a 60% share in Total Swimming Group, a company founded by former Olympic swimmers Steve Parry, Rebecca Adlington and Adrian Turner in a deal that could be worth up to £15m.

Tuesday 21 June

• Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has upped its stake in luxury fashion brand Hugo Boss. Frasers Group values its total stake in Hugo Boss, including the put options, at approximately £770m.
• Ocado has successfully raised £575m through share placement. The funds will be used to finance its technology division. Goldman Sachs was the sole coordinator of the share placement.
• UK shoppers’ grocery bills are expected to rise by £380 this year as inflation rose to its highest level in 13 years last month. Like-for-like grocery prices rose 8.3% over the past month, reaching their highest level since April 2009, according to Kantar Worldpanel.
• Black Pound Day is launching their first permanent store in Westfield London where more than 80 black owned businesses will be able to sell their products.

Monday 20 June

• Primark is stepping its foot into multichannel retailing as it plans to launch its first ever click-and-collect trial later this year. The trial will encompass around 2,000 products across clothing, accessories, and lifestyle products.
• More uncertainty and doubt are casted on the completion of Boots long running auction as the ongoing cost-of-living crisis spooks prospective buyers and debt markets freeze up.
• Marks & Spencer has appointed Alex Freudmann as new managing director of its food division, following former grocery boss Stuart Machin’s promotion to become chief executive.
• In The Style has successfully raised more than £1 million for charity through its collaboration with cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James.

Friday 17 June

• Ebay Europe’s chief, Robert Hattrell is leaving the retail giant to join private equity firm and Asda co-owner TDR Capital in the autumn.
• In its latest trading update, Tesco posted a 1.5% contraction in like-for-like sales year-on-year to £9.88bn in its core domestic market over the first quarter. The grocery giant also reported early signs of change in shoppers’ behaviour as the soaring cost of living bites.
• Property companies Shaftesbury and Capco announced that they would merge. The combined group’s portfolio - valued at £5bn, will comprise approximately 670 mainly freehold buildings” with approximately 2.9 million sq ft of lettable space across approximately 2,000 commercial and residential units”.

Thursday 16 June

• Asos has appointed José Antonio Ramos Calamonte as its new chief executive and Jørgen Lindemann as incoming chair. The news comes as Asos downgraded its expectations for the full year amid uncertain consumer behaviour. The retailer downgraded its forecast, now expecting revenue growth to be between 4% and 7%, and adjusted pre-tax profit to be in the range of £20m to £60m.
• Halfords posted a 57.8% rise in pre-tax profits on a two-year basis to £89.8m in year to 1 April. Revenue increased by 19.9% on a two-year basis and 6% year-on-year to £1.37bn. However, the retailer downgraded its 2022/23 underlying pre-tax profit expectations to between £65m and £75m, as it expects a “level of uncertainty” looking forward.
• Boohoo registered an 8% decline in sales to £445.7m in the three months to 31 May, but sales jumped 75% on a three-year basis compared with the pre-pandemic period.
• THG announced that it will not proceed with any of the recent takeover approaches for the online firm, which were “unacceptable and significantly undervalued the company”.

Wednesday 15 June

• In the 15 weeks to 11 June, WHSmith posted a 107% surge in group revenue compared to pre-pandemic levels, driven by a 123% rise in Travel sales in the period, while high street trading stood at 79% of 2019 levels.
• H&M posted a 12% jump in net sales in local currencies in its second quarter to 31 May, or 17% in Swedish krona to SEK 54,504m. The high street retailer booked an operating profit of SEK 458m (£38m) during the period, compared with a loss of SEK 1.1bn (£93m) in its first quarter the previous year.
• Ikea is set to reduce its number of staff in both Russia and Belarus and find new owners for its four factories in the region.
• Games Workshop has awarded another £10m in bonuses to staff during its latest financial year, as sales went up £32m for the past 12 months to £385m.
• Mulberry has partnered with online fashion marketplace Hurr to allow shoppers in the UK to rent its designer bags for the first time.

Tuesday 14 June

• Amazon will begin delivering parcels to customers by drone this year, pending approval from regulators.
• Zalando has bought a majority stake in global brand Highsnobiety, which will act as a strategic and creative consultant to boost its storytelling and curation on-site.
• Missguided founder Nitin Passi has returned to the business as chief executive, eight weeks after he stepped down from the role. Frasers Group appointed Passi as CEO of the business after they bought the company out of administration for £20m.
• Oxford Street’s American candy shops are being investigated after claims of failing to pay £7.9m in business rates. This follows the Westminster City Council seizing counterfeit and illegal goods amounting to £474,000 over the past 6 months.
• Clarks has joined Dotte’s Resale Collective, allowing shoppers to earn rewards for selling outgrown Clarks shoes on the platform.
• Tommy Hilfiger has partnered with pet specialist Kanine Pets World Limited to launch its first-ever dog collection in 2023. The collection will be a comprehensive range including a range of apparel, accessories, and home products.
• Adidas has sued Nike in a Texas district Court, claiming the latter is “knowingly and intentionally” infringed on nine patents related to Adidas’ proprietary athletic technology.

Monday 13 June

• Morrisons owner CD&R is understood to be selling a selection of the group’s warehouses and food manufacturing plants. Although interested buyers have not yet been told which buildings will be sold, the portfolio is expected to include two dozen sites worth more than £600m.

Friday 10 June

• Poundland’s parent company Pepco group posted a 7.3% uptick in underlying EBITDA to €347m (£318m) in its first half to 31 March. Group revenue surged 19% to €2.4bn (£2bn) in the period.
• Reliance Retail has teamed with private equity firm Apollo to make a formal bid for Boots, valuing the retail chain at £5bn. It is understood that under the terms of this bid Walgreens Boots Alliance would keep a stake of 30% to 40% in the retailer.
• Kitchenware retailer ProCook announced that its sales and profits for the current financial year will fall short of previous forecasts, blaming “exceptional pressures on discretionary spend”.
• Morrisons has implemented a 2% increase on the base pay for staff across the UK. This makes the grocer the highest-paying supermarket in the country at £10.20 an hour.

Thursday 09 June

• AO.com has is closing its German business after eight years of trading, after a strategic review of its performance.
• John Lewis announced the first three locations for its build-to-rent housing scheme, as it aims to build 10,000 homes by 2030. The sites earmarked for consultations are in Bromley and West Ealing in Greater London, as well as a plan to redevelop former warehouse space in Reading.
• DFS announced that it saw “double digit growth” in the volume of orders in its third quarter to 27 March 2022 compared with 2019 levels. The retailer said that ongoing supply chain disruption, combined with lower order intake since April, has led to lower levels of production and deliveries relative to our previous expectations.  It now expects UK & ROI full year sales of £1,150-1,160m, and underlying pre-tax profit of £57-£62m.

Wednesday 08 June

• Private equity mogul Dominic Murphy has stepped down as non-executive director of THG. He had been on the board of THG (formerly known as The Hut Group) for almost eight years.
• Amazon seized more than 3 million fake products last year and stopped more than 2.5 million fake selling accounts being set up in a crackdown on counterfeit goods. Last year, the ecommerce giant invested more than $900m in preventing counterfeiting and fraud.
• In a bid to help eradicate food waste, the Co-op has teamed up with Microsoft to create a new technology platform called Caboodle. The new platform, which is expected to launch next month, will allow supermarkets, cafés and restaurants to connect with community groups and volunteers to redistribute surplus food.
• Boots has committed to freeze prices of more than 1,500 of its own label products until at least the end of this year as part of its Price Lock Promise.
• Zara’s parent company Inditex posted a 36% surge in revenue to €6.74bn (£5.73bn) in the quarter to 30 April, while net income profit came at €760m (£646m), up 80% year-on-year.

Tuesday 07 June

• The Competition and Market Authority has allegedly found evidence that JD Sports colluded with Rangers and Elite Sports to fix the retail price of adult replica home shirts for “at least” ten months between September 2018 and July 2019.
• Former Asos chief executive Nick Beighton is set to become chair of discount fashion platform Secret Sales to help grow the platform, expand internationally and hone its sustainability strategy. The platform secured €10m (£8.5m) funding in 2021 and secured an additional undisclosed sum this year to fuel its expansion.

Monday 06 June

• Marks & Spencer has extended its ‘fill your own’ food concept to cleaning and laundry products. The trial will allow customers to use refillable packaging for eight pre-fillled, own-brand homecare products including cleaning sprays, laundry detergents, fabric conditioners and washing up liquids.
• Iceland managing director Richard Walker and Waterstones’ chief executive James Daunt were among the retail executives to have been awarded an OBE at the Queen’s birthday.
• Fast fashion giant Asos has launched a trial partnership with Thrift+ whereby customers will be able to request a free Asos x Thrift+ bag and send their unwanted clothes to the resale platform to be sold.
• Jigsaw reported a 24% rise in revenue from £38.7m to £47.7m in the year to 29 January, while pre-tax losses narrowed from £8.7m to £1.3m in the period. Delivering on a new strategy, Jigsaw invested in a digital-first approach – developing new web and data platforms and recruiting digital marketing executives.
• New Look’s chief executive Nigel Oddy has confirmed his intentions to step down from his position. He led the fashion retailer through its financial restructuring and return to profitability after joining the company in April 2019.

Wednesday 01 June

• Dr Martens posted a 22% YoY surge in group revenue (in constant currencies) to £908.3m in the year to 31 March. The iconic footwear brand said pre-tax profit more than trebled to £214.3m, while pre-tax profit surged 43% in the period.
• Luxury menswear brand Duchamp is set to launch a resort collection for spring/summer 2022, followed by an autumn/winter 2023 collection in September, for the first time in two years.
• H&M has opened a new store at the Metrocentre shopping centre in Gateshead, showcasing a new interior look and feel for the brand.
• Tesco is rumoured to be looking to introduce biometric payment methods – including face and palm recognition – at the checkout by early next year.
• Online floral service Bloom & Wild has opened a series of physical pop-up stores across the UK for the very first time. The first pop-ups will be located across London, Bristol and Edinburgh.

Tuesday 31 May

• Frasers Group has bought fast fashion retailer Missguided out of administration for £20m. Missguided will continue to operate as a standalone business following the acquisition.
• B&M promoted chief financial officer Alex Russo to chief executive, as it posted a statutory annual pre-tax profit of £525m, which was flat on the previous year. Group sales slipped 2.7% year on year to £4.67bn in the year to 26 March, but were up 22.5% on a two-year basis.
• HMV has opened a new 6,738sq ft store at the Merry Hill shopping centre in Dudley. The shop, which is a relocation for HMV, is designed to cater for pop culture lovers and stocks music, film, TV and a massive range of merchandise for collectors.

Monday 30 May

• Sainsbury’s has committed to invest an additional £500m by March 2023 in lowering grocery prices, amid growing customer anxiety after food inflation hit 7% in April.
• US based Authentic Brands Group positioned itself as a frontrunner to win the bidding battle for Ted Baker, hiring Bank of America to advise on a £300m deal.

Friday 27 May

• Ted Baker’s group revenue grew 20.5% YoY to £428.2m in the year to 29 January, as social events and office working returns. Underlying pre-tax losses were reduced from £59.2m to £38.4m – an improvement of 31.5%.
• Asda reported a 9.2% slump in like-for-like sales in the three months to 31 March, as the rising cost of living hits consumers’ purchasing power. Food sales for the period were down 7%, while clothing sales dropped 19.3% and general merchandise sales slumped 23.7%.
• Spanish fashion retailer Mango is venturing into beauty by adding Dutch cosmetics brand Rituals to its online platform. The beauty brand will initially launch in the Spanish market, with Mango adding that it has plans to extend the products to selected European markets within the next six months.

Thursday 26 May

• DIY specialist Wickes announced in a trading update that like-for-like sales inched down 0.6% YoY during the first 20 weeks of its fiscal year.
• Frasers Group has sold its Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports chain in the US in a $70m (£55.7m) deal. This represents a $30m (£23.9m) hit for Frasers just five years after it shelled out $101m (£80.4m) to rescue the two chains from bankruptcy.
• John Lewis has made 51 products from its spring/summer collection available to rent through thelittleloop.com. Customers pay a recurring fee, starting from £18 per month to buy credits, which they then use to rent childrenswear items.
• Nike is considering exiting Russia following the nation’s invasion of Ukraine, after not renewing its franchise agreement with Inventive Retail Group (IRG).

Wednesday 25 May

• Marks & Spencer posted an increase in pre-tax profit and adjusted items by 29.7% to £522.9m in the year to 2 April compared to pre-pandemic levels. Revenue during the period rose by 6.9% to £10.9bn, driven by a 10.1% rise in sales of M&S Food.
• Pets at Home reported a 63.3% surge in underlying pre-tax profit to £126.4m in the 53 weeks to end-March, driven by a 15.3% rise in group revenue year-on-year to £1.3bn – up 15.8% in like-for-like terms. The retailer added 1.2 million new shoppers to its customer base in the year, while the number of members of its VIP loyalty scheme rose 18% YoY to 7.3 million. 
• US grocery giant Walmart has scaled up its delivery service with drone operator Droneup, which will see up to 4 million shoppers eligible to use the service later this year. Shoppers are charged $3.99 per delivery with a weight limit of 10lb under the guidance that “if it fits safely it flies”.
• Iceland has agreed in a deal to supply a range of its frozen food products to online retail giant JD.com. The new deal will see JD.com offer a range of Iceland frozen food items to its customers across China.
• URBN, owner of Urban Outfitters, saw its net sales climb 13.4% to £838m for the three months to 30 April. However, the group’s net income came in at £24m compared to £42m in the same period last year.
• Ocado has reported a sales decline of 8% in the two months to 25 April. This compares to a fall of 5.7% in the previous three months, as the rising cost of living impacts grocery spend. The grocer now expects sales growth of less than 5% for the year.

Tuesday 24 May

• Superdrug has frozen prices on 130 of its own-brand products including toothpaste, deodorant and cleansing wipes, while its partnership with Jack Monroe, also known as the Bootstrap Cook, will focus on keeping personal care products affordable.
• EG Group registered a 2% rise in EBITDA to $270m (£215m) and a 25.1% jump in revenue to $6.9bn (£5.5bn) for the three months to 31 March.
• Mamas & Papas is set to open 19 new concessions in Next stores across the UK. The nursery brand already operates 14 concessions with the fashion retailer, on top of 22 standalone stores.
• Topps Tiles saw revenue climb by 15% YoY of £119.2m in the six months to 2 April. The retailer announced the launch of its new online-only business The Tile Warehouse, targeting cash-strapped shoppers with over 70% of its range being less than £20/sqm.

Monday 23 May

• Gymshark posted a £45.4m pre-tax profit for the year to July 2021, compared to £30.4m in 2020. Sales surged 54% to £401.9m, versus £260.7m in 2020.
• THG boss Matt Moulding reportedly would accept an offer of £3bn for his ecommerce business, which is currently being circled by property mogul Nick Candy and private equity firms. THG has rejected several takeover approaches, including a £2.07bn offer from Belerion Capital and King Street.
• Owners of The Very group are allegedly aiming to take the online retailer public for a £4bn valuation. Very has now offered incentives to senior managers in return for leading the business through the IPO process, aiming for mid-2023.
• Greetings card specialist Moonpig has proposed purchasing the entire issued share capital of Buyagift for a cash consideration of £124m.
• Kingfisher recorded a sales decline of 4.2% YoY on a constant basis for the three months to 30 April. On a like-for-like basis, sales contracted by 5.4% over the period. The DIY giant said that this still represented a 16.2% rise in sales compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
• Fashion retailers Ted Baker and Fat Face have made moves in their search for new buyers.  The latter has hired Rothschild to help explore its options including a sale, two years after its private equity owners relinquished control to lenders.
• Weird Fish has partnered with Next and Zalando in an effort to strengthen its overseas reach. It follows a record year of online sales for Weird Fish, with the brand generating £21m of online sales in 2021, compared to £12m in 2020.
• Secret Sales launched new fulfilment service to support brands needing a UK distribution centre.

Friday 20 May

• Iceland has pledged to support the elderly by offering them a 10% discount on a weekly basis, in a bid to ease the cost-of-living crisis for customers. Shoppers can claim this offer in-store every Tuesday by showing proof of age.

Thursday 19 May

• eBay has partnered with reality TV show Love Island to be its fashion partner, with contestants wearing second-hand outfits.
• French Connection launched a clothing rental service on its own website, powered by Hirestreet’s sister platform Zoa.

Wednesday 18 May

• Burberry posted a 4% increase in pre-tax profits to £511m in the year to 2 April. Adjusted operating profit jumped 32% on a reported currency basis to £523m, as sales grew 21% to £2.83bn.
• After winning against rival bidders EG Group, Morrisons is said to have paid an equivalent of £190.1m to rescue the collapsed convenience chain McColl’s.
• Watches of Switzerland’s group revenue rose by 40% to £1.23bn in the year to 1 May after UK and US revenues both increased.

Tuesday 17 May

• After more than 30 years of doing business in Russia, McDonald’s is to sell its Russian business following the country’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
• Property group Landsec, owner of shopping centres such as St David’s in Cardiff and Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, reported that its new operating model had helped its major retail locations lift like-for-like sales 1.1% last year versus 2019/20, and that occupancy rose 170bps to 93.2%.
• Walmart reported a 2.4% rise in sales to $141.6bn (£113.5bn), or up 2.6% in constant currency, over the 13 weeks to 29 April. The grocery giant, however, saw its operating income shrink by 23% to $5.3bn (£4.2bn), due to inflationary pressures and supply chain costs.
• For the 26 weeks running to 2 April, Shoe Zone saw its turnover climb by 73% to almost £70m, and reported pre-tax profit of £3.1m, compared to a £2.6m loss in the first half of 2021.
• Angling Direct posted sales rose by 7.2% to £72.5m in the year to 31 January. The company delivered a pre-tax profit of £4m, which was up from £2.7m in the previous year.

Monday 16 May

• Made.com announced in its latest guidance that in the midst of a challenging trading environment, sales are expected to either remain unchanged or fall as low as 15% YoY for the first half of the year. In these two scenarios, adjusted EBITDA will fall between £35m and £15m.
• Boots has paid $5.3bn (£4.3bn) in dividends to its US parent company Walgreens Boots Alliance.
• In its latest trading update, Greggs reported like-for-like sales rose 27.4% in the first 19 weeks of the year, with stores located in travel and transport locations performing particularly well, while sales in city centres and office-based locations lagged.
• Screwfix will create 800 retail jobs by January as part of plans to open 80 new shops across the UK and Ireland. The DIY specialist opened 70 new shops in 2021, and the additions this year will take its total stores to 870.
• Walgreens Boots Alliance is giving bidders more time to submit final offers for Boots after the three remaining suitors requested more information on recent trading. Walgreens has been seeking £7bn for the retailer, which includes more than 2,200 UK stores, as well as operations in a host of other countries and private-label brands like No7.

Friday 13 May

• Waitrose has reported a statutory loss of £2.3m for the year to 29 January, its first loss in 10 years, as the supply chain crisis and Covid-19 related costs took its toll. Revenue fell 0.9% to £6.8bn in the period.

Thursday 12 May

• Tesco is offering flexible office space with rental company IWG in a trial at a south London store in a bid to repurpose excess store space. Some 3,800 sq ft of space on the grocer’s New Malden store’s mezzanine floor will provide 12 private desks and 30 co-working spaces. Membership is £93 for five days a month and £216 for a full month.
• In a statement to shareholders, JD Sports reported group like-for-like sales rose by ”more than” 5% YoY in the 14 weeks to 7 May. The retailer said the results have been “achieved against a backdrop of a global shortfall in the supply of certain key footwear styles which we expect to improve progressively through the year”, but cautioned of “headwinds that prevail at this time including the general global macro-economic and geopolitical situation”. It expects headline pre-tax profit for its new financial year to be “at least be equal” to that of the year just ended, which is anticipated to come in at some £940m.
• Superdry reported group sales rose 8% YoY to £600m in the year to 23 April, driven by a 59.8% increase in store revenue, while online sales declined 24%. Superdry advanced itsfull-price sales mix by 26 percentage points YoY, which is expected to deliver a 590bps uplift in retail gross margin. However, the retailer remains “cautious on the macroeconomic outlook and the impact of inflation” heading into its 2022/23 financial year.

Wednesday 11 May

• Boots and Superdrug have reported shortages for some of their hay fever medicines, blaming supply chain issues.
• Swedish online discount grocer Motatos has revealed plans to launch in the UK this June. Motatos was launched in Sweden in 2014 and has since expanded to Finland, Denmark, and most recently Germany in 2020.
• Online specialist Beauty Bay has allegedly hired US-based Threadstone Capital to review its options after plans for its IPO have stalled, which could include a sale.
• Fashion retail giant Zara has introduced a £1.95 charge for online customers that return items, with the fee deducted from their refund.

Tuesday 10 May 

• Ikea is set to spend €3bn (£2.6bn) throughout 2023 in an attempt to adapt its out-of-town big-box stores to also serve as ecommerce distribution centres.
• Italian-based luxury resale platform Lampoo is opening a store on London’s King’s Road next month.

Monday 09 May

• Made.com has completed the acquisition of homeware platform Trouva for an undisclosed sum in a bid to accelerate its growth strategy. 
• Morrisons has successfully acquired the embattled convenience store chain McColl’s out of administration. The deal means that all of McColl’s 16,000 staff and 1,100 stores, which include 270 Morrisons Daily formats, will be transferred to Morrisons’ ownership.
• The White Company has revealed that its profits have doubled despite the retailer suffering from a lack of demand. The group made £31m in the year to July 2021, as shoppers bought scented candles, pyjamas, and loungewear amid home working.
• Amazon Fresh is set to open the first UK store outside of London in Sevenoaks, Kent, as it focuses on expanding the retail concept.
• Under Armour suffered an operating loss of $43m (£37.5m) for the quarter to 31 March. Wholesale revenue increased by 4% YoY to $829m (£675m) and direct-to-consumer revenue increased by 1% to $441m (£359m), driven by 2% growth in ecommerce.

Friday 06 May

• Primark is set to expand its sustainable cotton programme, to support its ambition that all cotton in its clothes is made from organic cotton, recycled materials or from a sustainable source by 2027.
• McColl’s has fallen into administration and has appointed PwC as administrators. In a statement, McColl’s said its banks had declined to extend the waiver on its covenants. 
• Revolution Beauty saw a 42% surge in annual revenue to £194m, driven by record sales in its fourth quarter, “achieved against a background of inflationary pressures, including freight- and pandemic-related volatility”. The beauty brand expects its full year adjusted EBITDA to rise 73% YoY to some £22m. 
• Sports Direct opened the doors to its 60,000 sq ft flagship store on Birmingham’s New Street, investing £10m in the UK high street.
• Adidas has signed a new partnership with Foot Locker that will see the retailer become the lead partner for the sporting giant’s basketball category. The deal aims to achieve over $2bn in retail sales by 2025, which will almost be triple the level of 2021.
• Luxury apparel retailer Moncler closed its first quarter with a 29% YoY increase in sales to €473m (£405m).

Thursday 05 May

• Bellwether Next posted that its full-price sales rose 21.3% in the 13 weeks to 30 April. Total online sales were up 47% on three years ago, but down 11% compared to lockdown last year. In-store sales were up 285% YoY, but down 8% on three years ago. Next maintained its full-year pre-tax profit expectations of £850m, which would mark a 3.3% YoY increase.
• Zalando reported sales declined 1.5% YoY to €2.2bn (£1.9bn) in the first quarter, while adjusted group EBIT was down 2.4% to €51.8m (£49.2m) amid “rising inflation and increasing costs for households”.

Wednesday 04 May

• Boohoo’s group revenue increased by 14% YoY to £2bn, and was up 27% across the UK in the year to 28 February. The fashion etailer saw a 28% annual fall in adjusted EBITDA to £125m in the same period.
• The Very Group has partnered with Truefit to offer its customers personalised size and fit guidance across its 300 fashion brands. The move is hoped to lead to a reduction in returns.
• Almost 30% of Ocado’s shareholders voted against the plan to pay CEO Tim Stein £100m over the next five years if it meets share price targets. Despite the shareholders revolt, the controversial pay plan was passed.

Tuesday 03 May

• John Lewis Partnership has unveiled a tech talent recruitment drive. The retailer is seeking engineers “to bring innovation and expertise across a range of technologies”, including software, cloud platform, native app, data, and delivery.
• Issa brothers’ EG Group is said to be in a £12bn merger talk with Canadian convenience stores chain Couche-Tard.
• Card Factory registered a pre-tax profit of £11.1m in the year to 31 January, compared to a £16.4m loss last year. Total revenue surged 28% to £364.4m, but like-for-likes were 3.9% down on pre-pandemic levels.
• JD Sports, Frasers Group, Asos and Shein are allegedly considering takeover bids for Missguided after the etailer admitted it was exploring “strategic options” for its future.
• Tesco has partnered with Uber to accelerate the rollout of its Whoosh rapid grocery delivery proposition. Uber Eats will fulfil Whoosh orders placed on Tesco’s website or its smartphone app from 20 of the grocer’s stores in Edinburgh, Bradford, Norwich, Portsmouth, St Albans and Letchworth.
• Convenience stores chain McColl’s is said to have its shares suspended from the London Stock Exchange, as executives said they would not be able to get their accounts signed off by the auditors in time.
• Private equity giant Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) has offered to sell 87 petrol stations in order to obtain the green light from the Competition and Markets Authority, following its £7bn acquisition of Morrisons supermarket.

Friday 29 April

• Ecommerce giant Amazon posted a net loss of $3.8bn (£3.0bn) in the first quarter compared to an $8.1bn (£6.5bn) profit in the same period last year. Net sales rose by 7% to $116.4bn (£92.9bn) in the period, driven by its web services arm AWS growing 37% YoY in the quarter.
• AO announced a 6% YoY decline in group revenue, but was up 52% on a two-year basis. The retailer expects adjusted EBITDA to be £8m, reflecting the impact of lower sales volumes, higher UK logistics costs and driver shortages across the industry.
• Travis Perkins saw a positive start to the year with sales up 13.6% YoY in the last three months, following strong demand in housing.
• Paperchase owner Permira Credit has called in advisers to oversee a sale of the retailer, a year after it fell into administration. Permira Credit took control of Paperchase after its pre-pack administration in January 2021 and is being put up for sale as PwC is recruited to oversee the process.
• Mango has launched its first fashion start-up accelerator, the Mango StartUp Studio, in collaboration with the IESE Business School. The project will have a budget of €3m (£2.5m) and includes the participation of more than 50 companies.

Thursday 28 April

• Ted Baker has reportedly received a number of proposals from potential, following the launch of a formal sale process earlier this month.
• Indian firm Reliance Industries and US buyout Apollo Global Management have launched a joint bid for Boots, having both previously bid for the retailer separately.
• Sainsbury’s reported a 104% YoY increase in underlying pre-tax profit to £730m in the year to 5 March, despite retail sales (excluding fuel) declining 2.6% to £28.1bn. Grocery sales dipped 0.2% YoY, while general merchandise sales dropped 11.9%. Digital sales declined 11% YoY to £10.8bn in the period.
• Sainsbury’s warned that its annual underlying pre-tax profit is expected to decline by around £100m to between £630m and £690m in its current financial year. It attributes this to: “significant external pressures and uncertainties, including higher operating cost inflation and cost of living pressures, impacting customers’ disposable incomes”.

Wednesday 27 April

• WHSmith posted a pre-tax profit of £11m in the six months to 28 February, compared to a £37m loss a year ago. Total sales came in at £608m over the period.

Tuesday 26 April

• Fashion retail giant Primark said it would be implementing “selective price increases” across some of its autumn/winter stock as energy and labour costs soar.
• Primark registered a 59% YoY surge in sales to £3.5bn and an astonishing 863% jump in adjusted operating profit to £414m for the 24-week period to 5 March.
• Asda announced that from July, it will increase the hourly pay of 120,000 of its workers from £9.66 to £10.10 – 60p more than the living wage.
• Arket has launched third-party brands on its platform for the first time. The fashion retailer has introduced accessories and ready-to-wear – including jackets, vests, and T-shirts – from Swedish outdoor wear and mountaineering brand Klättermusen.

Monday 25 April

• Grocery retailers announced initiatives to cut prices as the cost of living comes under pressure. Morrisons has cut the prices of 500 of its products, while Asda announced a £73m investment to help customers tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
  wns Reebok, Juicy Couture and Forever 21, is reportedly exploring a takeover bid for Ted Baker. 

Friday 22 April

• McColl’s is said to be searching for refinancing options after “mixed trading” since 28 February. The convenience store chain issued a profit warning after a disappointing Easter trading period.
• Superdrug announced it will be freezing the prices of over 100 essential products across personal care, beauty and healthcare to help customers in the current cost of living crisis.
• MusicMagpie revealed that it will begin selling its electronic devices on the online marketplace Back Market. The initiative will provide an additional sales channel for the retailer and will supplement existing sales through its own websites, as well as on Amazon and eBay.
• Authentic Brands Group (ABG), the US giant which o
• FMCG conglomerate Nestlé raised the prices of its products by 5.2% on average in the first three months of this year, but warned that more price hikes were to come.
• Fortuna Frutos UK, a subsidiary of Dutch-based industrial farmer Fortuna Frutos Group, has collapsed into administration as soaring costs heaped pressure on the business, which had struggled during the pandemic.
• Luxury departmental store Harrods has officially opened the doors to its new standalone H Beauty store in Bristol’s The Mall Cribbs Causeway. This is the fourth store the retailer has opened around the UK, with H Beauty shops already operating in Essex, Milton Keynes and Edinburgh, while a fifth new is planned to open in Newcastle later this year.
• Ecommerce platform Shopify is on the verge of acquiring ecommerce start-up Deliverr within the next two weeks. The merger is anticipated to fix Shopify’s fulfilment issues.
• Joules is set to launch Joules ReWear, a clothing takeback and resale scheme allowing shoppers to return worn items for resell.

Thursday 21 April

• The Hut Group (THG) has published a 7% year-on-year increase to £162.3m in adjusted EBITDA for the financial year ended December 31, 2021. Underlying sales rose by 35.1% YoY to reach £2.18bn in the same period.
• EG group plans to create 32,000 jobs worldwide over the next five years as it lays out its global expansion plan.

Wednesday 20 April

• Naked Wines reported a 5% YoY rise in sales on a constant currency basis and up 77% versus two years ago.
• Luxury ecommerce platform Farfetch has launched a beauty marketplace on its website following its acquisition of Violet Grey earlier this year. As part of the beauty launch, Farfetch has also created the Farfetch Beauty Global Collective, a group of brand founders and beauty experts that will focus on transforming the beauty industry.
• Landsec has revealed a new leasing strategy to entice “digitally native” brands and meet retailers’ “rapidly evolving” needs. The landlord will offer its new and existing occupiers four products designed to offer shorter and more flexible lease lengths, reduced upfront fit-out costs for taking a unit, and access to customer insight and footfall data from its centres.
• eBay has successfully launched a platform called “imperfect” that enable shoppers to purchase clothes from leading retailers, that can’t be sold at full price grade due to a defect or manufacturing errors.
• Decathlon has closed a 15-year lease on 30,000 sq ft of ground and first floor space in the six-storey building on Church Street, Liverpool. The sporting goods retailer will open the flagship store at the end of April.

Tuesday 19 April

• Next has teamed up with hedge fund Davidson Kempner to acquire mother-and-baby retailer JoJo Maman Bébé for an undisclosed sum. Each investor is said to have acquired 44% and 56% respectively. JoJo Maman Bébé has 87 retail outlets and 950 employees.
• WH Smiths’ online cards and gift retailer Funky Pigeon has announced that it has taken its system offline and temporarily out of use following a cybersecurity attack last thursday.
• American fashion brand U.S. Polo Assn will open its first UK store at the McArthurGlen designer outlet at Cheshire Oaks. The 2,000 sq ft store was originally planned to open in 2020 but was delayed by the pandemic.
• Fashion retailer Mango has extended the repayment date of its main syndicated loan to 2028. Besides, the apparel retailer has introduced sustainability targets, whereby the cost of the loan will reduce if the Spanish fashion retailer achieves 100% use of sustainable cotton, recycled polyester and cellulose fibres of controlled origin by 2025 and reduces scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by more than 10%.
• Following a record 50% jump in sales for the year to March, Cake Box has revealed plans to expand its kiosk deal with Asda, opening 10 new sites in the supermarket during the year.

Thursday 14 April

• Indian based firm Reliance Industries is said to be in the early stages of exploring a bid for UK health & Beauty retailer Boots. US giant Walgreens kicked off the sale of Boots in January with a £7bn price tag but is also said to be exploring the possibility of an IPO.
• Dunelm posted a 69% rise in sales to £399 in the 13 weeks to March 26. Sales were also up 40% compared with the third quarter in 2020, where the final three weeks were impacted by the onset of the pandemic.

Wednesday 13 April

• Tesco posted a 219.7% rise in pre-tax profit to £2bn in the year to 26 February 2022. Adjusted operating profit climbed 58% to £2.8bn during the financial year, and underlying group sales excluding VAT and fuel rose 2.5% to £54.7bn.
• Boxpark has announced is launching it Boxhaul concept in London next year after agreeing a 15-year lease with the site’s freehold owner TfL.

Tuesday 12 April

• Ebay has committed more than £1m to launch the eBay Business Roadshow, its first ever physical regional roadshow and investment programme in the UK, designed to help small online businesses navigate rising inflation and the impact of the pandemic.
• Marks and Spencer has made available a range of 40 womenswear lines on specialist platform Hirestreet in its latest tie-up with the rental platform. M&S items available include clothing from its Autograph and Per Una ranges, with prices starting from £10. 
• Asos posted an 87% plunge in profits to £14.8m in its half year to 28 February, as it suffered reduced stock availability due to supply chain disruption. The fashion retailer made an operating loss of £4.4m compared to a £109m profit last year.
• Weird Fish has announced that it will freeze the prices of its products this coming spring/summer trading period, as it seeks to help people amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Monday 11 April

• Womenswear label Blue Vanilla has signed a deal with home shopping channel Ideal World to sell its range across its TV, social and web platforms.
• George at Asda has partnered with Netflix to offer a range of fashion and lifestyle products based on the streaming service’s original series.
• According to The Telegraph, a consortium involving private equity firms CVC and Bain withdrew from takeover talks of Boots in March, after suggesting that they would only pay a price tag of £4bn for the retailer. Parent Walgreens has placed a price tag of £7bn on the sale.
• In its latest trading update, Mothercare said its revenue rose by 7% to £385m in the year to 26 March. The retailer said adjusted EBITDA for the year is expected to be in the range of £11.5m and £12m.
• Marks & Spencer has reduced the price of 60 staple foods in its Remarksable Value range amid the rising cost of living.
• Sainsbury’s is increasing the pay for Sainsbury’s and Argos store employees in outer London to the real and London living wage. Store workers in outer London will see their hourly pay increase from £10.50 to £11.05.

Friday 8 April

• Following the Competition and Markets Authority raising concerns about private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice acquisition of Morrisons, the grocery owner has offered to divest a number of the petrol stations to gain approval for the takeover.
• The Co-op group reported a 2.7% drop in annual sales YoY to £11.2bn in the year to 1 January. Pre-tax profit came in at £57m – down £70m on last year and boosted by a one-off gain of £99m from the early settlement of a liability owed to the Co-operative Bank.
• The Co-op has announced its aim to grow online sales this year by another 50% to £300m. The grocery retailer saw online sales reach £200m last year – compared with just £4m two years ago.
• Primark has launched a new customer-facing website. The site enables customers to browse a wide range of Primark’s products with the ability to filter by size and colour. It also includes a feature allowing customers to see the stock levels of each item in their nearest store, using a traffic-light system to indicate availability.
• TM Lewin’s main lender PETRA Group has struck a deal to acquire the retailer after it fell into administration for the second time in less than two years. The apparel retailer has closed all 66 of its physical shops as part of the insolvency, resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs.
• Tesco has revealed plans for a £200m investment in its workers, which will involve increasing hourly pay rates for store and warehouse staff by 5.8%. The base pay for store and customer fulfilment centre workers will increase from £9.55 an hour to £10.10 – effective from 24 July.
• H&M and Ikea have partnered to create an “ideas factory” that aims to promote designers and small-scale manufacturers in London. The joint venture store called Atelier 100 is due to open in May.  Applications to the scheme are open until 24 April. Successful applicants will receive £10,000 to scale their ideas into commercially viable products.

Thursday 7 April

• Boots has extended its Price Advantage discount scheme to more products and online for Advantage cardholders. Boots says customers can benefit from an average saving of £2.65 per product.

Wednesday 6 April

• Iceland is trialling a cut in its minimum order value for free delivery online from £40 to £35, as well as reducing its in store free home delivery service threshold from £25 to £20, as it looks to help shoppers “feeling the pinch” from living costs.
• Gymshark’s proposed expansion with more locally driven regional strategies could lead to 121 job losses and the creation of 100 new roles, as it looks to remove duplication and improve efficiency in the company’s structure. If the proposal is implemented, the retail said the redundancies will occur before the end of July.
• Fast fashion giant Shein has been valued at over $100bn following its latest fundraising round. This is above the market capitalisation of Inditex and H&M combined.
• Farfetch is investing a $200m stake in US department store chain Neiman Marcus as part of a strategic partnership. The cash will be used to “further accelerate growth and innovation through investments in technology and digital capabilities”.

Tuesday 5 April

• Marks & Spencer has partnered with resale platform Dotte, allowing shoppers to buy and sell second-hand childrenswear. As well as money from the sale of unwanted childrenswear, M&S customers would receive a £5 voucher off their next £25 shop for using the service.
• Morrisons’ new owner Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) is looking to sell £500m of the grocer’s portfolio of manufacturing and distribution centres in the UK. It comes as Morrisons warns over the impacts of Ukraine disruption and inflation, with shoppers cutting their spend as living costs rise.
• The Works temporarily shut five shops and suspended store deliveries following a cyber-attack last week, which brought “unauthorised access to computer systems”.

Monday 4 April

• Following a backlash, the Mayor of London will reconsider the decision to approve Marks & Spencer’s planned demolition of its London Marble Arch store amid climate considerations.
• Next month Marks & Spencer is expected to reveal that its joint venture with Ocado is hitting targets, which would trigger a £190m payment to Ocado at the end of next year. It comes as speculation mounts that M&S will is looking to up its stake in Ocado Retail above its current 50% holding.
• Ted Baker is formally putting itself up for sale, following unsolicited bids from private equity firm Sycamore Partners and an unnamed third party.

Thursday 31 March

• H&M reported an 18% YoY increase in net sales on a local currency basis during the three months to 28 February. In constant currencies, net sales grew 23% to SEK 49.2bn (£4bn). The retail giant registered an operating profit of SEK 458m (£38m) during the period, compared with a loss of SEK 1.1bn (£93m) in its first quarter the previous year.
• Landsec has joined-up forces with Completely Retail Marketplace to launch competition offering disruptive businesses a chance to win pop-up space at one of its destinations.
• Danish furniture retail chain JYSK has made the decision to withdraw irrevocably from the Russian market following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Boots reported a 15.2% YoY increase in total sales in the quarter to 28 February, with like-for-likes up by 22%. Online sales were 60% up on pre-Covid levels in the period to account for 15% of total sales. Store footfall rose by 52% YoY.

Wednesday 30 March

• As part of its London transformation plan, Swedish furniture behemoth IKEA is set to close its Tottenham superstore placing 450 jobs at risk. The retailer’s decision comes as part of its £1bn capital investment, as it seeks to bring Ikea closer to “where customers live, shop and socialise”.
• Amazon has stopped using single-use plastic delivery bags across its own UK distribution network as it accelerates its sustainability drive.
• Harrods has introduced late-night dining at its dining hall, which will see some of the venues remain open as late as 11.30pm.
• Lululemon’s sales soared in 2021 despite the challenging economic backdrop, with the business surpassing $6 billion (£4.8bn) in annual revenue for the first time. Revenue grew by 40% YoY in North America and increased 53% internationally.

Tuesday 29 March

• French sporting giant Decathlon has suspended its operations in Russia citing difficulty around supply conditions. While its 60 stores will shut, Decathlon said it will continue to support its 2,500 staff in the nation.
• Net-a-Porter has launched a discount menswear website called The Outnet. The new site launched across Europe, the Middle East and Africa regions (EMEA) and Asia Pacific and will launch in the US this summer.
• Mulberry said its full-year revenue and profit will come in moderately ahead of expectations. The company is intending to announce its full year results on 29 June.
• Superdrug unveiled plans to launch Superdrug Marketplace, an online platform that will feature hundreds of premium and emerging brands. The site is expected to go live in September.
• Frozen food specialist Iceland is reluctantly returning to use palm oil in some own-brand products, as the Ukraine war has sent the price of the alternative sunflower oil soaring.
• WHSmith partnered with Deliveroo on a super-fast delivery trial. Around 600 of WHSmith’s products will be available to be delivered in as little as 20 minutes. The trial begins in Reading and will be rolled out to nine other stores next week covering Richmond, Muswell Hill, Chiswick, Brighton, Cambridge, Oxford, Leeds, St Albans and Guildford.

Monday 28 March

• Asda saw a 42% YoY increase in operating profit to £693.1m in 2021. Total sales across the year edged up 0.5% to £20.4bn, while like-for-likes excluding fuel climbed 0.6%.
• Currys is set to leave its West London headquarters in favour of flexible office, signing a deal with WeWork that will allow staff to work from 50 locations across the country.
• Boots owner Walgreens Boots Alliance has said that an IPO is still on the cards for the health and beauty retailer if takeover plans fall through.
• Lush has opened its first ever 24-hour automated retail experience at Coal Drops Yard in Kings Cross, London. The vending machine will offer a variety of Lush’s fresh handmade cosmetic products and gifts.
• Ted Baker confirmed that it has received and rejected two unsolicited non-binding takeover proposals from private equity firm Sycamore Partners for a takeover of the clothing brand. The retailer said that the rejection was because it “significantly undervalued” the company.

Friday 25 March

• Asda has extended its loyalty programme to more stores and launched a Just Essentials budget range across 300 products, amid the cost-of-living crisis.
• Wickes posted a 71.7% YoY surge in adjusted pre-tax profit to £85m in the year to 1 January, while sales rose 14% to £1.53bn. The company attributed the performance to factors including market share gains in core areas, a strong digital proposition and a strengthened position with trade customers.
• Following a pilot in 12 stores, Marks & Spencer is introducing Jaeger at 14 destination branches, including Braehead, Hedge End and London’s Pantheon branch next month. The retailer will also run an international trial in shops in Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore later this year. The brand is sold online in 80 countries.

Thursday 24 March

• Amazon has released its first-ever fully electric fleet of HGVs in the UK as it looks to become net-zero by 2040. The retail giant said the five 37-tonne vehicles have started operating from its fulfilment centres in Milton Keynes and Tilbury.
• Next saw its pre-tax profit hit to £823m in the year ending January 2022, a 10% rise on pre-pandemic levels and more than doubling its 2020/21 earnings. Total sales hit £4.86bn during the period, a jump of 34.1% YoY and 11.5% on a two-year basis.
• Next expects its prices in the second half of the year to increase by 8%, up from 6% previously (a combination of 6.5% on fashion and 13% on homeware and furniture). Next reduced its central profit guidance for 2022/23 by £10m to £850m (-1.2%), impacted by the closures on Ukrainian and Russian businesses.
• Fenwick has unveiled plans for a £40m multi-year investment in its Newcastle flagship store as it celebrates its 140th anniversary. The upgrades to the store will be carried out in phases over the next five years.

Wednesday 23 March

• Nike posted a 5% increase in its third-quarter revenue to $10.9bn (£8.2bn) YoY, up 8% on a constant currency basis. Online sales increased 19% YoY, up 22% in constant currency terms, and driven by a 33% spike in sales across North America.
• Marks & Spencer has opened its regional 50,000 sq ft flagship store in Woking’s new Victoria Place development.
• The White Company has opened a new concept store in Leicestershire's Market, Harborough.
• Lanvin Group, the Shanghai-based owner of luxury brands including French fashion house Lanvin and Italian shoemaker Sergio Rossi, has partnered with Chinese special purpose acquisition company Primavera Capital Acquisition Corporation for an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange. The deal is said to be valued at $1.5bn (£1.1bn).
• US luxury lifestyle brand Frame has this month opened its first UK-based retail store in South Kensington’s Draycott Avenue, London.
• Zara is opening a new 48,800 sq ft store in Battersea's new retail, home and leisure development later this year.

Tuesday 22 March

• ScS reported a pre-tax loss of £3.6m and an operating loss of £1.8m in the 26 weeks to 26 January. The retailer registered a 4% decline in revenue to £146m and a 5.3% slip in gross sales to £152m.
• Kingfisher posted a record pre-tax profit of more than £1bn for the year to 31 January, marking a 33% YoY rise. Revenue increased by 6.8% to £13.2bn in the period, with like-for-like sales up 9.9%.
• Timpson posted pre-tax profits of £24.5m for the 12 months to September 25, 2021, up from losses of £10.7m in the prior year. Turnover also increased from £209.3m to £212.2m.
• Dobbies has been granted planning permission for a new 110,000 sq ft garden centre in Northern Ireland. The £10m project at The Junction, a Lotus Property-owned retail and leisure park, will be Dobbies’ second venture in Northern Ireland.
• British womenswear label Me+Em has raised a £55m investment from growth-stage technology fund Highland Europe, which will be used to accelerate expansion in the US, followed by continental Europe, Australia and the Middle East.

Monday 21 March

• UK commercial property giants British Land and Landsec are considering making an £800m asset swap in a bid to revive their respective share prices. Under the proposal, Landsec would take British Land’s 50% stake in Meadowhall in return for 10 of its retail parks.
• Boots executives are said to have met with prospective bidders for the acquisition of the health and beauty chain that has a £7bn price tag. American private equity firms Apollo and Sycamore Partners have shown interest, as well as new Asda owners TDR Capital and the billionaire Issa brothers.

Friday 18 March

• US-based private equity giant Sycamore Partners has confirmed its interest for struggling fashion retailer Ted Baker.  The apparel retailer has a market capitalisation of £170m, with shares surging 8% at the close of trading on Thursday following interest from the private equity firm.   
• TM Lewin fell into administration for the second time since the pandemic begun. TM Lewin said pandemic restrictions and hybrid working continued to have negative impacts on its finances.
• Homebase has partnered with Tesco to provide a range of DIY products including paint, power tools and homewares, as well as seasonal items such as outdoor furniture and garden decorations in Tesco stores.
• Rapid delivery service firm Getir saw their valuation climb to $11.8bn following the latest $768m investment from the Emirati sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Company.

Thursday 17 March

• Deliveroo posted a pre-tax loss of £298.2m in 2021. Adjusted EBITDA fell to a loss of £131m compared with £11m loss in the year prior, which Deliveroo attributed to increased marketing spend and technology investment. Revenue for the year however rose by 57% to £1.8bn, while the number of orders surged 73% to 300.6 million.
• Ocado registered a 5.7% YoY drop in revenue to £564.7m for the first quarter covering the 13 weeks to 27 February. Average basket size also declined to £124, a decrease of 15% compared with 2021 when the UK was in lockdown.
• TM Lewin is reportedly at the brink of administration as it considers lining up advisers to handle the process. Lenders to the company are considering the appointment of Interpath Advisory to handle the insolvency process.
• Abercrombie & Fitch has announced the launch of its all-new activewear sub-brand YPB, which stands for Your Personal Best.
• Hammerson has finalised the sale of its Silverburn shopping centre near Glasgow in a £140m deal. The deal on the 1.1 million sq ft centre in Glasgow was agreed in an off-market transaction in December.

Wednesday 16 March

• Zara’s owner Inditex saw annual sales surge by 36% to €27.7bn in the year to 31 January, up 3% on 2019 levels on a local currency basis. Net profit skyrocketed 193% YoY to €3.24bn in the period.
• Inditex has introduced price rises across its different brands in line with cost inflation. The apparel giant said that prices have been hiked for its spring/summer collection for this year as the cost of raw materials impacted the business.
• Crew Clothing has revealed plans to open 8 to 12 new stores this year as it looks to acquire units in market towns and coastal locations.
• Boohoo Group has introduced an in-house textile and apparel laboratory at its Manchester head office. The online retailer said it wants the lab to give suppliers better visibility of product performance.
• Joe Browns has introduced a new loungewear and pyjama collection called Sloe Joes to tap into the trend of consumers dressing for comfort. Prices will range between £20 and £60.
• UK based fishing specialist Angling Direct announced that its new European distribution centre is now fully operational and despatching to customers across the EU. The company said the 3,940 square metre facility in Venlo, south Netherlands marks a significant milestone in the company’s international omni-channel growth strategy.  

Tuesday 15 March

• Ocado has signed an agreement to expand its grocery solutions with Auchan Retail and expand into Poland. As part of the partnership, Auchan Poland and Ocado have laid out plans to build a customer fulfilment centre in the Warsaw region, beginning in 2024, with plans for additional CFC locations later down the line.
• DFS reported a 70% plunge in pre-tax profits to £22m for the 26-week period to 26 December. Sales dropped by 2% to £561m over the period.
• Virgin Wines posted a 5.8% YoY decline in pre-tax profit to £3.2m over the six months to end-December.  Sales were broadly in line YoY at £40.6m but were up 55% compared with two years earlier.
• Currys has raised the minimum wage of its staff to £10 as the cost of living continues to rise. The 5.2% increase was the second in less than a year and is expected to benefit about 10,000 staff.
• H&M posted a 23% YoY increase in sales to 49.17bn Swedish kronor (£3.93bn) in its first quarter to 28 February.

Monday 14 March

• Marks & Spencer has announced it will open Early Learning Centre outlets in a handful of stores by the end of this month, in a bid to bolster its appeal to family shoppers.
• Joules is close to completing the last payments needed to acquire home and garden retailer Garden Trading. The lifestyle retailer acquired Garden Trading in January 2021 for £9m.

Friday 11 March

• Ted Baker has signed a franchise agreement with Aldrich Group that will see the company open 30 new stores for Ted Baker over the next decade.
• Tesco has launched an exclusive frozen range with Italian restaurant chain Zizzi. Customers can buy the 10-product range from all of the retailer’s supermarkets and convenience stores.
• As part of its continued long-term growth strategy in North America, Pandora has acquired 37 franchise store locations in the US and Canada from Ben Bridge Jeweler, a high-end American watch and jewellery retailer that was Pandora’s largest franchisee in North America.
• Amazon is reportedly expected to confirm an unconditional approval from the EU antitrust commission for the $8.5bn acquisition of US movie studio MGM.
• Topps Tiles has taken a 60% majority stake worth £5.3m in a family-owned tiling supply business called Pro Tiler.
• Fast fashion retailer Mango reported 21.3% sales growth to £1.8bn in 2021, with online accounting for 42% of turnover. Net profit rose to £56m in the period, treble the £17.6m recorded in 2019.
• Yoox Net-a-Porter is extending its resale offer to Mr Porter, the group’s luxury men’s online retailer. The launch marks the first time a leading online luxury retailer has introduced a dedicated service to resell menswear.

Thursday 10 March

• Boohoo posted a 7% rise in net sales YoY in the fourth quarter to 28 February, up 48% on a two-year basis. Full-year sales growth came in at 14% on the previous year and 61% on two years ago. Adjusted EBITDA for the full year was £125m, in line with market expectations.
• John Lewis Partnership reinstated staff bonuses at 3% of salary following a strong performance. The department store retailer recorded a profit before exceptional items of £181m in the year to 29 January, up 38% compared with the previous year and 111% on two years ago.
• B&Q has launched an ecommerce marketplace as it aims to expand its online range to more than 1 million homes. The DIY giant has already signed up 17 third-party sellers, including Black & Decker, Breville and Osram, to sell through the marketplace.

Wednesday 09 March

• Greggs boss Roger Whiteside refused to rule out further price increases across the board as governments sanctions on Russia is set to increase energy prices further. He anticipates inflation hitting as high as 7% this year.
• The UK government announced that it would cut imports of Russian oil by the end of this year. Commodity and fuel prices are likely to rise, and disposable income could plunge at a rate not experienced since 1955, the BBC reported.
• Sportswear giant Adidas posted group net sales increased 15.2% YoY to €21.2bn (£17.64bn) in the year to 31 December 2021. On a currency neutral basis sales increased by 16% on the previous year. Operating profit increased 166.3% to €1.98bn (£1.65bn).
• Next has signed a new 10-year lease with Manchester's Trafford Centre to create a larger store, expected to open in November 2022. The new store will upsize the brand’s 40,000 sq ft store in the centre, bringing its fashion, beauty, and home offering together in a single 65,000 sq ft store.
• Digital shopping platform Apparelle is set to launch on 21 March. The platform would sell a selection of women’s activewear and athleisure brands.
• Sportswear specialist Lululemon has announced it will release four women's footwear styles this year and has planned to launch a men’s footwear collection in 2023.
• Barcelona-based fashion brand Desigual has permanently closed its store on London's Regent Street.

Tuesday 08 March

• Online premium butcher Farmison & Co intends to accelerate growth after investor Inverleith acquired a majority stake in the business.
• Marks & Spencer has acquired full ownership of activewear platform The Sports Edit as it builds its digital operations and strengthens its presence in the fast-growing category.
• Uniqlo has promised to keep Uniqlo’s Russian stores open despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Greggs registered a £146m in pre-tax profits for the 53 weeks to 1 January, compared to a £14m loss in 2020. Total sales rose 5.3% compared with 2019 levels to £1.23m, while like-for-like sales in company-managed shops were down 3.3% on 2019 levels.
• Furniture specialist Made.com reported a pre-tax loss of £31m for the 12 months running to 31 December, a further decline from the loss of £15m reported in the same period last year. However, revenue rose by 50% in the year to £372m. The retailer announced that it was “adversely affected by industry-wide global freight inflation and supply chain disruption”.

Monday 07 March

• Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has upped its stakes in Hugo Boss. The retail group now owns 4.5% of Hugo Boss’ total share capital worth £390m and 13.7% of shares via the sale of put options.
• Cosmetics specialist Beauty Space NK has partnered with Walmart to make available its products on Walmart’s website and in almost 250 Walmart stores across the US. Beauty Space NK will be curated by Space NK and will include over 600 products from 15 different brands.
• Inditex, Burberry and Harrods are among the latest Western brands to temporarily pull out of Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Friday 04 March

• Amazon has launched its own label called Amazon Aware. The label ranges across several categories like clothing, home, beauty, and household essentials that entirely comprises of “consciously created” products certified to meet sustainability criteria at affordable prices.
• TK Maxx’s parent company TJX Companies has announced it would sell its 25% stake in the Russian value retailer Familia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Thursday 03 March

• Amazon has announced the closure of its 68 physical bookshops and 4-star stores across the US and UK to focus on its grocery and department store concepts.
• UK grocers Waitrose, Ocado, Morrisons and Marks & Spencer have formed a partnership committing to the roll-out of refill stations across their store estates in a bid foster sustainability in grocery retail.
• H&M and Boohoo have stopped sales in Russia and Ukraine following the invasion.
• In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ikea has closed its stores in Russia and parent company Ingka Group has paused imports and exports in and out of Russia and Belarus.

Wednesday 02 March

• Asos has announced the suspension of its activities in Russia following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cities. Asos also suspended sales in Ukraine as it became impossible to serve customers there.
• Hotel Chocolat reported a 56% increase in pre-tax profit to £24.1m and a 40% increase in revenue to £142.9m in the period covering the 26 weeks to 26 December.
• Holland & Barrett has insisted its operations will not be impacted by sanctions placed on its Russian oligarch investors, who have now stepped down from owner LetterOne’s board.

Tuesday 01 March

• To boost customer adoption of its shopping app, Marks & Spencer launched a ‘Big Sparks Giveaway’ campaign which will reward app users with the opportunity to win £1.5m of gift cards, 4.5 million free products – including from third-party brands – and free shopping.
• Poundland has successfully acquired discount etailer Poundshop.com for an undisclosed amount, making a significant step in the retailer’s plan to build a nationwide online presence.
• Sainsbury’s announced that it would close 200 in-store cafes by the spring, putting some 2,000 roles at risk of redundancy. The grocer will instead roll out a further 30 of its Restaurant Hub food hall formats and a further 30 Starbucks coffee shops over the next year as it looks to redevelop its in-store and delivery food offerings.
• Waterstones has acquired the UK’s largest independent bookseller Blackwell’s for an undisclosed amount. Blackwell’s, which operates 18 bookshops, will continue to trade under its own brand following the acquisition.
• Zalando posted 11.3% growth in group’s adjusted EBIT to €468.4m (£391.4m) in 2021, spurred by a 29.7% surge in revenue to €10.4bn (£8.7bn).
• Boohoo has pledged to offer a female-owned business the opportunity to win £50,000 worth of marketing support. The initiative takes place ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, which celebrates the cultural, political and socioeconomic achievements of women.

Monday 28 February

• Asos sent out letters to some of its suppliers requesting a 2% discount on ordered goods, in an attempt to share the inflation burden. In return for a 2% discount, Asos will reduce payment terms for some of its own-brand Asos Design suppliers from 60 to 45 days to generate better cash flow.
• Tesco has expanded its rapid delivery partnership with Gorillas into the north of England, fulfilling customer orders from its Stretford Extra store. Gorillas said customers in the Manchester area would be “able to order a large range of Tesco products to their door within minutes.”
• Convenience store group McColl’s group is in talks with its banks to secure finance. Also, the retailer has received indications of interest for buying parts of the business.
• Sales at fashion giant Primark surged by 60% year-on-year in its first half against Covid closures in the previous year. Parent company ABF also reported that operating profit margin had “recovered strongly” and is now likely to come in at about 11% in the period to 5 March 2022.
• Lush has confirmed the safety of all its staff in Ukraine, but that 15 stores across the country have been closed as Russian troops advance on major cities.

Friday 25 February

• Farfetch reported a 35% increase in revenue to $2.3bn (£1.7bn) for the full year running to 31 December 2021. Elsewhere, gross merchandise value (GMV) rose 33% year-on-year to $4.2bn (£3.1bn), up 98% on pre-pandemic levels.
• Fast fashion etailer Shein has shelved its planned New York IPO listing due to volatile capital markets following Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
• Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has bought Studio Retail out of administration for £26.8m, saving 1,500 jobs. Ashley said the previous leadership of Studio “buried its head in the sand whilst the world around it changed” and said the UK corporate governance regime was “clearly unfit for purpose”.
• John Lewis is removing its Never Knowingly Undersold promise this summer amid online competition. The retailer is instead investing £500m in prices – up a quarter on last year’s investment.

Thursday 24 February

• Studio Retail Group formerly appointed Teneo as an administrator.
• The deadline for indicative bids for the health and beauty giant Boots is today. Private-equity houses TDR Capital, Apollo, Bain Capital, CVC Capital Partners have all shown interest in the deal valued at £8bn.
• French luxury conglomerate LVMH has allegedly engaged in discussions to acquire luxury fashion brand Ralph Lauren, as its founder explores a succession plan.
• Ahead of the government scrapping free Covid testing, Boots has begun selling lateral flow tests for £5.99, while LloydsPharmacy has started offering five Covid lateral flow tests for the price of £9.49.
• Toys ‘R’ Us is expected to return to the UK this year, after it fell into administration in 2018.

Wednesday 23 February

• Marks & Spencer has partnered with cosmetics brand Clinique to sell 500 of its best products both in-store and online.
• Ted Baker reported a 35% rise in sales YoY in the 12 weeks to 29 January. The fashion retailer has signed a franchise agreement which will see three new UK stores opening each year for the next three years.
• Monsoon Accessorize has returned to profit following a successful restructuring strategy. Revenue came in at £196m in the year to end-December, while EBITDA stood at £17.4m. By the end of the period, the business was debt-free with net cash of £15m.
• Tesco has extended its partnership with on-demand grocery firm Gorillas to Manchester.
• Maternity wear Seraphine warned that EBITDA for the year ending in April is expected to be "significantly" below current expectations amid increasing cost challenges at around £4.5m. This compares with a previous forecast of £6.2m.
• Sustainable clothing brand Pangaia said it is committed to reaching net-zero operations by 2025 (scope 1) and net-zero carbon by 2040 (scope 1, 2 and 3).
• H&M has partnered with charity Stemettes to get women and non-binary people into roles across science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). The scheme includes panel and networking opportunities, as well as one-to-one mentoring from STEM role.

Tuesday 22 February

• Following a successful trial period, Iceland has expanded its partnership deal with Uber Eats. Under the terms of the new deal, Iceland will launch a further 200 stores across the country on Uber Eats from April 2022.
• Fashion retailer New Look will open its first ever clearance store this week at The Boulevard outlet centre in Northern Ireland.

Monday 21 February

• US private equity giant Fortress Investment Group is lining up a £5bn bid for petrol forecourts operator Motor Fuel Group (MFG) which is currently owned by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).
• Frasers Group is planning to sell 16 assets in a deal valued at £320m. The retail property portfolio offered for sale includes retail parks in Wigan, Cheshunt, Aberdeen, Thurrock and Cheetham Hill, near Manchester.
• The Boxpark retail, dining and leisure concept has seen total revenue more than double from £4.7m in 2019 to £9.5m in 2021.

Friday 18 February

• Luxury retail group Kering reported revenue growth of 34.7% YoY to £14.7bn in 2021. Strong growth was driven by accelerated sales at its Gucci brand.
• Pret a Manger is seeking to delay debt repayments of extra funds borrowed during the challenging pandemic period. The sandwich seller has until June to repay £66.7m in loans after it extended its financing facilities to help it get through a difficult period. A separate £605m loan facility is due to expire in summer next year.
• Ocado struck a joint venture with partner Groupe Casino to offer its technology to other French grocers and pick from the group’s stores. It releases Ocado from an exclusivity agreement with Casino, allowing the firm to explore other partnership opportunities in France.

Thursday 17 February

• Amazon has agreed a deal that will see it continue to accept payments from Visa credit cards, following a dispute with Visa over rising payment fees.
• Shopify’s total revenue rose by 57% YoY to $4.6bn (£3.38bn) in 2021, while gross profit rose 61% to $2.4bn (£1.77bn). However, it warned that growth would slow down in the first half of 2022 against “Covid-triggered acceleration of ecommerce” last year. Shopify is now looking to diversify by investing in its Fulfilment Network to assist merchants with logistics.
• Dettol and Durex parent Reckitt Benckiser has said additional costs this year were likely to rise even more than the £550m increase it faced in 2021. It said it would protect profitability through price rises, productivity savings and changes in the type of products sold.
• Nestlé reported that underlying sales rose 7.5% to SFr87bn (£69.5bn) in 2021, with a 2 percentage point rise coming from price increases. It expects underlying growth of 5% in 2022, with inflationary pressure being passed on to consumers as spending recovers from the pandemic.

Wednesday 16 February

• Marks & Spencer announced all store staff will earn at least £10 per hour from April amid labour shortages.
• Reiss unveiled its new website, now hosted on the Next Total Platform, with the cut-off time for next day delivery extended by four hours to 11pm and its cost reduced to £5. It also offers free next day click and collect to 600 locations, up from 50 previously. Refunds of online returns to Reiss stores are now immediate.
• Next launched a new womenswear brand, Friends Like These, targeting “fashion aware” 25- to 50-year-olds exclusively on Next’s website. 
• Heineken warned that “off the charts” cost inflation will push up its prices and said there’s growing risk of shortages.

Tuesday 15 February

• Waitrose is relaunching its myWaitrose loyalty scheme on 23 February to give shoppers “even more personalised offers and discounts”.

Monday 14 February

• The Competition and Markets Authority fined JD Sports and Footasylum £4.7m for sharing commercially sensitive information during an investigation by the watchdog.
• Studio Retail Group collapsed into administration after it failed to secure a £25m loan. It follows two profit warnings in as many months, after suffering supply chain delays leading to surplus stock and “some margin erosion as we cleared some seasonal stock that could not be carried forward”. 
• Prospective buyers for Boots have been given until the end of February to place first-round bids.
• Reportedly “fantastic” Christmas sales has led John Lewis Partnership to surpass its £100m annual profit target. This could see staff receive an annual bonus in March – some 18 months since the last bonus was paid out in 2020. It will announce a financial update next month.

Friday 11 February

• Waitrose is extending its partnership with Deliveroo with a new Hop rapid delivery service. A dedicated Hop delivery-only store will open in London’s Bermondsey this month, offering 1,000 Waitrose products on Deliveroo’s app for delivery in just 10 minutes.

Thursday 10 February

• Watches of Switzerland reported its group sales rose 28% YoY and 37% on two years to £348m for its third quarter to 30 January. Group profit in the nine-month period to date was £934m.

Wednesday 9 February

• The Competition and Markets Authority is now recognising Amazon as a grocery retailer – subject to a set of industry rules under the Groceries Market Investigation Order, applying to retailers with an annual turnover of over £1bn in grocery sales.
• Greggs has partnered with Primark to launch a clothing range, including 11 limited edition pieces, with plans to open a Greggs café in the apparel retailer’s Birmingham store.
• Dunelm’s total sales increased by 10.6% to £796.5m in its half year to 25 December, with digital sales accounting for 33% of sales. Its pre-tax profit rose by 25.3% to £140.8m in the period.
• L’Oréal reported that it expects supply chain and inflationary pressures to ease from mid-2021. The group posted sales of €32.2bn in 2021 and an operating profit of €6.2bn.

Tuesday 8 February

• Joules reported that group sales rose by 35% YoY and 15% on a two-year basis to £127.9m in the six months to 28 November. Its pre-tax profit tumbled to £2.6m in the period from £3.7m last year. Although the retailer bolstered its mix of full-price sales and higher-margin store sales rose 80% YoY, it was “offset by significant increases to freight costs and outbound Brexit duties and taxes”.
• Ocado group sales rose by 7.2% to £2.5bn in the year to 28 November. Group EBITDA declined to £61m from £73.1m last year as it invested in technology. Retail sales in venture with Marks & Spencer increased by 4.6% to £2.3bn – up 41.5% on two years ago.

Monday 7 February

• Asda committed to ensuring the availability of its budget Smart Price and Farm Stores ranges across its 581 stores and online, following criticism by Jack Monroe of grocers removing value ranges and increasing prices.
• Tesco chair John Allan has warned that grocery prices could rise as much as 5% by spring, amid rising energy costs.

Friday 4 February

• Music Magpie is expanding its rental subscription services to new categories including tablets, games consoles and Apple MacBooks, having first introduced a smartphone rental subscription service in October 2020.
• Amazon UK sales rose by 20.5% to $31.91bn (£23.22bn) in 2021. Group sales were up 22% to $469.8bn (£341.75bn), while its pre-tax profit margin increased to 8.1%.
• Boohoo launched its own beauty range, comprising 50 products with a cruelty-free pledge, as it looks to become a one-stop-shop for all things fashion, beauty and lifestyle.

Thursday 03 February

• ScS expects to announce its interim results in March 2022. The retailer is on track to meet its full year expectations after it traded well throughout the winter sale period. As of January 29, its order book was double the amount posted in January 2020 at £148m.
• Virgin Wines issued a profit warning amid “uncertain trading and macro environment, coupled with numerous headwinds in relation to increased cost pressure”. The retailer reported a 55% increase in sales to £40.5m in the half year to 31 December.
• Ikea plans to hire more than 150 data and technology roles across Europe this year.

Wednesday 02 February

• Next has launched its own range of skincare products called Woah. The range features 16 skincare products at present, all of which are vegan-friendly.
• Amazon UK has announced that it is recruiting for the 1,500 new roles. The roles will be spread across more than 40 areas at Amazon including engineering, health and safety.
• Sustainable activewear retailer Tala has reportedly raised £4.2m in funding. The new investment will be used to develop inventory, hiring new staff and pursing international growth.
• Sustainable underwear start-up Pantee has raised £190,000 in funding, which it will use to invest in a bigger team and grow brand awareness.
• Quiz has partnered with The Very Group enabling it to ship some products directly to The Very Group customers through the group’s new ‘stockless fulfilment’ model. 

Tuesday 01 February

• Tesco has announced that is moving overnight stock replenishment to the daytime in 85 stores. The move is expected to put more than 1,400 roles at risk.
• New Look published an update to its Sustainability Strategy, including a new commitment to become a ‘climate positive’ business by 2040. 
• Joules Group posted its revenue increased 31% YoY for the nine weeks to 30 January. When compared with the same period in 2020, sales were up 19%. However, its pre-tax profit is expected to fall short of board’s expectation as declining footfall, supply chain disruption and delays in inventory impacts its performance.

Monday 31 January

• Tesco announced that it will be closing its seven short-lived Jack’s store format and cutting hundreds of counters, putting 130 jobs across the business at risk.
• Ann Summers announced it returned to profit over the year to June 2021, as sales rose 9.3% to £113.8m. It is now exiting its Company Voluntary Agreement it previously entered with landlords at the end of 2020.
• Walgreens Boots Alliance is planning to send preliminary information on Boots to potential suitors ahead of first-round bids due in the coming week. Buyout firm Sycamore Partners is understood to have joined existing bidders for Boots.
• Supreme parent company VF Corporation has announced that it now expects revenue in the region $11.85bn for the fiscal year ending 1 April, down from a prior view of $12bn.
• Studio Retail Group has warned its profits are set to be lower than market expectations and that it will be looking to raise prices. The online value retailer is now expecting adjusted pre-tax profit for the full year to be in a range of £28m to £30m.

Friday 28 January

• The Competition and Markets Authority has launched a probe into the acquisition of the Morrisons supermarket chain by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. The US private equity firm owns around 900 UK petrol stations as part of its Motor Fuel company, whilst Morrisons has around 335.
• Apple is introducing a new service that will let SMEs accept contactless payments directly via iPhone. The move from Apple – which is expected to launch in the coming months – will essentially turn the iPhone into a payment terminal.
• AllSaints registered a 19% rise in sales in the 11 months to December 2021, despite lockdowns hitting first quarter sales. Strong cost control and stellar online sales growth helped it achieve an operating profit of £700,000 over the year. It had made £9.4m the prior year.
• Marks & Spencer has launched a live online shopping service run by software partner Lisa. The service enables shoppers to stream a Q&A session hosted by an M&S expert and an external influencer, with the option for shoppers to purchase products as they view. M&S said live shopping services are expected to account for between 10% and 20% of global ecommerce by 2026.
• H&M reported a profit after financial items of SEK14.3bn (£1.14bn) in the year to 30 November – a some sevenfold increase on the previous year’s earnings of SEK2bn (£163.1m). The fashion giant saw its group sales rise 6% in constant currencies to SEK198.97bn (£15.8bn) during the financial year.

Thursday 27 January

• Dr Martens recorded an 11% YoY increase and a 21% Yo2Y rise in revenue for the quarter to 31 December. Its DTC sales grew 33% over the period to represent 64% of the overall mix.
• AO.com reported a 45% increase in group revenue on a two-year basis in its third quarter to 31 December. However, sales dropped by 14% YoY in the quarter.
• Adidas has revealed plans to hire 2,800 employees in 2022, in a bid to backfill vacancies and create new roles. More than 900 positions will be based in Adidas retail stores, while some 500 positions across the digital, IT and data and analytics departments, as well as hires across its sustainability department.
• Victoria’s Secret & Co has sold a 49% stake in its China business to Hong Kong-based lingerie maker Regina Miracle International Ltd for $45m. The agreement between the two companies is expected to close in Q1 2022.
• Lingerie brand Savage x Fenty has reportedly secured investment totalling $125m (£93.13m) in its latest funding round.

Wednesday 26 January

• Pets at Home like-for-like group sales rose 8.7% to £319.4m in the 12 weeks to 30 December, while on a two-year basis sales rose 28.1%. The retailer said it planned to mitigate supply chain cost pressure “through a series of planned initiatives targeting rent reductions, procurement savings and operational efficiencies across our business”.
• Boohoo has started production at its new 23,000 sq ft factory on Thurmaston Lane in Leicester. The facility has the capacity to make up to 25,000 garments per week and will create 180 new jobs for the retailer.
• Ocado has unveiled a new suite of technological innovations for its Ocado Smart Platform (OSP), which the CEO believes will be “game-changing” to enable shorter delivery times and lower operating costs.
• Next is set to open a 94,000 sq ft department store in Atria Watford that brings together its fashion, beauty and home offer for the first time, including a connecting 4,500 sq ft Victoria’s Secret shop in which Next owns a majority stake in the UK.
• Klarna has announced it is launching a physical card in the UK through Visa. The card utilises the company’s ‘buy now, pay later’ product and lets users defer payments on their purchases both in-store and online.

Tuesday 25 January

• Rapid delivery start-up Gorillas is accelerating its expansion plans across Europe. The company is said to be in acquisition talks with French firm Frichti.
• Turkish ultra-fast delivery firm Getir has announced plans to create 6,000 new jobs in the UK. The company has promised that its new hires will be brought on as full-time employees and paid the real living wage.
• Unilever is set to slash thousands of jobs in more than 100 countries around the world, a week after its failed $50bn (£37bn) bid for the health division of GlaxoSmithKline.
• Retail giant Walmart has invested in San Francisco based vertical farming start-up Plenty. Walmart’s investment is part of a $400m (£296m) funding round for Plenty led by One Madison Group and JS Capital, with participation from SoftBank Vision Fund.
• Chinese fast fashion retailer Shein has allegedly hired Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan to lead a $50bn IPO in New York.
• Kering is set to offload its watches division in a move that will allow the French luxury goods company to focus on other activities.

Monday 24 January

• Decathlon UK has partnered with fashion rental platform Hirestreet to launch its first clothing rental collection. Rental costs for each item will range from £15 to £50 for a four-day period, while the items typically retail for between £60 and £200.

Friday 21 January

• Primark vowed not to change the prices of its products despite mounting inflationary pressure. The value fashion retailer however announced that it will axe around 400 employees.
• Aldi has suspended its delivery partnership with Deliveroo, as easing coronavirus restrictions have led to shoppers returning to its stores.
• Books and stationary specialist The Works saw its pre-tax losses narrow to £1m in the 26 weeks to 31 October, down from £4.3m for the same period in 2020, while revenue climbed 30.6% increase to £116.1m.

Thursday 20 January

• Superdry group sales soared 19.6% in the 11 weeks to 8 January, but were down 11.7% on a two-year basis. The retailer drove full-price sales during the period by not holding an end-of-season Sale. Resultantly, gross margin improved 4.1 percentage points in the period.
• Superdry group sales dipped 1.9% YoY to £277.2m in the 26 weeks to 23 October, and were down 24.9% on a two-year basis. The retailer reported an adjusted pre-tax  loss of £2.8m in the period, from £10.6m a year earlier. However, it boasted a statutory profit of £4m in the half year period, compared with an £18.9m loss in the previous year.
• Primark sales jumped 35% YoY in the 16 weeks to 8 January. On a two year basis, total sales fell 5% while like-for-likes dropped 11% in the period, with stores in retail parks the only destinations report growth.
• Primark is simplifying its retail management team, which is set to see 400 shop floor jobs axed.
• Primark is launching a new website by the end of March, which will showcase products and allow shoppers to check store stock.

Wednesday 19 January

• Iceland has assured its customers it will keep the price of 60 of its £1 value lines fixed to ease the cost of living, as UK inflation reaches a near 30-year high of 5.4%.
• In The Style registered a net sales rise of 21.5% to £11.2m the eight weeks to 31 December, up 225.9% on a two-year basis. The retailer’s gross order value rose 41.14% during the period against strong comparatives.
• Burberry posted 5% YoY sales growth in the 13 weeks to 25 December, and up 7% on a like-for-like basis. On a two-year basis, total like-for-like sales declined 3% due to a “planned exit of markdown across mainline and digital”. The luxury retailer now expects full-year adjusted operating profit to rise 35% YoY.
• WHSmith saw its group sales decline 15% on a two-year comparison in the 20 weeks to 17 January. Sales across its high street division fell 13% in the period, while travel sales declined 17%.
• Aldi narrowly beats Lidl to be crowned cheapest supermarket of the year in the UK.

Tuesday 18 January

• The chocolate specialist Hotel Chocolat registered that group revenue increased 63% on a two-year comparison in the second quarter to 26 December. The core UK market grew by 38%, the US by 128% and Japan – a joint venture – by 131%.
• Retail group THG reported a group sales increase of 92% on a two-year basis in the fourth quarter to 31 December. For the full year, revenue surged 91% to £2.18bn. Full-year adjusted EBITDA margin for the year just ended is expected to be in the range of 7.4% to 7.7% versus past expectations of 7.9%, as a result of adverse foreign currency movements.
• Aldi opened its first ever checkout-free store in London’s Greenwich. Shoppers enter the store using Aldi’s Shop&Go app, with cameras tracking what customers basket, and are automatically billed for the items they take when they leave.
• LVMH Luxury Ventures, the investment arm of the French luxury conglomerate, has taken a minority stake in US streetwear brand Aimé Leon Dore.
• Footwear retailer Oliver Sweeney reported a 31% annual increase in online sales in the eight weeks to 26 December.

Monday 17 January

• Amazon has postponed the suspension of Visa card payment services in the UK. Amazon’s original decision was driven by “the high fees Visa charges for processing credit card transactions”.
• Asda owners the Issa brothers are said to be considering acquiring health giant Boots, which has been put up for sale by Walgreens.
• Mamas & Papas reported a 30% YoY surge in sales and 35% rise on 2019 levels in the 8 weeks to 26 December. EBITDA is now expected to more than double in its current financial year as its turnaround accelerates.
• WHSmith is reportedly facing a revolt from investors ahead of the next AGM, following claims boss Carl Cowling was in line for a £550,000 bonus despite the retailer not paying back government support received during the pandemic.
• Matalan reported a 19% increase in revenue to £291.4m for the 13 weeks to 27 November. The retailer’s pre-tax profits increased from £1.7m to £10.6m during the third quarter.
• Burberry has refinanced its revolving credit facility to a £300m sustainability linked loan as part of the luxury retailer’s ambition to become ‘climate positive’ by 2040.

Friday 14 January

• Currys downgraded its profit guidance after group like-for-like sales declined 5% YoY in the 10 weeks to 8 January. UK and Ireland like-for-likes dropped 6% YoY and were down 2% on 2019. Full-year pre-tax profit is now expected to come in at £155m, having previously forecasted £160m.
• Fortnum & Mason posted a 21% YoY increase in sales for the five weeks to 26 December 2021, with online sales up 65%. In the year to July, the retailer reported a pre-tax loss of £2.7m, down from a £0.6m profit in the previous year. Turnover fell 6% to £132m in the year, suffering from nine months trading with tiered restrictions and lockdowns.
• Quiz recorded a total sales increase of 20% YoY to £8.8m during December. The fashion retailer hailed an 11% uplift in international sales to £1.5m during the month, but online sales slumped 26% to £2.1m.
• Holland & Barrett has signed a new partnership deal to open stores across Greece, Romania and Bulgaria. The retailer has teamed up with Fourlis Group for the European expansion.

Thursday 13 January

• Halfords’ group posted a 2.7% YoY rise in sales for the 13 weeks period to December 31, 2021. Sales were up 13.9% on a year comparison.
• Poundland’s parent company – Pepco, realised a 12% year-on-year revenue growth for the group during the quarter ending December 31, 2021, despite “supply chain and demand challenges presented by Covid”.
• Digital fashion retailer, Asos registered a 5% rise in total sales year on year on a constant currency basis to £1.4bn in the four months running to December 31, strong growth was driven by a 13% uplift in UK sales to £645.2m.
• Tesco upgrades profit expectation to £2.5bn after a stellar Christmas trading period. The grocery giant recorded a 2.6% rise in group sales year on year in the 19 weeks to January 8, up 3.2% in the crucial six-week Christmas trading period.
• Marks & Spencer reported an 18.5% boost in group sales year on year in the 13 weeks to January 1 to £3.27bn, this was up 8.6% on a two-year basis.
• Card Factory’s sales return to pre-pandemic levels, coming in ahead of full-year expectations. The retailer forecast sales to come in of £360m and pre-tax profit expected to be in the range of £7m to £10m for the year.

Wednesday 12 January

• JD Sports saw its revenues up “more than 10%” in the 22-week period to January 1, compared with the same period in 2020. The retailer has therefore raised its profit expectations for the full year to January 29 from £810m to £875m.
• Dunelm has upped its profit guidance after a “record” Christmas trading period which saw total sales growth of 13% YoY and 26% on a two-year basis to £407m in the 13 weeks to December 25.
• Sainsbury’s recorded a 3.1% growth in total sales in the six weeks to January 8, compared with the same period in 2019. Its grocery division boomed, with sales rising 0.8% year-on-year, and 7.7% on a two-year basis.
• DFS reported a 10% rise in sales when compared to the same period in 2019 for the 26 weeks to December 26. The furniture retailer said that its order bank for the second half is £200 million more than pre-pandemic levels on a revenue basis.
• Topps Tiles announced that global supply chain challenges resulted in higher shipping and input costs. The retailer expects annual gross margins to be “moderately lower” compared with last year.
• UK lifestyle clothing brand Weird Fish recorded a jump in profits before tax for 2021 from £1.8m to £4.3m year-on-year, after investing in its digital capabilities.

Tuesday 11 January

• The Very Group registered a steep rise in Christmas sales as group’s CEO hails staff commitment and hard work. The pureplay retailer’s sales climbed 21.9% on a two-year basis as categories such as electricals and home performed strongly.
• Lidl GB reported that overall sales surged 21% on a two-year basis and rose 2.6% year on year in the four weeks to December 26. The value grocer said Kantar data revealed it was the fastest-growing bricks-and-mortar grocer for the second year running and that consumers switched £21m of spend from rivals to it.
• Private equity firms Bain Capital and CVC have teamed up to launch a joint takeover bid for Boots. Speculation of a sale had mounted in recent months after WBA revealed a renewed set of priorities in October which placed focus on the North American market.
• Games Workshop revenue rose 2.5% to £191.5 million from £186.8 million a year earlier. While pre-tax profits of £88.2 million were 3.7% down from £91.6 million, as the cost of distribution, staffing and wages increased, while foreign exchange movement also hit the bottom line.
• Booths sales rose for a third consecutive year during the Christmas period. Sales increased by 6.5% over the peak three-week trading period compared to 2020.
• Shoe Zone made a pre-tax profit of £9.5 million for the year to 2 October compared to a loss of £14.6 million in the prior year. This is despite a revenue drop to £119.1 million from £122.6 million a year earlier.
• Specsavers posted soaring pre-tax profits from £240.4m to £441.5m. Net profits also surged to £339.7 million from £151.8 million during the year ending February 28. Elsewhere, underlying sales however fell 6.6% to £2.73 billion from £2.93 billion during the same period.

Monday 10 January

• Discounter grocer, Aldi reported a 0.4% YoY growth in sales in the month of December 2021. According to Kantar data, Aldi was the only supermarket to report year-on-year sales growth in December, while sales were up 8.1% on a two-year basis.
• Wilko, the home and garden retailer announced its plan to close 15 stores as they failed to find favourable terms on expired leased contract. Store closures will impact 300 Wilko employees. However, the retailer said it wants to find alternative positions for existing staff at nearby stores.
• The FCA will launch investigations following THG passing on documents to prove what it believes to be irregular stock market activity and short-selling data to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
• Hotter is set to be rebranded to Unbound Group after Electra shareholders approved the relisting on AIM at a General Meeting held on 30 December. This comes after parent company announced plans to expand the retailer beyond footwear and into the clothing market.
• Selfridges saw sales plummet 40% to £508.5m in the 52 weeks to 30 January 2021. The department store chain reported an operating loss of £136.7m in the same period, compared to an operating profit of £113.8m in the previous year. In order to cut down costs, 14% of its staff were impacted by redundancy over the year to January 2021
• FatFace has reported a 22% year-on-year rise in sales over the Christmas season, covering the five-week period to 1 January 2022. Online sales at the retailer increased by 62% compared to 2019’s figures.
• ASOS is the latest tech company to be targeted by stock market traders who are betting £1billion that share prices will fall.

Friday 07 January

• Walgreens Boots Alliance raised its financial guidance for 2022 following an impressive first quarter sales. Revenues rose 7.8% to $33.9bn (£25bn) in the quarter ending November 30. Its international retail pharmacy operations – which includes Boots – reported a sales increase of 35.8% to $5.8bn (£4.3bn).
• Gousto, the recipe box specialist has secured a $150m (£111m) in additional funding taking its valuation to $1.7bn (£1.3bn) – up from $1bn (£739m) in November 2020. The funds would be used to finance expansion in the developing direct-to-consumer market.
• Sainsbury’s announced that all its staffs would see their basic hourly pay rate increased from £9.50 an hour to £10 minimum across the UK, while online delivery drivers would see their pay jump to £11.50 an hour, from March 6.

Thursday 06 January

• B&M upgraded its full year performance after “a very strong golden quarter”. The company reported group revenue of £1.39m for the 13-week period to 25 December, up 0.1% YoY on a constant currency basis. Adjusted EBITDA for full-year 2022 is now expected to come in at between £605m to £625m, ahead of the current analysts’ estimate of £578m.
• Next increased its full year profit guidance after full-price sales rose 20% on a two-year basis in the 8 weeks to 25 December. The retailer said it now expects 2021/22 sales to be up 12.8% on 2019/20 from 11.0% previously, and to make £822m in pre-tax profit – £22m more than previously expected and 9.8% ahead of pre-pandemic levels.
• Sport retail giant Decathlon saw their UK branch revenue fall by 4.5% to £225.7m in the year to 31 December 2020. Overall pre-tax losses came in at £5m for the same period, which it said was in line with expectations. That was narrower than the £7.5m loss of the previous year.
• Sosandar reported its first "EBITDA-positive" quarter, following record revenues during the Christmas period. The fashion etailer saw its revenue soar by 122% to £8.85m in the three months to 31 December.
• Greggs reported that sales for the financial year to 1 January 2022 were up 5.3% on two years ago to £1.23bn. As a result of its strong recovery during the pandemic, the food-to-go retail specialist said it now expects its full-year outcome to be slightly ahead of previous expectations.

Wednesday 05 January

• Stationery retailer Ryman reported a loss for the first time in 25 years. The company recorded an £8.5m earnings loss, compared with a £7.8m profit in the previous year. The high street chain was impacted by weaker student, business and city centre trade, but has said it expects to return to profitability in 2022, following the easing of restrictions last year.
• Missguided is looking to further establish its position amongst fast fashion inclusivity by debuting a vast range of active wear from sizes 4-26 including maternity, tall and petite.

Tuesday 04 January

• Authentic Brands Group (ABG) is allegedly considering taking a 55% stake in David Beckham’s brand management company DB Ventures. The deal is valued at £200m.
• Seasalt announced that its total sales have increased in the five weeks to 1 January 2022. Total sales across online, stores and through marketplace partners increased by 20% compared with the same period last year and by 33% compared with 2019. The retailer expects total sales in the year ending 29 January 2022 to approach £100m, with an EBITDA margin of up to 12%.
• Ikea has confirmed a 10% increase in the average price of products in its UK stores due to rising supply chain costs.
• Dunelm has opened the doors to a new 41,000 sq ft superstore at the Flemingate centre in East Yorkshire. The retailer took a ten-year lease on the two-storey unit to bring its new multi-department superstore format to the centre. The store opened just before Christmas, creating 40 jobs.
• Gieves & Hawkes owner The Trinity Group has fallen into liquidation. The company appointed FTI Consulting and R&H Services as joint liquidators after the restructuring firm RSM failed to find a buyer.

Friday 31 December

• Aldi has announced plans to recruit over 100 additional British suppliers in 2022, creating 200 new jobs in the year. The discounter has committed to increase its spending with British suppliers by £3.5bn a year by the end of 2025.

Wednesday 29 December

• Inditex has committed to expand its facilities in Arteixo, near A Coruña in Northern Spain by building a new headquarter for Zara’s commercial and design Staff. The office building, which should be completed in two years will have a total surface area of 170,000 sqm and will require an investment of 238 million euros.
• Harvey Nichols has secured £66m in funding through its banking covenants after annual losses more than doubled as it grappled with Covid restrictions. The retailer’s sales fell from £222m pre-pandemic to £121m, while losses widened by 149% to £38.6m in the year to 27 March.
• Sports Direct parent Frasers Group is reported to have made an offer for Footasylum, following the Competitions & Markets Authority’s decision to force its rival JD Sports to sell the chain.

Friday 24 December

• Online retailer Zavvi has partnered with the Lego Group to open a seasonal pop-up store at the Trafford Centre in Manchester. The store is Zavvi’s first venture into the bricks and mortar, after spending the last 12 years trading solely as an ecommerce retailer.
• Barbour’s turnover dropped from £242.8m to £218m for the year to April. Pre-tax profit however rose to £36.3m from £35.8m, and net profit for the year was £27.9m, only slightly down from the £28.9m of the previous year.
• The Weston family has sold the luxury retail group Selfridges to retailer Signa Holding and property company Central Group. Though the financial details of the transactions were not publicly disclosed, the BBC reported that the sale was made for £4bn.
• Pret a Manger has launched a new loyalty scheme called Pret Perks, as the latest coronavirus wave keeps city workers at home.

Wednesday 22 December

• Landsec has announced it that it had completed the acquisition of an additional 25% share in Kent shopping centre Bluewater from Lendlease Retail Partnership for £172m. This brings Landsec’s ownership of Bluewater to 48.75%.

Tuesday 21 December

• Hush reported a 23% jump in sales to £58m for the the 12 months running to March 27. This is despite prolonged periods of store closures during nationwide lockdowns. Further, the retailer almost tripled its operating profit to £11.4m during the same period.

Monday 20 December

• Mike Ashley is reportedly considering taking Frasers Group private following a period of strong growth for the group’s brand.
• Amazon has partnered with Barclays Bank to offer its customers a new buy now pay later service. The new Instalments service will be available to finance purchases of £100 or more and can be used across millions of products on the site.
• Alteri Investment acquired a 50% stake in Missguided. Under the terms of the deal, Alteri will take over the struggling e-tailer’s existing debt and 50% of the company’s equity.  

Thursday 16 December

• H&M reported a 11% increase in sales in local currencies in the fourth quarter to November 30. Net sales for the group increased 8% in the quarter to SEK 56,813m (£4.7bn) and 6% to SEK 198,967m (£16.4bn) for the full year.
• Inditex saw their EBITDA rise by a record 63% to €5.4bn (£4.6bn) in the first nine months of the financial year to October 31. Net profit also grew 273% to €2.5bn (£2.1bn) in the same period. Group’s revenue soared 37% YoY to €19.3bn (£16.4bn), largely driven by online – which grew 28% in local currencies compared to last year and 124% compared with 2019.
• Boohoo downgrades its full year profits expectations as it experiences “significantly higher return rates”. In a trading update for the three months to November 30, 2021, Boohoo said it now expected EBITDA margin for the year to be 6%-7% or between £117m to £139m, compared to the previous 9% to 9.5% guidance.

Wednesday 15 December

• Tesco has struck a pay deal with trade union Usdaw to fend off a strike by workers at nine of its distribution centres. The union had threatened the retailer to launch a strike from December 20 until Christmas Eve if Tesco did not improve its pay offer.
• Currys reported pre-tax profits of £48m in the six months to October 30, a 6.6% increase YoY. The electrical giant however saw its revenue slip 2% to £4.78bn during the period.
• In the Style registered a 39% surge in revenues to £29m in the six months to September 30. Direct-to-consumers sales jumped 24% to £23m during the period. Meanwhile, pre-tax profit slumped 52% to £890,000 in the same period.
• OnBuy has announced it will reward its workers with over £1 million in share options ahead of Christmas as it eyes international expansion. Over 100 employees will have an option to have a stake in the business by being rewarded with share options equivalent to around 25% of their annual income.
• Hammerson has sold its share in Glasgow’s Silverburn shopping centre as it seeks to dispose its “non-core assets”. Henderson Park has paid Hammerson and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) £140 million for the 1.07 million sq ft property.

Tuesday 14 December

• Nike is set to dive deep into the metaverse as it seeks to acquire virtual fashion and non-fungible token (NFT) platform RTFKT for an undisclosed sum. RTFKT raised an $8m (£6m) seed round in May 2021, led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which valued the company at $33.3m (£25.2m).
• Poundland’s owner, Pepco reported a considerable 46.2% growth in EBITDA to €647m (£552m) for the year ending September 30, 2021. Revenues for the group also rose 19.3% to €4.12bn (£3.52bn) on a constant currency basis across the year. This included sales growth of 3.1% for the Poundland group.
• Joules group saw their revenue rise by 35% year on year to £128m for the 26 weeks to November 28, and up 15% on a two-year basis. With the continuation of these supply chain issues combined with the rise of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, Joules issued a profit warning. It now expects full-year profits to be below current market expectations and in the region of £9m to £12m.
• Seasalt is predicting turnover to reach £100 million after online sales offset the lost revenue during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sales through digital channels accounted for 67% of total revenue over the period and continue to represent most of the revenue.
• Hurr has raised $5.4 million (£4.1 million) in seed funding from Octopus Ventures to expand its operations. The company will invest in technology and grow both its subscribers and number of partners

Monday 13 December

• Majestic Wines is set to shut down its two stores in French port, Calais. The wine retailer blamed the changes on the duty-free alcohol allowance for hurting the economics of the business.
• JD Sports is increasingly on the brink to give up the ownership of Footasylum following a protracted battle with the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) regarding the takeover.
• More than a dozen of major retail brands including Superdry and AllSaints have launched legal claims against Visa and Mastercard over card payment fees.
• JP Morgan Asset Management has increased its shareholding in Pets at Home to more than 5%. The move makes the firm the third largest shareholder in the Cheshire-headquartered company.

Friday 10 December

• Holland & Barrett has fully acquired at-home beauty services business Blow Ltd for an undisclosed amount. The health and wellness retailer said Blow Ltd will become a subsidiary business of its international arm and all of its staff will be moved across to the new ownership structure.
• Dr Martens saw their revenues increase by 16% to £370m in the six months running to September 30. Profit before tax soared by 46% YoY to £61.3m in the same period, largely driven by its direct-to-consumer division. The boots specialist sold 6.3 million pairs in the first half, a record for the company, up 13% year on year.
• Associated British Foods Chair, Michael McLintock said that Primark’s sale came in ahead of expectations during its financial year till date. ABF said it expects “significant progress” in both its half- and full-year results with adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share both expected to grow.

Thursday 09 December

• Moonpig’s revenue and profits have slipped as the lockdown-induced spending momentum fades down. Group’s revenue sunk by 8.5% to £142.6m while profit before tax fell more than 43% to £18.7m in the six months period to October 31.
• Frasers group posted a 23.6% jump in sales £2.3 billion for the six months to October 24. During the first half pre-tax profit reached £186 million, up £106.1 million.
• US home furnishings retailer RH (Restoration Hardware) has reported the strongest two-year growth in its history (net revenues were up +19% to $1.006b YoY, and up 49% Yo2Y).

Wednesday 08 December

• McColl’s expects its adjusted EBITDA to come in between £20m and £22m for the 52 weeks running to November 28, 2021. Total revenue fell by 11.2% to £1.1bn.
• Quiz reported a £1.3m loss before tax despite the group’s revenues more than doubling from £17.2m to £36m for the six months running to September 30, 2021.
• Burberry, the luxury British brand has launched its first rental and resale offering through a new partnership with My Wardrobe HQ.

Tuesday 07 December

• More than 300 Spar shops in the North of England have been forced to close their doors following a cyber-attack that has left them unable to receive credit card payments or use email since Sunday.
• Danish furniture and home furnishings chain Jysk posted a 67% increase in sales across the UK and Ireland to €68.9m (£58.5m) in its 2020-21 financial year, driven by a 30% increase in shopper numbers to 1.1 million.
• Wayfair has announced that it will open its next brick-and-mortar retail stores in the coming year, bringing two of its retail brands to life with three stores in Massachusetts, US. Shoppers will be able to purchase products in-store and have orders placed for fast delivery to their homes.
• The Central Bank of Norway has acquired a 3.1% stake in Bohoo. Norges Bank is now the fifth largest institutional investor in Boohoo following the acquisition.

Monday 06 December

• Walgreens Boots Alliance has allegedly tapped Goldman Sachs to advise on the sale of its pharmacy chain including a potential flotation on the markets next year. The deal is said to be valued at £10bn or more.

Friday 03 December

• Wickes, the DIY specialist has upgraded its full-year earnings expectations to no less than £83m after a strong fourth-quarter trading.
• Frasers Group has refreshed its bank loan facilities and secured nearly £1bn as part of the largest funding package to be secured in the British retail sector this year. The new facility, totalling £930m is valid for three years and will support the retailer’s ongoing growth ambitions.

Thursday 02 December

• Selfridges owners the Weston family have reportedly agreed to sell the department store to Thailand’s Central Group. The deal could be completed by the end of this year.
• Halfords has acquired automotive service and repair chain National in a £62m deal, bolstering its position as the UK’s largest vehicle repair business.

Wednesday 01 December

• Primark opened its 400th international store in Italy today. The opening of the fashion retailer’s store in Sicily brings the total number of outlets it has in the country to eight.
• Asda’s like-for-like clothing sales increased after lockdown, up by 1.2% between 1 July and 30 September compared with the same period last year. The retailer identified that the back-to-school range was “proving to be popular with customers”.
• Shoe Zone is set to open a new store in Southampton later this year. The 2,688 sq ft store at 69 Above Bar Street is expected to open its doors on 11 December. By 2020 Shoe Zone's store portfolio had grown to 53 out-of-town stores and seven "new concept hybrid" stores, selling both branded and own-brand styles, as well as 398 high street shops.
• Gymshark has confirmed that it will open its first standalone store on London's Regent Street. The sportswear brand has signed a 10-year lease for an 18,000 sq ft store at 165 Regent Street, which will open next summer.
• EG Group – owned by new Asda owners the Issa brothers – reported a 10.2% fall in EBITDA to £428m year-on-year when restrictions were lifted. Sales for the retailer and petrol business soared 20.4% in the three-month period to 30 September to £7.2bn.
• Pret a Manger is launching its first-ever loyalty programme in beta form, with primary access given to its current Pret subscription customers. The subscription service, which launched during the pandemic, gives customers access to five free coffees per day for the price of £20 per month.
• Pets at Home colleagues will benefit from a share of a potential £11.7m pay out, as part of the biggest gain to date from the company’s Sharesave Scheme. The £2.96m investment into the business made by more than 500 colleagues is now worth £14.6m.

Tuesday 30 November

• Monsoon has opened another boutique store in Kent’s Bluewater shopping centre.
• Ebay has bought authentication service Sneaker Con for an undisclosed sum. When select sneaker brands are purchased for more than $100 (£75) on Ebay, the shoes go through Sneaker Con before reaching the buyer. Sneaker Con has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Germany.
• Pureplay retailer Sosandar registered a 184% to £12.2m for the six months to 30 September. EBITDA improved to a £0.99m loss against a comparative period in the prior year, where spending was significantly reduced in response to the pandemic. There was a £1.02m loss in the first half of the last financial year, and a £1.9m loss in the second half.
• Topps Tiles registered a £14m in pre-tax profit in the year to 2 October, up from a £9.8m loss for the same period last year. The retailer delivered a record year of revenue, up 18% to £228m, with adjusted retail like-for-like sales up 20%.

Monday 29 November

• Primark has announced a €250m (£212m) capital investment in Ireland. The fund is to be used to revamp existing stores and build new distribution centres in its home market. The investment is set to create 700 jobs in stores and at its global headquarters.
• For the third quarter to 30 September, Asda like-for-like sales fell 0.7% to £4.9bn (excluding fuel). On a two-year basis, Asda sales were up 2% overall and food sales were up 3.4% compared to the same period in 2019.
• McColl’s revealed plans to increase the number of Morrisons Daily stores. The convenience specialist had previously planned to convert 350 of its shops into the Morrisons Daily format, but will now increase that number to 450 under a new agreement with the supermarket giant.

Friday 26 November

• Mothercare posted a pre-tax profit of £3.6m in the six months to 25 September, compared to a loss of £13.2m in the previous year. The retailer saw its turnover decline to o £41.7m from a previous £44.4m, following Covid-19’s impact.
• Prompted by persistent supply chain bottlenecks, apparel retailer Gap has downgraded its sales and profit projection for it current financial year. It now expects supply chain disruption to result in $550m to $650m in lost sales, and incur $450m in airfreight expenses for the year.
• Luxury street and footwear retailer Kick Game has announced plans to open a new store in the Arndale Centre in Manchester. The 1,662 sq ft store will open next month and marks the retailer's fifth store opening in a year.
• Thomas Pink relaunched its website this week after it was shut down by LVMH – its former owner last year. LVMH purchased 70% of Thomas Pink in 1999 for around €48m (£41.6m).
• Luxury fashion house Roland Mouret has reportedly collapsed into administration leading to the loss of 84 jobs. The fashion retailer’s sales plummeted 80% at the start of the pandemic as demand for event dresses dried up.

Thursday 25 November

• Marks & Spencer has received approval from the Westminster City Council to rebuild its Oxford Street flagship store, which currently occupies three buildings at 456-472 Oxford Street. M&S will occupy just two and a half of the new 10 floor, with the remaining floors office space.

Wednesday 24 November

• Lidl GB registered an annual pre-tax profit of £9.8m, compared to a loss of £25.2m the previous year when it invested heavily in store openings and recruitment. The grocer’s sales climbed 12% to £7.7bn in the year to 28 February. Lidl now aims to have 1,100 UK stores by the end of 2025, which it said would create about 4,000 new jobs.
• Revolution Beauty reported a 39% YoY increase in revenue to £78.6m in the six months to 31 August. Meanwhile, the group made a loss after tax of £15.2m, a further drop from the £6m loss posted in H1 2020. Adjusted EBITDA rose by 39% to £5.1m.
• John Lewis has teamed up with ITV to create an immersive digital experience on multiplayer game Fortnite, while Nike has unveiled a virtual world called Nikeland on gaming platform Roblox.
• Landsec is reportedly in discussions with Lendlease to acquire a 25% stake in its Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent in a £200m deal.
• Ikea has revealed it will eliminate plastic from packaging by 2028 as it moves towards only using renewable or recycled materials.

Tuesday 23 November

• AO.com downgraded its full year profit guidance, warning full-year sales could be down 5% of flat on last year following “poor availability in certain categories” amid supply chain disruptions and HGV driver shortages. The retailer plunged to a pre-tax loss of £10m in the six months to 30 September, compared with an £18m profit during the same period last year.
• Pets at Home reported a 77% increase in pre-tax profit to £70m in the 28 weeks to 7 October. Group sales rose 18% to £678m during the period, as revenue from its core retail business jumped 22% to £620m.
• Marks & Spencer bought a 25% stake in fashion brand Nobody’s Child as it builds a platform of brands to complement its core offering. M&S said that Nobody’s Child is the most visited brand on its website following its debut in September 2019.
• Prada is expected to be involved in talks between Cartier owner Richemont and online retailer Farfetch about launching a joint ecommerce platform.
• Turkish fast grocery delivery company Getir has acquired UK rival Weezy, solidifying Getir’s long-term commitment to the UK market. The deal will see Getir absorb Weezy’s current 700 staff, as well as its four UK fulfilment centres.
• Mulberry launched its limited-edition handbag capsule collection made with “the lowest carbon leather,” in the world.

Monday 22 November

• US private equity giant Apollo is allegedly eying a buyout of Marks & Spencer as it believes the retailer is undervalued. It is understood that Apollo, which lost out in the race to acquire Asda earlier this year, is still interested in UK supermarkets.
• Asos has been forced to defer many orders from its major suppliers amid the ongoing supply chain crisis. The retailer works with hundreds of suppliers to source almost 900,000 products, leaving it susceptible to supply issues.
• Fashion label Bershka is set to make its regional debut at Liverpool One in an 8,000 sq ft flagship scheduled to open next year.
• Farfetch reported a 33% rise in revenue YoY to $583m (£433.9m) in the three months to 30 September, as more brands and retailers joined the platform.
• John Lewis Partnership has launched a £1m fund to finance projects that aim to stop “throwaway culture”. The retailer is inviting academia, charities, social enterprises, and businesses that are less than five years old to pitch ideas to an independent panel, who will then be given grants of £150,000 to £300,000 if selected.
• The Very Group saw their sales increase by 3.9% to £484.1m in the 13 weeks to 2 October compared to the same quarter last year. The group made a pre-tax profit of £13.5m, up from £8.6m a year ago.
• Menkind has acquired Hawkin’s Bazaar and Stocking Fillers for an undisclosed sum, to boost its position in the gifts and gadgets market.

Friday 19 November

• Kingfisher recorded sales dipped 3.2% YoY to £3.3bn in the quarter to 31 October, but were up 15% on a two-year basis. Its online division jumped 133% on a two-year basis, representing 16% of the total sales.
• Luxury department store Fenwick has launched its own in-house homewares collection. Split into five categories, the collection consists of the Loungewear Collection, the Home Fragrance Collection, the Bath Collection, the Bedding Collection, and the Home Accessories Collection.
• Spanish fashion brand Mango has officially opened a new London flagship store on Oxford Street. It has a selling space of 1,400 m2 and spans three floors.
• Consumer staple giant Unilever has sold its tea division PG Tips to private equity giant CVC in a deal valued at £3.8bn.

Thursday 18 November

• Naked Wines group posted a pre-tax profit of £1.3m in the 26 weeks to September 27, compared with a loss of £8.9m during the same period last year. The retailer’s revenues rose 6% year on year to £159.3m on a constant currency basis.
• Marks & Spencer has signed a deal with Costa Coffee to sell a food range in 2,500 Costa Coffee branches early next year. Through the partnership Costa will carry 30 Marks & Spencer products including sandwiches and hot meals.
• More than 40 retailers will be joining the crypto rewards cash back scheme. Online shoppers with some of the UK’s best-known retailers will be able to claim cash back via Bitcoin as part of the new crypto rewards scheme, launching next year.

Wednesday 17 November 

• Through its £18m investment in its wages, Lidl will raise entry pay for its employee from£9.5 to £10 per hours as from the start of the next financial year.
• Amazon announced that it would stop processing Visa credit card payments on its UK site from January 19, 2022, and blamed high fees charged by the card issuer.
• The House of Fraser store on London’s Oxford Street is to be converted to offices. The department store will shut its doors for the last time in January 2022.
• Motorcycle brand Harley Davidson has launched a new ecommerce store as it looks to attract online shoppers as the sector continues to boom.
• British Land has announced plans to convert empty shopping centres and car parks into urban distribution hubs for online shopping and same-day grocery delivery services.
• OnBuy has recorded a 224% rise in annual revenue after witnessing an 80% increase in sellers on the marketplace in the last year. The average order value has also increased to just under £50.

Tuesday 16 November

• Amazon is planning to accelerate its checkout-less Amazon fresh format, as it intends to open 260 convenience stores across the UK over the next three years.
• Marks & Spencer has become the latest fashion giant to offer clothing for rent as well as sale as retailers increasingly embrace new sustainable business models.
• In partnership with Amazon, Sainsbury’s is piloting a cashierless store powered by the etailer’s Just Walk Out technology.
• Poundland has announced it will open or refurbish nearly 50 stores across the UK in time as we head towards Christmas.

Monday 15 November

• Marks & Spencer partners with US toy retailer FAO Schwarz as it starts selling 50 bestselling products from the US toy retail legend on its website, and the range will make its debut in mini shop-in-shops in 20 stores.
• The famous House of Fraser store on London’s Oxford Street is to become an office-led, mixed-use premises.

Friday 12 November

• WHSmith will open its first checkout free store by the end of the year inside one of New York’s three major international airports, using Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology.
• In the likes of other retailers, Boots, B&M and Halfords are all seeing consumers preparing for the festive season earlier than ever, with sales in some Christmas categories outpacing pre-pandemic levels.
• Alibaba reported a gross merchandise volume hit ¥540.3bn (£63.1bn) across the 11-day its annual Singles Day shopping festival. Total sales were up 8.5% compared to 2020 levels, marking the slowest rate of growth since the Singles Day event began in 2009. 
• The Works announced that it was adversely affected by on-going supply chain disruptions despite investing to secure its supply chain earlier this year. The retailer however insisted that full-year profits will be in-line with market expectations.
• The second-hand clothing platform Thrift+ has launched its first retail second-hand partner store online with FatFace called ‘Preloved. Reloved’.

Thursday 11 November

• Ted Baker announced group sales jumped 17.6% to £199.3m in the 28 weeks to 14 August, 2021, as demand for workwear remained strong after pandemic curbs were eased. Pre-tax losses eased to £25.2m.
• WHSmith reported pre-tax losses narrowed to £116m in the year to 31 August 2021 from a £280m loss in the previous year. It forecast a return to profitability next year as improving travel trends drive a sales recovery.
• B&M posted group revenue increased 1.2% to £2.26bn in its half-year to 25 September. Group-adjusted profit before has decreased by 6.2% year-on-year to £238m in the period.
• Sainsbury’s customers across the Southwest could face pre-Christmas shortages, if lorry drivers employed by DHL take strike action in a dispute over pay. According to Unite the Union, 140 drivers employed by DHL are threatening to take industrial action over the “miserly” 3% rise against the current 4.9% rate of inflation.

Wednesday 10 November

• Footwear retailer Skechers will open its first Madrid flagship store next year.
• Iceland has announced it is expanding its manufacturing division as it seeks to recruit 90 new workers to handle its manufacturing business at the Manchester base. The manufacturing site in Manchester is responsible for producing many of Iceland’s own-label ranges.
• Marks & Spencer reported a pre-tax profit of £187.3m in the 26 weeks ended 2 October, up 17.9% on pre-pandemic levels and substantially ahead of the £87.6m loss reported in the same period last year. Food sales rose by 10.4% compared to the equivalent period in 2019, and up 16.9% excluding hospitality and franchise. Clothing and home sales decreased by 1% on 2019 levels, while full-price sales rose by 17.3%.
• Shoe Zone is opening a new store in the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Tonbridge, Kent, on 26 November.
• Halfords registered a 91.7% increase in pre-tax profits compared to pre-pandemic levels, reaching £57.9m in the 26 weeks to 1 October. Elsewhere, revenue increased by 19.2% compared to the same period in 2019.
• Gatemore Capital Management told its fund investors last month that it has started building a stake in DFS. The homeware retailer has a market capitalisation of just over £700m, having seen its shares rise by nearly 30% in the last year.

Tuesday 09 November

• Kent & Curwen’s UK head office and retail teams have been let go after the tailoring brand ceased trading.
• Selfridges is reportedly considering a possible splitting-off of its ecommerce operations. If it goes ahead, the retailer will still be expected to control marketing, merchandising and intellectual property around its web operations.
• Superdrug has revealed plans to expand its delivery service to include super-fast two-hour rapid home delivery from nearly 300 stores nationwide.
• Primark is ramping up its US expansion plans. The retailer announced it will open three new locations in New York. The first novel destination will be in City Point, in Brooklyn, the second will take over Roosevelt Field mall in Garden City on Long Island and the third one will be in Albany, at Crossgates Mall.
• Footwear retailer Aldo has reopened its flagship store on Oxford Street, as the company shows signs of recovery following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The retailer franchise was acquired by Bushell Investment Group after it fell into administration last year.
• Watches of Switzerland reported group revenue increased by 44.6% to £586.2m in the half year to 31 October. UK sales rose by 42.3% to £418.6m in the period, while sales were also strong in the US growing by 50.3% to £167.6m.
• Primark is set to roll out a dedicated homewares space in 40 stores after a successful trial in its Merry Hill store in Birmingham.
• US rapid-delivery giant Gopuff has rolled out a delivery service to customers in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield. It said its goal was to be in 33 UK cities by the middle of next year.
• Build-A-Bear Workshop has announced it is launching a new digital, interactive ecommerce experience that will bring its furry friend toys “to life” online.

Monday 08 November

• Luxury outerwear brand Canada Goose is launching its first-ever footwear collection.
• Specialist retailer Angling Direct detected unauthorised activity on its network late on Friday and said: “This unauthorised activity shut down the company’s websites and these remain inactive.” Some of Angling Direct’s social media accounts have also been compromised.
• Card Factory has reported an improving sales trend as consumers return to shops. On a two-year basis, store like-for-likes sales were down 3% in the quarter to 31 October, while online trading was “in line with expectations”.
• Clarks chief executive Victor Herrero steps down as chief executive after just nine months at the top of the business. He has left his role to take on greater responsibilities at parent company LionRock Capital.
• Primark’s adjusted operating profit jumped 15% to £415m in the year to 18 September, despite a 12% drop in like-for-like sales. The retail giant intends to grow its store estate to around 530 stores – up from 398 stores currently – over the next five years, with 15 new stores confirmed to open by the end of the next financial year.

Thursday 04 November

• Harrods recorded a loss after tax of £57.3m for the year to 30 January, compared to a profit of £203.3m the prior year. Turnover plummeted 50.7% to £429.5m in the period, mainly due to store closures during the pandemic and the impact of Brexit.
• Inter Ikea Group, the firm that oversees Ikea’s franchises and supply, reported its pre-tax profit fell 16% to £1.7bn in the year to August, following a “steep increase in transport and raw material prices in the second half of the financial year”. Ikea anticipates further rises in supply chain costs and warned that 2022 would be “a more difficult year with more challenges”, with some costs likely to be passed onto shoppers.
• Sainsbury’s reported pre-tax profit surged 23% to £371m in the 28 weeks to 18 September, with group revenue up 5.3% to £15.7bn. Digital sales across the group accounted for 39% of its total retail sales. General merchandise sales dropped 5.8% in the same period, which Sainsbury’s attributed to strong comparatives following national lockdowns.
• Argos is delaying its normal Christmas toy promotion by a week, amid stock shortages. On the supply chain crisis, Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts said: “I would call out clearly the delays in shipping times. Normally it takes 24 or 25 days shipping from Asia to the UK. We’ve seen that be north of 40 days.”
• The Competition and Markets Authority has ordered JD Sports to sell the Footasylum business it acquired back in 2019, as the takeover could lead to “a substantial reduction in competition and a worse deal for Footasylum’s customers”.

Wednesday 03 November

• Foot Locker has completed the acquisition of Japanese streetwear brand Atmos in a $360m deal.
• Zalando reported a 25.3% rise in gross merchandise volume to €3.1bn (£2.6bn) in its third quarter, while revenue jumped 23.4% to €2.3bn (£1.9bn). EBIT came in at €9.8m for the period. 
• Marks & Spencer plans to launch its optics services in 55 stores over the next 18 months. The diversification is part of the retailer’s strategy to offer more experiences.
• EG Group, founded by the Issa brothers, is thought to be nearing a takeover of Sprint Food convenient stores, which owns 34 sites across Georgia and South Carolina. The deal is valued at $300m.
• Nike’s subcontractors in Vietnam have finally resumed production after the Delta variant had halted manufacturing processes in the region. They believe that factories will start delivering a normal output in around five to six months.
• Aldi has revealed plans to open 15 new stores across the UK by the end of this year. The openings are part of Aldi’s strategy to invest over £1.3bn by 2023, with plans to open 100 new UK stores over the next two years.
• Next reported a 17% jump in full-price sales in the 13 weeks to 30 October compared with 2019 levels, with sales in the final five weeks of the period up 14% on pre-pandemic levels. However, it expects “growth in the fourth quarter will be lower” than its third quarter, as price increases for essentials dampen demand for discretionary products while the effect of pent-up demand unwinds. It warned stock availability “has improved but remains challenging”.

Tuesday 02 November

• French Connection’s £29m takeover has been backed shareholders, putting the business back into private hands for the first time since 1983. The new owners are expected to take over on 8 November.
• New Look has formed a partnership with second-hand platform Re-Fashion in a bid to reduce clothing waste.
• THG’s largest institutional investor BlackRock sold almost half of its shares, as the online group faces ongoing concerns around its governance and business model.

Monday 01 November

• Toys R Us is planning to make a return to the UK. Toys R Us ANZ now has the licence agreement to run “digital and physical retail commerce” for the brand in the UK after signing a deal with brand acquisition firm WHP Global.
• Landsec has agreed to buy urban regeneration specialist U+I in a £190m deal. The property giant has proposed an all-cash offer at 149p per share, which U+I directors have recommended, marking a 73% premium to the latter’s closing price of 86p per share on Friday.

Friday 29 October 

• Joe Browns has announced plans to increase its annual turnover by 138 to £100m by 2026. This comes after the fashion retailer reported a cumulative growth of 68% year-on-year in the current autumn/winter trading period.
• John Lewis Partnership has signed a new £420m five-year revolving credit facility linked to environmental targets. Interest payments depend on three targets over the period, including reducing carbon emissions and food waste, and moving away from fossil fuels.
• Amazon posted an increase in net sales of 15% to $110.8bn (£80.4bn) in the third quarter to 30 September, while net income halved to $3.2bn (£2.3bn), down from $6.3bn (£4.6bn) last year. The retail giant said: “In the fourth quarter, we expect to incur several billion dollars of additional costs in our consumer business as we manage through labour supply shortages, increased wage costs, global supply chain issues and increased freight and shipping costs”.

Thursday 28 October

• Missguided launched its first children’s collection MG Kids. The fast fashion retailer said the range is trend-led, inspired by celebrities and influencers to offer “style-forward” looks for children.

Wednesday 27 October

• Wickes reported a 1.6% fall in revenue in the 13 weeks to 25 September, although it was still up 16.3% on a two-year basis. It believes its agile business model has enabled it “to continue to navigate inflationary pressures and raw material constraints well”. The retailer said that its full-year guidance remains in line those give at its interim results.
• Morrisons has left the stock market after 54 years ahead of its £7bn takeover by US private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).

Tuesday 26 October

• The Hut Group (THG) registered a 38% increase in group revenue to £507.8m for the third quarter to 30 September.
• Sustainable footwear brand Allbirds has reportedly targeted a $2bn (£1.45bn) valuation, ahead of its potential debut on Wall Street.
• Ikea’s parent company Ingka Group has signed a deal to takeover former Topshop’s store in Oxford Street for £378m.
• Very Group has partnered on a stockless fulfilment deal with sports giants Adidas and Reebok, which it says will provide customers with greater choice and faster, more flexible delivery options.
• Sainsbury’s has announced it will install 100% LED lighting across its supermarket estate and will be using 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2021. The grocer said it had also been working with suppliers to reduce carbon emissions across its supply chain by 30% by 2030 and pledged to become net zero in 2035.
• Footwear retailer Dune Group recorded an EBITDA loss of £10.3m in the year to 31 January 2021, which it attributed to three Covid-related lockdowns in the period.

Monday 25 October

• Missguided founder Nitin Passi has appointed AlixPartners as it seeks £50m emergency funding from outside investors amid the supply chain crisis straining finances.
• Gieves & Hawkes is at risk of closing permanently after 250 years of trading, as its parent company faces a debt crisis.
• Dunelm is set to acquire a former Debenhams shop in the East Yorkshire town’s Flemingate development. Dunelm is expected to create about 40 jobs and building work should begin in the next few weeks.

Friday 22 October

• French luxury retailer Hermes reported that third-quarter revenues to the end of September 2021 rose by 31% to reach €2.37bn (£2bn) and have risen by 40% over two years.
• JD Sport has acquired an 80% controlling stake in Greek retailer Cosmos as the sport giant continues its international expansion. The deal’s value was not revealed.
• Unilever has increased the prices of its products by 4.1% over the last three months. The retailer warned of further inflationary pressure next year amid rising costs for energy and raw materials.
• Footwear specialist Clarks has reported record losses of £181.8m after tax for the year to 30 January, down from a pre-tax profit of £17.2m in the previous year. Group revenue for the period fell to £775m, from more than £1.37bn the previous year.
• Pret a Manger has partnered with JDE Peet’s to launch the trial of self-service coffee machines. Kiosks will be rolled out in 20 outlets in the next 12 months.
• B&Q has officially opened one of its largest stores in the last decade in Colchester. The outlet is a purpose-built digital store as the brand commits to ecommerce growth.
• Brand development company Tomorrow has announced a partnership and majority equity investment in British menswear brand Martine Rose.
• PrettyLittleThing has opened a hotel in Oxford, featuring pink accessories, a swimming pool, a cocktail masterclass, outdoor cinema and spa treatments.

Thursday 21 October

• Shopping centre operator Hammerson has warned retailers that it will not grant any future concessions as it looks to recover the millions lost in rent during the pandemic now that footfall has picked up.
• PayPal has allegedly made a bid to acquire social media giant, Pinterest for $45bn, which would be a 26% premium on Pinterest’s share price on Tuesday evening. The acquisition could create a new ecommerce titan as PayPal aims to become a super-app, similar to the likes of WeChat in China.
• Private equity giant Blackstone will reportedly acquire a majority stake in shapewear brand Spanx, valuing the shapewear brand at $1.2bn.
• Zara has opened a store at retail and leisure destination One New Change on Cheapside in the City of London. The store will feature an automated pick-up point where customers can collect online orders & self-checkout.

Wednesday 20 October

• A group of nine major international companies including Amazon, Inditex, Unilever and Ikea, have made commitments to use only zero-emission ships to transport goods by 2040 in a fresh attempt to decarbonise ocean shipping.
• Deliveroo has reported a 58% increase in orders year on year to £1.59bn across the UK and Ireland in the third quarter. Gross transaction value (GTV) per order however slipped by 6% to £21.40 per order year on year.
• French luxury group Kering has reported a solid 12% YoY revenue growth to €4.2bn (£3.5bn) for the third quarter of 2021.
• Richemont is considering spinning off its Yoox Net-a-Porter (YNAP) brand, despite investing millions into the online fashion retailer. Richemont has hinted to analysts that it no longer regards YNAP as a strategic asset.

Tuesday 19 October

• Tesco has launched a trial of new store format GetGo, marking the first time the grocer will make checkout-free technology available to its shoppers. Shoppers who buy age-restricted products from GetGo will be instructed to use a separate exit, where their ID can be verified by a colleague.
• Matalan saw its revenues improve from £258m to £265m year-on-year for the thirteen weeks to August 28, despite supply chain challenges. Pre-tax profits for the quarter stood at £11m compared to £24m loss incurred the same period last year.
• Very Group profits before tax soared by 68% YoY to £81.7m while underlying group EBITDA rose by 13.7% to £300.5m for the year ending July 3, 2021. Sales rose by 13% to a record £2.3bn for the year.
• New Look has opened a new 20,000 sq ft, two-floor flagship store in Liverpool. The retailer’s biggest UK store to date, includes flatscreens that shows customers different ways to style New Look pieces while they are shopping.

Monday 18 October

• Selfridges’ owners the Weston family are reportedly in talks with Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund about a potential takeover of the iconic department store chain. Other bidders reportedly in the running include Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund Adia and Hong Kong based department store operation Lane Crawford.
• EG Group has announced that it has terminated the £750m planned acquisition of Asda’s petrol forecourts business.

Friday 15 October

• The Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority has increased the contactless payment limit from £45 to £100 in a bid to make purchases such as grocery shopping more convenient for customers.
• Boots’ owner Walgreen Boots Alliance reported like-for-like sales growth of 12.8% to reach £34.3bn in the quarter to August 31.
• Revenues at Uniqlo parent company Fast Retailing rose 6.2% year on year to ¥2.13trillion (£13.72bn) in the 12 months to 31 August, as its bounced back from the impact of the pandemic.

Thursday 14 October

• Poundland owner Pepco posted total like-for-like sales growth of 10.2% in its fourth quarter and 9.8% in the year to 30 September. Full-year underlying EBITDA is expected to come in between €640m and €655m, which the retailer said would be at the upper end of analysts’ expectations, generating growth of 45% against “the mid-point on the Covid-impacted prior year”.
• Homeware retailer Dunelm saw its total sales increase by 8.3% to £388.8m in its first quarter to 25 September, against a strong 36% comparative a year earlier. It expects that full-year pre-tax profit will be in line with analysts’ recently increased expectations, providing no further lockdowns or industry shortages.
• Flannels plans to open a 11,564 sq ft store early next year in Romford, Essex.

Wednesday 13 October

• The Suffolk port, which handles approximately 36% of Britain’s container imports and exports, is currently full, resulting in shipping containers that have travelled from Asia carrying toys and electrical goods being diverted to other ports.
• JD Sports is set to open a new flagship store at Colchester’s Lion Walk shopping in October.
• Boohoo is preparing to open a standalone Debenhams Beauty store in Manchester this year. Before its collapse, Debenhams had six million beauty shoppers and 1.4 million Beauty Club members.
• Shoe Zone saw its total group revenue fall to £119.1min the year to 2 October from £122.6m in the previous year, as its stores only traded for around 36 weeks in the period due to Covid restrictions. Digital revenue rose by 58.5% to £30.6m in 2020/21 to account for 25.7% of revenue compared to 6.5% in 2018/19.
• LVMH’s total revenues soared by 46% in Q3 2021 compared to the previous year.

Tuesday 12 October

• John Lewis reported that online sales now account for between 60% and 70% of total sales compared to 40% pre-pandemic.
• The Hut Group (THG) unveiled a bold sustainability strategy to offset all of its historical emissions and transition to 100% renewable electricity for its own operations by 2025. The group aims to become climate positive by 2030.
• French Connection reported an underlying loss of £900,000 in the six months to 31 July – improving on the £12.2m loss and £3.6m loss it booked during the same period in 2020 and 2019 respectively. Group revenue increased by 68.2% to £40.2m in the period, but remains 21.2% below pre-pandemic levels.
• Gymshark founder Ben Francis and the brand’s private equity backers are said to have entered into discussion with institutional investors and investment banks over a potential listing on the London Stock Exchange, just over a year after the brand hit a £1bn valuation.
• H&M Group Business Ventures has announced it will be launching Creative Studio – a new global platform and service for the merchandise industry that will offer creators on-demand printing.
• Aldi is introducing 30% discounts on goods that have imperfect packaging in an effort to reduce food waste.

Monday 11 October

• Tesco has partnered with technology firm EO to power the grocer’s fleet of electric vans. Tesco plans to roll out a fully electric fleet by the end of 2028, having introduced 30 this year with plans for a further 150 by next year.
• Tommy Hilfiger has confirmed the opening of a 2,650 sq ft double-fronted store at Bristol’s Cribbs Causeway before 2022.
• Dutch brand Scotch & Soda has unveiled plans to accelerate its growth strategy by opening up to 15 stores and seven new shops-in-shops worldwide by the end of the year. The stores will be located across Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, and the Middle East.

Friday 08 October

• Sosandar reported a 184% year-on-year surge in sales for the six months to 30 September – outstripping its sales for the entire 2020/21 financial year.
• N Brown saw its statutory pre-tax profit balloon to £28.2m in the 26 weeks to 28 August, compared to £14.1m the previous year. Adjusted EBITDA rose by 10.4% to £53m during the period. Group revenue dipped 0.1% to £364.8m, despite product sales rising 3.3% to £222.1m.
• The luxury handbag retailer Radley London has made its first move into the clothing market, offering a small selection of outerwear and other pieces online. The collection has been made with sustainable fabrics such as recycled polyester.

Thursday 07 October

• MySale Group reported a 10% drop in revenue to A$117.9m, while its gross merchandise value fell 4.3% to A$125.4m. Gross profit increased 5.7% to A$46.4m, while its underlying EBITDA came in at A$4.2m, swinging from a loss of A$2.7m the year before.
• Asos has introduced paid leave for health-related events, including pregnancy loss and gender reassignment surgery.

Wednesday 06 October

• Ikea has been named as a partner of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26. The retail giant has pledged to become climate positive by 2030 by reducing more greenhouse gas emissions than its value chain emits, while growing the business.
• Morrisons announced it is set to hire 3,000 extra staff this Christmas for its distribution centres and manufacturing sites to meet demand during the festive period. The grocer guarantees a pay of at least £10 per hour.
• Aldi has been titled the cheapest supermarket for the month of September based on a Which? survey of 22 items across supermarkets – edging rival Lidl by 37p.
• Ocado has partnered with autonomous grocery delivery start-up Wayve that sees the grocer invest £10m in Wayve’s self-driving technology to bring automation to last mile delivery. The technology uses deep learning and cameras to adapt routes in urban environments, and will be used in a 12-month trial on Ocado delivery vans in London.
• Strong lockdown demand for home improvement products helped Topps Tiles achieve record annual sales at £227.5m in the year to 2 October – 19.6% above the previous year and 6.3% higher than 2018/19 levels. The retailer expects profit for the financial year to be slightly above the £13.6m analysts had predicted.
• Tesco raised its full year profit guidance after better-than-expected increase in first half sales. The grocer’s revenue rose 3% to £27.3bn in the six months to 28 August, while pre-tax profit jumped 107% to £1.1bn.
• The Financial Reporting Council has opened an investigation into the audit of French Connection Group by accountants Mazars. It comes after French Connection on Monday agreed a £29m takeover by one of its biggest shareholders.

Tuesday 05 October

• EG Group has agreed to acquire bakery chain Cooplands, which employs more than 1,600 people. The deal will provide a platform to diversify Cooplands into the transient petrol forecourt and retail convenience store format.
• Jaeger is relaunching in autumn/winter 2021 after Marks & Spencer acquired the label out of administration.
• Hotel Chocolat reported a profit before tax and exceptionals of £10m in the year to 27 June – up from £2.4m in the previous year and ahead of market expectations. Group sales increased by 21% to £164.6m despite six months of Covid-19 restrictions impacting stores.
• Café Nero has hired investment bank Lazard to advise the coffee chain on funding options for refinancing its debts of almost £150m. Mohsin and Zuber Issa, who control Asda owner EG Group, own £180m of Caffe Nero’s lower-ranking debts.
• ScS Group reported a lofty 21% increase in gross sales to £325m and a 22% increase in revenue to £311m in the year to 31 July, despite four months of store closures in the period. Pre-tax profit came in at £23m compared with a loss of £3.1m for the same period last year.
• Greggs has upgraded its full-year forecast as both in-store and online sales jumped in the third quarter despite ongoing supply chain issues. Like-for-like sales on a two-year basis were up 3.5% in the three months to 2 October.

Monday 04 October

• Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is set to take control of Morrisons after winning the auction for the supermarket group with a £7bn bid.

Friday 01 October

• Beds specialist Dreams saw total revenues dip from £333m to £319m in 2020 as stores closed for 16 weeks of the year. Online sales increased by 66% in the period compared to 2019, buoyed by the acquisition of Feather & Black’s online operations last year. Pre-tax profit rose to £46.9m in 2020 from £35.3m in 2019.
• AO.com posted a 5% uplift in like-for-like group sales in the six months to 30 September, with UK sales up 6%. The retailer said that it expects full-year adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of £35m to £50m, in comparison with £64m the previous year, as growth is hampered by “the nationwide shortage of delivery drivers and ongoing disruption in the global supply chain”.
• Sainsbury’s is creating 22,000 seasonal roles as part of its “biggest ever Christmas recruitment drive”, with seasonal roles posted four weeks earlier than last year.

Thursday 30 September

• Boohoo has reported a 20% YoY increase in sales to £975m for the six months to 31 August and a 73% increase on the same period pre-pandemic. Adjusted pre-tax profit was £63.8m, down 20% on the same period in 2020, but 23% higher than pre-pandemic.
• H&M reported a 13% increase in group revenue to SEK142.1bn (£12.02bn) in local currency for the period from 1 December 2020 to 31 August 2021. The retailer reported that profit after financial items was SEK8.29bn (£0.70bn) – an increase of SEK1.6bn (£0.13bn) – while profit after tax was SEK6.38bn (£0.54bn).
• EG Group has increased hourly pay for 10,500 UK employees to recognise hard work and commitment during the pandemic. Every colleague aged 18 and above will now be paid a minimum of £9.50 per hour.
• Deliveroo has launched a rapid grocery delivery service through a dark store with Morrisons dubbed Hop. Hop offer 10-to-15-minute delivery for customers in and around Vauxhall and Battersea in south-west London.

Wednesday 29 September

• Next reported an 8.8% increase in full-price sales in the six months to July 2021 compared to pre-pandemic levels, while pre-tax profit up 5.9% on 2019 to £347m. The retailer upgraded its full year pre-tax profit outlook by £36m to £800m – up 6.9% on pre-pandemic levels, with full-price sales to be up 10% on 2019.
• Quiz reported deepening losses before tax to £9.6m in the year to 31 March from £3.1m in the previous year. The group’s revenue plunged by 66% YoY to £40m, as coronavirus restrictions over the period shuttered stores and concessions.

Tuesday 28 September

• Card Factory posted a 16% increase in sales to £117m for the six months to 31 July. The retailer reported a pre-tax loss of £6.5m in the period – an improvement from £22m last year.
• Asos has committed to invest £14m to open a tech hub in Northern Ireland to support growth. The facility is expected to create 184 new jobs over three years.

• Moonpig has raised its full year revenue expectations as it saw its sales from 30 April to date grow strongly. The online greeting card platform expects full year group’s revenue to be between £270m and £285m.

Monday 27 September

• JD Sports has taken a stake in online hair and beauty brand Hairburst for an undisclosed amount. The follows JD’s increased interest in acquisitions in categories outside of sportswear.
• Aldi reported a 10.2% YoY increase in revenue to £13.5bn in the year to 31 December. It reported a 2.5% YoY decline in pre-tax profit to £264.8m in the period, while operating profit fell by 1.2% to £287.7m.

• River Island swung to a loss as enforced store closures during the pandemic hammered sales. The retailer’s sales fell from £879.5m to £600.5m in the year to 26 December, while it reported a pre-tax loss of £51.5m for the year, compared to a profit of £3.8m in the previous year. Its operating loss came in at £36.2m, down from a profit of £21.4m the previous year.
• Cornish lifestyle brand Seasalt is considering bringing in investors after benefiting from a boom in staycation holidays this summer.

Friday 24 September

• Nike announced that it would likely increase its prices in the second half of the financial year to offset the increasing costs of transportation, logistics and air freight required to meet demand during the golden quarter.

• Landsec has agreed to sell two retail parks in a move that will help contribute funds as it focuses on London projects. The company said the disposals of sites in Cumbria and Blackpool total £54.3m, marking a 15% premium on their March book value.

Thursday 23 September

• French luxury conglomerate LVMH committed to recruit 25,000 people under the age of 30, to give young people access to training and employment.
• DFS posted a 55.6% surge in pre-tax profits to a record £108.8m, while revenue rose by 9.7% to £1.06bn in the year to 27 June despite supply chain issues.
• TJX Europe, the parent company of TK Maxx, has begun hiring up to 2,000 young people in the UK under a government work placement programme. The scheme will provide specialist employability training and resources in partnership with The Prince’s Trust.
• Sainsbury’s restarted its same-day delivery service, having paused it during the Covid outbreak. By the end of October, the grocer will expand the service to 100 new stores, plus 100 new click-and-collect points.

Wednesday 22 September

• Pret a Manger will open more than 200 new UK stores and expand overseas over the next two years, following a £100m investment from owner JAB and founder Sinclair Beecham.
• The luxury resale platform Vestiaire Collective has raised €178m (£153.91m) in funding, increasing the firm’s valuation to £1.2bn.
• JD Sports has signed a new lease contract for an 11,000 sq ft store in Cheltenham’s Regent Arcade. The store is set to open before Christmas.
• Jojo Maman Bebe have teamed up with Start-Rite to launch a new footwear collection.
• Fenwick posted a pre-tax loss of £111.9m in the year to 29 January 2021 compared with the £47.3m loss in 2020. Net sales tumbled 56% to £119m after the retailer was forced to close its stores for 21 weeks of its financial year, amid prolonged periods of social distancing restrictions.

Tuesday 21 September

• Yoox Net-a-Porter has opened a distribution centre near Milan. The €47m (£40.4m) distribution centre represents the retailer’s most significant investment in Italy in 20 years.
• Kingfisher has reported a 22% increase in sales to £7.1bn in the six months to 31 July having appealed to a new generation of DIYers, while pre-tax profit rose 62% YoY to £669m in the period. It upgraded its profit outlook for the full year, with expectations profit will be in the region of £910m to £950m.
• Asda is expanding its refill scheme to its Glasgow, Milton Keynes and York stores following a trial in Leeds. The grocer partnered with brands such as Kellogg’s and Unilever to offer a range of 60 refillable goods.
• Aldi will open its first checkout-free store, in London, allowing shoppers to walk out without visiting a till.

Monday 20 September

• Footwear manufacturer Hotter Shoes has secured a partnership with John Lewis to sell its collection on the department store’s website from next month.
• Morrisons has signed a deal with online marketplace Starstock to offer pubs, restaurants, and hotels wholesale Morrisons stock.

Friday 17 September

• Next has agreed to operate Gap’s business in the UK and Ireland as a franchise partner. Under the new partnership, which is set to launch in 2022, Gap’s ecommerce business will join Next’s Total Platform, while Gap shop-in-shops will be opened in some Next stores.
• Reiss reported a 52% sales increase year-on-year to £124.2m in the 30 weeks to 29 August. This was 8% higher than during the equivalent sales period pre-pandemic. Based on the strong sales momentum, Reiss said it expects to “return to profit this year”.
• Boots launched a new media and marketing service to help third-party brands deliver personalised campaigns to customers, leveraging data from Boots’ Advantage Card loyalty scheme, which has 17 million active members shopping at 2,300 stores and online. 
• Abercrombie & Fitch has opened a new store at 150 Regent Street, London.

Thursday 16 September

• The Co-op reported an underlying operating pre-tax loss of £15m, down £71m on 2020. Revenue contracted by 3.2% compared with the “unprecedented purchasing behaviour” of the early pandemic. Going forward the grocer believes supply chain issues will impact profitability.
• The Hut Group (THG) recorded an increase in adjusted EBITDA by 39% YoY to £81.2m in the six months to 30 June. The strong performance was fuelled by a 45% jump in revenues over the same period to £958.8m, up 95% compared with 2019.
• Superdry reported an adjusted pre-tax loss of £12.6m for the 52-week period to 24 April. The fashion retailer’s sales were down 21.1% to £556.1m, which it attributed to the enforced closure of its store estate during lockdown periods, losing 39% of trading days in stores.
• John Lewis narrowed losses on the back of cost saving measures and heightened sales. Pre-tax losses came in at £29m for the half year to 31 July, compared to the £645m loss a year earlier. John Lewis online sales accounted for 75% of total sales in the period, up from 40% pre-pandemic, while Waitrose reported 17% of sales online, up from 11% last year.
• Marks & Spencer announced that it will be closing 11 stores in France, with most of its Paris shops suffering empty shelves due to supply chain disruption caused by European border restrictions. 

Wednesday 15 September

• Zara's parent Inditex recorded a spike in net profit to €1.27bn (£1.1bn) in the six months to 31 July compared to a loss of €195m (£166.5m) in the same period last year, while sales surged 49% to €11.9bn (£10.2bn).
• H&M reported a slower than expected recovery with third quarter net sales increasing by 9% to SEK 55.6bn (£4.68bn), falling short of analysts’ 14% forecast for the fashion giant.
• Primark has pledged that all clothing in its stores will be made using recycled or sustainably-sourced materials by 2030, from 25% currently. 
• Footwear brand Lavair has launched its first clothing collection, consisting of premium sportswear.
• The John Lewis Partnership announced that it will be recruiting 7,000 temporary roles for the coming Christmas season – 2,000 more than last year – for its 34 John Lewis stores across the UK and Ireland, including sales and merchandising positions.  

Tuesday 14 September

• Wilko has invested £3m in UK autonomous delivery company StreetDrone as the companies plan to bring autonomous deliveries to Wilko consumers by the end of 2023. The electric vehicles are expected to operate on a six-mile radius from a Wilko store, with set vehicles to service specific neighbourhood branches.
• JD Sports reported record results for the first half of the year, with sales revenue surpassing £3.9bn, from £2.5bn for the same period in 2020. The group’s pre-tax profit for the period was £365m, compared to £42m in the same period last year, while EBITDA soared to £746m.
• Made.com reported a 54% surge in gross sales to £214m for the six months to 30 June. The furniture retailer narrowed its losses by 5.1% to £10.1m in the period.
• Private equity firm CD&R is coming closer towards winning the Morrisons takeover battle, as it reached an agreement with the trustees of the Morrisons Retirement Saver Plan and the Safeway Pension Scheme on a “comprehensive mitigation package” should they win the bid for the grocer.
• Ocado reported a 10.6% fall in revenue to £516m for the 13 weeks to 29 August, impacted by a fire at its Erith distribution centre in Southeast London.
• Made.com has made a move to broaden its homewares offer as it seeks to drive repeat business and customer loyalty.
• Fashion retailer Boden reported a drop in group sales by 14% to £332.7m in the year to 31 December. Its pre-tax profit came in at £18.5m, up from £15.4m in 2019, which the company said was driven by tight cost control and margin improvements.

Monday 13 September

• Causeway Capital has added £178m worth of shares in WHSmith amid hopes of a global recovery in the travel industry. The activist investor is now the single largest shareholder in the retailer with a total stake amounting to 9.05%.
• Primark is developing a new customer facing website to showcase up to 80% of its product range. Customers will be able to see ‘What does Primark sell?’ and more importantly ‘What does Primark sell in their local store?’ according to the retailer.

Friday 10 September

• Ikea has entered an agreement to purchase the 100,000 sq ft former Topshop flagship store for £385m at 214 Oxford Street, London. 
• Amazon has dedicated $1.2bn (£870m) to offer its US frontline staff the opportunity to cover their university tuition fees as long as they continue working for the retailer. 
• Harvey Nichols has partnered with Kids O’Clock to launch a resale concept, which will allow customers to drop-off their children’s pre-loved clothing at destinations in-store. 
• The Post Office has signed a click-and-collect contract with Amazon, which by Christmas will see 1,500 of the Post Office’s 11,500 stores offer pick-up and drop-off services to either take delivery of or send Amazon parcels.
   

Thursday 09 September

• Costa Coffee has announced a 5% pay raise for its 14,500 UK team members as token of appreciation for their commitment and hard work during the Covid-19 pandemic. The chain is set to add 2,000 new jobs across the UK to meet demand and support new stores. 
• Lululemon reported a 61% surge in Net revenues to £1.05bn in the second quarter hence beating analysts’ estimates. Looking forward to the third quarter, the company expects revenues of £1.01 billion to £1.03 billion and adjusted earnings of £0.96 to £1.00 per share.
• Morrisons recorded a 37.1% plunge in pre-tax profit to £105m in the half-year to August 1, which the grocer attributed to Covid-19 related and supply chain disruptions challenges. The retailer’s total revenue including fuel rose 3.7% to £9bn during the period, while like-for-likes excluding fuel edged down 0.3% and online sales surged 48%.
• JD Sports is said to be in talks with fashion e-tailer Missguided for a possible takeover bid. According to Sky News, talks between the two businesses are ongoing, but JD Sports’ proposal is understood to involve a controlling stake, but it is unclear whether Missguided founder Nitin Passi wants to retain majority ownership.
• Homewares supplier Geko Products, based in Nottinghamshire, has acquired home and giftware supplier Scarthingwell Replicas.
• Bensons for Beds has taken a lease contract at Unit 18, Drakehouse Retail Park, Waterthorpe, Sheffield, on-site neighbours include Carpetright, Currys PC World and SCS. The new 5000 sq ft store is set to open on Friday 10th September.

Wednesday 08 September

• The Bluewater shopping destination has welcomed Crep Collection Club and Vanilla to its retail line-up.
• The luxury beauty platform Beauty Pie has completed its series B financing round, raising a total of $170m (£126m) to date, in a bid to move to new markets and experiment with new retail formats.
• Halfords announced it will switch from locked pay to flexible pay for its entire staff with 10,000 employees getting financial education, budgeting, and savings, built around flexible pay.
• Halfords recorded a 19% rise in sales over the 20-week period to August 20 compared with the same period two years ago, up 17% on a like-for-like basis. The retailer also reported “exceptional” growth in its services (78%), B2B (83%) and online (80%) on a two-year basis.
• The Boxpark retail, hospitality and leisure operator is to accelerate its expansion plans outside of London after securing new investments from LDC. The company is on track to generate revenues of over £18 million in the year to April 2022.
• Dunelm profits before tax soared by 45% year on year to £158m in the 52 weeks to June 26. While its stores were closed for more than a third of the financial year, sales grew 26% overall to £1.3bn, largely driven by digital sales which were up 115% compared with 2020.
• John Lewis announced plans to provide a cheaper fashion line under its Anyday banner, with prices expected to start as low as £4. More than 2,400 Anyday products are already available in John Lewis stores, with 700 product lines for its clothing range to be added next week.

Tuesday 07 September

• Lifestyle brand Tihara Smith opens its very first brick and mortar store in London’s shopping district of Seven Dials in Covent Garden.
• Ted Baker posted a surge in second-quarter sales, rising by 50% YoY during the 16 weeks to August 14.

Monday 06 September

• The Co-op has announced its partnership with The Original Factory Shop concessions that would see the later open up to 30 stores in Co-op’s food stores over the next 15 months.

Friday 03 September

• Clintons is said to start offering a selection of alcoholic products to improve its online offering. The card and gift retailer has partnered with independent Shropshire distillery Henstone to offer the range on its online store clintonsretail.com. 

Thursday 02 September

• Jojo Maman Bebe has warned that increased shipping costs could result in its most significant price rises in five years.
• The Competition and Markets Authority has raised new concerns over JD Sports Fashion’s acquisition of Footasylum as they believe it may “lead to a worse deal for shoppers”.
• John Lewis has opened a pop-up showroom for its homeware brand Anyday. The store spans 4,277 sq ft and is situated on the Lower Grand Arcade in Cardiff.
• Amazon intends to recruit 55,000 people worldwide. Around 40,000 jobs will be in the US, with 2,500 in the UK and the remainder in India, Germany and Japan.

Wednesday 01 September

• US investment management firm T Rowe Price has taken a 10% stake in Boohoo Group to become one of its largest shareholders. The investment company already has a major stake of more than 11% in rival Asos. 
• WHSmith said it expects to be ahead of expectations for the year to 31 August, following an uptick in high street and travel trading, but warned ongoing uncertainty could impact profitability in the future.
• Boots is to launch 30 new beauty halls across the UK, with more than 100 new beauty specialist jobs to be created.
• Majestic Wine has released its new subscription model dubbed Wine Club. Quarterly selection will be themed around grapes, regions or style and delivered direct to customers.

Tuesday 31 August

• Zalando is expanding its brand offering as it looks to be a “credible, fresh and inclusive partner” for luxury and designer brands. This year, the fashion platform has added more than 50 new luxury brands, including Missoni, Christopher Kane, 032C and Mansur Gavriel.
• Pet retailer Jollyes has revealed plans to accelerate growth by opening up to 20 new stores over the next 18 months. Jollyes saw sales rise by 13% year-on-year to £77m in the year to May 2021.

Friday 28 August

• Luxury sock and knitwear manufacturer Corgi has revealed an export plan as it sets for global expansion. The 128-year-old firm plans to combat the current economic downturn by increasing its international exports to account for 70% of its trade over the coming year.
• Forecourt and fast food outlet group EG Group has reported a 23.7% increase in EBITDA to $380m (£276.9m) and a 57.7% surge in sales to $6.5bn (£4.74bn) during the three months to 30 June.
   

Thursday 26 August

• Major retailers including Tesco and Iceland have warned of the disruption to supermarket supplies as the industry struggles with a shortage of lorry drivers following the impact of the coronavirus crisis and post-Brexit immigration rules.
• PrettyLittleThing announced former reality show Love Island contestant Molly-Mae Hague will be its new creative director responsible for campaign directions and for signing influencers to the brand. She previously acted as the retailer’s brand ambassador.

Wednesday 25 August

• Just Eat has announced its ambitions to create 1,500 new customer service jobs in the Northeast over the next 12 months.

• Amazon has begun advertising warehouse jobs with a £1,000 joining bonus to lure new workers.

• Walmart launches GoLocal delivery services in the US to enable third-party retailers that have struggled to implement their own delivery operations use its delivery infrastructure.
• Urban Outfitters is set to launch its resale platform Nuuly Thrift this autumn. Customers will have the opportunity to resell products from any brand on the platform. Nuuly Thrift will be a sister platform to Nuuly Rent, the subscription rental service for women’s apparel launched in 2019.

• Bensons for Beds is opening a new store in Colindale, North London, as part of a transformation programme initiated last year. The 8,300 sq ft retail floor will employ six members of staff.

Tuesday 24 August

• Boots has entered a trial partnership with Deliveroo to offer rapid delivery on a range of more than 400 health and beauty products. The service covers 14 Boots store across the UK.
• Retail platform giant Shopify is partnering with TikTok to offer merchants across the UK and Ireland the possibility to sell directly to customers through their TikTok profiles in a new pilot programme.
• Toys R Us is set to be revived four years after it collapsed. The American department store giant Macy’s announced that over 400 of its stores in the US will open Toys ‘R’ Us shop-in-shops in the coming 18 months.

Monday 23 August

• Sainsbury’s shares soared more than 12% at the start of trading on Monday following potential takeover rumours. Apollo is said to have taken a strong interest in the grocery after it missed out on Asda last year.

Friday 20 August

• Farfetch reported a 43% year-on-year increase in revenue to £384m for the second quarter, with a profit after tax of £65m.
• Marks & Spencer expects its full-year profit to beat expectations following a 29.1% rise in group revenues YoY in the 19 weeks to 14 August. Its core food and fashion divisions were said to have performed well during the period.
• Amazon is planning to open several department stores in the US, with first openings expected to be in Ohio and California. The stores will offer a range of products including clothing, household items and electronics.
• B&Q has opened a new express store in Wood Green, North London. The new shop has created 18 jobs in the local area.
• Ikea has announced plans to create immersive experience across its stores globally. The homewares retailer unveiled a new ‘interactive and intuitive’ store layout in Shanghai as it adapts to changing consumer demands.

Thursday 19 August

• Global Fashions Group, the parent of The Iconic, Zalora and Dafiti, reported a 28% YoY rise in gross profit to €183.7m (£156.5m) for the second quarter of 2021, due to the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
• Garden retailer Little Dobbies has signed a 10-year lease to open its fifth store in London’s Richmond.
• Missguided has partnered with George at Asda to make its clothing available at over 100 of the grocer’s shops and online.

Wednesday 18 August

• Beales has signed a four-year licensing deal with the NHS to open a clinic for outpatients on the top floor of its 17,000 sq ft Poole store, in a bid to tackle long hospital waiting lists.
• Hotter Shoes experienced a 65% surge in sales of active and outdoor shoes in July 2021, compared to the same month in 2019. This now accounts for 20% of Hotter’s total footwear sales, up from 11% two years ago.
• Fishing specialist Angling Direct announced in its latest trading update a 19.5% revenue increase to £38.4m in the six months to 31 July.
• JD Sports has partnered with Nike and TikTok to enable users to virtually try-on Nike’s new Air VaporMax shoes through augmented reality.

• Marks & Spencer has expanded its online food offer by partnering with expats’ shopping site British Corner Shop, available in 150 countries including Australia and the US.

• Poundland doubles the size of its online delivery service trial by extending to new postcodes in the Midlands and Yorkshire, meaning it is now available to more than 7 million UK consumers.

Tuesday 17 August

• French menswear brand Fursac will open its second store in London. The 2,090 sq ft store will be located at 12 Marylebone High Street and stock the brand’s entire range.
• Lingerie retailer Bravissimo posted a 30.1% fall in revenue to £42.07m for the year to October 2020. Pre-tax loss slipped to £4.4m in the period from a £637,308 loss a year earlier.

• Crew Clothing opened a 1,982 sq ft store in Princesshay shopping centre store in Exeter. This makes a total of 100 UK retail outlets for the clothing retailer.

Monday 16 August

• Hawes & Curtis has opened its fifteenth UK store in Fenchurch Street, London, spanning 3,576 sq ft.

• Pret A Manger is planning to open 100 franchises and 100 of its own shops in regional locations over the next three years, in a bid to expand outside of city centres which have been hardest hit by Covid restrictions. The move is expected to create up to 2,000 new jobs.
• Amazon is set to offer its own food label online in a bid to make gains in the grocery sector. The retail giant will offer hundreds of “By Amazon” and “Our Selection” products to its website for customers to purchase, including fresh groceries, ready-meals and cupboard essentials.

• Marks & Spencer is introducing six more fashion brands to its online platform as it continues to build its ecommerce operations.

• The Very Group has allegedly solicited Morgan Stanley, UBS and Barclays as the co-ordinators of the retailer’s IPO that could happen next year.
• John Lewis has signed a three-year deal with Clipper Logistics to help expand its ecommerce operations, following the acquisition of a new logistics centre. This deal is set to create more than 200 jobs.

• Marks Electrical has hired stockbroker Panmure Gordon to advise on a possible flotation later this year that could see the retailer valued at £200m.

• Shoe retailer Deichmann is looking to expand its UK footprint and believes it could double its estate of 109 stores as it takes aim to become the market leader in “family footwear”.
• The Body Shop owner Natura & Co reported net revenue growth of 36.2% to R$9.5bn (£1.31bn) in Q2 2021, while adjusted EBITDA rose by 31.9% to £111.7m over the same period.

• Online furniture retailer Cox & Cox posted a 54% year-on-year rise in sales in Q2 2021, after a 41.9% uptick in order numbers. It said outdoor sales were “particularly strong” with stock typically pre-selling before containers arrived.

Friday 13 August

• The marketing and entertainment company Authentic Brands Group is set to complete the acquisition of Reebok from German sportswear giant Adidas. The $2.5bn transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022.
• McColl’s sales were down 5.3% to £572.7m in the half year to 30 May, as a result of the closure of 43 stores. The retailer reported an adjusted EBITDA decline of 13.2% to £24.3m in the period, attributed to ongoing Covid-related costs and lower gross profit.
• Frasers Group announced it is to open two stores in Ireland. The stores will open at Mahon Point Shopping Centre in Co Cork and Whitewater Shopping Centre in Co Kildare.

Thursday 12 August

• Screwfix has rolled out its 60-minute Sprint delivery option across 30 new cities following a trial in Bristol, with a delivery charge of £5.
• Pret a Manger has cut staff pay, having made permanent previously temporary pandemic measures, including ending paid breaks and halved service bonuses linked to mystery shopping.
• Boohoo Group has announced plans to create 5,000 new UK jobs by 2026, following an investment programme worth over £500m.

Wednesday 11 August

• Morrisons announced that it will shut all of its stores over Boxing Day as a staff reward for hard work.
• Asda has invested in digital food service start-up Lean Kitchen Network (LKN) and revealed plans for a trial of four shop-in-shops. Shoppers will be able to order food in-store from LKN via a touchscreen kiosk or using a smartphone for collection at the end of their shop or home delivery via Uber Eats.
• John Lewis Partnership has agreed the lease of a 1 million sq ft distribution centre from Tesco at Fenny Lock, near Milton Keynes, as it looks to drive online growth and create 500 new jobs.

Tuesday 10 August

• Watches of Switzerland reported a 102% surge in sales to £298m in its first quarter to 1 August – up 46% compared with the same period in 2019. The retailer posted growth in its core UK market despite “subdued store traffic”.
• Harvey Nichols has partnered with resale platform Reflaunt to launch a second-hand fashion proposition online from 26 August. Sellers earn up to 80% of the sale price, with sold items dropped off at collection points in Harvey Nichols’ stores or collected by concierge.
• Footwear etailer Ego has expanded into clothing for the first time, launching a range with social media influencer Anastasia Karanikolaou.

Monday 9 August

• McColl’s is reportedly readying for a £30m equity raise to expand its Morrisons Daily c-store format.
• Fashion retailer Forever New has opened its first UK store in Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Sheffield.

Friday 6 August

• The consortium led by US private equity Fortress has increased its offer for Morrisons, valuing the grocer at £6.7bn from £6.3bn previously. Shareholders will vote on 27 August.
• In a bid to attract at least 95 new lorry drivers amid shortages, Poundland is offering to pay for the costs of getting an upgraded HGV Class 1 licence for HGV Class 2 licence-holders, as well as offer a £1,000 bonus to drivers who work out from July to September, with a further £1,000 bonus granted to drivers who work during the golden quarter between October and December.
• Amazon has delayed a return to the office until January next year.

Thursday 5 August

• Adidas posted net income from continuing operations increased to €387m in the second quarter to 30 June, from a loss of €295m a year earlier. It reported that currency-neutral sales rose by 55%, buoyed by a strong recovery in store sales despite a 14% drop in online sales against strong comparatives.
• Retail tycoon Mike Ashley confirmed he will step down as chief executive of Frasers Group to hand the reins to future son-in-law and Frasers’ head of elevation Michael Murray in the next financial year.

• Frasers Group reported sales dropped 8.4% to £3.63bn in the year to 25 April as it battled store closures. Underlying pre-tax profit tumbled 95.1% to £5.8m in the period.
• John Lewis is to raise the annual salaries of its LGV drivers by up to £5,000, with a sign-on fee of £1,000 to new drivers who join before November. The retailer is also launching a driver training programme open to existing partners and new recruits.

Wednesday 4 August

• The Hut Group acquired Cult Beauty for £275m on a cash and debt-free basis. Resultantly it raised its full-year sales forecast to between 38% and 41% growth, with the beauty brand expected to contribute £60m of sales and £3m in adjusted EBITDA for the remainder of the financial year.

Tuesday 3 August

• Marks & Spencer is awarding HGV drivers a £2,000 sign-on bonus as it looks to attract hauliers amid shortages.
• Joules reported a statutory pre-tax profit of £2m in the year to 30 May, compared with a loss of £24.8m a year earlier, as sales rose 4.3% to £199m on the back of strong online growth and its acquisition of Garden Trading. Online represented 77% of total revenue, from 56% a year earlier.
• Gregg’s reported that total sales were flat on a two-year basis at £546.2m in its first half to 3 July. Underlying pre-tax profit came in at £55.5m, up from £40.7m in 2019. Delivery sales accounted for 8.5% of company-managed shop sales. Greggs now expects higher full-year profits than previously expected.
• Sweaty Betty has been acquired by US footwear manufacturer Wolverine Worldwide for $410m (£295m) from private equity firm L Catterton and other shareholders.

Monday 2 August

• Tesco is offering HGV drivers a £1,000 sign-on bonus for hauliers that can start working before the end of September. Aldi has also reportedly increased wages for its lorry drivers.

Friday 30 July

• Bloom & Wild acquired French rival Bergamotte for an undisclosed sum. It marks its second acquisition in four months, having acquired Dutch rival Bloomon in April.
• Amazon reported a 27% surge in net sales to $113bn (£81bn) in its second quarter to 30 June, with net income jumping by 48.4% to a record $7.8bn (£5.6bn). However, Amazon’s rate of sales growth has slowed compared to a year earlier. It expects third-quarter sales of between $106bn and $112bn (£76bn-£80bn), with a net income between $2.5bn and $6bn (£1.8bn-£4.3bn), compared with $6.2bn (£4.4bn) in the period.

Thursday 29 July

• Pets at Home beats expectations with a strong performance across its veterinary operations. Group revenue rose 25.7% to £377.8m in the 16 weeks to 15 July.
• Dr Martens recorded sales of £147.3m in its first quarter. Sales rose by 31% on 2019, and 52% on 2020, driven by an 11% rise in ecommerce sales.
• The Russian discount retailer Mere revealed that the opening date for its first UK store is 14 August.
• Halfords reported a 13.1% rise in group sales to £1.29bn following “unprecedented demand” for bikes and cycling products in the year to 2 April. Underlying profit before tax surged by 72.3% in the period.

Wednesday 28 July

• Singapore’s Sovereign fund GIC is allegedly wanting take part in the private equity led consortium to buy Morrisons via Cambourne Life investment vehicle.
• Following a 69% surge in profit to £151m over the past year, Games Workshop confirmed in its trading update this week that around 2,600 staff will each receive £5,000 in shares under its profit-share scheme.
• Music Magpie reported a pre-tax loss of £17.7m during the first half of its financial year. This compares to a profit of £2.5m during the same period in 2020.

Tuesday 27 July

• LVMH revenues rose by 56% to £24.5bn in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year. The group’s share of net profit increased 62% compared with 2019 to £4.5bn – 10 times higher than the £445m seen last year.
• In the Style sales jumped 132% to £44.7m in the year to 31 March as consumers shifted online. The retailer posted a pre-tax profit of £125,000 compared to a loss of £2.1m during the previous year.
• Superdry has agreed the lease of the former Forever 21 28,000sq ft store on Oxford Street as the retailer pins its hopes on a recovery of London’s West End following the easing of Covid restrictions.
• Moonpig reported a 113% year-on-year increase in revenue to £368.2m and 125% adjusted profit before tax increase to £74.6m for the year to 30 April.
• Tesco Bank has announced it will close all 213,000 customer’s current accounts by the end of November after noticing that most customers are not using it as their main account.

Monday 26 July

• The owners of the Selfridges have launched a formal auction of the department store business. Bids are expected to start at £4bn, and Credit Suisse is expected to distribute information memoranda to potential buyers.
• LK Bennett has launched a subscription-based clothing rental service, which would allow consumers to rent two items at once. The service dubbed LK Bennett Borrowed costs £79 per month.
• Skechers sales surpassed expectations with revenue rising by 127.3% to $1.66bn (£1.42bn) in the three months to 30 June.
• Hamleys has opened a new 1,326sq ft state of the art console, PC and gaming accessories zone in its London Regent Street store.
• Marks & Spencer is to launch same-day fashion delivery as it drive online capabilities, making it faster than competitors such as Asos and Next.

Friday 23 July

• Ted Baker has announced plans to move its headquarters in Fitzrovia following a 10-year lease agreement with Westminster City Council. The retailer expects to move into the space during Summer 2022.
• Dreams has opened the first bricks-and-mortar shop for Feather & Black since it acquired the business last year. The parent company affirmed that there would be more openings later this year.
• Sephora has allegedly acquired online-only retailer Feelunique from previous private equity firm Palamon Capital Partners and other shareholders for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is set to be completed during the second half of 2022.

Thursday 22 July

• Beales’ new owner has announced it will reopen the chain’s 38,000sq ft store in Southport, Merseyside on August 12.  The department store chain collapsed into administration in January.
• Hamleys is set to open its first standalone store in the newly opened St. James Quarter precinct. The retailer will take a 2475sq ft unit at the 1.7 million sq ft city centre retail destination in central Edinburgh.

Wednesday 21 July

• In a trading update, Next reported that full-price sales were up 18.6% year-on-two-year in the 11 weeks to 17 July. Next increased its profit guidance by £30m to £750m for its current financial year, marking a 3% pre-tax profit increase on 2019/20. Third-party full-price sales were up 66% in the period, with sales of homewares up 27% and childrenswear up 6%. It is set to repay £29m of business rates relief back to the government.
• Wickes reported that group sales soared 33.1% year-on-year and 22.4% year-on-two-years in the 26 weeks to 26 June, as it benefits from local trade and DIY projects. Since stores reopened on 12 April, also said ordered sales have surged 30% on a two-year basis. 
• Private equity Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is reportedly working on another bid for Morrisons, following American investment firm Fortress’s £6.3bn takeover offer for the grocer.

Tuesday 20 July

• Crafts specialist The Works reported that total sales dropped 19.7% to £180.7m in the year to 2 May, despite online sales surging 120.9%. During periods of store openings between lockdowns in the year, like-for-like sales rose 6%. On an adjusted pre-tax basis, The Works made a loss of £3.6m compared to a profit of £2.4m a year earlier.
• Sosandar’s sales rose by 35% to £12.2m in 2020, while EBITDA losses fell to £2.92m from £7.66m in 2019, as repeat orders increased 40% to 189,703 and average order frequency rose 23%.

Monday 19 July

• Ocado suffered a fire at its automated fulfilment centre in Erith, southeast London as three robots collided, forcing it to cancel thousands of orders. It marked the second fire in as many years at an Ocado customer fulfilment centre.
• In a bid to rival Amazon’s just walk out concept, Morrisons is working with US technology firm AiFi to test checkout-less stores at its Bradford headquarters to enable shoppers to purchase without queuing at a till.

Friday 16 July

• Burberry reported an 86% year-on-year uplift in sales to £479m in the 13 weeks to end-June, as like-for-like sales rose 90%. Like-for-likes edged up 1% on a two-year basis during the period, while full-price store sales rose 26%. It said it has “attracted new, younger luxury customers to the brand”.

Thursday 15 July

• Hobbycraft saw sales slide 8.6% and like-for-likes drop by 11% to £177m in the 53 weeks to 21 February, with shop closures partly softened by 152% growth in online sales. Operating profit fell from £2.7m to £1.3m in the year, while EBITDA fell by 7.2% to £14m. Boss Dominic Jordan commented: “There’s no reason why, over the next five years, our ecommerce business can’t be as big as our store business.”

• ASOS reported total group sales rose by 27% year-on-year to £1.0bn in the four months to 30 June.  Trading in the final three weeks of the period was reportedly more muted, as Covid uncertainty and adverse weather, particularly in the UK, impacted sales.
• Kingfisher upgraded its adjusted pre-tax profit guidance for the first half of its financial year to be in the range of £645m to £660m, outstripping previous guidance of £580m to £600m, as like-for-like sales soared 22.3% in its second quarter to date compared to two years ago.
• Halfords has launched a recruitment drive to hire more than 700 people across the UK. New roles will span across vehicle and cycle technician roles, store staff roles, MOT testers and management roles.

Wednesday 14 July

• Hugo Boss sales increased by 129% year-on-year to €629m (£536m) in the second quarter, while it reported an operating profit (EBIT) of €42m (£35.8m) compared to a loss of €250m a year earlier. It forecasts revenue to grow by 30% to 35% across 2021.
• Boohoo Group has struck an exclusive partnership deal with Kuwait-based retail company Alshaya Group in the Middle East. The partnership will see Boohoo’s brands – which include Boohoo, BoohooMan, PrettyLittleThing and NastyGal – in Debenhams stores from the final quarter of 2021, as well as on a new local online platform across the Middle East from early 2022.
• John Lewis and Waitrose plan to cut 1,000 store jobs to simplify management structures and reinvest in the customer experience and visual merchandising. The redundancies average three people per store across 331 Waitrose branches and 34 John Lewis stores.
• Dunelm raised its pre-tax profit guidance to approximately £158m. This comes as the homewares retailer recorded a 26% uplift in sales to £1.3bn for the year to 26 June, which was also up 21% compared with 2019. Digital sales made make up 46% of total sales – up 19% on last year and 26% on a two-year basis.

Tuesday 13 July

• Superdrug reported a drop in both earnings and sales for the 2020 financial year despite its stores remaining open throughout lockdown. The retailer’s pre-tax profit fell by 79% to £18.8m in 2020 compared to £89.4m in 2019, while group revenue fell by 15% to £1.1bn.
• Maternity brand Seraphine has been valued at £150.2m as it prepares to float on the London Stock Exchange.
• Bedding and mattress retailer Woolroom has posted an upbeat full-year forecast, with the online player forecast to achieve almost £8.5m in sales for the year to 31 August.
• Online hardware and DIY retailer ManoMano hit a $2.6bn (1.88bn) valuation following a successful $355m in Series F fundraising and confirms the UK as its fastest growing market. It plans to invest in technology and double its workforce with 1,000 new recruits.
• Accounting firm Mazars has been appointed to oversee the winding-up and liquidation of collapsed Arcadia Group.
• UK-based online marketplace OnBuy has raised £35m in series A funding through a combination of venture capital and strategic technology investors. The ecommerce company intends to use the funds raise to support its growth ambitions.
• Hotel Chocolat’s full-year earnings will exceed expectations after annual sales rose strongly. The retailer reported sales growth of 21% on last year to £165m in the year to 27 June. On a two-year basis, revenue was up 24%. The retailer has secured lower rents on 30% of its UK estate “either in the form of a lower fixed amount, or a reduced variable percent of sales”.

Monday 12 July

• ASOS formed a joint venture with US retailer Nordstrom to invest minority stakes in Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridges and HIIT brands.
• Total sales at Quiz rose by 311.9% year-on-year to £17.3m in the second quarter to 30 June.
• Klarna has acquired social shopping platform Hero for an undisclosed amount.

Friday 9 July

• Levi Strauss & Co reported second-quarter earnings and sales that topped analyst forecasts, thanks to strong consumer demand for its denim in the U.S. and China. The group’s revenues amounted to $1.28bn, a 156% surge in Q2 YoY. Also, the retailer swung to a $65m profit from a net loss of $364m the same quarter a year ago.
• Fast Retailing Group, the parent company of Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo, has signed a letting agreement for the former Superdry store on Regent Street.
• B&M’s group revenues rose by 3.1% to £1.18bn on the previous quarter in the 13 weeks to 26 June. Compared to the first quarter two years ago, like-for-like revenue was up 21.3% in the period.

Thursday 8 July

• Watches of Switzerland unveils new strategic plan to sustain its profits and sales momentum. The luxury retailer recorded a 4,000% increase year on year in statutory profit before tax, up from £1.5m to £63.7m in the 53 weeks to May 2. Underlying group revenues also surged by 13.3% in constant currency to £905m, while its adjusted EBITDA grew 34.9% to £105.4m.
• WH Smith has announced that it will open 18 new stores across key airports such as Heathrow, Stansted, Manchester, and Birmingham. The new stores will trade as InMotion, WHSmith’s US brand.  These new stores are expected to deliver sales of around £60m per year. 
• Harrods has reportedly partnered with luxury rental marketplace My Wardrobe HQ to launch its own cloth rental service. Prices for a four-day rental service ranges from £23 to £400.

Wednesday 7 July

• Topshop’s administrators – Deloitte pays Lady Tina Green a total amount of £50m. This comes as pensioners and smaller suppliers face a further wait to recover what they are owed by the collapsed chain.
• Deliveroo is planning to create 400 new tech jobs over the course of the year as it targets further growth. The delivery platform said that the recruitment drive will allow it “improve the experience” for its restaurant partners, riders and customers. 

Tuesday 6 July

• Sainsbury’s upgrades its profit outlook as its sales rises 1.6% in the 16 weeks to June 26 compared to the same period a year ago.
• Ocado partners with Alcampo’s parent company Auchan Retail to build a customer fulfilment centre to serve the Madrid region from 2024, with more to be added at later dates.
• The Original Dog Bakery has opened its first ever long-term trading space at Liverpool One shopping destination. The Liverpool based business specializes in handmade patisserie-style baked products for dogs.
• Dunelm announced that it will go plastic and glitter free this Christmas in a bid to reduce the amount of plastic in its festive range.
• John Lewis Partnership said it will introduce flexible working for all head office staff.
• Harvey Nichols launches its first ever childrenswear range. The department store in Leeds, Victoria Quarter will locate on the first floor a kids section and will stock 25 kids wear brands and over 700 different styles.
• Boots Hearingcare has opened the doors to its new flagship World of Hearing store in Welwyn Garden City. The store will provide customers with an immersive hearing care experience through state-of-the-art equipment.
• Reiss has opened a new 1,650sq ft store in London’s St Pancras.
• Mulberry is set to close its Paris store until international tourism returns.

Monday 5 July

• Following the rejection of a £5.5 billion takeover bid from US private equity firm CD&R, Morrisons has finally agreed to a £6.3 billion takeover bid from Fortress.
• John Lewis has revealed its intentions to build 10,000 homes over the next decade as it seeks to boost fortunes by becoming a landlord.
• Sainsbury’s will reduce the cost of 60 staples across fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy so as to put “food back at the heart of the business” and re-enforce its Aldi price match campaign.
• House of Fraser is considering offering all store staff below management level zero-hours contracts in place of their existing contracts.
• Hema announced the permanent closure of its entire six stores in the UK by the end of the summer as it looks to focus more on its core markets of the Netherlands, Belgium and France.
• Russian discount chain Mere has reportedly said it is accepting deliveries of stock as it continues preparing for the opening of its first UK store in Preston.
• Selfridges welcomes plant-based luxury accessory brand Marici as part of the retailer’s ‘Project Earth’ luxury designer edit.

Friday 2 July

• The building material e-tailer, CMO has announced plans to list on the junior AIM London Stock Exchange, valuing it at £95m. The money raised will be used to reduce debts & invest in future growth.
• Marks & Spencer has announced the closure of its 29 bank branches today, with all its current accounts shutting down by the end of next month.
• Adidas has allegedly drafted a shortlist of bidders for its Reebok brand as it asks potential buyers to submit final bids by August.
• Over 100 Clarks staff members are considering taking a strike action over reports that the footwear retailer is planning to carry out a controversial fire and rehire process.
• Ralph & Russo, the luxury womenswear brand was acquired by private equity firm Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV).
• New fashion concept brand Vanilla has opened its first store, at Bluewater shopping centre in Kent.
• Pants & Socks, men’s underwear e-tailer has launched a crowdfunding campaign with the aim of raising £200,000.

Thursday 1 July

• AO.com reported a group operating profit of £30m in the year to 31 March, up from a £4m loss last year. Group revenue surged 62% to £1.6bn in the year, with UK sales increasing by 59% to tip £1bn as demand soared for large fridges, freezers and home entertainment.
• Primark owner ABF announced that full-year profits will be in line with the previous year. Sales in the 16-weeks to 19 June were up more than 200% to £1.6bn. Assuming there are no mandated store closures for the rest of the financial year, it said “we expect the excess inventory at the end of lockdown to have returned to more normal levels by the financial year-end”.
• H&M reported that group net sales increased by 12% in local currencies to SEK 86,569m in its half year to 31 May, as online sales rose by 40% to represent 38% of total sales. The retailer recorded profits after tax of SEK 1,697m, from a SEK 3,063m loss a year earlier.

Wednesday 30 June

• Dixons Carphone swung to a £33m pre-tax profit in the year to 1 May, up from a £140m loss last year. Total group revenue rose by 2% to £10.3bn. The retailer believes its core markets will be “structurally larger” post-pandemic.
• Asda launched its one-hour Express Delivery service from three stores, offering its full 30,000-plus strong product range for delivery.
• Home retailer Studio saw sales rise by a third to £578.6m in the year to 26 March, having transformed from a traditional catalogue business to a pure online retailer. Its pre-tax profit surged 513% to £48.8m in the year, with key lines including floor tiles and inflatable hot tubs.
• Decathlon has partnered with Adidas and Speedo to sell their products on Decathlon’s marketplace as the retailer moves beyond own-brand products.

Tuesday 29 June

• Boots launched its consultation service Online Doctor to support non-urgent health conditions, such as family support, skin conditions, sexual health, weight loss and diabetes, as well as provide prescription-only medicine without a GP visit.

Monday 28 June

• JD Sports acquired an 80% stake in online-only sports specialist Deporvillage for €140.4m.
• Food specialist Greggs reported higher than expected like-for-like sales growth in company-managed shops ranging between 1% and 3% against two years ago, despite pent-up demand for retail reducing in recent weeks.
• Screwfix has partnered with courier service Gophr to offer half-hour deliveries in Bristol.
• Marks & Spencer has partnered with Clarks to sell its children’s shoes as the department store looks to move away from occasional clothing.

Friday 25 June

• Debenhams launched a new marketing campaign focusing on its online delivery credentials and adding .com to its name.
• Nike saw revenue climb by 96% year-on-year to $12.3bn (£8.9bn) in its fourth quarter to 31 May 2021. Across the year, sales increased by 19% to $44.5bn (£32.0bn) while net income rose to $5.7bn (£4.1bn).
• JD Sports acquired a majority stake in Missy Empire for an undisclosed sum.

Thursday 24 June

• Harrods is to open three new H beauty stores in Edinburgh (opening in late 2021) Bristol (early 2022) and Newcastle (end-2022) following the launch of the new format last year.
• Lidl opened its 860th UK store and remains on track to operate 1,000 in the market by end of 2023.
• Maternity wear specialist Seraphine confirms intention to float on the London Stock Exchange. The final offer price for the IPO would be determined following a book-building process, with admission expected to occur next month.
• Poundland’s owner Pepco reported that half-year underlying pre-tax profit growth rose 47.2% to €112m, while underlying EBITDA grew 16.8% to €324m.  This comes on the back of revenue growth of 4.4% to €1.99bn.
• Amazon’s Prime Day sales hit a record $11bn.

Wednesday 23 June

• Joules profits are set to beat expectations as online channels & reopened store sales flourish. Profit before tax to be between £5.5m-£6.5m, ahead of current market expectations of £5.2m-£5.3m.
• Gymshark is to open 3 new warehouses in the US this year as part of its North America expansion plans. The first warehouse will open in Riatlo, California next month.
• Harrods is set to open 3 standalone beauty stores in Edinburgh, Bristol and Gateshead’s Metrocentre within the next year.
• Superdry confirmed it will be relocating its London flagship store after ending the lease on its Regent Street store.
• Marks & Spencer has announced its partnership with Go Instore to offer customers enhanced shopping experiences through a new Video Expert service.
• M&S has launched lingerie brand Freya on its website as part of its third-party push.
• John Lewis is expanding its furniture rental service outside London following a successful trial period in the capital.
• Decathlon has partnered with Tesco to open its first shop-in-shop in Wales.
• Authentic Brands Group has agreed to purchase PVH Corp's heritage brand portfolio for $220m (£158m).

Tuesday 22 June

• Selfridges launched garden centres across its London, Manchester and Birmingham stores, as well as online.
• Victorian Plumbing floated on the stock market, with a market capitalisation of approximately £850m.
• Zalando and Sephora have announced a new partnership to create a prestigious online beauty destination for Zalando shoppers, in a bid to reinvent how they shop beauty online.
• Jojo Maman Bébé reported a 6.9% decline in total sales to £62.3m in the year to 30 June 2020. Online sales at the mother and baby retailer increased by 29.9% year-on-year.
• Mattress Online saw sales boom with earnings increasing by over 200% year-on-year. The retailer is planning to open seven stores over the next three years.
• Travis Perkins is expected to post adjusted operating profits of “at least £300m” for its continuing business in 2021 – above analyst forecasts.
• Unisex childrenswear brand Tootsa MacGinty has been bought by Inc Retail Group.
• Womenswear brand Rixo has opened a third permanent store in central London.

Monday 21 June

• Tesco expanded its Whoosh one-hour delivery service to a further 11 stores in London and Bristol. Chief executive Ken Murphy described the rapid grocery delivery space as “a hot market”.
• Morrisons rejected a takeover bid from private equity firm CD&R, commenting that the £5.5bn value “significantly undervalued” the supermarket chain.
• Asos has reportedly considered restructuring the teams working across its Arcadia brands. The online fashion retailer bought Arcadia’s Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands for £265m back in February.
• John Lewis is reportedly facing criticism from third-party brands who have accused the department store chain of asking for “ridiculous” fees to stock their products. Brands currently pay John Lewis up to 50% of every sale in commissions and fees.
• Sharps Bedrooms owner Sun European Partners has announced the sale of the retailer to funds advised by Epiris LLP.
• Retail sales among Direct Selling Association members are reprotedly more than £1bn, marking a 45% year-on-year increase.

Friday 18 June

• Primark expanded to its 14th market as it opened a 49,800sq ft store in Prague, Czech Republic. The new three floors shop has created 300 new jobs.
• Waterstones has reported an 8.4% decline in profit after tax to £20.8m in the year to 25 April. The bookseller affirmed that it is “in a strong position and well placed for a return to growth in both sales and profits” for 2021/22.
• Poundland parent Pepco group announced that it will acquire up to 29 store leases in Austria. Austria would represent the 17th territory for the group and the 15th for the Pepco brand.
• Tesco’s UK sales edged up by 0.5% year-on-year to £10.0bn in the 13 weeks to 29 May.  The grocer saw UK online sales surge by 22.2% compared to the same period last year. On a pre-pandemic comparison, UK sales went up by 9.3% while online sales rose by a substantial 81.6%.
• Sports Direct reopened its newly refurbished 50,000sq ft London flagship store. The store features over 100 digital screens, and a 3D hologram at the entrance to showcase products, allowing halo products to change regularly against the sporting calendar.
• Aldi made commitments to remove single-use plastic from all its own-brand tea bags by the end of 2021.
• Ebay has sold off its South Korean arm to a local consortium of businesses for $3.1bn as the marketplace continues to consolidate its operations.
• It has been reported that six shopping centres across the UK are set to close their doors for good, including; Broadmarsh in Nottingham, Castlegate in Stockton, The Riverside in Shrewsbury, Chilterns Shopping Centre in High Wycombe, Nicholsons Centre in Maidenhead and Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre in London.
• Footwear retailer Skechers set to open a store in the Victoria Centre in Nottingham.

Thursday 17 June

• Dr Martens reported a revenue increase of 15% to £773m in the year to March 31, while pre-tax profits before exceptional items rose by an impressive 34% to £151.4m.
• Halfords like-for-like sales rose by 13.9% to £1.29bn in the year to 2 April, while its pre-tax profit surged by 72% to £96.3m. It comes amid “elevated” demand for cycling and staycation-related motoring products.
• N Brown’s revenue was up 0.5% year-on-year to £168.7m in the quarter to 29 May, with product revenue up 4.6% and financial services revenue down 5.9%. Clothing & Footwear sales continued to recover and increased 21% compared to a year earlier.

Wednesday 16 June

• Asda and the Co-op have partnered with Unilever on a new refillable packaging trial. Shoppers will be able to pick up pre-filled stainless-steel bottles from the shelf and return it once used, or refill the bottles using standalone refill stations.
• Boohoo is plotting a store opening for Debenhams in an attempt to strike deals with major beauty brands.
• Made.com made its stock market debut with a £775.3m price tag.
• Frasers Group is set to close Psyche flagship store in Middlesbrough and rebrand it as a Flannels chain.
• ScS has upgraded its full year performance for the year to 31 July. The furniture retailer said that orders stood at £116.6m as of 12 June – 50% higher than a year ago.
• Swedish retailer Lindex has launched a second-hand clothing pilot scheme, where customers can donate baby and kids outerwear for a reward. The pieces will then be sold at select Lindex stores.

Tuesday 15 June

• Boohoo posted a 32% surge in group revenue to £486.1m in the three months to 31 May. The increase was bolstered by a 50% bounce in UK sales to £274.6m. The etailer also reported a leap in US sales by 43% to £131.9m in the same period.
• H&M recorded strong sales growth in the second quarter to 31 May, with sales up 75% year-on-year in local currencies.
• The Very group is teaming up with the Prince’s Trust to create 30 new roles as part of the Government’s Kickstart scheme, to improve opportunities for young people at risk of long-term unemployment.
• Luxury department store Harvey Nichols is to add childrenswear to its in-store and online offering.

Monday 14 June

• Ted Baker reported losses before tax of £107.7m for the year to 30 January, falling by 38.8% on the previous year. Group revenue slumped by 44.2% to £352m. The fashion retailer blamed its poor performance on the pandemic’s impact on global trade.
• Majestic Wines is preparing to launch its ‘Shop Local’ online shopping platform, which will effectively give each of its 200 stores a personalised website, enabling shoppers to view the product ranges and stock levels of their nearest Majestic store.
• Sports Direct is planning to open a 10,000 sq ft megastore in Beverley’s Flemingate shopping centre.
• Primark is set to extend and refurbish its store at The Mall shopping centre in Luton. The 35,500sq ft store is due to be completed this winter.
• New Look has struck a five-year lease at an average annual rent of €300,000 for its Wilton Shopping Centre store in Cork, Ireland. It was previously paying annual rent of €365,000.
• Holland & Barrett opened a new flagship store in Coventry city centre, which focuses on a “sustainability-forward” design with a range of vegan, zero-waste and cruelty-free beauty across 178 new products.

Friday 11 June

• Selfridges has allegedly received an unsolicited approach from an unknown buyer in a bid that could see the department store group being sold for at least £4bn.
• John Lewis is set to introduce 100 third-party fashion labels on its website over the coming year as it looks to create a direct-to-consumer platform.
• Amazon could face the largest GDPR fine on record as regulators conclude the retailer has used customer data without consent. The fine could amount to more than €350m.

Thursday 10 June

• British brand Crew Clothing has opened a new store at Milton Keynes shopping destination Centre:MK.
• Luxury brand Burberry has committed to become "climate positive" by 2040.
• DIY giant Kingfisher plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions from property and transport by 37.8% by 2025 (compared to 2016 levels). It wants to slash emissions from the use of sold products and purchased goods and services by 40% for every £1m of sales by 2025 (compared to 2017).
• The Competition and Markets Authority is set to investigate how Amazon uses data collected from its third-party sellers.
• Card Factory reported an underlying pre-tax loss of £15.2m for the year to 31 January, compared to a £67.2m profit the year before. EBITDA dropped 62.7% to £47m. The group’s total revenue plunged by 36.9% to £285.1m.

Wednesday 9 June

• Inditex, parent to Zara, reported year-on-year net sales growth of 50% to €4.9bn (£4.2bn) in the first quarter to 30 April. Online sales in local currencies climbed by 67% over the quarter. Net profit was €421m (£370m) in the quarter, compared with a loss of €409m (£351m) in the comparable period last year.  
• Pets at Home revealed in their social value report 10 quantifiable targets that will drive the group to become “the most responsible” business.
• Plus size brand Oola Lingerie has signed up John Lewis as a stockist, after seven months of trading.
• Tesco announced a 2.7% pay rise to staff working on shop floors and warehouses. This takes hourly wages from £9.30 to £9.55.
• Online toy retailer Bargain Max the secured a seven-figure funding package from HSBC to finance its product range growth and expansion plans over the next 12 months.

Tuesday 8 June

• Clothing retailer Gap announced the closure of 19 stores across the UK and the Republic of Ireland when their leases expire on 31 July.
• Luxury group LVMH has set up a global emergency and support programme for its 150,000 employees. The luxury goods retailer has committed £30m for the cause, which provides financial aid as well as social and psychological support.

Monday 7 June

• Fast fashion retailer Shein is reportedly preparing for a $47bn Initial Public Offering (IPO) in what would be the largest IPO in history. The brand raised $500m to bring it to a $5bn valuation in 2019, and in August 2020 it raised an undisclosed amount from an investor at a $15bn valuation.
• Klarna has launched a new shopping app that allows customers to pay in instalments at any retailer – even if it does not offer the service.
• Grocery giants Tesco and Carrefour have decided to end their buying partnership, that was meant to lower prices and offer greater product choice for consumers, after just three years.
• Ocado has lost a High Court battle against Islington council over the opening of a distribution and storage centre near a primary school in North London.
• Sainsbury’s has launched four new Neighbourhood Hub stores this year, bringing the total number of sites under the new fascia to seven.
• Up to 70 shopping centres out of Britain’s 700 across the UK could be forced to close permanently as a result of the pandemic and the shift online according to Local Data Company analysis.
• Ted Baker forecast to post a full-year loss of £65.2m for the full year ending 30 January. The closure of non-essential shops, coupled with the retailer’s focus on occasion-wear and formal clothing had a particular heavy toll on its trading last year.
• Discount retailer MaxiSaver – which opened its first store last August in Hinckley, Leicestershire – has revealed plans to open 20 new shops this year as part of an ambitious expansion strategy. The retailer currently has an estate of 8 shops across the Midlands.

Friday 4 June

• JD Sports-owned Focus Brands has opened a new headquarter in Huddersfield.
• Yoox Net-a-Porter Group and The Prince’s Foundation have opened applications for the second edition of The Modern Artisan project.
• Online rental platform Rent the Runaway is allegedly eyeing an IPO.
• Fast fashion etailer I Saw It First has been named as the official fashion and sunglasses partner of the seventh series of ITV’s Love Island.
• CP Company, the Italian menswear specialist which operates and distributes its products in the UK through the brand agency Four Marketing, announced that it is moving towards a direct-to-consumer model and will cease trading with smaller independent businesses.
• Shoe brand Onitsuka Tiger has opened its biggest-ever store on London’s Regent Street. The 9,300sq ft site is the first Onitsuka Tiger store globally to offer its entire line-up.

Thursday 3 June

• Swedish brand Asket has launched a womenswear collection for the first time.
• Global Fashion Group, owner of ecommerce platforms including The Iconic, Zalora and Dafiti, has announced it has become carbon neutral across its own operations and outbound deliveries.
• JD Sports has become the official activewear brand and content partner for the seventh series of ITV’s reality show Love Island.
• Private equity firm CVC has completed an investment in Japanese streetwear label A Bathing Ape for an undisclosed sum.
• Marks & Spencer launched its third collaboration with fashion label Ghost. There are 19 pieces in the June collection, including the return of its mini-me kids wear range, first launched in November 2020.
• JD Sports is set to sell Sports Unlimited Retail to its partly owned Spanish subsidiary Iberian Sports Retail Group for €16.5m (£14m).
• Zara has opened a new 36,500 sq ft flagship store in St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff.
• B&M reported a staggering 108% surge in pre-tax profit to £525.4m in the year to 27 March, with an underlying sales increase of 25.9% to £4.8bn.

Wednesday 2 June

• Grosvenor, the owner of a large estate in London’s Mayfair and Belgravia, has taken a minority stake in one of its tenants and luxury brand Roland Mouret.
• Authentic Brands Group entered a joint venture with the Simon Property Group to acquire US outdoor label Eddie Bauer.
• Etsy has confirmed the acquisition of Depop for $1.63bn (£1.15bn) in the third quarter of 2021, as it looks to target Gen Z shoppers.
• Kingfisher has entered a £550m three-year revolving credit agreement conditioned to its ambitious sustainable and community-based targets.
• Wickes has upgraded its full year profit target following booming kitchen and bathroom orders. The DIY retailer reported sales rose 45.7% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis in the 21 weeks to 22 May.
• In addition to expanding across European countries including France and Spain, Victorian Plumbing announced its intentions to float on London’s AIM market later this month. The company achieved sales of £208.7m and an adjusted EBITDA of £26.2m in the financial year to 30 September 2020.
• Hotter Shoes has integrated Augmented Reality into its app, allowing shoppers to try on shoes virtually.
• Holland & Barrett has announced it will be launching a flagship store on the Chinese ecommerce site Tmall as part of its global expansion plan.

Tuesday 1 June

• H&M’s online second-hand site Sellpy is set to launch across 20 European countries.
• Andrew Waller, former TK Maxx and Tesco senior buying executive, is launching his own athleisure brand Validate online on 12 June. Retail prices range from £20 for T-Shirts to £35 for leggings.
• Online fashion retailer P&Co revealed plans to launch shops in the UK, US, Paris, Netherlands, Berlin, Spain, and Madrid over the next few years. The brand will become known as “P&Co 2.0”, by launching wholesale and introducing new product categories, including footwear and jewellery.
• Luxury pureplay retailer Yoox has launched a dedicated section on its platform to target Gen Z customers called HI GUY_Z!.
• Ocado is reportedly eyeing up retail opportunities outside its domestic market.

Friday 28 May

• Danish department store Magasin du Nord, which was formerly owned by Debenhams, has been sold to a German omnichannel fashion retailer Peek & Cloppenburg.
• Pets at Home is eyeing a £70m investment across stores, digital and supply chain, in order to grow its market share as the UK’s pet population grew by an estimated 8% due to the pandemic.

Thursday 27 May

• Pets at Home posted a 35.5% rise in pre-tax profit to £116.4m in the year to 25 March. The retailer’s core retail business grew at 8.7% to tip £1bn for the first time.
• Bed retailer Dreams is set to be acquired by mattress and bedding manufacturer Tempur Sealy for £340m, following an eight-year turnaround. Dreams chief executive Mike Logue will remain in place.
• Poundland has extended its online trial to almost 2 million customers in Birmingham and Walsall.

Wednesday 26 May

• Marks & Spencer reported a £201m loss in the year to 27 March, with revenue down 12% to £8.97bn, despite online sales growth of 54%. Food like-for-like sales edged up 1.3%, while clothing and home sales dropped 32%. It plans to close another 30 shops over the next decade as part of its turnaround plan.
• British Land sees more than £2bn wiped off the value of its retail sites and office spaces. The firm posted its third straight year of annual losses, with pre-tax losses of £1.05bn for the year to 31 March against losses of £1.1bn in the previous year.
• Tesco launched its Whoosh rapid delivery service in Wolverhampton to enable one-hour grocery deliveries to customers, with orders fulfilled from its Willenhall Express store.
• Amazon has struck a deal to buy Hollywood’s institution MGM studios for $8.45bn (£5.97bn) as the tech giant expands its entertainment streaming business.

Tuesday 25 May

• Ted Baker has secured an extension to its revolving credit facility with its existing syndicate of lending banks. It is made up of a new £90m facility, which will reduce to £80m in January 2022 until maturity in November 2023.
• Made.com has started procedures to float on London’s main stock market. The move could see the online furniture retailer valued at £1bn.
• Mothercare predicts it will make a small profit this year despite a 40% decline in sales.  It recorded a “small” EBITDA profit growth in its pre-close trading update.
• Sosandar is set to raise over £5m through a share issue to invest in stocks for the autumn and winter season onwards, as it extends partnerships with John Lewis and M&S.
• The Fragrance Shop reported a 4.7% fall in sales for the year to 31 March. In-store sales were down by 47%, while online sales skyrocketed by 164%.
• Wilko reported a 61.4% year-on-year decline in pre-tax profit to £4.4m in 2020. The retailer saw overall sales decline 7% to £1.36bn, with its shopping centre and high street stores hardest hit, while digital sales increased by 89%.
• Shafttesbury, the owner of multiple retail sites in London’s West End, reported a loss before tax of £338.5m in the six months to end-March, as the value of its portfolio dropped 10%.

Monday 24 May

• Walgreens Boots Alliance, the parent company of Boots UK, paid a dividend of £488m to owners despite struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Homebase opened a new store for the first time in six years. The 36,591sq ft shop is in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
• Primark has launched a new sustainable loungewear collection using recycled cotton. The range includes hoodies, joggers, sweats, T-shirts and leggings, with prices ranging from £3.50 to £12.
• Hotter Shoes is set to float on London Stock Exchange’s AIM market after parent Electra Private Equity said it would float the footwear retailer along with TGI Fridays in the fourth quarter of 2021.
• Debenhams Ireland staff have approved a compensation arrangement after calling for a fair redundancy package.

Friday 21 May

• Maternitywear chain Seraphine’s owner Mayfair Equity Partners is reportedly eying an IPO on the London Stock Exchange.
• Card Factory completed a £225m refinancing with its current banking syndicate to support its growth strategy.
• Pret a Manger has partnered with petrol-station operator Motor Fuel Group to trial its first-ever forecourt store in Southgate, London.

Thursday 20 May

• Kingfisher upgrades its profit forecast after total sales made a 61.9% year-on-year increase to £3.44bn (constant currency) in the first quarter to 30 April. Kingfisher said total ecommerce sales for the quarter were up 63% in the period – or a huge 258% on a year-year basis compared to 2019.
• Watches of Switzerland is considering opening new stores after revenue rose 13.3% (in constant currency) to £905.1m in the year to 2 May. Ecommerce sales were up 120.5% year-on-year, while UK sales were up 3.6% in the year.

Wednesday 19 May

• Uniqlo’s products have been blocked from entering the US over suspicions they were made from cotton produced by forced labour in China.
• Dunelm affirmed its full year profit will beat analyst expectations after seeing its sales soar by 59% in the 7 weeks to 28 March, compared to the same period in 2019. Profit is expected to be over £148m compared with the £128m-£134m forecast by City analysts.
• MyTheresa reported a sales rise of 36.2% year-on-year to €449.7m (£386.7m) in the nine months to 31 March. Gross profit grew by 35.5% to €209.6m (£180.3m).
• Asos is among the potential bidders to buy Feelunique and Cult Beauty having been put up for sale by their current owners.

Tuesday 18 May

• Landsec reported a full year loss of £1.4bn due to multiple lockdowns over the past year. The value of its combined portfolio across offices, retail and leisure has tumbled 13.7% to £10.8bn.
• Topps Tiles swung back to profit, recording a £4m pre-tax profit in the 26 weeks to 27 March against last year’s loss of £3.2m. Overall half-year revenue dipped 2.8% to £103.2m. A record like-for-like uplift of 19.9% in the first quarter failed to offset a 17.3% slump during lockdown in the second quarter. Like-for-likes were up 16.8% in the five weeks since 12 April compared to same period in 2019.
• Shoe Zone reported a 41% revenue drop to £40.4m in the six months to 3 April, as it permanently closed 38 stores in the period. Online sales more than tripled to £17.6m in the period from £5.5m a year earlier. It reported a statutory loss before tax of £2.6m.
• Westfield’s parent company Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield successfully priced a €1.25bn two-tranche senior bond offering.

Monday 17 May

• WHSmith partnered with both the National Literacy Trust and Macmillan Children’s Books to “tackle literacy issues in communities at a local level across the UK”.
• Debenhams shut down its remaining stores, as part of the department store’s liquidation process. The retailer is still present online after Boohoo bought it in a £55m deal.
• Ikea is said to be in advanced talks to take over the former Topshop flagship store on London’s Oxford Street, as part of its plan to open more smaller-format outlets in city centres.
• Mamas & Papas revealed plans to open further concessions within Next after recording strong footfall and sales since non-essential retail reopened in April.

Friday 14 May

• Dixons Carphone announced it will rebrand its four businesses (Currys PC World, Carphone Warehouse, Team Knowhow and Dixons Carphone) to Currys.
• The Works announced a 19% decline in total sales to £206.2m in the year to 2 May, due to the closure of stores during the year. However, the retailer noted like-for-like store sales for the period were up 6% and online sales grew 120.9% compared with the previous year. 
• Farfetch reported a 46% year-on-year increase in sales to $485m (£344.1m), while adjusted EBITDA losses narrowed to $19m (£13.5m) from $22m (£15.6m) in its first quarter.
• Amazon is set to increase its UK workforce with 10,000 workers this year as it opens four new warehouses across England. This would bring its UK workforce to more than 55,000 by the end of the year.

Thursday 13 May

• Sainsbury’s is to launch three Carluccio’s store-in-store concepts, marking the dining brand’s first move into supermarkets. The Caffè Carluccio’s format will offer both eat-in and takeaway options, and available through Sainsbury’s Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats partnerships.
• Australia’s largest fashion retailer Cotton On has launched online in the UK.
• The Entertainer has opened an own-brand store in Valencia, Spain.

Wednesday 12 May

• eBay launches new finance initiative that will provide 300,000 sellers on its UK platform with access to financing through a partnership with YouLend. The Capital for eBay Business Sellers (CEBS) initiative will offer loans ranging from as little as £500 to as much as £1m, which will be repaid directly from the sales the company makes through eBay’s platform.
• Second-hand platform Vinted has secured a €250m (£214.67m) of new investment in a series F funding round.
• Global Fashion Group reported a rise in gross profit and revenue for the first quarter of 2021.
• Selfridges announced that it will offer non-traditional ceremonies after obtaining a wedding licence at its Oxford Street store.
• THG is set to acquire US-based manufacturer of skincare and haircare products Bentley Laboratories in a $255m (£180m) deal. The acquisition is expected to be completed within the next 30 days.

Tuesday 11 May

• Joules has upgraded its full-year profit forecast following “positive performance” across all its sales channels since the reopening of non-essential stores on 12 April. It was previously expected that pre-tax profit before exceptional items to come in at £4.1m on sales of £187m.
• Morrisons reported a 5.3% uplift in sales (including fuel) in the 14 weeks to 9 May. Group like-for-like sales excluding fuel rose by 2.7% and 4.7% when including fuel. Morrisons’ online sales rocketed 113% year-on-year.
• THG (formerly the Hut Group) has secured $2.3bn (£1.6bn) of funding from Japanese tech conglomerate Softbank. Softbank will get around a 9% share of THG, while taking a 19.9% stake in THG’s Ingenuity platform valued at $6.3bn (£4.5bn).
• Pret a Manger is set to trial four shop-in-shops in Tesco, as it looks to reach a wider customer base amid low city centre footfall. All shops will serve a menu of Pret’s food and beverages. The move follows its partnership with Tesco to sell frozen croissants and granolas in supermarkets last year.
• JD Sport Fashion has bought Manchester-based menswear independent Oi Polloi.
• Poundland has opened its 350th Pep&Co shop-in-shop, as it accelerated expansion of its fashion brand in town centres and retail parks where fashion retailers have been in retreat.

Monday 10 May

• New Look won a high court battle against a handful of landlords that challenged the retailer’s Company Voluntary Arrangement, allowing it to continue its recovery strategy.
• Greggs reported two-year like-for-like sales fell 13.5% to £352m in the 18 weeks to 8 May. However, in the 8 weeks to the same date, LFLs were down only 3.5% on a two year comparison as restrictions eased.
• Hotel Chocolat reported surging sales during the key Mother’s Day and Easter periods. Sales were up 19% over the 8-week period to 25 April compared to the same period two years ago. Revenue was up 60% up year-on-year for Mother’s Day and Easter despite store closures.
• Discount footwear retailer Shoeaholics is set to open a new store at Westfield White City.

Friday 7 May

• Zara revealed the launch of its own beauty range both online and in-store from 12 May. The collection will include products for eyes, lips, face, and nails in more than 130 colours.
• Dixons Carphone plans to invest £25m over the next two years to reward and upskill its 12,000 colleagues.

Thursday 6 May

• Superdry reported group sales slumped 21% to £556.6m in the year to 24 April. Superdry stores lost some 40% of trading days and revenue plummeted 50.9% to £140.9m during the year. Wholesale revenue fell 19.9% to £212.8m. Meanwhile online sales were up 33.8% to £202.9m.
• Zalando saw revenue soar 46.8% to €2.2bn (£1.9bn) in the first quarter, while profit jumped 4.2% to €93.3m (£80.7m). The pureplay giant said active customers hit 41.8 million at the end of the period. Zalando expects profit to come in between €400m (£346m) and €470m (£406m) for the 2021 financial year.
• Bellwether Next upgraded its full-year profit guidance by £20m to £720m, following a better-than-expected performance in the first quarter. Full-price sales were down just 1.5% in the 13 weeks to 1 May compared with two years ago. The retailer had budgeted for sales to be down 10% on pre-pandemic levels, but has beaten that forecast by £75m. Its sales forecast for 2021/22 remains at 3% above full-year sales two years ago.
• In its first quarter to 1 May, bellwether Next reported sales at its UK and ROI stores were down 75%. But it has seen “strong sales growth” in the three weeks since stores reopened on 12 April following pent-up demand, but cautioned it “is very unlikely to be indicative of demand for the rest of the year”.

Wednesday 5 May

• The Co-op is set to invest £1.7m to reduce prices of 29 fresh, chilled, and ambient vegan products, in a bid to give customers cheaper ‘flexitarian’ choices.
• Ikea launched its long anticipated ‘buy back’ initiative, allowing customers to sell unwanted furniture back to the retailer in return for an Ikea voucher.
• Boohoo reported a 35% growth in pre-tax profits to £125m in the year to February 28. Adjusted EBITDA jumped 37% to £174m during the same period. The group’s revenue soared 41% to £1.75bn, buoyed by surging sales in its international markets, which now account for almost half of Boohoo’s total revenues.
• The Issa brothers and TDR Capital have agreed to sell 27 of its EG petrol forecourts in order to complete its purchase of Asda’s petrol station portfolio without further investigation from the Competition and Markets Authority.
• Pep&Co’s owner Pepco Group has been valued between €4.8bn (£4.1bn) and €5.8bn (£5bn) as it launches an initial public offering.

Tuesday 4 May

• Marks & Spencer is recruiting 85 tech specialists following a rise in M&S’s online sales of 34% in the first half of its financial year.
• Topshop’s iconic Oxford Street store is for sale at £420m. The first £311.6m from any sale will go to private equity firm Apollo, which lent against the building in 2019, with further proceeds earmarked for Arcadia’s pension scheme, which has a £510m deficit.
• Frasers Group is in talks with EU tax authorities over a controversial VAT arrangement that has seen the retailer pay tax on overseas sales in the UK.
• It has been mooted that WHSmith could take over Dixon Carphone’s 35 airport shops.
• Made.com has announced it will expand its UK warehouse logistics operations with the development of an additional 350,000sq ft warehouse at DP World’s London Gateway Logistics Park in Tilbury. The new facility is expected to create up to 100 new jobs across warehouse operative and administrative roles.

Friday 30 April

• Premium menswear brand Percival has secured a £3m investment from growth capital investor VGC Partners.
• Singer Niall Horan has joined the athleisure brand Gym & Coffee as an investor and advisor.
• A former Debenhams shop located in Ipswich’s town square has been bought by property development company The Unex Group for around £3m.
• Apple reported revenue was up 54% year-on-year to $89.6bn (£64.2bn) for the quarter to 27 March, with international sales making up 67% of total sales. Demand for its phones, apps and other devices grew as people spent more time online and working at home. Profit more than doubled in the period at $23.6bn (£16.9bn), up from $11.3bn (£8.1bn) a year earlier.
• Amazon reported a 44% surge in net sales to $108.5bn (£77.9bn) in the first quarter to 31 March. The group’s net income more than tripled to $8.1bn (£5.8bn), up from $2.5bn (£1.8bn) last year.
• The Co-op announced it will replace plastic bags for life with compostable and renewable carriers, as it seeks to reduce the use of plastic. The retailer is rolling out compostable bags for 10p and sells its lowest-cost reusable bag for 50p.
• Aldi is exploring a cashierless store format having trademarked ‘Shop & Go’ with the Intellectual Property Office. It is speculated that Aldi is exploring a format in the same vein as Amazon Fresh.
• French Connection has partnered with Thrift+ to allow customers to add a free collection bag to orders, which can be used to donate unwanted clothing from any brand to Thrift+, which then sells these products and donates 33% of the sale proceeds to charity.
• Harrods has opened its second beauty store at shopping and leisure destination Centre:MK in Milton Keynes.
• Poundland announced earlier this week that it was poised to launch online home delivery as well as click & collect in-store, following a successful test of its new ecommerce operation.

Thursday 29 April

• Frasers Group is building on its elevation strategy for Flannels with the introduction of 165 new women’s and menswear brands for autumn/winter 21, with plans to open new flagship stores.
• In a bid to reduce textile waste, Asda supermarket will start selling second-hand and vintage clothes following a successful test at its Leeds store.
• In The Style announced group revenue is expected to be around £44.5m for the year to 31 March. During the full year, the number of new customers rose 19% to 420,000.
• Waitrose has entered a partnership with Hotel Chocolat to sell a selection of the chocolatier’s products in its supermarkets and online, including dedicated bays and gondola ends. It marks the first time that Waitrose has entered into such a deal with a third-party.

Wednesday 28 April

• Debenhams announced the 25 stores that will close permanently on 8 May.
• Mulberry announced that it expects to report a small underlying pre-tax profit for the year to 28 March. The group registered strong growth in its Asian markets, as well as strong sales across its digital platforms and an improvement in margins.
• Dixons Carphone has announced the full closure of its Dixons Travel division, which historically made an annual profit contribution of £20m to the group. The retailer believes that travel industry will not recover for the foreseeable future, making its Travel stores unsustainable.
• The White Company reported group operating profit of £14.1m in the year to 1 August, up 4% against a 70-week financial reporting period, while group turnover rose 4% to £226.3m against a comparable 52-week period as it shifted a large portion of the lost store sales to online.
• Tommy Hilfiger opened a new store at Lakeside shopping centre in Thurrock.
• Sainsbury’s reported underlying pre-tax profit fell 39% to £356m in the year to 6 March, as strong sales failed to offset £485m of directly Covid-related costs. Grocery and general merchandise sales rose 7.8% and 8.3% respectively year-on-year. The grocer more than doubled its online grocery sales from 8% to 17% of the total, while its Argos fascia grew digital sales by 68%.
• WHSmith plans to launch a £325m fundraise through the issue of convertible bonds to finance the opening of 100 new travel stores, 60 of which in North America. Boss Carl Cowling hailed: “We are now operationally stronger than prior to the pandemic.”

Tuesday 27 April

• Clothing group AK Retail Holdings announced it is to launch dual-branded Yours Clothing and BadRhino shop-in-shops in two Tesco stores.
• Missguided founder Nitin Passi is reportedly preparing to sell a stake in the company for the first time.
• Frasers Group's House of Fraser store in London’s Victoria could permanently close next summer, after 150 years of trade on the site. This came after the Canadian-owned property investor BentallGreenOak asked Westminster City Council to grant planning permission to demolish the 390,000 sq ft site and replace it with a 16-storey, 630,000 sq ft scheme that will make up to 20 shop units and office space.
• Footwear retailer Crocs has raised its full-year revenue guidance after reporting sales rose 64% to $460m (£331m) in the first quarter, while pre-tax profit grew to $122.5m from $18.7m a year earlier.
• JD Sports entered into a partnership with Sole Responsibility to sell the sportswear giant’s end of line or slightly damaged trainers through its eBay site.
• Waitrose extended its partnership with Deliveroo to 110 new stores, as it plans to offer home delivery options across multiple locations and on a wide variety of products by the end of summer. Waitrose will create 400 new roles to fulfil orders ready to be collected and delivered by the app’s riders.

Monday 26 April

• Recipe box subscription retailer Gousto reported record sales in 2020 of £189m, up 129%, with a full-year EBITDA of £18.2m, compared with a £9.1m loss in 2019. 
• Pepco, the owner of Poundland, revealed its intentions to apply for listing and admission of shares to the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The group operates more than 3,200 stores across 16 countries and has ambitions to grow across the whole of Europe.

Friday 23 April

• The Hut Group is set to acquire healthy snack bar manufacturer Brighter Foods for a cash amount of £43m. The deal, which has been conditionally agreed, is expected to complete next month.

Thursday 22 April

• Hammerson has confirmed the sale of its retail park portfolio to Canadian investor Brookfield for £330m.
• Online retail florist Bloom & Wild has acquired Dutch rival Bloomon for an undisclosed sum as it ramps up growth plans in Europe. The deal will be financed from existing cash resources.
• John Lewis is due to start renovation of its iconic Peter Jones facade in London’s Chelsea. It forms part of the retailer’s broader plans to rebalance its store portfolio, which includes investing in flagship stores.
• The Co-op is to remove team manager roles across its c-stores, but insisted there will be no redundancies as part of the process.

Wednesday 21 April

• Kering’s group revenue for the first quarter of 2021 increased by 21.4% on an as-reported basis, or 25.8% on a comparable basis to €3.89bn (£3.35bn).
• Redrice Ventures has secured £50m funding, which it will use to invest in forward-looking, digital-first and premium consumer brands.

Tuesday 20 April

• Feelunique posted its first annual profit following robust customer growth and strong sales growth for the 12 months to 29 March 2021., The retailer reported EBITDA of £2.5m – a £7.5m increase on the previous year – while total sales grew 26% to £103.5m. 
• Primark’s revenue fell 41% in constant currency to £2.2m in the 24 weeks to 27 February, while its adjusted operating profit fell 90% to £43m. It estimates it has lost more than £3bn of sales and £1bn of profit over the past 12 months. Despite this, parent Associated British Foods has said it will repay money claimed on the government job retention scheme as its reopened stores rebounded last week.
• Amazon is set to open its first-ever Amazon Salon in east London in the coming weeks. As well as offering hair services and products, it will offer customers the chance to experiment with different hair colours and styles using an augmented reality colour bar, and feature ‘point-and-learn technology’ allowing shoppers to point at products on a display shelf to see more information and purchase on Amazon’s website.

Monday 19 April

• Marks & Spencer has started building a new automated online warehouse within its Bradford-based distribution centre, which will create 300 new jobs.
• The Italian luxury fashion brand Armani has opened its first-ever outlet in Essex at Braintree Village.
• Studio Retail Group has reported sales rose 88% year-on-year in the 13 weeks to 26 March, the final quarter of its 2020/21 financial year. The retail group had previously put itself up for sale, but failed to find a buyer and instead sold its educational resources business Findel Education for £30m, which it will invest to target £1bn in annual sales.
• As part of a campaign developed by Uncommon Creative Studio, H&M has launched a free 24-hour suit rental service pitched at young men interviewing for jobs.
• Petrol forecourts business EG Group announced the acquisition of the healthy-eating fast-food chain Leon for £100m.

Friday 16 April

• Ocado has entered a multi-year partnership with Oxbotica to develop a new autonomous vehicle fleet. As part of the deal, Ocado has invested £10m in the business and will supply Oxbotica with data from its existing delivery vans and warehouse vehicles to support development.
• Hobbs reported a 46% fall in profit after tax to £4.3m for the year ending 28 March.

Thursday 15 April

• The Hut Group reported an operating loss of £481.8m in the year to end-December 2020. Additional costs incurred were mainly “non-recurring, non-cash events”, most notably linked to its recent IPO. During the period, The Hut Group saw revenue soar 41.5% to £1.6bn while adjusted EBITDA was £150.8m.
• AO.com reported a strong performance for the year to 31 March 2021. The electrical retailer’s sales were up 68% to £1.66bn, as it gained two million new customers. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between £63m and £72m, marking a step up from £19.6m in the previous year. 
• Pureplay Naked Wines posted a 68% increase in group sales across the UK, US, and Australia in the year to 29 March 2021.
• Deliveroo’s first quarter results showed that group orders were up by 114% year-on-year to 71 million and transactions on its platform were up 130% year-on-year to £1.65bn. The takeaway and grocery delivery app also reported it had grown the number of restaurants and grocers it worked with across its business to more than 117,000.

Wednesday 14 April

• The luxury fashion group LVMH reported sales in its fashion and leather goods division were up by 45% year-on-year to €6.7bn (£5.8bn) in the three months to 31 March. Total group sales were up by 32% to €14bn (£12bn) in the quarter.
• British Land collected 54% of rent owed from retail customers at the end of March. This compares to 96% across its office estate, taking its overall average to 76% of rent was collected for the quarter.
• Tesco reported a 20% fall in pre-tax profit to £825m in the year to 27 February, despite a 7% rise in sales (excluding fuel) to £53.4bn. Tesco’s online sales rose 77% to £6.3bn in the year, as the grocer doubled its online fulfilment capacity to 1.5 million slots per week.  The grocer stated that Covid-related costs of £892m dampened profitability from surging sales, but said the majority of these costs incurred would not be repeated in its current financial year.

Tuesday 13 April

• Hammerson has confirmed to be in talks to sell its UK retail parks portfolio to Canadian investor Brookfield.
• JD Sports reported a marginal 1% increase in sales to £6.17bn in the year to 30 January. The group’s pre-tax profit before exceptional items was £421m in the year, down from £439m the previous year.
• Quiz reported a 66% drop in revenue to £39.7m for the financial year to 31 March. The group ended the period with a net cash balance of £1.5m.
• Sosandar’s revenue rose to £3.94m in its fourth quarter, marking a 63% year-on-year increase in sales. The retailer’s gross profit margin reached 54% in the period. For the financial year to 31 March, the pureplay now expects to report revenue of £12.2m, up 35% year-on-year.
• Sainsbury’s has entered a two-year deal with Deliveroo to extend its delivery trials to 100 stores.
• Boohoo has acquired a new office premise in Soho, London. The £72m site will provide a base for 600 people.
• Landsec reported to have collected two-thirds of rent due for the quarter, with £33m of rent outstanding.
• Monsoon launched new boutique store concept in London’s Marylebone High Street. The fashion retailer’s new concept store is the first in a series of 30 new boutiques planned in locations across the UK and Ireland.
• McArthurGlen has opened the doors to its brand new £160m designer outlet centre in the West Midlands. The 285,000sq ft centre will create some 1,000 retail jobs.

Monday 12 April

• North East fashion firm Jules B has secured a £250,000 investment. The fashion retailer said that the fund will be used to boost its online capabilities.
• Investment firm Osmond Capital is preparing a £300m takeover bid for DIY retail chain Homebase.
• Peacocks reportedly owes unsecured creditors around £70m, including £29m to landlords, £23m to suppliers and almost £9m to HMRC.
• Homebase entered a new partnership with bellwether retailer Next. The DIY chain has opened garden centres in six Next shops located in Bristol, Sheffield, Ipswich, Warrington, Camberley and Shoreham.
• Dessert and sweet treat retailer Cake Box told their shareholders that they are planning to open 52 new shops. The retailer saw like-for-like sales grow by 14.7% over the 40 weeks from June to March 2021 despite the lockdowns.

Friday 9 April

• Asos announced its plan to raise £500m through convertible bonds to fuel global growth.
• The Entertainer is to introduce a quiet hour during first week of reopening. The Entertainer said the quiet hour will be taking place throughout the first week of opening in over 150 stores across England and Wales.
• Frasers Group is set to open its first Frasers-branded store next week when non-essential stores reopen in England. The 34,000sq ft store is located in Wolverhampton will offer beauty and fashion from a range of 120 brands, as well as feature an in-store restaurant.

Thursday 8 April

• Asos recorded that UK sales surged by 39% year-on-year to £800.4m in the six months to 28 February. This is ahead of international sales growth of: EU +18%, US +16%, ROW +16%. Adjusted pre-tax profit hit a record of £112.9m in the period, with over 1.5 million new active customers.
• Dunelm reported a 17% decline in sales to £237m in its third quarter to 27 March, with digital sales accounting for 92% of its total sales – up 70 percentage points on a year earlier. However, in the year to date, Dunelm’s total sales climbed 10% to £956m. 

Wednesday 7 April

• Manchester based streetwear brand Boda Skins has launched a buy-back scheme. The leather and outerwear brand allows customers to bring back their old items for up to £100 credit on new clothing.
• Online fashion marketplace Atterley has closed a £3m funding round, led by private equity firm Maven Capital Partners.
• Luxury goods label Anya Hindmarch announced it will open a new physical retail concept called The Village in London on 17 May.

• Zara is opening a new 36,500 sq ft store in St David’s Dewi Sant shopping centre in Cardiff, Wales this summer. The store integrates digital touch points, with an automated collection point, self-service system, and dedicated refund till.

Tuesday 6 April

• Peacocks has been bought out of administration by an International investment Consortium, backed by Edinburgh Woollen Mill's chief operating officer Steve Simpson. The deal will save 200 stores and 2000 jobs.
• Tommy Hilfiger is set to open two new stores in Scotland this Spring.
• VF Corporation, the parent company of popular brands including: The North Face, Vans, and Timberland, has opened a new 600,000 sq ft fulfilment centre in Bardon, Leicestershire.
• Mercer, the Dutch sneaker and clothing brand has opened a new flagship store on March 1, 2021.
• Fenwick, the family-owned department store business has brought shop staff back from furlough, added new clothing and furniture brands and is preparing to launch a vegan restaurant by a Michelin-starred chef in one of its stores.  The retailer’s losses widened from £44m to £47m for the year to the end of January 2021.
• Asda has opened its third in-store Covid vaccination centre and its first in the capital at its Old Kent Road Superstore in south east London.
• Poundland has announced that it plans to open 30 new stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland over the next twelve months. This initiative will create 250 more jobs by September 30.

Thursday 1 April

• Fashion Retailers are allowed to reopen fitting rooms provided shops introduce measures to minimise covid risk.
• Bäulmer fell into administration and was forced to file for insolvency due to liquidity issues on October 8, 2020. Yesterday, 31 March, was Bäulmer's final day of business. All staff had their contracts terminated, and the company's goods are currently being liquidated by the administrators.
• Little Mistress Group has launched a collection in collaboration with TV personality and Model Vogue Williams.
• The British outwear brand Craghoppers is set to open a new store at Five Valleys Shopping centre in Stroud, Gloucestershire on April 12. This follows Sandersons’ announcement earlier in February to open its third store in the same shopping centre on April 14.
• New Look has added a boy’s collection to its 915 kids wear and teen range. Retail prices starts from £4.99 for a slogan T-Shirt.

• Next saw pre-tax profit drop 53% to £342m in the year to the end of January, as total sales across the group slipped 17% to £3.6bn. Store sales declined 48% to £954.5m, while online climbed 10% to £2.37bn in the year. Despite this, Next raised its profit guidance by £30m to £700m for its 2021/22 fiscal year.
• Walgreens Boots Alliance reported UK sales dropped 17.9% in its second quarter to the end of February, due to lockdown restrictions and change in customers habits. This came despite a 105% online sales surge.

Wednesday 31 March

• Asda has reinforced its commitment to George through a range of new brand partnerships within the Style, Lee, Wrangler, Missguided and Girls on Film.
• US sportswear brand Lululemon saw net revenue surge 24% to $1.7bn (£1.2m) in its fourth quarter to 31 January 2021, as online sales surged 92% and direct-to-consumer sales nearly doubled to account for 52% of total sales.
• All Saints opened a second store in Dubai, spanning 1800 sq ft.

Tuesday 30 March

• Online retailer MySale Group is back to profitability after a successful restructuring program. Group EBITDA grew to A$2.5m (£1.39m) in the six months to 31 December, up from a loss of A$3.1m (£1.72m) during the same period the previous year.
• Advisory firm Hilco has started to market the sale of womenswear brand Ralph & Russo, which fell into administration earlier this month.
• Lloyds Pharmacy is set to launch the UK’s first ever nasal spray called Viraleze specifically designed to fight Covid-19.

Monday 29 March

• Ikea and Dixons Carphone are among those that have their goods stuck on the container ship Ever Given.
• Nike has announced plans to cut ties with a further seven major retailers including Urban Outfitters and Macy’s, as it continues to shift towards direct-to-consumer sales.

Friday 26 March

• Asda lost a Supreme Court battle against shopworkers union GMB over an equal pay claim between store and warehouse workers by the employee union. The grocery chain could be forced to pay out as much as £500m to 40,000 shopfloor workforces.

Thursday 25 March

• Boohoo has published a list of UK retailers and unveiled a sustainability strategy as it seeks to address controversy that has dogged the business.
• B&M has poached The Range’s chief digital and omnichannel officer Jens Sorensen as its new digital director, as the retailer considers a move online.

Wednesday 24 March

• Carrefour has completed the acquisition of Brazil’s third-largest food retailer Grupo Big from Walmart for €1.1bn (£950m). This brings the combined revenue of Grupo Big and Carrefour Brazilian unit to around €15.2bn (£13.1bn), subject to shareholders approval and Brazilian antitrust authorities.
• Premium fashion retailer End was snapped up by private equity giant Carlyle Group in a deal valuing the business at more than £750m. The acquisition of the predominantly online business marks the latest in a string of ecommerce deals since the pandemic.
• John Lewis announced that it will not reopen eight stores across the UK, which puts more than 1,400 jobs at risk. It follows research which shows there were not enough customers in the eight locations to “profitably sustain a large John Lewis store”.
• Beales owner New Start 2020 will reopen the department store in Peterborough in May.
• Travis Perkins has submitted its demerger circular and prospectus to the Financial Conduct Authority for approval, and it expects Wickes shares to be admitted to trading on the Premium listing segment of the London Stock Exchange.
• Tui said they are planning to close 48 more UK stores, with 273 staff likely to be affected. The news comes after Tui announced in July 2020 that 166 shops closed due to the pandemic would not reopen, which at the time was nearly a third of its total.

Tuesday 23 March

• McColl’s gross profit dipped by 4.7% to £301m in the 53 weeks to 29 November. The convenience chain attributed it to a change in product mix as customer demand changed during the coronavirus outbreak, leading to a 2% reduction in gross profit margin to 24%. Total like-for-like sales, however, rose by 12% for the same period, driven by strong sales of alcohol, fresh food and tobacco.

Monday 22 March

• Kingfisher reported a 44.4% surge in adjusted pre-tax profits to £786m in the year to end January 2021, while sales rose by 7.2% to £12.3bn. UK and Ireland like-for-like sales at B&Q were 10.7% up, while Screwfix reported a 6.6% increase for the period, driven by a new generation of DIYers in the pandemic. Group online sales rose 158% to account for 18% of total sales.

Friday 19 March

• Nike recorded a 71% surge in net income to $1.4bn (£1bn) in its third quarter, as the sales boom in China offset a slower recovery in the US and Europe amid the pandemic. The group’s total revenue rose by 3% to $10.4bn (£7.5bn) in the three months to 28 February 2021.
• The Co-op plans to double its franchise estate to 30 stores by the end of this year.

Thursday 18 March

• Ocado reported its retail revenue rose by 40% to £599m in the 13 weeks to 28 February, with Marks & Spencer products typically accounting for at least 25% of the average basket and average orders per week advanced 2.5% to 329,000.
• Eve Sleep has cut its annual losses by 83% to £2m in 2020, while sales rose by 6% to £25.2m and gross margin improved following a focus on profitable sales.

Wednesday 17 March

• Ocado has launched its own-label range with the aim of reducing plastic usage. The retailer said it will strip 27 tonnes of plastic and remove 9 million non-essential packaging components from its own-label products.
• New Look faces a High Court battle with four retail landlords over the terms of its CVA. Under the CVA approved last November, landlords would receive no rent on 68 of New Look’s stores for three years and as little as 2% of turnover on 402 others. Landlords argue a “bare minimum market rent” should be paid, despite the CVA’s terms.
• Just Eat’s profit soared 18% year-on-year in adjusted EBITDA to €256m (£219m) in 2020, while revenue increased by 54% to €2.4bn (£2.1bn) amid lockdowns.
• Mango announced it will open a new flagship store on London’s Oxford Street in the third quarter of this year.
• Poundland saved 36% on costs after renegotiating 180 leases. It plans to renegotiate hundreds more as leases come up for renewal by September 2024.
• Debenhams’ Leicester store is to be converted into 300 rental flats.

Tuesday 16 March

• Fashion brand Scotch & Soda plans to open 15 new stores and 12 shop-in-shops worldwide over the next six months. It currently operates 225 stores and 161 shop-in-shops across the globe.
• Greggs reported a full year pre-tax loss of £14m compared to a £108m profit a year ago. This follows a 31% drop in sales to £811m during the period.
• ScS registered a pre-tax profit of £18m in the 26 weeks to 23 January, compared to a £600,000 loss in the previous year. The release of pent-up demand following lockdown saw group revenue increase by 14% to a record £174m in its first half. Last year ScS launched its MyScSLive video virtual shopping consultations.
• ScS said online orders more than doubled in the seven weeks to 13 March, up by 158% year-on-year.
• Zalando has upgraded its expectations as the fashion etailer aims to take more than 10% share of the European fashion market and achieve a Gross Merchandise Value of more than €30bn by 2025. The company recorded a strong uplift in sales during 2020, with GMV up 30.4% to €10.7bn (£9.2bn), while revenue grew 23.1% to €8bn (£6.9bn).
• John Lewis said it expects 40% of its profits to come from non-retail activities such as housing, financial services and outdoor living over the next 10 years. Last October, the retailer said it had earmarked 20 sites on which it plans to provide new housing, with planning applications for the first two scheduled this year.

Monday 15 March

• LionRock Capital has completed its acquisition of a majority stake in Clarks.
• Pret a Manger entered a deal with Tesco to sell a range of frozen croissants across the grocer’s stores.
• In The Style has successful launched its floatation on the AIM market after a significantly oversubscribed fundraising. The fashion etailer raised £11m for the company and £49m for selling shareholders. Market capitalisation was approximately £105m.
• Screwfix announced plans to open 50 new stores across the UK and Ireland this year. This will create 600 jobs in areas such as retail management, service assistants and supervisors.
• Net rental income at Hammerson almost halved in 2020 – falling by 49% on 2019 to £157.6m. The shopping centre owner reported pre-tax loss of £1.7bn in 2020, compared to a £781m loss in 2019.

Friday 12 March

• JD Sports acquired a 60% controlling stake in Polish sportswear business Marketing Investment Group, which trades from 410 stores across nine countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Thursday 11 March

• Morrisons group like-for-like sales (excluding fuel and VAT) rose by 8.6% during the year, while total revenues edged-up up by 0.4% to £17.6bn in the 52 weeks to 31 January. This was supported by online sales tripling in the year, as ecommerce capacity increased fivefold.
• John Lewis reported a pre-tax loss of £517m in the year to 30 January. This is down from a £146m realised a year ago. Online sales accounted for 75% of overall sales in the year, up from 40% pre-pandemic. Chair Sharon White cautioned the retailer “does not expect to reopen all John Lewis shops at the end of lockdown”.
• Waitrose experienced rapid growth in its online business in the year to 30 January, with the online penetration rate rising from 5% pre-pandemic to 14% during 2020/21.
• Very Group has developed new office space for a hybrid working model for staff. The new offices feature gender-neutral facilities.
• Adidas plans to cut ties with third party retailers to focus on direct-to-consumer sales, as it looks to grow its sales by a third by 2025.
• Prada posted a 93% drop in profit, as Covid-19 hit sales with net revenue down by 24.9% to €2.4bn (£2bn) in 2020.

Wednesday 10 March

• Next and Reiss have entered a long-term strategic partnership whereby Next will acquire a 25% equity stake in the fashion brand in return for £33m equity investment and £10m debt investment in Reiss.
• Zara’s parent Inditex posted a net profit of €1.1bn (£940m) in the year to 31 January, down from €3.6bn the previous year. The group’s net sales declined 28% year-on-year to €20.4bn, amid mandated store closures across its network.
• Evans Cycles announced it is cutting 300 jobs and moving all employees to a zero-hours contracts in a bid to cut costs.
• Net-a-Porter launched a localised website in the Middle East for the first time. The offering has been fully customised to meet local shoppers’ need.

Tuesday 09 March

• Marks & Spencer unveiled plans to cut back retail space at their flagship store on Oxford Street, as it looks to redevelop the upper floors into offices. The store revamp would “be seamlessly integrated with M&S.com”.
• Kingfisher revealed plans to open B&Q franchised stores in the Middle East, starting with two in Saudi Arabia expected to open in autumn 2021.
• DFS posted a half-year pre-tax profit surge of 56% to £72m during the 26 weeks to 27 December. Group revenue rose by 17% to £573m compared with the same period a year ago, as pent-up demand from the first national lockdown drove sales, as well as ecommerce sales soaring 66% year-on-year to account for over a quarter of revenue from 18% a year earlier.
• WHSmith reported a better-than-expected performance during the first two months of 2021. Revenue in the retailer’s high street division reached 74% of January 2019 levels and 84% of February 2019 levels.
• Mango recorded a staggering online sales rise of 36% year-on-year to £656m during 2020. But turnover at physical stores fell by 43% following mandated closures during the year.
• Pandora sales rose by 12% in February despite temporary store closures. The retailer said it will not change its financial guidance for the full year.
• H&M halted placing orders in Myanmar after protesters were shot by local police. H&M has around 56 direct suppliers in Myanmar.

Monday 08 March

• Marks & Spencer has launched 46 websites in new overseas markets. This brings the number of international countries in which it operates as a pureplay to over 100.
• Tesco has put thousands of store manager roles into consultation as it launches a restructuring program at its larger superstores and Extra stores. Affected departments include checkout, fresh food and F&F, with department managers being replaced with team or lead manager positions – but Tesco confirmed there are to be no redundancies as a result.
• Deliveroo has confirmed its intentions to float on the London Stock Exchange after weeks of speculation. The company said it will enable UK-based consumers with a Deliveroo account to apply for shares.
• British lingerie brand Janet Reger has relaunched after it temporarily paused business operations last year following Debenhams’ collapse.
• Card Factory is in search for new financing arrangements with existing lenders, as Deloitte’s negotiations with specialist lenders to raise £100m was unsuccessful.
• Shoe Zone reported a loss after tax of £14.6m and a 24.3% fall in sales to £122.6m in the year to 3 October, amid forced store closures. It said digital sales grew 82% to £19.3m, while it had cut average lease lengths to two years and cut rents down 30.9%. Boss Anthony Smith said: “The financial pressure caused by Covid-19 has meant we now have debt on the balance sheet for the first time in over 15 years.”

Friday 05 March

• The Co-op Group is set to hold a board meeting next week to discuss whether the £80m government funding should be returned.
• Dune announced it will focus on occasion wears when stores reopen in April.

Thursday 04 March

• Global Fashion Group raised €375m (£324m) in unsecured bonds.
• B&M reported its revenue rose 22.5% in January. The group expects its adjusted EBITDA for the year to 27 March to be in the range of £590m to £620m.

Wednesday 03 March

• Aldi is expected to invest £22m on new and revamped stores in the Greater London area this year.
• Sainsbury’s is set to slash 500 roles at its London head office, including in the supermarket’s Tu clothing division. The grocer will also close one of its London fulfilment centres in a bid to reinvest in its new ‘food first’ agenda.

Tuesday 02 March

• French Connection remains in search for a new buyer, after two potential bidders pulled out of early stage talks to buy the struggling chain.
• Morrisons acquires Cornish seafood supplier Falfish for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition sees Falfish’s co-owner Mark Greet alongside 140 existing employees join Morrisons.
• Virgin Wines made its stock market debut on the AIM market today. The business had a market capitalisation of approximately £110m. Liberum Capital acted as sole broker and advisor in the transaction.
• Hotel Chocolat reported it’s in a much stronger position heading into the Easter season compared to last year. The retailer’s ecommerce operations are “match fit” according to the boss Angus Thirlwell, which is expected to bolster its trading compared to last year despite physical stores being closed for the second Easter in a row.
• Investment firm Tiger Global Management and luxury group Kering have jointly invested €178m (£153.91m) for a 5% stake in the second-hand clothing giant Vestiaire Collective.
• Stationery retailer Ryman has reportedly told landlords it will withhold rent until non-essential retailers are allowed to reopen.
• Builder’s merchant Travis Perkins has withheld dividend payments to shareholders again, after first suspending them a year ago. Its demerging of Wickes, which was put-on hold amid the pandemic, will resume and be completed by the end of June.

 Monday 01 March

• Morrisons extends its wholesale partnership with McColl’s, meaning the grocery will now be McColl’s sole wholesale supplier until 2027. McColl’s stores will carry a full range of Morrisons convenience products.
• Fashion etailer In The Style is eyeing an AIM floatation on or around 17 March, with Liberum Capital acting as book-runner and advisor. The retailer’s sales rocketed by 159% year-on-year during the pandemic, hitting £35.4m in net sales and £3.6m adjusted EBITDA in the nine months to 31 December 2020.
• Halfords announced it will repay £10.7m of furlough support following a stronger performance than anticipated. They expect full-year pre-tax profit to range between £90m and £100m after repayment.
• Global Fashion Group – owner of ecommerce platforms The Iconic, Zalora and Dafiti – reported a profit rise of 44% year-on-year to €183m (£158.2m) in the three months to 31 December 2020.
• Farfetch has launched its flagship digital store on Alibaba’s ecommerce platform Tmall. The move aims at helping Farfetch plug into Alibaba’s 779 million consumers.
• JD Sports has allegedly entered into exclusive talks to buy Arcadia Group’s distribution centre in Daventry, Northampton. This follows interest from Boohoo, Amazon and Ebay in buying the warehouse in recent weeks.
• Amazon opened a contactless grocery store in London, marking its first ‘just walk out’ shop outside of the US. The 2,500 sq ft Amazon store uses its Just Walk Out technology to allow shoppers to pick items and leave the store without having to scan or queue for payment. In-store cameras and sensors track what shoppers take from the shelves and they are then charged via Amazon’s mobile app when they leave.

Friday 26 February

• Boots is to cut 300 jobs across its Nottingham head office as it fights “changing consumer behaviours”.
• US venture capital and private equity firm L Catterton is set to acquire a majority stake in Birkenstock for an undisclosed amount.
• Marks & Spencer offers 360 work placements for the months of April and June 2021 in support of the government’s kickstart scheme which helps young people get onto the career ladder.
• The luxury fashion etailer Farfetch recorded a 64% rise in revenue year-on-year to $1.7bn (£1.2bn) in the year to 31 December 2020. The retailer registered its first-ever quarter of positive EBITDA, reaching $10m (£7m) in the fourth quarter.
• Pets at Home upped its profit guidance for the second time in less than two months to £85m for the current financial year, ahead of the previous £77m guidance issued during its Christmas trading update on 8 January.
• Luxury fashion pureplay Mytheresa has reported a sales increase of 30.4% year-on-year to €285m (£247.1m) for the six months to 31 December.

Thursday 25 February

• eBay has launched a multi-million-pound ‘eBay for Change’ programme to offer training and financial support to small, community-based businesses in parts of the UK that have been hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. It has partnered with Social Enterprise UK and the World Fair Trade Organization to deliver the scheme.
• Ikea’s sales declined by 10% year-on-year to £1.9bn in the year to 31 August, as store visitor numbers plummeted 22% year on year to 44 million due to lockdowns. Online sales jumped 30% year on year and represented 27% of total sales during the period, from 19% in the previous year, as the homewares giant rolled out click and collect and DPD collection points.
• Primark estimates that non-essential retail closures across its global estate cost it £1.1bn in lost sales in the first half to 27 February. The retailer expects to flog £150m worth of spring-summer clothing held over from the previous year when stores reopen, plus £260m worth of leftover autumn-winter stock later this year.
• Asda has entered formal consultation with 5,000 staff as it unveiled its transformation plans to capitalise on the shift to online grocery shopping. The grocery has grown its capacity by 90% since the pandemic and looks to create 4,500 new roles in store-based online operations.

Wednesday 24 February

• TK Maxx parent TJX Companies saw sales slump 10.7% year-on-year to $32.1bn (£22.8bn) in the year to 30 January, following lockdown store closures.

Tuesday 23 February

• Asos has relaunched its newly acquired Topshop and Topman brands with a two-week social media campaign focused on denim. The campaign will run on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube to drive awareness in the UK, US and Germany.
• Clarks’ chief executive officer Giorgio Presca, chief commercial officer Massimo Barzaghi and chief people officer Difna Blamey resigned as private equity firm LionRock Capital – which acquired a majority stake in Clarks late last year – looks to appoint a new leadership team.
• Frasers Group has appointed Psyche’s Steve Cochrane as a consultant to oversee the launch of kidswear expansion plans.
• Frasers Group has warned closures across its store portfolio could be on the horizon following the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.
• Mango is launching a marketplace, which will see Italian lingerie brand Intimissimi become the first third party brand added to the retailer’s offer from spring.

Monday 22 February

• John Lewis is reportedly considering closing eight stores as it looks to cut further space and costs by moving into smaller properties. This follows plans to close eight of its shops last year.

Friday 19 February

• Poundland owner Pepco Group reported group sales rose 3% year-on-year to €3.5bn (£3bn) in the year to 30 September, but suffered a 30.8% drop in underlying EBITDA to €229m (£198.2m), attributed to Covid-19-related closures across Central Europe.
• Amazon workers who took jobs in the etailer’s warehouses during the Christmas period have claimed they were put on zero-hour deal – which goes against Amazon’s policy to not use such contracts.

Thursday 18 February

• Asda reported sales rose 5.1% in the 12 weeks to 31 December, with, like-for-like sales up 6.9% in the key eight weeks to 24 December. The retailer said sales for premium lines in meat, fish and poultry categories were up 30% year-on-year.
• Moonpig announced it expects its full-year revenue for the year to 30 April to be “approximately double” sales of £173m the previous year, after “the strongest ever trading week in the group’s history ahead of Valentine’s Day”.

Wednesday 17 February

• Homewares retailer Cox & Cox saw sales up by 85.4% year-on-year in its fourth quarter and sales growth of 74.5% for the full year to end-January, with demand for home office furniture remaining high, as businesses plan for a hybrid approach to working. Desks sales rose 831% and office chairs 2,036% year-on-year in Q4.

Tuesday 16 February

• The Issa brothers and investment vehicle TDR Capital have confirmed the brothers’ acquisition of Asda for £6.8bn, pending final approval from the Competition and Markets Authority which is expected in Q2 2021.
• Dunelm’s biggest shareholder and deputy chair Will Adderley is set to sell a 7.4% stake in the company, amounting to roughly £210m. He has appointed Barclays and Goldman Sachs to help sell his shares. The Adderley family still retain a 45% stake in the business.
• Ocado has launched a dedicated B Corp-certified aisle, featuring over 1,100 products from more than 35 certified suppliers such as Ella’s Kitchen, Innocent, Method, Charlie Bigham’s, Pip & Nut, Teapigs, Proper, Alpro, Ben & Jerry’s and Cheeky Panda.

Monday 15 February

• Made.com is in discussions with banks about advising on strategic options, including mulling a stock market listing, the sale of a stake to a new investor or an outright sale. This follows online retailers thriving to new highs since the pandemic.
• The Arcadia pension scheme may not need help from the Pension Protection Fund as first feared, after £173m has been realised through the sale of assets including the Topshop brand to online rival Asos and various property sales. The Arcadia pension scheme has security over £210m of assets, although the pension deficit is thought to be in the region of £300m.
• Fashion giant Burberry is to voluntarily return some £6m of savings made through the business rates relief during the Covid-19 pandemic to the Treasury, becoming the first non-essential retailer to do so. Burberry also repaid a £300m taxpayer-funded loan a month early.

Friday 12 February

• The Issas brothers and investment vehicle TDR Capital successfully raised a record £2.75bn sterling junk bond to fund its Asda acquisition.

Thursday 11 February        

• Ted Baker’s group revenue was slashed by 47% year-on-year in the fourth quarter to 30 January, impacted by the closure of its UK stores as well as low demand for outerwear and occasion wear over the festive period.
• Fashion group LVMH and RnB singer Rihanna have agreed to suspend the Fenty Fashion brand less than two years after it was launched, as the pandemic weighs on demand for luxury clothing.

Wednesday 10 February

• Dunelm reported its pre-tax profit rose by 34% to £112m for the 26 weeks to 26 December. Despite store closures, total sales rose by 23% to £719m.
• Fashion brand Fred Perry has bought the British shoemaker George Cox for an undisclosed amount.
• Sainsbury’s has launched its own Aldi price match on 250 own-label and branded products. This follows similar campaigns introduced by other big four grocers.

Tuesday 09 February

• Notonthehighstreet was fully acquired by US private equity firm Green Hill Partners for an undisclosed amount.
• Ocado reported a pre-tax loss of £44m in the 52 weeks running to 29 November, compared with a £215m loss in the previous year. The group’s revenue grew by 33% year-on-year to £2.3bn while EBITDA surged by 69% to £73m.
• John Lewis extended its fashion and beauty propositions by adding 50 new brands as shoppers favour casualwear, including Mango, Banana Republic, Honey & Toast, Kemi Telford and Ro&Zo..  
• Frasers Group sold its 24.93% stake in French Connection following rising interest to buy the fashion retailer.
• Superdry and Robert Goddard fashion will open stores in Lincoln’s Cornhill quarter in the later part of the year.
• Fashion label Desigual is planning to expand its digital presence with the launch of its website in 108 additional countries by the end of 2021, which would see it operate in 150 international markets in total.
• Dune Group has launched a company voluntary arrangement as part of a restructuring given the “likelihood of future trading continuing to be adversely affected by ongoing restrictions”. Approval would see several sites move to a turnover-based rent.
• Joules has acquired the garden and outdoor products digital retailer Garden Trading for a deal valued at £9m. Garden Trading reported a 40% increase in revenue to £16.8m and a pre-tax profit of £2m for the year to 30 November.

Monday 08 February

• Boohoo finalised the acquisition of the digital assets and intellectual property rights of Arcadia brands Wallis, Burton and Dorothy Perkins for a cash amount of £25.2m.

Friday 05 February

• French Connection’s board is said to be considering the sale of the fashion retailer after being approached by two potential buyers. The brand is valued at £15.2m.

Thursday 04 February

• JD Sport has concluded its £464.2m equity raise to finance its expansion plans through acquisitions in existing and new markets.
• Watches of Switzerland has reported a strong sales performance over the disrupted Christmas season.
• The European DIY e-tailer, ManoMano reported a 100% surge in overall sales year-on-year to £1.2bn in 2020.

Wednesday 03 February

• Alibaba posted a 37% surge in revenues to 221bn Yuan (£25bn) in the last three months of 2020 compared to the same period a year ago, following the Chinese economy recovering strongly from the covid-19 pandemic.
• EG Group is set to buy Asda’s petrol forecourt business in a £750m deal pending approval from the Competition and Markets Authority.
• Jeff Bezos announced he is to step down as CEO of Amazon in the third quarter of 2021. Andy Jassy (current head of Amazon Web Services) will replace him as new chief executive.
• Amazon announced that net sales rose by 44% to $125bn (£92bn) in the fourth quarter.
• Jigsaw confirmed the completion of its CVA and restructuring process. The fashion retailer also reported a £31m loss in sales revenue as COVID-19 lockdowns saw its 77 stores and 42 concessions in the UK and Ireland being shut at various points in the last 11 months.

Tuesday 02 February

• Moonpig has begun trading on the London Stock Exchange with offer price at 350p/share, bringing its market valuation to £1.2bn.
• Young Soles is increasingly expanding its US operations as part of its global growth strategy. The British brand already sells to 38 independent retailers in the US such as luxury kids wear retailer Shan and Toad.
• Monday 01 February
• ASOS paid £265m for the acquisition of Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, and athleisure brand HIIT. Asos said that the purchase of the brands represented a “strategically compelling opportunity”.
• JD Sports Fashion entered a $496m (£360m) conditional agreement to buy US sportwear and footwear retailer DTLR.

Friday 29 January

• Arket plans to open a new flagship store in Beijing, China in autumn 2021.
• Boohoo completed a £25m purchase deal for three of Arcadia’s high street brands, Burton, Dorothy Parkins and Wallis.
• H&M profits plunged by 82.2% to SEK 2BN (£174.4m), while net sales fell by 18% to SEK 187bn (£16.3bn) during the year to November 30, 2020.
• Card Factory was offered an additional month by lenders to negotiate banking covenants on the £200 loan breach.

Thursday 28 January

• Lidl announced UK sales to have exceeded £6.9bn in the calendar year 2020, but a £654m investment in new stores, supply chain and logistics drove the discount retailer to a £13.6m loss. The grocers market share however, has increased from 5.8% to 6.1% during the financial year.
• Screwfix reported a £2bn sales performance in the year to January 2021. The DIY retailer also opened 30 new stores across the UK and Ireland in 2020, bringing its total store estate to 725.

Wednesday 27 January

• Paperchase is set to be sold to Permira Debt Managers. The deal will see approximately 90 of the 125 stores remain open and 1000 jobs saved.
• SCS reported sales rise of 13.6% to £182.3m in the 26 weeks to January 23, 2021. Similarly, orders went up by 12.4% on a like-to-like basis in the 21 weeks to December 19, 2020.
• LVMH, the luxury conglomerate reported a 17% revenue decline to €44.7bn (£39.5bn) in 2020 on an annual basis.

Tuesday 26 January

• Frasers group announce its intentions to close Jenners in May after failing to reach an agreement with the Landlord. The closure will cause 200 job losses.
• JD Sports is considering raising £400m of equity fund to finance more acquisition deals.
• LVMH’s fashion and leather goods division saw their revenue fall by 5% during 2020, resulting from store closures and travel suspensions.
• Hawes and Curtis released its first loungewear collection.
• Quiz’s revenue dropped by 73% to £17.2m in the six months to 30 September 2020. The retailer reported an EBITDA loss of £3.4m in the first half of its financial year compared to the £6.3m realised a year ago.

Monday 25 January

• The online retailer – ASOS which is in exclusive talks to buy Arcadia brands, is also interested in retaining Topshop’s flagship store on Oxford Street.
• Boohoo has acquired Debenhams’ website and brand for £55m. None of Debenhams’ 118 high street shops are included in the acquisition.
• Feelunique reported a 39% sales growth to £28m for the 12-week period to January 3, 2021. Active customers jumped by 41% to 1.3m over the same period.
• Charles Tyrwhitt, the suit specialist made 250 redundancies last year and shut four of its 42 stores due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Friday 22 January

• Next pulled-out from the acquisition process of part or all of Arcadia’s group as they fell short to meet the price expectation of the vendor.
• John Lewis raised its profit expectation for the financial year as ‘Black Friday’ and ‘Christmas’ sales performed better than expected.
• The Work reported a pre-tax loss of £4.1m in the 26 weeks to October 25. Revenue also declined by 7.8% to £88.9m in the same period.
• Wolf & Badger sales revenue increased by 79.1% to £21.3m in the year to December 2020. Online sales soared by 92% in the same period, with 14.7 million website visitors and 253,902 items sold.
• Hotter Shoes reported a 27% increase in online sales YoY on the six weeks to 31 December 2020. Full-year revenue for both store-based and online channel stood at £45m.

Thursday 21 January

• Pets at Home sales rose 18% year-on-year to £302m in the 12 weeks to 31 December, with like-for-like sales up 17.6%. The essential retailer said customer numbers to its VIP Puppy and Kitten club were up 12% to year-on-year during the quarter to 6.2 million, as more people bought pets amid the pandemic. The retailer has added virtual consultations and contactless click and collect since the pandemic.
• Eve Sleep posted that sales increased 6% to £25.2m for the year to 31 December, on the back of 18% growth in the second half. Eve Sleep expects its full-year EBITDA losses to be £2m, marking an 81% reduction on the previous year. It experienced record sales over the festive season, following a TV campaign and expanded ranges including bed frames, sleep gifts and bedding.

Wednesday 20 January

• Marks & Spencer has struck deals with a number of fashion brands, adding Joules and Hobbs online and in its stores when they reopen from lockdown.
• Dixons Carphone reported a boost in sales over the Christmas trading period. Group like-for-like sales of electricals rose by 11% during the 10 weeks to 9 January. Online sales across its UK and Ireland business surged by 121%.
• WHSmith announced a better-than-expected performance during the Christmas period. Group revenue recovered up to 67% of pre-Covid levels during December.
• Burberry reported that their digital full-price sales jumped by more than 50% in the 13 weeks to 26 December, as it progresses with its transformation strategy.
• White Stuff has appointed advisors PHD Property to review options for its 115-strong store portfolio.
• Frasers Group has increased its stake in the luxury brand Hugo Boss to own 15.2% of shares. Frasers Group now owns 3.6 million of common stock, representing 5.1% of Hugo Boss’ total share capital.

Tuesday 19 January

• Superdry reported a pre-tax loss of £10.6m in its first half – up from £2.3m – as sales fell by 23.4% to £282.7m. In its second half so far up to 9 January, sales have fallen by 27.2%.
• Moonpig is expected to float on the London Stock Exchange next month. The retailer could be valued at as much as £1bn.
• AO.com registered a revenue surge of 67.2% to £457.3m in the UK during the three months to end-December. Elsewhere, sales rose by 77.4% to €73.6m in its German market. AO boss John Roberts said: “I believe we’ve seen 10 years of change in 10 months and experienced our strongest ever peak trading period”.
• Hotel Chocolat posted group sales rose 11% over the 26 weeks to 27 December. Over the 13 weeks to 27 December, revenue grew by 19%.
• Arcadia confirmed the closure of 31 stores by the end of the month, resulting in 714 job losses.
• Clothing retailer Apricot has received approval of its Company Voluntary Arrangement, which will see most of its UK stores move to turnover-based rents.

Monday 18 January

• Retailer Next has emerged as a leading bidder to rescue Topshop from administration. If the deal is successful, the retailer plans to partner with hedge fund Davidson Kempner and appoint an external manager to form a new joint venture to run Arcadia.
• Dr Martens has confirmed its intentions to float on the London Stock Exchange in early February, at a valuation said to be more than £3bn.
• Matalan reported a sales drop of 11.2% year-on-year to £119.2m in the five weeks to 2 January. The fashion retailer said that its online offering rose by 85% in the five-week period.
• Seasalt reported sales growth of 17% over the five weeks to 2 January. Although in-store sales dived 44% due to restrictions, a 95% surge in online sales bolstered its overall performance. The retailer predicts that in-store sales will be down 57% for its full year to 30 January 30, with online sales expected to be up 72%.

Friday 15 January

• N Brown reported an 8.8% drop in group revenue over the 18 weeks to 2 January. Product sales were down by 8.9%, compared with a 28.8% plunge in its first quarter.
• Jaeger has axed more than 200 jobs following its acquisition by Marks & Spencer, as the deal saw M&S acquire the Jaeger brand as well as its stock and supporting marketing assets, but none of the retailer’s 63 stores or staff.
• Brand Machine Group has bought US outdoor brand Penfield.
• Clothing retailer Mango announced it will launch its first homewares collection in April.

Thursday 14 January

• Debenhams, which is winding down in a stock liquidation process, is permanently closing its Oxford Street flagship and five other stores after it failed to agree to new lease terms, with the loss of 320 jobs. Administrator FRP Advisory plans to “reopen as many stores as possible” after lockdown measures ease to complete the stock liquidation.
• Primark reported sales fell 30% in the 16 weeks to 2 January in constant currency (-28% in actual exchange rates) as stores were forced to close. When stores could open, the retailer said like-for-like sales were on average 14% down on last year, with sales higher in its retail park locations compared with cities.
• Primark estimated a loss of sales worth £540m during the 16 weeks to 2 January amid closures, and expects its half-year losses to 27 February to be £1.05bn assuming lockdown continues.
• Boohoo exceeded expectations recording 40% sales growth in the four months to end-December. The online group expects full sales growth for the full financial year to end-February to be 36% to 38%, up from previous guidance of 28% to 32%.
• Tesco saw total sales rise by 8.4% and like-for-likes rise 6.3% across the UK and Ireland in the 6 weeks to 9 January. Online sales were up over 80% during its third quarter and Christmas trading period in the 19 weeks to 9 January, but sales grew across all formats, categories and
• Tesco warned that increased Covid-19 related costs including staff absences mean it anticipates £810m in additional costs during its current financial year, up £85m from its previous October forecast. But Tesco’s full-year forecast remains unchanged, and expects to be at least flat on last year.
• Card Factory store sales plunged 38.1% year-on-year in the 11 months to 31 December, as its stores closed on 37% of available trading days. Between 1 October and 3 November, Card Factory recorded like-for-like growth of 17.7%. The retailer expects a pre-tax loss of £10m for the full year to end -January, with sales down 33% year-on-year.
• Halfords saw group sales rise 11.5% in the 13 weeks to 1 January, supported by a 7.7% and 30.5% rise across its retail and autocentre divisions respectively. Retail sales were up 9.8% on a like-for-like basis, driven by a 35.4% jump in cycling sales, while motoring sales declined 8.4%.
• Dunelm’s total sales rose 11.8% to £360.4m in the 13 weeks to 26 December. Online accounted for 40% of overall sales, almost double the 21% it accounted for a year earlier. Click and collect was a strong driver of sales, accounting for some 30% of comparable sales during periods of store closures in the quarter.

Wednesday 13 January

• Morrisons announced a pay rise of approximately 9% for 96,000 of their staff. This will see a minimum hourly rate of £10 when the deal comes into effect in April.
• Asos reported a 23% surge in group sales to £1.33bn in the four months to 31 December, with UK retail sales up by 36% to £554.1m. Returns were said to be low, which should contribute to a net benefit to profits of at least £40m in its first half.
• Lidl reported record Christmas sales growth that saw a 17.9% year-on-year increase in the four weeks to 27 December. Basket sizes increased 24.8% year-on-year.
• Sosandar recorded a revenue increase of 6% year-on-year to £3.98m in the three months to 31 December.

Tuesday 12 January

• Kingfisher upped its expectations for its full-year pre-tax profit to £742m. This comes after a strong fourth quarter performance that saw the group like-for-like sales grow by 16.9%, while ecommerce skyrocketed by 150%.
• Gift card specialist Moonpig revealed its intention to go public, with a valuation of two times EBITDA. Citigroup and JP Morgan are acting as advisors.
• The Hut Group recorded a stellar 51% growth in sales in the fourth quarter to 31 December, ahead of previous sales growth guidance of 40-45%. The group expects full-year sales growth to be 30%-35% as sales momentum remains strong coupled with good performance from recent acquisition Dermstore.
• Supermarket Booths reported like-for-like sales growth of 15.7% in the three weeks to Christmas. Covid restrictions saw Booths report an uptick in the sale of smaller turkeys (23%), turkey crowns (38%) and frozen turkey sales (50%), while liqueur and rum sales rose 39% and 69% respectively.
• John Lewis announced the temporary suspension of its click-and-collect offer across its 42 branches.
• Administrators have reached an agreement with Purepay Retail Limited on the sale of Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Ponden Home. Purepay has purchased all remaining stock as well as the head office and distribution centre in Carlisle, and plans to continue to operate 246 stores across both brands’ estates.
• Very.co.uk reported record Christmas sales, posting a 25.5% uplift in sales in the seven weeks up to and including 25 December, as sales from their electrical and home categories soared by 44.8% and 46.2% respectively.

Monday 11 January

• Ocado warned customers of potential product shortages as the pandemic impacts supply chains, and may see “an increase of missing items and substitutions over the next few weeks”.
• US clothing firm G-III Apparel has allegedly made a bid to acquire Arcadia’s brands including Topshop and Miss Selfridge.
• JD Sports reported a 5% rise in like-for-like sales in the 22 weeks to 2 January, as shoppers “readily” switched between physical and digital shopping. The retailer raised its profit expectation for the full year to end-January, from £295m to £400m.
• Studio Retail reported a 32% surge in sales for its third quarter which covered both Black Friday and Christmas, as shoppers turned to value.
• Dr Martens owner Permira has engaged Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch as joint coordinators for a prospective float of the footwear brand later this year.
• Marks & Spencer confirmed the acquisition of Jaeger’s brand for an undisclosed amount.
• Fashion outlet chain Leading Labels was bought by the turnaround specialist Baaj Capital.

Friday 8 January

• Marks & Spencer posted a 7.6% drop in like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks to 26 December. Total sales contracted by 8.4% to £2.77bn, despite online clothing and home sales jumping 47.5% to £353m. Revenue rose 4.4% in its food division in the key December month, but declined 19.4% across clothing and home.
• Asos unveiled plans to open a £90m warehouse in Lichfield, Staffordshire. The site is expected to be operational within 12 months and employ 2,000 people over the next three years.
• Pets at Home uplifted its profit guidance as group like-for-like sales grew in the “high teens” during December. The group expects pre-tax profit of at least £77m for its full- year to end-March.

Thursday 7 January

• B&M group revenue surged 22.5% in the 13 weeks to 26 December. On a like-for-like basis UK sales rocketed 21.1%. The retailer narrowed its full year profit guidance to be between £540m and £570m, following the repayment of £80m in business rates relief. B&M plans to open 18 stores during its fourth quarter, bringing the net total of 45 store openings for the full year.
• Sainsbury’s posted like-for-like sales grew 8.6% (excluding fuel) in its third quarter to 2 January, with total retail sales up 6.8%. Argos sales increased 8.4% as it beat expectations for Black Friday and Christmas. The grocer has upped its full year guidance from £270m to at least £330m in the year to March 2021.
• Sainsbury’s shoppers treated themselves to premium lines, with sales of its Taste the Difference range up 11% in the 9 weeks to 2 January, while champagne sales increased by 52%.
• Walgreen Boots Alliance has agreed a $6.5bn (£4.8bn) deal to sell its Alliance Healthcare wholesale business in order to focus on retail. Alliance Healthcare UK – responsible for distributing medicines from sites in Beeston and Weybridge – will continue to act as distribution partner until 2031.
• Joules reported total online sales (including its Friends of Joules marketplace) jumped 66% year-on-year in the seven weeks to 3 January, while in-store sales dived by 58%. The fashion retailer said it expects losses of between £14m and £18m if stores remain closed in lockdown until April.

Wednesday 6 January

• Topps Tiles’ retail like-for-like sales jumped 19.9% in its first quarter to 26 December. But it cautioned: “We expect to see an impact on sales during the period of tighter restrictions and trading margins will come under some pressure due to the additional delivery costs associated with higher levels of online sales.”
• Food-to-go giant Greggs warned that profits will not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2022 “at the earliest”. Annual sales came in at £811m in 2020, compared to £1.17bn in 2019, and the retailer expects to report a loss of up to £15m this year. The retailer has made 820 redundancies since the pandemic broke out.

Tuesday 5 January

• Paperchase has issued a notice to appoint administrators imminently, with PwC set to handle the process, as the impact of the pandemic batters sales.
• Following a stronger than expected golden quarter, bellwether Next updated its full-year pre-tax profit to £370m, up from its £365m forecast in October. This came as the retailer posted a 1.1% year-on-year decline in full-price sales in the nine weeks to 26 December.
• Morrisons posted a strong 9.3% rise in like-for-like sales (excluding fuel) for the three weeks to 3 January. This came after a “renewed focus on traditional Christmas fare”, such as whole salmon and champagne delivering 40% and 63% sales increases respectively.

Monday 4 January 

• Primark cautions on an additional £220m loss in sales as Tier 4 restrictions are enforced. ABF, the fashion retailer’s owner said that it expects sales losses for the year to reach £650m.
• Ebay is facing an investigation from the Competition and Markets Authority on a proposed £7bn sale of its advertising arm to Adevinta.
• Frasers Group has bought the fashion retailer Psyche for an undisclosed amount. The deal will see Fraser group acquire both the retailer’s stores as well as its online operations.
• Arcadia’s administrators appoint estate agents to advise on the sale of Topshop’s flagship store on Oxford Street, London.
• Aldi reported a sales growth of 10.6% year-on-year in the fours to 24 December. Online wine and special-buy sales surged by 75% in the period.

Wednesday 31 December

• Seraphine, the maternity wear brand was bought in a management buyout led by Mayfair Equity Partners in a deal that values the business at £50m.

Tuesday 30 December

• The luxury brand e-tailer, Mytheresa has unveiled plans for a Wall Street IPO. This could see the company being valued to £1bn.
• Marks & Spencer extends its ‘goodmove assortment’ to kids wear and men’s lines as the covid-19 prompts a category shift.

Monday 29 December

• The Hut Group has acquired the US-based skincare retailer Dermstore.com. The group also invested in nutrition suppliers, Claremont ingredients and David Berryman.
• Silk Industries was bought out of administration by businessman Roger Gawn.

Wednesday 23 December

• LK Bennett’s store in Westfield London shopping centre will permanently close next year.
• Clarks’ shareholders have approved a £100m deal from LionRock Capital, a Hong Kong based private equity firm.
• Ann Summer’s creditors have approved the company’s CVA, which moves 25 UK stores to turnover-based rent.
• The Entertainer has confirmed that all its shops will be operating on a click and collect basis with its customers until Christmas Eve.

Tuesday 22 December

• Fraser withdrew its anticipated 20%-30% growth in underlying EBITDA for the full financial year as non-essential retail are forced to close.
• LK Bennett CVA proposal was approved by its creditors which comprises of five store closures and moving its remaining shops to turnover-based rent.
• N Brown Group completed a £100m equity raise and moved from the main market to the Aim market.
• DFS reported a sales surge of 19% for the 24 weeks to 13 December. Online orders also rose by 76% in the same period.
• John Lewis’ CEO announced that online sales accounts for up to 70% of its total sales this year. Compared to pre-pandemic, online sales were only 40%.

Friday 18 December

• Frasers Group luxury store Flannels revealed plans to open 15 new stores in the next five years.

Thursday 17 December

• Boohoo’s founder and chair Mahmud Kamani expressed the retailer’s commitment to source materials from Leicester based suppliers and ultimately improve working conditions in the city.
• Wales announced a compulsory closure for all non-essential retail shops by the end of the trading period on Christmas Eve.

Wednesday 16 December

• Dixons Carphone posted a pre-tax profit of £45m for the half year period, against losses of £86m a year earlier. Like-for-like sales in the UK & Ireland went up by 16%, while online sales skyrocketed by 145%.
• Travis Perkins reported an 8.6% increase in like-for-like sales in October and November after it bounced back from store closures as part of a restructuring exercise.

Tuesday 15 December

• Inditex reported an improvement in its Q3 sales drop to 14% compared to the fall of 31% in Q2 and 44% in Q1. The apparel group realised a net profit of €866m (£789m) for Q3, down from €1.17bn (£1.07bn) a year ago.
• Shaftesbury reported a £699m loss for the 12 months to September compared to a £26m profit realised last year, as the Covid-19 pandemic hammered rental income and caused property values to plunge. The real estate investor said that 18.3% of its estate value was wiped off taking it down to £3.1bn by September.
• JD Sports fashion has announced the acquisition of Shoe Palace, a California based shoe firm for a cash consideration of $325m (£244m). The retailer aims to increase its exposure on the US west coast.
• H&M has reported 10% sales drop in the three months to November 30 compared with last year as store closures and falling footfall had an adverse effect on the retailer. For the full year, net sales have declined by 18% YoY to SEK 187bn (£16bn).

Monday 14 December

• Fortnum & Mason Hampers may sell out of stock before Christmas after an unprecedented demand for Christmas presents. The CEO of the luxury retailer said, “demand this year has been unlike any other”.
• Made.com offered share options to staff after an extremely strong sales performance in 2020. The online furniture retailer gave share options worth more than £10,000 to all 650 staff members as an acknowledgement that it would not have been possible without them.
• Authentic Brands Group is allegedly in talks to acquire both Arcadia and Debenhams.

Friday 11 December

• French connection announced that its US business has secured a USD 6.5 million (£4.9 million) loan. The fund will support its US based operations and employees.
• Pure Electric, the UK based e-bikes specialist has unveiled its expansion plan. It aims to open at least 10 branches in France and Spain as demand soared in the wake of the pandemic.
• Topshop’s administrators hope to receive offers of up to £200m for the flagship shops in Arcadia’s fashion empire.

Thursday 10 December

• Ocado announced it expects its operating profit to surpass £70m for the full year following a quarter of “exceptional demand” and strong sales. Its joint venture with Marks & Spencer reported a 35% rise in retail revenue to £579.6m in the 13 weeks to 29 November.
• Frasers Group reported an increase in pre-tax profit by 17.6% to £106m in the 26 weeks to 25 October. Reported profit after tax increased by 29.1% to £84.4m from £65.4m last year. Frasers Group’s premium lifestyle division, which includes House of Fraser and Flannels, saw a 4.8% rise in revenue to £320m, while its UK sports retail division reported a 9.8% decline in to £1.1bn.

Wednesday 9 December

• Tesco is set to complete an £8bn sale of its Thai and Malaysian business after buyer CP Retail Development Company and Thai authorities announced it is “satisfied with the formal notice of approval”.
• Luxury Italian fashion brand Versace has opened a new 300 sq ft flagship in London.

Tuesday 8 December

• Joules reported a 15% year-on-year decline in revenue to £95m for the 26 weeks to 29 November, impacted by store closures and low footfall. The retailer said its trading hours during the period were at approximately 60% of their typical trading time. Total ecommerce sales up by 35% in the first half.
• Studio Retail reported a 52% rise in adjusted pre-tax profit to £18m in the 26 weeks to 25 September. Sales revenue surged by 17% year-on-year to £268m during the same period, reflecting an increase in Studio’s active customer base by 15% to 2.1 million.

Monday 7 December

• Frasers Group confirmed a last-minute rescue bid for department store chain Debenhams and said it “hopes that a rescue package can be put in place and jobs saved”.
• Ted Baker reported increasing pre-tax losses to £39m for the 28 weeks to 8 August, as group revenue declined by 45.9% to £169.5m despite a 41.8% surge in online sales.
• Ted Baker said it expects to deliver rent savings of £7m and a further £20m in savings from rents being moved to turnover-based agreements.
• Kingfisher agrees to return more than £130m in business rate relief to the government. Consequently, expected profit for the year would now include around £85m of non-recurring cost savings – down from £175m in previous guidance.
• The Hut Group upgraded its sales forecast for the second time since its flotation in September. The retailer said sales are expected to reach between £1.57bn and £1.6bn by its year-end, up from the October forecast of £1.48bn to £1.52bn.
• Men’s sportwear brand Ron Dorff has secured a £3.6m investment from Puma Private Equity to finance its growth strategy and expansion into the US market.

Friday 4 December

• Ann Summers launched a CVA for 25 of its 91-strong store portfolio in a bid to secure turnover-based leases. FRP Advisory are overseeing the process.
• Value retailer B&M and specialist Pets at Home said that they will wave government business rate relief. The pair will return almost £110m.
• Lidl joins the list of retailers set to waive business rates relief. The grocer said it would return the £100m received from the government.
• Primark parent Associated British Foods announced a “very strong” surge in sales following stores reopening in Belgium, France, England, and the Republic of Ireland. Primark’s operating costs at closed stores during the latest lockdowns fell by 25%, while orders placed with suppliers were honoured. 
• Lyold Shoe company, a footwear supplier to Arcadia, appointed administrators following the collapse of Sir Philip Green's retail empire.

Thursday 3 December

• Sir Philip Green’s family is set to pay £50m into Arcadia’s pension pot within the next 10 days. following the business secretary calling on the watchdog to investigate.
• Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Aldi have committed to return in excess of £1.7bn in business tax breaks back to the government.

Wednesday 2 December

• Bonmarché fell into administration for the second time in a year. This leaves 1,500 jobs and 225 stores at risk if a rescue deal is not secured.
• Manchester based cosmetics etailer Beauty Bay appointed investment bank GCA Altium to review its strategic options, amid considering a stock market listing next year.
• Reiss has opened its latest store in the Western Arcade of London Bridge Station, and offers click-and-collect. Reiss now operates 61 stores and 45 concessions.
• Footwear retailer Dune opened a new London Liverpool Street retail store.
• Womenswear brand Forever Unique opened its first standalone store.
• John Lewis is offering pre-booked in-store shopping slots and virtual queuing in shops from today. Slots will be bookable up to two weeks in advance. In addition to more than 900 click-and-collect locations, John Lewis customers can collect orders from 15 Waitrose shops and 16 John Lewis car parks.

Tuesday 1 December

• Sosandar reduced its EBITDA losses to £1m during the six months ending 30 September, in comparison to a £2.7m loss incurred a year ago. Gross profit and sales surged by 48% and 52% which amounts to £1.5m and £4.3m respectively.
• Caffé Nero’s company voluntary arrangement (CVA) has been approved by creditors, allowing it to seek rent cuts, changes to leases to turnover-based rents and store closures. It follows the company rejecting a bid from the Issa’s brothers EG Group.
• Debenhams collapsed into liquidation and is set to close its 127 stores, putting 12,000 jobs at risk. The company’s stores will continue trading until it elapses its current and contracted stocks, and continues to seek offers for all or parts of the business.
• Pets at Home announced the sale of its five specialist veterinary businesses for £100m to rival Linnaeus Group.

Monday 30 November

• JD Sports backed out of acquiring Debenhams, following the announcement that Arcadia - Debenhams’ biggest concession holder – was in administration.
• Pets at Home completed the acquisition of veterinary telehealth provider The Vet Connection in a £15m deal as it seeks to increase its digital propositions.
• Arcadia group tumbled into administration, putting 13,000 employees at risk. The group’s 444 UK stores will continue trading while the administrators seek buyers.

Friday 27 November

• Holland & Barrett announced the opening of a new store in London’s Islington, relocating its previous Angel Islington store to a larger location “at time when health and wellness is more important to our customers than ever” according to the retailer.
• Moss Bros launched a CVA to restructure its cost base and mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. The retailer’s sales have been battered amid Covid restrictions and event cancelations.

Thursday 26 November

• Mulberry’s group revenue plummeted by 29% to £48.8m in the 26 weeks to 26 September, down from £68m a year earlier. Digital sales however surged by 68% during the first half to £24.3m compared to £13.9m in 2019.

Wednesday 25 November

• The Co-op has announced the expansion of its robot home-delivery service. The retailer plans to launch click and collect from 1000 stores by 2021.
• The American casual wear retailer Abercrombie & Fitch announced the permanent closure of its London flagship Savile Row store by the end of January 2021, before its lease expires.
• Patisserie Valerie is set to launch a range of cakes and pastries in 250 Sainsbury’s stores as part of a new tie-up with the grocer.
• Kingfisher acquired an 80% stake in the French digital marketplace NeedHelp for €10m (£8.9m) as it seeks to maximise on the lockdown boom in home improvements.
• In a trading update, ScS revealed that like-for-like orders rose by 15% in the 17 weeks to 21 November. But orders slumped 65% in the first three weeks of November as the second national lockdown in England forced its stores to close. This is likely to lead to pent up demand in December.

Tuesday 24 November

• Pets at Home reported a 5.1% decline in pre-tax profit to £40m in the 28 weeks to 8 October. However, like-for-like sales rose by 5.1% to £574m in the period. The retailer said that the biggest driver of future revenue is the growing number of people getting pets since lockdown.
• AO.com reported a 53% surge in total revenue to £717m in the six months to 30 September.The group’s pre-tax profit increased to £18m compared to a £5.9m loss a year earlier.
• JD Sports has reportedly shown interest to acquire Debenhams as it seeks cheap retail space and is interested in its website. Should talks fail, the most likely outcome for Debenhams is liquidation.
• The luxury Scottish cashmere scarf brand Begg x Co has acquired family-run knitwear manufacturer Scott & Charters.

Monday 23 November

• Next has partnered with Morrisons on a trial of collect and return ‘pods’ in supermarket car parks in Leominster, Herefordshire and Canvey Island, Essex. The pilot has been aimed in locations where there is not a nearby Next store.
• Online fashion retailer In The Style is considering a flotation on the AIM market that could see it being valued at £100m.
• N Brown shareholders approved the company's £100m capital raising and its move from the London main market to AIM.

Friday 20 November

• Aldi expanded its grocery home delivery trial with Deliveroo to nearly 130 stores as the discounter strengthens its online capacity ahead of Christmas.
• More than 90% of Clarks’ creditors agreed to the company’s CVA proposal launched earlier this month, allowing it to move most of its stores to turnover-based rent. As a result, private equity firm LionRock Capital should now be able to complete its £100m acquisition of a majority stake in the retailer.

Thursday 19 November

• Peacocks and Jaeger have fallen into administration with 4,700 jobs and 500 shops at risk as its owner failed to find a buyer for the businesses.
• Kingfisher posted a surge in their third quarter sales, driven by increasing online demand. The group’s like-for-likes sales rose by 17.6% to £3.5bn. Ecommerce revenues skyrocketed by 153% during the period, accounting for 17% of the group’s total sales.

Wednesday 18 November

• Halford’s profit surged by 116% to £56m in the first half period. Similarly, like-for-like sales climbed by 6.7% to £639m.
• British Land reported a drop in value of their retail real estate portfolio by 15% in the first half of its financial year.
• HMV posted a marginal loss before tax of £198,000 in the sixteen months to May 30. Encouragingly, the group made sales of £187m during the same period.
• Global Fashion Group (GFG) completed a €120m (£107m) funding through new share placement. The fashion e-tailer will invest the new round of financing to accelerate growth and expand its market share and fashion services business.
• Dr Martens is considering launching an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the London stock market as of next year.

Tuesday 17 November

• ASDA posted a sales increase of 2.7% during the three months to September 30, while combined online revenue from ASDA.com and George.com soared by 72% year on year.
• Vanners, the silk weaver goes into administration. As a result, 32 employees were made redundant.

Monday 16 November

• JD Sports rose as a potential bidder for Debenhams with the sports retailer said to be conducting due diligence on the target company.
• The Arcadia group is seeking to raise a £30m loan from lenders to enable them to sustain the business, as a second lockdown has hammered their recovery plans.
• Greggs has announced that they have made 820 employees redundant as they continue to combat the impact of coronavirus following a second lockdown.
• Walmart sold its majority stake in Seiyu, a Japanese grocery chain. The US retail giant sold 85% of its stake to private equity firm KKR and Japanese ecommerce giant Rakuten.

Friday 13 November

• Farfetch reported a loss after tax of $537m (£408m) during the three months to September 30. This compares to a $90.5m (£68.9m) loss incurred the same quarter a year ago. Revenue however surged by 71% to $438m (£333m) in the same period.
• The competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) overruled the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) decision to block JD Sports’ acquisition of Footasylum.

Thursday 12 November

• WHSmith reported pre-tax loss of £69m in the year to end-August, compared to a pre-tax profit of £155m a year ago. Sales declined 27% year-on-year to £1bn in the period, as revenue from travel fell by 32%.
• B&M reported a surge in its interim profits, recording a 95% surge in EBITDA to £296m in the 26 weeks to 26 September. Revenue rose by 5% to £2.2bn during the period.
• Burberry recorded a 75% fall in operating profit to £51m in the 26 weeks to 26 September, as its stores closed across the world. Sales declined by 31% to £878m in the first half, as travel restrictions limit tourist spend.

Wednesday 11 November

• Homebase owner Hilco are looking for new owners for the home and DIY retailer to drive its next phase of growth, as it plans to invest £20m next year.
• Waitrose is set to increase its food service counters in-stores, following news that Sainsbury’s is shuttering food counters. Waitrose will also relaunch its fish and meat counter online next year.
• LK Bennett is proposing a CVA, which would result in five stores closing and see the remaining shops move to turnover-based rents.

Tuesday 10 November

• Tesco is to pay 10% bonus for hours worked over Christmas and New Year, while Lidl is investing £8m to increase pay for 20,000 workers ahead of the busy Christmas period.
• Aldi has announced it will extend its click-and-collect trial to 200 additional stores before Christmas as it prepares to expand online.
• VF corporation, which owns brands such as Timberland, Vans and North Face, acquired streetwear brand Supreme in a deal valued at $2.1bn (£1.6bn).
• New Look announced the completion of a major recapitalisation and restructuring of its finances. It has deleveraged its balance sheet through a debt-for-equity swap – reducing its current senior debt from £550m to £100m – and extended its working capital to drive investment.

Monday 9 November

• Harrods completed a £200m syndicated loan renegotiation following closures during the current lockdown.
• Fenwick unveils its Newcastle Christmas window via a live stream to more than 250,000 viewers.

Friday 6 November

• Edinburgh Wooden Mill and stablemate Ponden Home has fallen into administration, appointing FRP to handle the process, with 750 and 116 roles respectively made redundant with immediate effect.

Thursday 5 November

• N Brown launched a £100m equity raise campaign as the retailer reported a 29% drop in adjusted pre-tax profit to £23m and a 18% fall in group revenue to £357m in its half year. Funds raised will be used to strengthen the balance sheet and accelerate growth on targeted investments.
• Mike Ashley withdrew from the race to acquire Debenhams after he failed to match the £300m price tag set by the department store’s advisers.
• Sainsbury’s announced plans to close 420 Argos stores by 2024 – leaving 100 standalone stores – alongside closing its food counters in store, putting 3,500 jobs at risk. The grocer will add a further 150 Argos shop-in-shops to its supermarkets, as well as up to 200 more collection points.
• Sainsbury’s posted a pre-tax loss of £137m in the 28 weeks to 19 September, following £438m of one-off costs associated with Argos store closures and market changes. Retail sales (excluding fuel) rose by 7.1% in the period and were up 6.9% on a like-for-like basis, with grocery and general merchandise sales up by 8.2% and 7.4% respectively. Online sales surged 117% to £5.8bn, accounting for nearly 40% of total sales.
• Superdry’s revenue fell by 22.8% year-on-year in the 13 weeks to 24 October. The retailer blamed “continued disruption from Covid-19” for its disappointing results. This was however partly offset by its ecommerce performance which rose by 49.8% in the period.
• Joules reported a 35% year-on-year increase in its ecommerce performance for the first 22 weeks in its financial year. Store sales were down 18% since the 15 June reopening.

Wednesday 4 November

• Footwear retailer Clarks has told 3,969 of its shopfloor workers that their roles are at risk of redundancy as the retailer is trying to revive the struggling business.
• John Lewis has announced intentions to axe a further 1,500 jobs at its head office between now and April.
• Zalando reported “exceptionally strong” sales growth in its third quarter, raising expectations for the full year to 20-22% growth in revenues and an adjusted EBIT of €375m-€425m (£338m-£382m). The fashion retailer recorded an adjusted EBIT of €118.2m (£106.4m) in the three months to 30 September.
• Iceland reported a profitable six months to September as consumers shopped locally and stocked up frozen food. Profits jumped to £13.4m in the 24 weeks to 11 September, compared with a loss of £21m a year earlier. The retailer reported a surge in sales at 22% to £1.7bn.
• Marks & Spencer registered a pre-tax loss of £88m during the 26 weeks to 26 September. compared to a £159m profit a year ago. Overall revenue dropped 16% to £4bn, as clothing and home revenue declined 41% during, despite a 34% uptick in online sales.

Tuesday 3 November

• Primark has been hammered by coronavirus store closures, with parent Associated British Foods reporting operating profits slumped 60% to £362m in the year to 12 September. Revenue fell by 24% to just over £5.8bn.  
• Marks & Spencer unveiled a ‘book and shop’ reservation service, available in 566 food stores, which allows customers to book a shopping slot to save the need to potentially queue outside stores.
• Chinese giant Alibaba is reportedly in talks to invest $300m (£231m) in the luxury fashion platform Farfetch.                                  

Monday 2 November

• Ocado has upgraded its profit guidance for the year for the group EBITDA to be over £60m as its joint venture with M&S proved fruitful with continued high demand in its fourth quarter.
• Currys PC World and The Entertainer extended opening hours in the run-up to lockdown closures.

Friday 30 October

• Amazon posted record sales figures for its third quarter as profit tripled during the pandemic. Net sales increased by 37% to $96.1bn (£74.4bn) in the three months to 30 September, while net profit soared from $2.1bn (£1.6bn) last year to $6.3bn (£4.9bn).
• Sainsbury’s has announced partnerships with Uber Eats and Deliveroo to bolster home deliveries, giving customers access to more than 1,000 products. Both services are set to roll out in London before being expanded across the UK.

Thursday 29 October

• Waitrose announced it will recruit an extra 1,850 order pickers and delivery drivers – both temporary and permanent – in response to surging online demand as we enter the Christmas season.
• Laura Ashley has partnered with Next to sell its home products through the department stores’ online and in-store channels. It follows investment firm Gordon Brothers buying Laura Ashley’s intellectual property earlier this year.
• Ebay posted a strong 25% year-on-year increase in sales revenue to $2.6bn (£2bn) in the three months to 30 September. The company also reported an increase in the number of active buyers on its platform by 5%. Net income rose by 196% to $621m (£478m) in the period.

Wednesday 28 October

• Bellwether retailer Next announced a better than expected third-quarter sales. The home and fashion retailer said pre-tax profit for its current fiscal year is just shy of £370m. This is a £65m higher than its central guidance published in their previous month interim results.
• John Lewis has received authorisation from Westminster City Council’s planning sub-committee to turn as much as 302,000 sq ft of its 678,700 sq ft Oxford Street flagship store into flexible retail or office space – retaining the basement, majority of the ground, first and second levels for its retail offer.
• Shoe Zone has seen sales slide 20% year-on-year since stores reopened in June, despite online sales doubling in the period. In the year to 5 October, revenue dropped 24% to £122.6m. The footwear retailer has warned it may close 90 stores if business rates are reintroduced in April.

Tuesday 27 October

• Cath Kidston revealed plans for a ‘digital first’ future as they intend to predominantly trade online but retain a flagship store in London’s Piccadilly. This follows its buyout by Baring private equity in a pre-pack deal earlier this year.
• Quiz Plc reported that total sales in the six months to 30 September dived 73% to £17.2m. The fashion retailer commented: “We continue to rebalance our product offering towards more casual clothing to meet the changing lifestyles of our customers.”
• Clarks has entered talks with landlords on a restructuring plan to turnover-based rent. The footwear retailer is also considering closing 50 UK stores.

Monday 26 October

• Pureplay giant The Hut Group posted a 38.6% rise in group revenue to £378m in the three months to 30 September, taking the group’s year-to-date turnover to over £1bn. Its beauty brands drove retail sales, seeing a 45% jump in revenue to £157.5m.
• Marks & Spencer will hire 500 additional seasonal staff for its online distribution channel as it expects high Christmas demand. This means the retailer has increased staff numbers by 30% year-on-year to approximately 4,000.
• In a matter of weeks, Boots is set to offer Covid-19 tests to non-symptomatic people that produce results within 12-minutes. The £120 nasal swab test, developed by life sciences company LumiraDx, is being made available to shoppers in 50 of Boots’ UK stores, with the potential to roll out to up to 200 stores before the end of the year.

Friday 23 October

• Fashion chain Gap is considering closing all of its European stores and instead operate in the region through store partnerships. The retailer currently has 129 stores across Europe, including 70 in the UK and 4 in Ireland.

Thursday 22 October

• Travis Perkins reported sales declined 3.4% in its third quarter to 30 September. Like-for-like sales however increased by 3.9%. The group’s retail division registered a sales surge of 17% through its DIY subsidiaries Wickes and Toolstation.
• Marks & Spencer reported that Christmas-related searches were up 80% year-on-year.
• Dobbies is opening a new small-format store in Edinburgh next month, as it looks to drive convenience in urban stores.
• Broadcasting giant Sky is set to open high street stores for the first time – around five shops a year – which will offer interactive in-store experiences and a Customer Hub to speak to advisors.

Wednesday 21 October

• Co-op announced a partnership with Gophr to provide same day delivery in Scotland.
• Waitrose lowers prices on more than 200 of its basic own-label products by an average of more than 15%.
• Elsewhere, the Co-op is investing £50m in lowering prices across 300 essential products.

Tuesday 20 October

• Asda has unveiled a ‘sustainability store’ in Middleton, Leeds which includes product refill options. This is expected to remove 3 billion pieces of plastic from own-brand products by 2025.

Monday 19 October

• Fashion pureplay Zalando announced the acquisition of Swiss computer vision technology company Fision, in a bid to develop their virtual dressing room capabilities.
• Home and apparel retailer Muji has introduced mobile self-checkout across its UK stores. Customers can purchase goods without queuing or interacting with staff using MishiPay’s Scan, Pay, Go technology.

Friday 16 October

• Pret a Manger announced it will axe an additional 400 jobs and close six more stores as it continues to adjust to the coronavirus crisis.
• Petrol forecourt specialist
• Edinburgh Woollen Mill announced the closure of around 50 eponymous fascias and Peacocks branches, with the loss of about 600 jobs.

Thursday 15 October

• AO.com saw UK sales climb by 54% in the six months to 30 September, while sales in Germany surged 83%. AO believes its strong momentum in the second quarter despite the reopening of UK stores indicates “a lasting step change in online penetration”.
• Dunelm registered a 37% uplift in sales to £359m in the first quarter to 26 September. Online sales rose by 12% on last year to account for 30% of overall sales. The retailer’s margin increased 100 basis points year-on-year as it relied less on discounts and made sourcing improvements.
• Boots registered a 29.2% decline in like-for-like sales in its fourth quarter to 31 August, despite online sales jumping 155%, as footfall plummeted across major high street, train station and airport locations. It noted a drop in its market share across health, as buyers shifted to one-stop grocery shopping.

Wednesday 14 October

• Asda has launched a concession partnership with The Entertainer, which sees the toy specialist take over toy aisles in five Asda stores from February, as the grocer looks to make better use of excess space.
• Just Eat reported that UK orders grew by 43% to 46 million in its third quarter as it struck striking more partnerships.
• Asos reported pre-tax profit soared 329% to £142m in the year to 31 August, as group revenue rose by 19% to £3.26bn, on the back of operational improvements and strong trading in its second half to “match customer demand in lockdown categories”.
• Despite a “solid start” to its new financial year, Asos said it was “retaining caution on outlook for consumer demand whilst economic prospects and lifestyles of 20-somethings remain disrupted”.
• AO.com has partnered with Tesco to launch its first ever stores, trialling five shop-in-shops for six months.
• Wren Kitchen launched a new transport hub in Avonmouth, Bristol, to support the growing demand, creating more than 30 jobs for drivers, porters, supervisors and office staff.

Tuesday 13 October

• Ikea announces a scheme to buy back consumers’ unwanted or old Ikea furniture, providing a voucher for up to 50% of its original retail price.
• French Connection’s losses deepened to £12.2m in the six months to 31 July, compared to a loss of £3.6m a year earlier. The fashion retailer’s sales plummeted 53% year-on-year to £23.9m “predominantly caused by impact of the Covid-19 pandemic”.
• Boohoo terminated its links with Rose Fashion Leicester Ltd as the company was allegedly involved in fraudulent activities.

Monday 12 October

• Indian retail giant Reliance Retail has withdrawn its bid to rescue the battered department store Debenhams.
• Waitrose has launched its first website for overseas shoppers in the United Arab Emirates.
• Boris Johnson announced that retailers “will remain open” even under the firmest “three-tiered system” introduced from Wednesday to fight the spread of Covid-19.

Friday 9 October

• Poundland acquired frozen food retailer Fultons Foods for an undisclosed amount. Poundland said they plan to invest £25m into its grocery proposition over the next two years.

Thursday 8 October

• Pureplay The Very Group saw sales climb 2.9% to £2.05bn in the year to 30 June, which saw the group return back in the black with a pre-tax profit of £48m. By category, electricals were up 18% in the year, while home rose 13%, fashion 0.9% and other categories including toys and beauty jumped 10.5%.
• Very Group said it had made a strong start to its new financial year “with group retail sales in double-digit growth” as chief executive Henry Birch says “our flexible and resilient business model will help us thrive as customers continue to rely on online shopping.”
• Electrical retailers are sizing up to Amazon’s Prime Day this month with a host of sales to pull Christmas spending forward. Dixons Carphone’s autumn Sale is running until 9 November, while AO.com is launching a Sale to rival Prime Day.

Wednesday 7 October

• Tesco saw a 29% uplift in pre-tax profit to £551m in its half year to 29 August, as group sales rose by 6.8% to £26.7bn. This comes despite it racking up £533m in Covid-related costs. Its UK and ROI sales rose 8.5% to £24.3bn in the period, supported by a 69% surge in online sales. Growth at convenience stores outperformed, increasing by 7.6% compared to 1.4% at larger stores.
• Fashion etailer Sosandar reported a 52% spike in sales to £4.3m in the six months to 30 September. Sales in September rose a staggering 54% month on month compared and were up 36% year on year. This comes despite slashing marketing costs by 49%, as repeat orders rocketed 88% year on year and new customer numbers were up by 26%.

Tuesday 6 October

• Watches of Switzerland raised its full-year profit guidance and now expects EBITDA margins to edge up between 1% and 1.5% compared with last year, while full-year sales are now forecast to come in between £880m and £910m, compared with its previous guidance of £840m to £860m. This follows UK sales rising by 12.6% to £145m over the first 10 weeks of its second quarter.
• The Restaurant Group, which owns Wagamama and Frankie & Benny’s, swung to an adjusted pre-tax loss of £63m in the 26 weeks to 28 June from a £28m profit last year, as revenue dived 56% to £227m.
• However, since lockdown measures eased in July, The Restaurant Group saw like-for-like sales at Wagamama jump 11% year on year in the 11 weeks to 20 September, while Frankie & Benny’s saw LFL sales rise 4% and pubs 14%.
• Sporting goods chain Decathlon is set to open a new branch in Aberdeen this year and four more stores next year.
• Footwear retailer Clarks has launched a CVA in a bid to close 50 stores and move the remainder of its portfolio onto turnover-based rents. This will enable a cash injection, as a proposed £100m rescue deal from private equity firm LionRock Capital is contingent on creditors approving the CVA, seeing the business move out of private ownership.
• Ikea posted a 4% decline in sales to €35.2bn (£32bn) in the year to end-August, following the mandated closure of 75% of the group’s stores due to Covid measures. It saw online sales surge 60% in the period to account for 18% of total sales.
• Ikea believes its performance will continue to be resilient in its new financial year as shoppers adjust to home living including home offices and gyms. The retailer and its franchisees are set to open 30 store worldwide next year, including the brand’s first UK city-centre store in London. Chief digital officer Barbara Martin Coppola said: “80% of our customers start their shopping online, but very few who are channel-specific.”

Monday 5 October

• In a preliminary update, Mulberry saw group revenue slide 10% to £149.3m in the year to 28 March, reporting an underlying loss of £14.2m on an underlying basis.
• Mulberry said results were “ahead of expectations” in its new financial year, with group revenues down 29% in the 26 weeks to 26 September while digital sales surged 69%.
• Ann Summers has engaged with the British Property Federation to mull the launch of a CVA. This comes despite more than half of the landlords across its 90-strong store portfolio agreeing to change to turnover-based rents, as the retailer looks to pursue the arrangement at stores where negotiations failed.

Friday 2 October

• Walmart completed the sale of Asda to global convenience and forecourts retail business co-founders the Issa brothers for £6.8bn. Walmart retains an equity investment. As part of the deal more than £1bn will be invested by the Issa brother in Asda’s supply chain over the next three years, with a commitment to increase its proportion of UK-based suppliers.

Thursday 1 October

• H&M recorded a SEK2bn (£174bn) pre-tax profit in its third quarter to 31 August, despite a 16% drop in sales in local currencies as it drove cost cutting including rental cuts.  The retailer has said that it will look to close a net 250 of its least profitable stores in the coming year.
• B&Q and Screwfix parent company Kingfisher sold its Russian Castorama division in Russia to Maxidom in a £73m deal, to focus on UK, France and Poland markets.
• Halfords posted a 22% uptick in group like-for-like sales growth in the five weeks to 25 September, as cycling like-for-like sales were up 46% and autocentres were up 18%, which has seen it launch a recruitment drive for technicians.It has now upped its profit expectations for the half-year.
• Morrisons has extended its commitment to pay farmers, local food makers and small businesses immediately to January 2021. Farmers and foodmakers will also continue to receive a 5% discount off their grocery shop at Morrisons until January.

Wednesday 30 September

• The Hut Group has acquired US luxury skincare brand Perricone MD for $60m, adding to the group’s a growing stable of beauty brands at a time when “the online beauty and skincare sector is growing rapidly” according to The Hut Group boss Matthew Moulding.
• Morrisons is creating 1,000 new picking jobs across 50 stores to help it fulfil orders on its services with Amazon and Prime.
• N Brown sales were down 18% in its first half to 29 August, easing from a 22% slump in its first quarter, as demand for apparel stabilised, while demand got home and gift was up on last year. It said 92% of its product revenue came from online.
• Topps Tiles reported that like-for-like sales were up 16.5% in its fourth quarter to 26 September, driven by a “robust home improvement market”. It stated it’s been recording double-digit year-on-year growth since July, with shoppers doing more research online before visiting a store. It expects a modest level of adjusted profit before tax for the full year.
• Boohoo posted that sales increased by 45% to £817m in its first half to 31 August, with gross profit up by 47% to £449m. UK revenue was up 37%. It expects adjusted EBITDA would be “at around” 10% for the full year.

Tuesday 29 September

• ScS reported a 20% drop in sales to £268m in the year to 25 July on the back of lost store sales during lockdown, which saw profit slide 20% to £120m. Order intake was down just 5.9% as orders spiked following reopenings in May. It has since launched a new website to drive future growth and seen order intake surge 46% on a like-for-like basis in the nine weeks since 25 July.
• ScS chief financial officer Chris Muir noted that: “Average order value didn’t particularly move in April and May – those customers still wanted to go into a store, which was one of the reasons we saw that pent-up demand in June and July.
• Card Factory suffered a £22.2m statutory pre-tax loss in its half year to 31 July, down from a £24.3m profit a year earlier, as sales dived 49% to £100.5m despite online growing by 64% in the period.
• B&M group revenue rocketed 25% in its half year to 26 September, with UK like-for-likes up 23%. It now expects to post an adjusted EBITDA of approximately £285m for the period. It now expects to open between 40 and 45 new UK stores, most of which during its fourth quarter.
• Greggs has reinstated store opening plans, following like-for-like sales in company-managed shops recovering to 76% of 2019 levels during the four weeks to 26 September. New stores would be “predominantly in locations accessed by car”, shifting focus from travel sites.
• However, Greggs is looking to reduce staff hours, and has launched a consultation with staff ahead of the furlough scheme ending next month. Itneeds to
• Hotel Chocolat swing to a loss in its year to 28 June, with a statutory pre-tax loss of £6.5m compared to a £10.9m profit last year. Sales were up by 3% to £136.3m in the year, but was heavily impacted by store closures during the critical Easter period.
• Hotel Chocolat has struck a five-year deal with THG Ingenuity, The Hut Group’s global technology platform, to grow its reach in the US. THG will provide chilled storage distribution, offering next-day delivery to shoppers on the east and west coasts of the US. 
• EG Group and TDR Capital consortium have reportedly been selected by Walmart as the preferred bidders for Asda. 

Monday 28 September

• Following a delay, Amazon has confirmed that its annual sales event Prime Day will launch next month on October 13 and 14 in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Spain, Italy and Germany. It is still on course to launch its Black Friday event in November.
• Aldi has committed to invest £1.3bn into upgrading stores and distribution centres over the next two years. The grocer is expected to open 100 new UK stores in 2020 and 2021, creating 4,000 new jobs next year following the 3,000 permanent roles created this year.

Friday 25 September

• John Lewis has launched a virtual Christmas shop on its website, allowing customers to virtually walk through its Oxford Street store. The department store group said that shoppers have been buying Christmas products earlier this year, with festive sales up 112% year-on-year.
• Following Morrisons, Tesco has reinstated a purchase limit on essentials such as rice, flour, dried pasta, toilet paper, baby wipes, and anti-bacterial wipes.

Thursday 24 September

• Morrisons has launched a home delivery subscription box, with customers able to sign up for weekly, fortnightly or monthly deliveries of food boxes without needing to book delivery slots.
• Shoppers at Morrisons face restrictions of three items per customer on items including toilet paper, kitchen roll, Calpol, soap and disinfectant products to prevent shortages from panic buying.
• Tesco’s departing chief executive Dave Lewis has called for more food companies to set food waste target and publish their progress. This comes as Tesco revealed that it had reduced food waste across its combined operations by 200,000 tonnes since 2013. 
• Ted Baker has entered a three-year licensing agreement to sell its lingerie and nightwear collections through Next’s online channels.
• DFS has swung to a loss, posting an underlying pre-tax loss (pre-IFRS 16) of £56.8m in the year to 28 June, as revenue dropped 19.6% to £724.5m.
• 24: DFS reassured that sales since stores reopened have improved both in store and online, with sales ‘significantly ahead of expectations’ in the six weeks to end-August.
• Pets at Home released a statement to say it expects full-year underlying pre-tax profit to be ahead of current market expectations, as it delivered double digit like-for-like growth in the eight weeks to 10 September.

Wednesday 23 September

• Following a pilot among staff at one of its stores in the Midlands, Aldi is trialling the click-and-collect service among customers at a cost of £3.99, with its full range of products available online, at the same prices as in-store. 

• It has been reported that US private equity firm Lone Star has dropped out of the bidding war to purchase Asda, leaving asset manager Apollo as the leading suitor.
• Nike posted an 82% surge in online sales in the three months to 31 August, offsetting losses in store sales. Nike chief executive John Donhoe claimed: “We know that digital is the new normal. The consumer today is digitally grounded and simply will not revert back.”
• Joules saw group sales fall 18% year-on-year to £39.6m in its quarter to 31 August, as store closures hit revenue. Joules’ revenues through its own online channels jumped 63% in the period. But since its phased reopening of stores from mid-June, Joules said sales were down just 10% year-on-year.

Tuesday 22 September

• Philip Day, owner of Edinburgh Woollen Mill, has reportedly asked for a valuation of the Peacocks business, having appointed FRP to find potential buyers.
• B&Q parent Kingfisher has seen ecommerce sales soar 164% in its first half to 31 July statutory pre-tax profit up by 62% to £398m despite sales slipping 1.3% to £5.9bn.

Monday 21 September

• Superdry’s group sales plummeted by 19.2% to £704.4m in the year to 25 April, while statutory pre-tax profits fell 87% to £167m. The retailer says it has had to discount more over the past few months to shift excess stock, with store sales down 48% in the 20 weeks to 12 September while online sales surged 112%.

Friday 18 September

• Asda is piloting a new On The Move c-store format on three petrol station forecourts in the Midlands, as well opening four B&Q shop-in-shops as the grocer seeks to make better use of space while shoppers “look to complete multiple shopping missions on a single trip”.
• Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky investment vehicle VESA upped its stake in Sainsbury’s to 3.05% to become the fourth largest shareholder.
• Aspinal of London has launched a company voluntary arrangement in a bid to close all of its UK stores and move the brand online. It currently operates 10 stores across the UK, as well as concessions in Selfridges and Harrods.

Thursday 17 September

• John Lewis Partnership posted a £635m pre-tax loss for the six months to 25 July – or £55m excluding exceptionals such as a £470m write-down in store values – while telling staff that they will not receive a bonus for the first time since 1953. Lockdown closures and shoppers buying less profitable items, such as toilet paper or laptops, hit its bottom line.
• John Lewis’ online sales rose 73% in the first half, accounting for more than 60% of total sales, but shops saw around a £200m drop in sales.
• At Waitrose, supermarkets had seen "a return to the weekly shop" with trading sales climbing 7.6% to £3.7bn in its first half to 25 July, with like for likes up 9.6%. 
• The Co-op reported a sales rise of 7.6% in its first half to 24 July, with group underlying operating profit doubling to £121m. Food sales rose 5.2% to £3.9bn “as customers shopped closer to home and ate out less frequently during lockdown”.
• Following rivals, the Co-op is set to invest in pricing and customer-facing technology as its customer base shifts online.
• Next reported a 97% plunge in pre-tax profits to £9m in its first half to 25 July, but upped guidance for the full year from £195m expected in July to £300m as its “sales performance through the pandemic has been more resilient than we expected”. Online sales dipped 14% to £863m in the period, while store sales were down 61% to £345m.

Wednesday 16 September

• Waitrose is set to close three stores and sell another to Tesco by the end of the year, putting 124 staff at risk of redundancy.
• Fashion group Inditex swing to a loss of €195m (£179m) in its first half to 31 July, despite recording a €214m (£197m) profit in the second quarter as it suffered a €409m (£376m) loss in the first quarter. Sales for the second quarter were down 31% year-on-year, compared with a 44% decline in the first quarter, as stores reopened.
• The Hut Group began trading on the London Stock Exchange, after its successful float raised £1.88bn.

Tuesday 15 September

• New Look has had its company voluntary arrangement approved by creditors, moving 402 stores to turnover-based rent agreements of up to 12%.
• H&M reported that sales were down 19% in SEK year-on-year in its third quarter to 31 August, with its pre-tax profit down 93.7% to SEK £2bn (£177m).
• Next reportedly acquired a 51% stake in Victoria’s Secret’s UK business.
• Eve Sleep narrowed its pre-tax losses to £1.3m in the six months to 30 June, compared with £6.7m a year ago, despite sales dropping 5% to £12.2m.
• Eve Sleep has partnered with Boots to launch a Well Slept range of Christmas gifting products.
• Ocado saw retail revenues rise 52% to £587.3m in the 13 weeks to 30 August, as average weekly order numbers were up by 9.6% to 345,000. It expects full-year EBITDA to be at least £40m.
• Tesco upped the supermarket price war by announcing it would roll out “hundreds of exclusive deals on familiar branded and own-brand products” for its Clubcard members, and extend its Aldi Price Match on a further 500 or so items across its range.

Monday 14 September

• Aldi is trialling click-and-collect among staff at one of its stores in the Midlands, where online orders are brought to cars in time slots and contact-free. It plans to test the service out for customers in the “coming weeks”.
• Burberry partnered with streaming service Twitch to livestream its spring/summer 2021 fashion show on 17 September, as restrictions put a limit on large gatherings.

Friday 11 September

• & Other Stories has introduced a vending machine in its Galeries Lafayette Paris concession to drive contactless cosmetics sales, allowing shoppers to shop bed and bath products across four of its fragrance ranges.

Thursday 10 September

• Dixons Carphone reported a 12% year-on-year rise in sales in the 17 weeks to 29 August, with online sales up 164% having tripled last year’s levels during lockdown and more than doubled since stores reopened. However, Dixons Travel facias suffered a 90% slump in sales.
• Dunelm sales slipped by 3.9% year-on-year to £1bn in the year to 27 June, with its pre-tax profit tumbling 13.3% to £109m. The retailer noted that online sales more than doubled year-on-year after its stores were forced to close in its fourth quarter.
• Dunelm hailed “strong trading” in the first two months of its new financial year, with sales jumping 59% in July and 24% in August on the back of its summer sale and pent-up demand.
• Morrisons recorded a 28.2% decline in pre-tax profit to £145m in the half year to 2 August, suffering around £155m of pandemic related costs. Total turnover dipped by 1.1% to £8.7bn following a significant drop in demand for fuel. Excluding fuel and VAT, like-for-like sales jumped 8.7% year on year.
• Morrisons expects further costs associated with Covid-19 in 2020/21 will be “broadly offset” by business rates savings.
• Tesco is to start testing home grocery deliveries by drone from a store in Ireland with start-up Manna.

Wednesday 9 September

• In Boden’s 2019 full year update, the clothing retailer noted a “material reduction in sales” since the pandemic, with sales in March and April particularly affected although it had some improvement since May. Boden is now reducing its reliance on holiday, smart and occasion clothing sales, and focusing on more casual offerings for the foreseeable future.
• Iceland is hiring 3,000 new staff, made up of new delivery drivers and in-store pickers to deal with the surge in online sales.
• Iceland also launched a trial with Uber Eats for grocery delivery in London – which could be rolled out nationally.
• Quiz has negotiated more flexible leases after putting its stores business into administration. Rents at 48 reopened stores are now predominantly payable based on turnover, with the average lease length at 24 months. It expects to trade from 60 eventually.
• Quiz reported a 77% drop in sales to £12.8m between the start of April and end of August slid, with sales from stores and concessions down by 89%, while online dived 54%. Gross margins were down 6% year-on-year on the back of discounting.
• Home shopping retailer Freemans – traditionally a catalogue business – has relaunched as a ‘digital department store’ with a new website, app and TV marketing campaign.
• Edinburgh Woolen Mill boss Philip Day has appointed advisers FRP Advisory having reportedly received interest in at least three of his brands – Jaeger, Austin Reed and Jacques Vert.

Tuesday 8 September

• Travis Perkins reported an 81% year-on-year decline in adjusted operating profit to £42m in its first half to end-June, as turnover dropped 20% to £2.79bn and 19% on a like-for-like basis. The retailer noted a slower return to activity in new housebuilding and major commercial projects.
• JD Sports posted a 61% drop in pre-tax profit in its half year to 1 August, with sales down by 6.5% to £2.5bn, as a result of additional costs associated with the jump in online sales. It has invested over £2m into its Kingsway warehouse in Rochdale to enable it to “handle the volumes that we saw on Black Friday last year, every day whilst maintaining strict social distancing”. The retailer reinstated its full-year profit guidance in the range of at least £265m.
• Halfords reported a 5% increase in like-for-like (LFL) sales in the 20 weeks to 21 August, supported by a 160% surge online. Cycling LFL sales were up 59.1% on the back of shoppers holidaying in the UK and commuting by bike, while Halfords autocentres division saw a 30.2% uplift in revenue.

Monday 7 September

• Morrisons has become the latest of the big four to announce investment into prices as by lowering prices on over 400 grocery essentials by an average of 23%.
• In a pre-close update for the 52 weeks to 3 November, Primark owner Associated British Foods said the fashion retailer’s profits are expected to come in at the top of its £300-£350m range, although UK sales are expected to be down 12% on a like-for-like basis.

Friday 4 September

• Dixons Carphone is expanding ShopLive, which launched in April to connect online shoppers to store staff, to include bookable appointments, livestream shopping across all online items and extended operating hours.
• Pret a Manger is seeking new revenue streams and launched coffee subscription service YourPret Barista, which offers up to five hot drinks, smoothies or frappes a day, for a fixed cost of £20 a month.
• The Co-op unveiled a £130m investment programme to create 1,000 new jobs and open around 50 new shops, as its online sales through Deliveroo step up and convenience stores benefit from more local shopping following lockdown.

Thursday 3 September

• Costa announced plans to make 1,650 employees redundant as a result of the ongoing impact from the coronavirus.
• Eve Sleep expects revenue to total £22m for the year, ahead of its expectations.
• Amazon are set to increase their UK workforce by a third, meeting its target of hiring an additional 10,000 UK fulfilment roles by the end of the year, with almost a third of the positions already been filled.

Wednesday 2 September

• Lego reported that sales in their first half year rose by 7% while operating profit accelerated 11% on a year ago with strong investment in their online store and new product development a key driver of sales growth.
• Growing demand for flowers has seen Morrisons hiring 180 florists, seeing new stalls installed in stores.
• ‘Asda Price’ has returned after a £100m investment to reduce prices of both branded and own brand products.

Tuesday 1 September

• The partnership between Ocado and Waitrose ended today (1 September) as Ocado’s joint venture with Marks and Spencer began.
• Ted Baker entered a “relationship agreement” with founder and former chief executive Ray Kelvin to glean his company brand experience and insight.
• B&M is set to enter the FTSE 100 index as its sales growth has propelled since the pandemic having been classified as an essential store and being allowed to remain open. Its share price has risen some 17% since the start of the year.
• Dunelm announced annual sales rose by 59% in July and 24% in August, driven by pend-up demand and timing of their summer sale.
• Whole Foods Market opened its first online only store in New York to solely fulfil online orders within the Brooklyn area, creating hundreds of jobs.
• Ann Summers is looking to launch a CVA as the disruption from the coronavirus pandemic hampers sales growth.
• KPMG have been called in by Moss Bros to look as options to reduce store numbers and head count as it grapples with the impact of falling demand because of the coronavirus.

Friday 28 August

• Waitrose is trialling a new service with Deliveroo at five of its stores, offering consumers a limited range of grocery products for delivery in just 30 minutes.

Thursday 27 August

• Screwfix plans to open 40 new UK and Ireland stores by the end of the year, creating 460 new jobs across retail management, service assistance and supervisor roles.
• DFS announced it is to sell Sofa Workshop to luxury rival Halo for £300,000.
• In its full year update, The Works said total sales were down 26% in the 17 weeks to 23 August. But across the most recent 10-week period since its stores reopened, like-for-like sales improved 0.7% year-on-year, supported by online sales “more than double” last year’s levels.
• Online health & beauty business The Hut Group has revealed its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange, with a target valuation of £4.5bn, following sales surging 35.8% year-on-year to £676m in the six months to end-June.

Wednesday 26 August

• New Look unveiled CVA plans, after conducting a £440m debt-for-equity swap with lender backing.
• Debenhams has appealed to a tribunal against the 12% hike in its business rates bill to £1.1m on one of its stores in Swansea, Wales. The department store claims: “Unless more realistic assessments are agreed, Debenhams is likely to have to close more stores, with the result that thousands more workers will lose their jobs.”

Tuesday 25 August

• John Lewis Partnership have partnered with tech firm Qudin to pilot virtual queuing technology at three John Lewis stores and six Waitrose supermarkets. Shoppers will be able to scan a QR code or text a number displayed outside a store to join a virtual queue or book a time slot for getting into the shop.
• DFS posted in late August that year-on-year order intake growth over the six weeks from mid-July is equivalent to around £70m of sales. This is in addition to its previously reported strong opening order book that will generate a further revenue benefit of £100m.
• Arcadia has been accused of offering some furloughed employees being made redundant less favourable notice terms, with payments reportedly based on reduced furlough rates.
• Next is to open beauty stores in three former Intu Debenhams branches.

Monday 24 August

• Frasers Group has bought DW Sports from administration in a £37m deal that sees it acquire its assets and stock, but does not include the DW name or intellectual property.
• Debenhams’ parent company Celine has drafted FRP Advisory as it prepares to enter administration. The potential administration reportedly would not impact Debenhams sales, staff, customers or suppliers.
• Online value retailer Studio has seen sales jump by 42% year-on-year in the 20 weeks since 27 March.
• Tesco is to create 16,000 jobs following “exceptional” growth in its online business during the pandemic, including 10,000 new picker jobs and 3,000 new delivery drivers.
• Marks & Spencer is piloting drive-thru order collection at its store in Camberley, Surrey, as well as contactless in-store collection at three shops in partnership with Doddle. M&S now has 239 stores fulfilling online orders –153 more than before the pandemic.

Friday 21 August

• Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder is cutting 2,000 jobs – around 3% of its workforce – amid plans to shutter between 10% and 15% of its standalone store estate, while reducing its presence in department stores.
• US-based fitness brand Peloton is to launch concessions in nine of John Lewis’s stores.
• AO.com is creating 650 new roles across its retail, mobile, IT, financial services and logistics divisions as it looks “to manage the sustained demand” it has experienced since the outbreak of Covid-19.

Wednesday 19 August

• Fenwick reported a pre-tax loss of £47.3m in the year to 31st January 2020. Sales revenue and gross margin declined by roughly 9% year-on-year. Last year, the department store incurred a 44.2m loss.
• Amazon provided Morrisons a platform to sell their groceries on its website. 

Tuesday 18 August

• Marks & Spencer announced that it will be axing 7000 jobs across its business over the next three months at both management and store levels. This follows the implementation of its digital strategy triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
• Laura Ashley’s administrators have appointed property advisor Avison Young to market the retailer’s manufacturing and distribution facilities.
• Sosandar reported a loss before tax of £7.66m in the full year to March 31 despite sales growth of 103% to £9.03m. The online fashion retailer attributed the losses to its investment in its team, supply chain and marketing spend, which has positively impacted its first quarter sales during the coronavirus pandemic.

Monday 17 August

• Mike Ashley has reportedly launched a bid of over 30 million for the sport chain DW Sports which fell into administration earlier this month and put 1700 jobs at risk.
• Tesco plans to add free delivery to its Clubcard plus membership scheme in retaliation to Amazon’s free home deliveries.
• Debenhams has appointed Hilco in the event that it does need to liquidate stock but has stressed that this move is not imminent and would be a last resort.
• Selfridges has launched a sustainability initiative described as “transformational” which will “change the way we shop” over the next five years. They intend to put repair and resale on their agenda.

Friday 14 August

• The Department for International Development (DFID) has launched the £6.85m vulnerable supply chains facility in partnership with a host of high street retailers to protect supply chains and support international workers.
• River Island is set to slash 350 jobs across its store estate as it battles to survive the ongoing coronavirus crisis. This is the second job cut wave after the retailer announced it axed 250 office workers earlier in July.
• Greencore, Northamptonshire-based sandwich supplier for Marks & Spencer announced that almost 300 staff have been forced into self-isolation after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Thursday 13 August

• The Very group announced that it expects annual revenue for the 12 months to 30 June to exceed £2 billion for the first time. Fourth quarter sales grew by 36% year-on-year.
• Watches of Switzerland’s Group reported a full year revenue increase of 4.8% to £811 million. EBITDA rose 14% to £78m during the 52 weeks to April 26. Operating profit climbed 6.2% to £48m over the same period.
• Topps Tiles reported robust retail performance in the last six weeks. On a like-for-like basis, retail revenues were up 16% compared with the same period last year amid “strong” demand for home improvement.

Wednesday 12 August

• ASOS announced that their revenue and profit will be higher than expected. Revenue growth is now expected to be between 17% and 19% year-on-year with profit before tax set to be in the region of £130-£150 million.
• Marks & Spencer have invested in a new food distribution centre in Milton Keynes which will see its ambient product capacity increase up to 60%. Full operations are expected to begin next month with 360 jobs created.
• Dr Martens reported revenue up 48% to £672m in the year to March 31, when operating profit soared 110% to £143m. The footwear specialist is planning to double its current 122 store count over the next five years around the globe.
• A surge in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic saw Just Eat’s group sales rise 44% to €1bn (£900m) in the first six months of the year. In the UK, the company received 77 million orders in the period, an increase of 18% on the same period a year ago.

Tuesday 11 August

• Debenhams is axing 2,500 staff across its stores and warehouses as the business grapples to reduce its cost base.
• The Co-op has extended its delivery partnership with Deliveroo to cover 400 of its stores in the UK.
• Domino’s Pizza pre-tax profits fell by 4.6% to £48m in the 26 weeks to June 28, as it dealt with “unprecedented times”. That said, UK and Ireland sales increased 5.5% to £629m, with like-for-like sales increasing by 4.8%.
• Zalando reported a surge in sales and new customers in the first half of 2020. Revenue grew 19.6% year-on-year during the first six months of 2020. The online retailer also achieved a 20.4% increase in its customer base in H1, and now serves over 34 million active customers in Europe.

Monday 10 August

• Superdry has agreed a £70m new lending facility with its existing banks and extended the repayment terms until January 2023.
• WHSmith is reportedly threatening landlords with a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) to push cuts to rents through if they don’t agree to ad hoc changes and rent holidays. Property adviser Gerald Eve has been drafted in to help thrash out deals with landlords across its portfolio.
• Italian footwear retailer Geox reported a 39% year-on-year decline in sales to €243.6m (£219.61m) for the six months to 30 June, due to temporary store closures caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus.

Friday 7 August

• Online-retail giant Asos published four new supply chain commitments required of third-party brands in the wake of the Leicester sweatshop scandal that engulfed the UK fashion industry.
• Jigsaw is reportedly planning to launch a CVA next week in a bid to close stores and slash rents in order to stay in business. The retailer operates 75 stores across the UK and employs 900 people.

Thursday 6 August

• Joules recorded a loss before tax of £2.0 million in the full year ending May 31st. Revenue also declined by 12.5% to £190.8m due to the impacts of coronavirus, as well as a stock availability issue reported over the Christmas period.
• Hammerson plans to raise £552m through a proposed rights issue and sell off £274m of assets, to counteract “the extraordinary disruption caused by Covid-19 on the retail property sector”. The property giant’s adjusted profit 84% year-on-year to £17.7m, while the value of its overall portfolio value fell 8% to £7.7bn.
• Lakeland has restructured its operating board as its owners the Rayner family step down from day-to-day running of the business.
• McColl’s reported a pre-tax loss of £1.3m in the 26 weeks to May 24th, down from a £200,000 profit last year. Total revenue fell 1% to £604.8m, from £611.1m 12 months earlier.
• The Perfume Shop has recorded a 45% growth in month-on-month sales from new perfume launches during lockdown. The retailer has put this growth down to its live virtual perfume consultations which help customers choose the right scent without visiting a store or smelling samples.
• Naked Wines announced it continues to trade strongly, with sales in July expected to be up by 73% compared to the same month last year. This would bring sales growth in the first four months of the financial year to 76%, and the retailer said its success is being driven by new customers and repeat sales alike.

Wednesday 5 August

• WHSmith’s unveiled restructuring plans that could see as many as 1,500 redundancies, mostly in travel locations where sales dived 73% year-on-year in July as just 53% of its travel locations have reopened so far. It plans to close 14 small stores in travel locations.
• WHSmith said it has seen a gradual recovery, with group sales down by 57% year-on-year in July, driven by high street stores where sales were down by 25%. It expects a full-year loss between £70m and £75m for the year ending 31 August.
• River Island is mulling a CVA in a bid to close some stores and cut rents.
• M&Co is to close 42 of its 260 UK stores and axe around 380 jobs in a pre-pack administration deal that has seen the firm sold back to its original Scottish owners the McGeoch family.
• Frasers Group unveiled plans to open a 90,000 sq ft flagship store in Leicester’s Fosse Park, to combine its Flannels, Sports Direct, Evans Cycles and Game fascias and create 200 jobs.
• Marks & Spencer has put its full food range on Ocado’s website as the pair formally launch their partnership on 1 September, when Ocado will stop selling Waitrose lines.

Tuesday 4 August

• Dixons Carphone is to axe 800 jobs as it consults with 1,800 staff, as it overhauls store roles.

Monday 3 August

• Fashion retailer PrettyLittleThing announced it is to make its first foray into homewares, although a launch date wasn’t given.
• Sportswear retailer and gym firm DW Sports collapsed into administration, putting some 1,700 jobs at risk as it closes its 50 remaining retail stores.
• AO.com is to recruit 250 new employees at its Crewe logistics hub, as well as add 225,000 sq feet of warehouse space, including a new 115,000 sq ft warehouse in Stafford opening this month.
• Apple is looking to slash its store rents across its 38 UK stores, by as much as 50% and a rent-free period in exchange for extended leases.
• Marks & Spencer cafes have signed up to the government’s ‘eat out to help out’ scheme, passing the hospitality VAT cut onto customers.

Friday 31 July

• Amazon reported a net income of $5.6bn (£4.3bn) in its second quarter to 30 June, more than doubling on the $2.6bn last year. Net sales jumped 40% to $88.9bn (£67.7bn) in the period, driven by third-party sellers and grocery sales, which tripled year-on-year.
• In the quarter, Amazon ramped up its grocery delivery capacity 160% and tripled its number of grocery pick up locations.
• Primark has committed to pay its suppliers in full for outstanding finished garments and fabric costs since March, expanding on its pledge to pay in full for any items that were in production, finished or planned for handover by 17 April.
• Tesco has extended its improved payment terms for smaller suppliers until the end-January 2021, paying immediately rather than the usual 14-day term.
• Pets at Home reported a relatively resilient 1% decline in its first quarter to 16 July, as demand for pet ownership jumped in lockdown and stores have remained open throughout the pandemic. The retailer has agreed a lease on the development of a new 607,000 sq ft distribution facility in Stafford, Staffordshire, as part of a £48m capital investment over the next five years.

Thursday 30 July

• Argos has announced plans to stop printing its infamous catalogue after 47 years, signalling its firm commitment online.
• ScS saw a sharp 92.5% year-on-year decline in order numbers from 22 March to 23 May, but then experienced a drastic bounce back from 24 May 24 to 25 July, reporting a 92.2% increase in orders as stores reopened.
• The raft of orders post-lockdown sets ScS up in a strong position going forward, as many of the order will be delivered in the first quarter of its new financial year.
• Aldi is set to create more than 1,200 new jobs by Christmas as it aims to open one store per week on average this year.
• In a strategy update to staff, John Lewis Partnership outlined that it expects: “John Lewis to be a 60% online retailer, from 40% pre-Covid-19, and Waitrose to rise above 20%, from 5%”.
• Marks Spencer has tripled the number of food stores offering a checkout-free experience from 100 to 310.

Wednesday 29 July

• Primark has rolled out an in-store recycling scheme, allowing customers to donate clothes, textiles, footwear and bags from any brand as it drives sustainability.
• The number of new businesses joining eBay tripled in its second quarter, up by 256% year-on-year. eBay’s global revenue rose by 21% to $2.9bn (£2.2bn) on a foreign exchange neutral basis in the quarter to end-June.
• Next reported that stores sales slumped 72% year-on-year in its third quarter to 25 July, while online sales increased 9%. It hailed that the 28% overall drop in full-price sales in the period was “an improvement on the best case scenario given in our April trading statement”.
• Majestic Wine posted that ecommerce sales quadrupled in lockdown, as it served more than 150,000 new customers online. It said additional online sales were offset by heightened costs and a reduction in sales through its commercial division. Nonetheless, the retailer plans to open two new stores by the end of 2020.
• Hotter Shoes’ company voluntary arrangement has been given the green light by creditors, paving the way for the British footwear firm to cut its store portfolio from 61 shops to just 15.

Tuesday 28 July

• Selfridges is axing 14% of its headcount – or around 450 jobs – as it warned sales across the chain would be “significantly less than they were in 2019”.
• Card Factory revealed that like-for-like sales since reopening were down 22% year-on-year, ahead of its forecast drop of 50% during the first month of reopening. It noted average spend had jumped 25%, although the number of transactions had fallen on 2019.
• Card Factory has seen like for likes sales online rise by 69% across Cardfactory.co.uk and Gettingpersonal.co.uk since the end of January. However, it expects overall revenue to be around half the level of last year’s in its half year to 31 July.
• Greggs has slipped into the red, recording a pre-tax loss of £65m in the six months to 27 June, as sales dropped 45% to £301m. However, it said it was “encouraged” by sales reaching 72% of 2019 levels in the week to 25 July. Greggs expects sales “to remain below normal for as long as social distancing is required”.
• Amazon has launched free two-hour window grocery deliveries for its Prime members, on all Amazon Fresh orders over £40.

Monday 27 July

• Recipe box provider Gousto is creating 1,000 new jobs as it saw a 115% jump in sales during the first half of the year. It now expects to make its first-ever profit in 2020.
• Sainsbury’s is testing a virtual queuing app, saving the need to physically queue outside stores, in a bid to help it “respond quickly” if increased restrictions were brought back during local lockdowns. Shoppers would receive a notification when they are at the front of the queue. 
• Fashion house Arcadia, which includes Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Burton, has reportedly proposed additional cost-cutting to The Pensions Regulator.
• Debenhams is reportedly raising a ‘for sale’ sign, with City bank Lazard poised to be appointed to oversee the sale process.
• Luxury group LVMH reported a 24% year-on-year drop in revenues in its fashion and leather goods division to €7.9bn (£7.2bn) during the first half of 2020.

Friday 24 July

• French Connection has secured a £15m working capital facility with turnaround firm Hilco as it battles coronavirus disruptions. The retailer says sales have been low in reopened store, although conversion is up and sales volumes are said to be growing week-on-week.
• Hotel Chocolat expects to hit its full-year profit guidance as sales rose 3% to £136m in the year to 28 June, bolstered by a 14% rise in its first half and digital sales surging more than 200% year-on-year in the fourth quarter. The retailer said reopened high street stores were performing better than city-centre and commuter locations.
• The relative robustness of childrenswear during the pandemic is seeing Jack Wills offer kidswear for the first time this year via a licensing partnership with Brands Machine Group.

Thursday 23 July

• Unilever posted that its under underlying profit increased 3.8% year-on-year during the first half of the year, despite turnover slipping back 1.6% to €25.7bn (£23.4bn). Its free cash flow increased by €1.3bn to €2.9bn as it has shored up its balance sheet during the Covid-19 outbreak.
• PrettyLittleThing plans to build a 10,000 sq ft extension to its Wellington Mill headquarters in Ancoats, Manchester, enabling it to accommodate around 200 additional staff.
• Asos put around 500 day shift roles at its customer care centre in Leavesden into consultation.
• Nike announced an undisclosed number of job cuts and leadership changes, as it accelerates its move towards a direct to consumer.

Wednesday 22 July

• B&Q and Screwfix parent Kingfisher said group like-for-like sales climbed 22% in its second quarter to 18 July, as digital sales trebled and stores reopened from mid-April across the UK and France. Group ecommerce sales surged 202% and 225% respectively in May and June. Kingfisher expects interim profits to come in ahead of last year.
• Eve Sleep cut its underlying EBITDA losses sales by 80% to £1.2m in the six months to 30 June, as sales were ahead of expectations in May and June. This came despite sales dipping by 5.1% year-on-year to £12.2m. The mattress specialist said momentum had continued into July as it benefits from a “strong” homewares market.

Tuesday 21 July

• Matalan slipped into the red in its first quarter, recording a restated EBITDA loss of £35.8m in the 13 weeks to 30 May, as revenue tumbled 72.3% to £75.3m in the quarter.
• AO.com has launched a share incentive scheme that could see staff rewarded up to £240m in bonuses.
• Ted Baker posted a 50% year-on-year retail sales drop to £51m in the 11 weeks to 18 July, as store sales plummeted by 79% to £15.8m while online jumped 35% to £35.2m. In the last four weeks of the period, like-for-like store sales were down 50% on last year as 95% of stores were operational by last weekend.
• Ted Baker said its results were ahead of its base case scenario set out in June, indicating “a more dynamic trading stance since the beginning of the year, reflecting more sophisticated cross-category merchandising, refreshed social media activity and increased marketing spend”.
• Walmart has put Asda up for sale again, restarting discussions with potential buyers that were put on hold because of the coronavirus outbreak.
• Gatemore Capital has acquired a 3.37% stake in Superdry, as the hedge fund is “confident the business is poised to benefit from the trend towards casualwear which has been accelerated by Covid-19”.

Monday 20 July

• Marks & Spencer is axing 950 management jobs across central operations and stores, as it looks to accelerate the ‘Never the Same Again’ restructuring programme unveiled during the coronavirus crisis.
• Ted Baker is cutting 25% of its overall workforce, or 500 jobs, axing 200 roles from its head office, with the remainder across stores and concessions.
• Harvey Nichols has written to staff to warn that “there may be staff redundancies at all locations” as it looks to restructure amid the pandemic.
• Chinese smartphone giant Huawei is investing £10m to launch three UK stores and create 100 new jobs over the next year.

Friday 17 July

• John Lewis is extending it click-and-collect delivery and returns partnership with the Co-op to 505 stores, doubling the total number of click-and-collect locations to nearly 900.
• In Iceland’s 2019/20 full year results, it noted that the pandemic has seen it boost its market share, as its stores are typically on neighbourhood high streets and retail parks, as well as operating an established online operation.

Thursday 16 July

• Turnaround firm Alteri is closing a quarter of Bensons for Beds’s store estate over the next two years, from 242 stores down to approximately 180. The retailer closed 24 stores immediately after being bought out of administration last month by Alteri, and will launch a replatformed website later in the month.
• Poundland is set to trial its first-ever online delivery service early next year and is set to launch a shop-in-shop concept later this summer. Three stores are set to close with one being converted into an online fulfilment centre.
• John Lewis has launched a virtual personal shopping service from its Southampton and London’s Peter Jones store using Zoom, enabling customers to be shown around departments on a 30-minute free video appointment by an in-store adviser.

Wednesday 15 July

• Burberry announced that 150 UK office jobs were at risk as it sought to cut costs, and a further 350 overseas, as its first quarter sales declined 41%, which eased to -20% in June as lockdown measures around the world eased. Burberry expects sales in the second quarter to be down between 15% and 20%.
• Dunelm sales declined 29% in its fourth quarter to 27 June, despite online sales up by 85% as store like-for-likes plunged 50%. Its suppliers’ direct-to-consumer capabilities are running at four times pre-Covid levels in order to meet increased online demand.
• Asos reported a 10% increase in group sales to £1bn in the four months to 30 June, driven by a 22% rise in sales across the EU while UK sales dipped 1%. Asos saw a 16% rise in its active customer base on the back of lockdown.
• Asos vowed to repay all money previously claimed via the furlough scheme to the UK government as its employees return to work.
• Dixons Carphone saw a 51% drop in adjusted pre-tax profit to £166m in the year to 2 May. Online sales jumped 166% during April as the UK entered lockdown, but profitability came under pressure from store closures and coronavirus-related costs.
• Dixons warned that Covid-19 has made a “significant impact” with “wide-ranging repercussions of the crisis will be felt for many years” likely to hinder consumer spending.

Tuesday 14 July

• AO.com recorded a 54% increase in profit to £19.6m in the year to end-March, with sales up by 16% to £1.04bn, as customers bought fridges, freezers and home working equipment in preparation for lockdown.
• Halfords is set to accelerate its store closures with 60 earmarked to close across its retail and autocentre divisions. It is renegotiating leases elsewhere.
• DFS sales dropped dropped 27% year-on-year to £725m in the year to 28 June, despite online orders surging 77% year-on-year between 23 March and 12 July.
• DFS said that sales following the reopening of stores were up 69% year-on-year in the period from 1 June to 12 July.
• Ocado’s revenue jumped 27% to £1.02bn in its half year to 31 May, but group EBITDA was down 36% to £19.8m as it invested into infrastructure.

Monday 13 July

• OpCapita and buyout firm Sycamore Partners are reportedly in talks with Clarks to inject cash into the retailer.
• Quiz committed to a full review of its supply chain auditing process, following allegations of factory workers making its products in Leicester being paid under the national living wage.

Thursday 9 July

• Frasers Group has told landlords it will not pay rents until trade reaches a level that the retailer and landlord would have expected when agreeing rental terms.
• John Lewis & Partners confirms it will permanently close eight of its stores, with 1,300 jobs at risk, as “the pandemic has accelerated the switch from shopping in-store to online”. 
• John Lewis said its nine remaining closed branches will reopen on 30 July, leaving it with a 42-strong store estate.
• Boots is slashing 4,000 jobs and closing 48 Boots Opticians stores as it accelerates its restructure amid the pandemic. It followed a 48% year-on-year drop in like-for-like sales in its third quarter, with sales at Boots Opticians down by 72%. Boots’ online sales jumped 78% during lockdown.

Wednesday 8 July

• In a City update, Boohoo announced an independent review into its UK supply chain and pledges £10m to “eradicate supply chain malpractice”. It will update the market on the review at its half-year results in September.
• Asda has partnered with Uber Easts to trial a 30 minute home delivery service from two stores in Leeds and Birmingham.

Tuesday 7 July

• All Saints gained creditor backing for its CVA, with the majority of its store estate moving to turnover-based rents and a small number of closures.
• River Island is axing 250 head office roles as it looks to cut costs, as “the pandemic will change our marketplace for years to come”.
• Fashion etailer Sosandar saw total sales jump by 54% year-on-year in its first quarter to 30 June, while losses were reduced by 70%. It saw a strong gross margin as it drove full-price sales, following discounting in early April.
• In it 2019/20 full year update, JD Sports said it is investing further in its Rochdale warehouse as it anticipates “there will be some level of permanent transfer from physical retail to online as a consequence of Covid-19”.
• JD Sports said its “future store investments highly dependent on rental realism and lease flexibility” as it pushes “for greater correlation between levels of footfall and rents payable”.
• Halfords announced its like-for-like sales dropped by 6.5% in its first quarter to 3 July, with online sales up 200% year-on-year. Like-for-like cycling sales surged 57%, boosted by the avoidance of public transport, favourable weather and adoption of cycling as a health and leisure activity.

Monday 6 July

• Tesco is reportedly demanding discounts from suppliers as it looks to offer everyday low prices rather than promotional activity to better compete with rivals such as Aldi.
• Pret A Manger is permanently closing 30 of its sites, with around 1,000 jobs in consultation, as it suffered a 74% slump in sales at its UK stores during lockdown. Pret said that the recovery has been “much slower” in the UK compared to other countries it trades in.
• Boohoo faces modern slavery allegations, with claims of workers in Leicester being paid as little as £3.50 per hour.

Friday 3 July

• Amazon is reportedly delaying its Prime Day discount event until October, due to pressure on its supply chain amid coronavirus disruption.

Thursday 2 July

• Parent ABF said Primark’s sales were down 75% year-on-year at £582m in its third quarter, with 367 stores worldwide now open out of 375. It said trading in reopened stores has been “encouraging” with strong demand for childrenswear and retail park stores performing strongly.
• ABF said Primark’s adjusted operating profit is expected to come in between £300m and 350m this year, compared with £913m last year.

Wednesday 1 July

• Harrods plans to cut 680 jobs due to “the challenge of lockdown”, including social distancing and lack of tourists.
• John Lewis chair Dame Sharon White warned of store closures and job cuts due to the pandemic, and that the retailer’s famed annual bonus would likely be axed next year for the first time since 1953.
• Arcadia is set to axe around 500 head office jobs as it looks to cut costs during the pandemic. Buying and design teams at Topshop, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins are reportedly impacted.
• Sainsbury’s posted an 8.5% year-on-year rise in overall sales (excluding fuel) in its first quarter to 27 June, supported by an 87% uplift in online sales. Nearly half of new online grocery customers were first-time Sainsbury’s shoppers. 
• Sainsbury’s total grocery sales increased by 10.5%, while general merchandise increased 7.2%, supported by a 10.7% uplift in Argos sales. Clothing sales dived 26.7% in the period.
• The grocer said Covid-19 had impacted profits by approximately £500m, but would be broadly offset by business rates relief and strong grocery sales.
• Topps Tiles’ online sales surged 139% year-on-year in its third quarter to 27 June, helping it perform ahead of revised expectations set at the start of lockdown, although average weekly sales faced a 53% decline in the period.
• The tile specialist said sales are improving – with like-for-likes down 5.4% year-on-year in the final week of June, from an average of -20% throughout the month, and -80% in April.

Tuesday 30 June

• TM Lewin is to close all of its UK stores, having collapsed into administration but been bought back by owner Torque Brands in a pre-pack deal that did not include its shops. Over 600 jobs are now at risk.
• Walgreens Boots Alliance has stepped up its technology tie-up with Microsoft and Adobe as it looks to drive personalisation. Advantage Card holders will be served online offers on products bought in-store when they are due to run out it, as well as sent push notifications on the loyalty card app when they are near a store that has the item in stock.
•  Bensons for Beds and stablemate Harveys collapsed into administration. Bensons for Beds has been bought by turnaround specialist Alteri, with plans to close one factory and negotiate store rents. PWC are acting as administrators for Harveys.

Monday 29 June

• New Look is mulling a pre-pack administration as it works with consultancy CBRE to move to turnover-based rents.
• Microsoft is to close all 83 shops globally as it focuses online, a year after it launched UK flagship at London’s Oxford Circus.
   

Friday 26 June

• Tesco’s UK sales were up 9% in its first quarter to 30 May, driven by a 49% jump in online sales and up by 90% at the peak in May. Tesco has doubled its online delivery slots to 1.3 million, having invested £4m into the initiative, which it said has been partially offset by the business rates relief.
• Tesco said the frequency of UK shopping during its first quarter was down by 32%, but the average basket size leapt 64% as shoppers stocked up. Convenience store sales rose by 10%, suggesting local shopping.
• The Co-op has warned that it has seen an increase in violence against shopworkers since the coronavirus outbreak, with incidents up 140% in the year to May, and called on the government to introduce legislation to protect store staff.
• Nike reported a 38% drop in revenue to $6.3bn (£5.1bn) in its fourth quarter to 31 May, impacted by 90% of its store network facing mandated closure across America, Europe and Asia for approximately eight weeks because of coronavirus. This comes despite a 75% jump in online sales to account for 30% of total revenue.
• Nike has now reopened about nine in 10 stores, with “higher conversation rates” year-on-year.
• H&M’s group sales decreased 23% to SEK 83.6m during its first half to 31 May, while profits dropped by over SEK 3m. It now plans for further net store closures, anticipating around 170 closures and 130 openings during its full year.
• H&M chief executive Helena Helmersson said: “During the pandemic it became clear how important it is that the digital and physical channels interact to meet customers’ needs.”
• Marks & Spencer and Next are reportedly mulling bids for Victoria’s Secret’s UK division, which fell into administration earlier in June.

Thursday 25 June

• John Lewis continues to open stores in phases, with nine more stores opening today.
• N Brown reported that group revenue has fallen by 22% in the quarter since March. The group said product sales were down 29%, but had improved slightly to be down 21% over the last three weeks. It has looked to shore up its balance sheet and said “operating costs are significantly lower than last year and net debt has decreased”.
• In its full year update, Matalan said: “We are accelerating the changes in our working practices and drivers of cost efficiency, and have already delivered rapid enhancements to our model during the crisis”. It is, for instance, now fulfilling online orders from 75 stores, alongside distribution centres.

Wednesday 24 June

• JD Sports bought its subsidiary Go Outdoors back for £56.5m, following its collapse into administration two days earlier. The group said the main reason for the administration was to secure better rents with landlords, as leases were “extremely inflexible” with upward-only rent reviews.
• Naked Wines reported its pre-tax losses shrunk by 46% to £5.4m in the year to 30 March, as sales rose 14% to £203m. The online retailer said sales were supported by “Covid acceleration in final weeks of the year”, with revenue up by 81% in the first two months of its current financial year.
• Very Group is axing 141 roles across head office and customer care, while creating 100 new roles in its technology division as it looks to reshape its business.
• Jewellery specialist Beaverbrooks reported sales were up 30% year-on-year in the week to 22 June, as its stores reopened. It posted a 23% increase in the average transaction value of jewellery and watches.
• Amazon has launched an accelerator programme and bootcamp for small businesses in response to Covid-19. The accelerator course comprises free online training, discounts on business supplies and PPE, as well as training for Amazon Web Services. The bootcamp provides businesses without online operations a week programme on how to operate online.
• The Competition and Markets Authority has cleared Amazon’s 16% stake in Deliveroo.
• Swedish bed brand Carpe Diem has made its UK debut with a flagship store opening in London, alongside the launch of a UK website.

Tuesday 23 June

• Poundland owner Pepco reported that its pre-tax profit fell 16% to €89m (£80m) in the six months to March as Covid-19 hit Europe. The group said revenue is now “returning to pre-Covid levels”.
• Shoe Zone unveiled plans to close 20 stores to cut costs in its half year results, reporting a pre-tax loss of £2.5m in the six months to 4 April. The retailer cautioned that coronavirus shockwaves will “be felt for several years”.

Monday 22 June

• The Hut Group’s technology arm THG Ingenuity has signed more than £100m of new deals with beauty brands Elemis, PZ Cussons Beauty, Burt’s Bees and Revolution Beauty. The partnerships are set to accelerate the brand’s transition to a direct-to-consumer model.
• Mothercare is looking to secure new funding as it look to refinance the business.

Friday 19 June

• Online value group Studio Retail reported a 55% year-on-year uplift in sales in the 11 weeks since 23 April. It saw demand rise across electricals, toys, games, fitness and garden.

Thursday 18 June

• All Saints launches a CVA as it looks to move the majority of its stores to turnover-based rent
• Greggs reopened 800 shops for takeaway only. It has temporarily suspended new store openings, but accelerated the rollout of its delivery and click-and-collect services. It is also in discussion with landlords over rent reductions and moving to monthly rental payments.

Wednesday 17 June

• Boohoo reported revenue jumped 45% to £368m in its first quarter to end-May. The fashion pureplay expects full-year revenue to be up by 25% and adjusted EBITDA margin of between 9.5% and 10%.
• Boohoo has acquired the intellectual property of Oasis and Warehouse in a £5.2m deal from Hilco, as part of its plan to capitalise M&A opportunities. Boohoo bought its former stablemates Karen Millen and Coast last year.
• B&Q’s parent Kingfisher reported like-for-like sales dipped 24.8% year-on-year in Q1 due to coronavirus disruption across its store estate – but Q2 like-for-likes rose by 21.8%, driven by online. The group said it has “significant liquidity headroom” including £2bn of cash.
• The group launched a new ‘Powered by Kingfisher’ strategy to “become a more digital and service orientated company, using our strong store assets as a platform”.

Tuesday 16 June

• Pret A Manger has launched a trial click-and-collect service in London, available through the Deliveroo app. It is testing pick up points, including a hatch system that means customers do not need to enter a shop to collect their order.
• Poundstretcher has launched a CVA to restructure its store portfolio. It has appointed KPMG to help drive a turnaround. The CVA proposes that 94 stores would continue to pay the same rent, while 84 stores see reductions of between 30% and 40% over three years, and its remaining 253 stores adopt rents based on their performance.
• Wickes, Toolstation and Tile Giant parent Travis Perkins is set to cut 2,500 UK jobs and close 165 stores – 8% of its portfolio – as it suffers weak demand for building materials due to the pandemic. Closures would focus on smaller branches where social distancing is difficult to implement.
• Travis Perkins chief executive Nick Roberts said it did not anticipate pre-coronavirus trading levels to return for building materials during 2020 and 2021.
• In a City update, Joules said the impact of lockdown “resulted in a material reduction in revenue and lower group gross margin” despite 40% growth in online during the period. It now expects a pre-tax loss of between £2m and £3m for its 2019/20 financial year.
• Holland & Barrett has partnered with Deliveroo, to offer 200 products for home delivery in under 30 minutes from 50 UK stores.
• Booths has also joined forces with Deliveroo, offering 300 products from its Salford Media City store for home delivery in 30 minutes or less. Hot food including pizzas, pies and burgers will be available from 23 June, with plans to roll out the service to five more stores in early July.

Monday 15 June

• H&M sales halved year-on-year to SEK28.7bn (£2.45bn) in its quarter to end-May, as it faced having to close 80% of its global stores during the coronavirus outbreak. However, H&M said online sales grew by 32% in local currencies during the period.
• H&M also reported that declines had softened during the first two weeks of June as international stores begin to open, with sales down 30% year-on-year.

Friday 12 June

• Aldi extended its trial with Deliveroo into London, less than a month after its pilot in the Midlands, as it aims to offer the service across the UK by the end of the year. Shoppers can order from a range of 200 products through the delivery provider’s app for home delivery in as little as 30 minutes.

Thursday 11 June

• In its full year update, value retailer B&M said that trading since its March year-end has been “strong”. Although the pandemic has slowed its rate of store openings, the retailer’s ambition to operate 950 UK stores remains unchanged.

Wednesday 10 June

• Ocado has raised £650m through new shares and plans to raise a further £350m through unsecured convertible bonds to help it capitalise on the “significant acceleration” in online shopping across the globe since the coronavirus outbreak.
• Zara parent Inditex reported its first-ever quarterly loss, at €409m (£363m) in the red during the three months to 30 April, as a result of mandated store closures. Online sales surged 95% in April, but this could not offset revenue lost from 88% of the group’s portfolio being closed at one stage.
• However, Inditex sales are said to have “gradually” recovered since the start of its second quarter. Where stores have reopened, the fashion group said last week’s sales were down 16% year-on-year.
• Inditex announced a strategic shift for stores to act as “fashion distribution hubs [in] the world’s leading cities”. Group chair and chief executive Pablo Isla announced plans to invest €900m a year over the next three years to grow online and focus on large stores. By the end of next year, Inditex plans to open 450 new stores and shut up to 1,200 smaller stores.
• Monsoon and Accessorize founder Peter Simon has bought the business out of administration through a new holding company Adena for up to £15m. This has secured the head office, distribution centre and ecommerce arm. It is now in talks with landlords to reach terms to save “as many as 100 stores”. Simon said: ““Monsoon and Accessorize will both emerge smaller and stronger after this”.
• Fashion retailer Quiz’s property arm Kast Retail Limited has collapsed into administration, appointing KPMG to handle the process. Quiz’s online, UK concession and international channels are unaffected by the administration. Zandra Retail Limited, another wholly owned subsidiary of Quiz, is set to acquire some of Kast’s assets to ensure Quiz has number of stores to continue it omnichannel strategy.

Tuesday 9 June

• Debenhams is to close a further three stores, after failing to agree terms with landlord Intu.
• Mulberry is axing a quarter of its global workforce to ensure it is “the correct size and structure” post-coronavirus. It said: “Even once stores reopen, social distancing measures and reduced tourist and footfall levels will continue to impact our revenue. As a result of this, we must manage our operations and cost base accordingly to reflect market conditions.”
• Pureplay fashion retailer Sosander, which has seen sales jump 62% year-on-year between 1 April and 31 May, is to start selling through the John Lewis and Next websites in the autumn. The etailer has benefited from a 98% uplift in online traffic during lockdown, as shoppers seek comfort from casual clothing.

Monday 8 June

• Dunelm has reopened its UK store estate and launched a new Edit fascia in Crawley, West Sussex, which features products that are most popular in the local area. The store features an augmented reality display to allow shoppers to see the full Dunelm catalogue and visualise products in homes.
• Morrisons has extended its commitment to make immediate payments to small suppliers by a further three months during the coronavirus crisis.
• Tapi has secured £16m of investment as it eyes profitability within 18 months. It is taking a gradual approach to store openings through appointment only using its ‘Queue Buster’ program, which enables consumers to join a virtual store queue by texting or scanning a QR, allowing shoppers go elsewhere until they are allowed in.
• Primark has reportedly asked landlords who are set to receive payment for the next quarterly rent day of 24 June to sign NDAs.

Friday 5 June

• Fashion and fragrance group Puig has snapped up makeup and skincare brand Charlotte Tilbury, continuing a trend of large giants swooping up independent health and beauty brands.
• Debenhams confirms it will reopen 50 stores across England on 15 June, with the rest of its portfolio opening later in the week (excluding Scotland and Wales). Stores in Northern Ireland will open earlier on 8 June.
• Iceland founder Sir Malcolm Walker and chief executive Tarsem Dhaliwal have bought the remaining stake in the frozen food specialist from Brait SE’s 63% stake, in a deal worth £115m to form a new company Iceland Foods.
• Victoria Secret’s UK arm, which operates its 25 shops across the country, has tumbled into administration, appointing Deloitte to handle the process. The administration does not apply to the ecommerce division.

Thursday 4 June

• New Look has drafted in advisors CBRE and CWM to negotiate a switch to turnover-based rents, as it seeks to slash its property costs at the majority of its 500 stores in UK and Ireland.

Wednesday 3 June

• In Marks & Spencer’s annual report, the retailer said it is accelerating aspects of its transformation to thrive in the new consumer landscape, hailing increased “multitasking in stores”, quicker decisions and having “action orientation irrespective of hierarchy”. As a result of the pandemic, the retailer expects to emerge with more debt than planned and suffer losses for a large part of 2020/21.
• The Co-op has expanded its robot delivery service with Sharship Technologies, as the number of customers using the service in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire has “more than doubled” since lockdown, with transaction values up four-fold. The retailer expects same-day delivery from more than 650 UK stores to be available by the end of the year.
• Oddbins has been bought out of administration by an undisclosed bidder.

Tuesday 2 June

• Card Factory is set to reopen 10% of its stores on 15 June as a test under “Covid-secure” conditions. The retailer plans to reopen further stores “subject to early learnings”. The first wave of reopenings will be predominantly in retail parks and high streets in the north east and north west that had good footfall ahead of lockdown. Safety measures include sneeze screens, a customer host at the door, hand sanitiser and a one-way system around store.
• Card Factory’s online sales were up 153% year-on-year at the start of June and have more than trebled since lockdown began. However, it is unable to give financial guidance for the year.

Monday 1 June

• Aldo’s UK division has collapsed into administration. It has closed five stores and appointed services firm RSM to explore options for the remaining eight. The retailer said: “The move was necessary based on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as historic profitability challenges and the unprecedented collapse in retail spending.”
• Primark is reopening all of its 153 branches in England on 15 June, and has pulled forward the opening of a new store in Manchester’s Trafford Centre to that day. Primark's 37 shops across Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are expected to reopen in late June if guidance allows.
• JD Sports plans to reopen the majority of its 300 or so UK stores on 15 June.
• Pret a Manger has drafted advisors Alvarez & Marsal and CWM to explore options to reduce its rent, to reflect the “new retail environment” of lower footfall as commuters are likely to continue to work from home.
• Ted Baker plans to raise £95m in a cash call –  more than its entire listed equity – to see it through the coronavirus crisis and focus on a digital first strategy. It has extended its bank debt by £11.5m. Overall like-for-like sales were down 34% between the start of January and May, while online sales jumped 78%. Without the additional fundraising announced, the retailer would have become insolvent by August.

Friday 29 May

• Virgin Media is permanently closing all 53 UK stores, and shifting operations online. All 341 affected employees have been offered new roles in customer care, following the success of store staff supporting call centres from home during the lockdown.
• The Entertainer is set to reopen all 173 of its stores on 15 June with a new ‘ready in 10’ service. The fast-track service allows shoppers queuing for the store to make an order from their smartphone, which can be collected in-store within 10 minutes, and enables customers to tell a store colleague at the door what they want and be fast-tracked to the checkout.
• Pizza Express is considering a CVA to allow the closure of some of its 627 restaurants. Other options for the debt-ridden restaurant include a debt-for-equity swap or splitting the group’s UK and Chinese arms.
• Pizza Express is planning to launch a new pasta brand for home delivery through Deliveroo.

Thursday 28 May

• Boohoo has acquired the remaining stake in PrettyLittleThing, made for an initial consideration of £269.8m. Boohoo reiterated the acquisition enables growth “whilst retaining a strong balance sheet in order to take advantage of numerous M&A opportunities that are likely to emerge in the global fashion industry over the coming months”.
• Boots is using digital innovation to reopen its in-store beauty counters on 15 June and launch its latest No.7 product. Shoppers buying the new No.7 product via the Boots app will have their loyalty points doubled for their purchase. It will offer shoppers 15-20 minutes video consultations with No. 7 advisers. Boots will also have social distancing wardens to patrol stores, a queuing system, floor markings and PPE for staff.
• Boots’ online sales have reportedly nearly doubled since the pandemic, with searches for skincare up by 140% year-on-year.
• Harrods is to open a two-storey outlet store at Westfield London to shift excess seasonal stock unsold due to the pandemic
• Debenhams is cutting an undisclosed number of head office jobs amid its turnaround. It plans to reopen 90 stores in the week of 15 June and has re-secured two key locations – Birmingham’s Bullring and Glasgow’s Silverburn – that it previously faced losing to Next, which Debenhams had not agreed to.
• Monsoon Accessorize is set to file a notice of intention to appoint administrators, having lined up FRP Advisory to handle the process.

Wednesday 27 May

• John Lewis will gradually reopen stores, starting with two shop from 15 June and a further 11 on 18 June, chosen because of their accessibility by car. New safety measures include a ‘customer service host’ to manage footfall in store, reducing entrances, installing screens at checkout, and limiting the number of shoppers on escalators and in lifts.
• Costcutter chief executive Darcy Willson-Rymer said: “Consumer’s needs and demands [since lockdown] are: much less food to go, much less single impulse purchases and we’re seeing significant increases in fresh food; edible grocery and frozen. We’ve been emphasising less range in one area and more in another, and constantly updating our advice for our partners”.

Tuesday 26 May

• In an update to the City, ScS said as of May 23 it had reopened 80 stores and begun deliveries, having previously closed both its store and online arms on 23 March. The retailer said it holds £48.3m in cash and has “continued to review and reduce cash expenditure to protect our liquidity short term”.
• Investment firm Brigadier Acquisition found that it has been unable to abandon its £22m bid for Moss Bros. The deal will now be completed.
• Ikea is reopening 19 of its stores in England and Northern Ireland on 1 June, with a phased approach. New safety measures include a one-way system, social distancing wardens, and one adult and one child from the same household being allowed in at a time. It is reopening its Food Market and Bistro with a takeaway service only.
• Morrisons is set to open its first standalone clothing and homewares store to drive its Nutmeg clothing range as well as its own-brand homewares.
• Around 30 suppliers have written to Edinburgh Woollen Mill threatening to stop production and deliveries because of £27m in unpaid bills, claiming the group has taken “undue advantage of the Covid-19 situation”, including demands for discounts, cancelled orders and withholding payment.

Friday 22 May

• Burberry has not been able to provide financial guidance for the current year and warned: “As government restrictions ease across the globe, consumers in different markets are likely to respond in distinct ways, with the travelling consumer likely to take longer to return. As a result, it could take some time for the luxury industry to recover to pre-crisis levels.”
• Fashion app Mallzee has launched a clothing box service, dubbed Lost Stock, to help suppliers shift cancelled stock. Each box contains spring-summer 2020 items at half price that were rumoured to be for the likes of Gap and Topshop.

Thursday 21 May

• Both Furniture Village and DFS are planning to reopen stores in time for the bank holiday weekend, after the government included homewares retailers in its guidance of what an ‘essential’ retailer – an update from its previous definition of essential ‘home and hardware’ stores.
• Fortnum & Mason opened its main food halls today. The retailer is planning to open the first floor of its Piccadilly flagship on 28 May, and the second and third floors from the start of June.
• Pets at Home said that trading in its current 2020/21 financial year is down year-on-year. A strong uplift in online sales has been “unable to mitigate the reduced level of in-store sales, and their weighting towards food”. It cautioned that “an additional £5m of costs relating to our initial response to Covid-19, has had an adverse effect on profits, margins and cashflow in the financial year to date” and expects its pre-tax profit the current financial year to be below last year.
• Clarks is to cut 900 jobs globally over the next 18 months, but create 200 new roles, as it sets out a new strategy to focus on its heritage and sustainability. This follows the retailer consulting with financial advisers to address liquidity issues amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Wednesday 20 May

• Majestic Wine is expanding its partnership with Deliveroo, adding 50 sites to the Deliveroo app to bring the total to 80 stores that offer delivery. The retailer is also extending the range available for delivery to more than 50 wines, champagnes and spirits.
• Facebook has accelerated the launch of its shopping platform, which will allow firms to set up online stores and sell products across Facebook and Instagram for no-fee. Initially, shoppers will be able to message sellers directly through Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger and Instagram to arrange a purchase or get more information.
• In Marks & Spencer’s full year update, which reported that pre-tax profit fell by 21.2% to £403.1m in the year to 28 March, the retailer said the coronavirus negatively impacted profits by £52m in March and added £212.8m in costs and write downs. The retailer said: “Clothing sales at the low point dropped to 16% of their level a year ago.”
• However, M&S posted that like-for-like sales in its food arm were up 1.9% in the year to 28 March, with an estimated 0.3% benefit from the effects of Covid-19 in March.
• M&S has scenario planned for clothing and home sales to dive 70% in the four months to July, with a gradual return to budget by February 2021. It has also stress tested for Food to face a 20% decline in revenue for the four months to July, with revenue level thereafter.
• Like many other clothing retailers, M&S is facing a mountain of stock. It has cancelled late-summer stock, while around £400m of current and forward orders are basic products that will be carried forward. Around £200m of unsold seasonal stock is being stored to merchandise in spring 2021.

Tuesday 19 May

• In a first quarter update, parent Walmart said that although the number of transactions in Asda fell by 3.4% in the three months to 31 March, Asda’s average basket value grew by 6.9% year-on-year.
• In a half year update, Topps Tiles said online revenues have surged to three times pre-pandemic levels, but warned that overall sales were “down significantly” because of store closures. The retailer plans to have 250 stores “fully opened” by the end of May, with the remaining 100 opened by the end of June.
• French Connection warned that without urgent funding, its “cash resources will eventually be eroded in the coming months” if current trading levels continue. The retailer has been unable to access government loan schemes.

Monday 18 May

• Aldi has partnered with Deliveroo to pilot a grocery home delivery service, offering 150 products including bread, milk, fruit and vegetables, which will be picked by the grocer’s staff in stores.
• Apple has laid out a plan for when stores reopen. As well as giving shoppers “lots of room”, its Genius Bar-style service will be offered throughout the store, while face masks will be worn by staff and given to shoppers who don’t have their own.

Friday 15 May

• Boohoo raised £198m through a share pricing, as it looks at more mergers and acquisitions.
• Lidl has partnered with InPost to launch collection lockers in 24 of its grocery shops.
• Sainsbury’s is partnering with Stuart, part of courier firm DPD Group, to expand its Chop Chop bike delivery service to 20 UK cities outside of London by mid-June. The expansion is set to increase online delivery capacity by a further 400% and supports the grocer’s bid to increase the number of delivery slots to 600,000 per week.

Thursday 14 May

• Marks & Spencer is reopening 49 of its in-store cafes today, serving takeaway hot drinks only following a pilot in five branches. The cafes now include Perspex screens at checkouts and floor markings to prompt social distancing. One employee will staff the café at a time – washing their hands every 30 minutes and straightaway after handling cash.
• Pureplay Global Fashion Group reported revenues grew 8.1% in the first quarter of 2020, as it noted active customers increased 15.5% on its platform to 13.3 million. It saw increased demand for sportswear, wellness and loungewear, while dresses and formalwear faced “significant declines”.
• Nonetheless, the online retailer is slashing its marketing, technology and administrative budget by €40m, and is cutting its inventory intake in the second quarter by €90m. It is limiting its capex investment to a maximum of €45m for 2020.
• WHSmith reported that revenue plunged 85% year-on-year in April, as sales through its growing portfolio of shops in transport locations nosedived 91% amid temporary closures, while revenue through high street stores was down 74%. Online sales jumped 400% in the month, driven by book purchases.
• WHSmith is aiming to “significantly reduce or remove rent payments” and move to turnover-based rent.
• Marks & Spencer is launching a half-price sale across its entire clothing range, with 10% of the purchase price (excluding VAT) being donated to the NHS as part of its ‘Rainbow Sale’ campaign.

Wednesday 13 May

• Under new government guidance, garden centres can reopen stores from today, including Dobbies which is reopening its 54 UK stores.
• TM Lewin has been acquired by private equity Torque Brands.
• Morrisons has introduced a ‘speedy shopping’ system for those looking to make smaller basket purchases. Three speedy customers are being invited into stores for every one customer looking to make a larger trolley shop.

Tuesday 12 May

• Morrisons posted like-for-like sales growth (excluding fuel) of 5.7% in the quarter to 10 May, with retail sales up 5.1% and wholesale 0.6%. Weeks five to seven reportedly marked a “considerable stocking up” period for customers, which pulled sales forward, while Easter sales were “significantly down year on year”. The grocer is aiming to have rolled out click-and-collect to 280 stores by mid-June.
• AO said it expects sales and profits for the financial year to be in line with analyst expectations, as “shopping online has become an unavoidable way of life” with customers “relying on electrical and electronic products like never before”.
• B&Q and Screwfix parent Kingfisher said group sales fell 24% in the three months to 30 April, impacted by store closures in the UK and France. B&Q sales declined by 22.1% to £663m in the period, while. Screwfix reported 0.1% sales dip to £432m. Kingfisher said more than 95% of stores “are currently either open and/or offering a contactless click-and-collect service”.
• Moss Bros is set to reopen online from tomorrow (13 May), having closed its ecommerce and store operations on 26 March. In line with government expectations, the retailer is “developing plans to reopen stores in an orderly manner” from 1 June.

Monday 11 May

• Morrisons and Pret a Manger are using partnerships with Amazon to offer new online services. Morrisons said 40 of its stores are fulfilling same-day deliveries through Prime Now.
• Meanwhile, Pret a Manger has partnered with Amazon to launch its first retail coffee range.

Thursday 7 May

• Debenhams is to shut five stores in Hammerson centres, after failing to agree on terms with the landlord. The closures are likely to result in around 1,400 job losses.
• However, Next has snapped up these sites to launch a new beauty store concept.
• Asda launched an electric vehicle fleet from 48 stores to increase its online delivery capacity during the pandemic, while also playing a role in the grocer’s target to halve carbon emissions across its estate by 2025.
• Hotel Chocolat is trialling the reopening of up to six stores as takeaway locations from next week. The retailer is looking at a phased reopening and has identified high street and independent self-standing stores as the first to open, with stores in transport hubs and shopping centres likely to be the last.
• In a full year update, The Works said sales rocketed 81% in the week to 22 March ahead of lockdown, bolstered by demand for “products to support children’s ongoing education, mindfulness materials to support mental health and products to beat the boredom during this period of social distancing”.
• H&M reported total global sales decreased by 57% between 1 March and 6 May, as 80% of its 5,061-strong global store estate closed by mid-March. The retailer said that 3,050 of its stores – around 60% of its total estate – currently remained closed, with trading at reopened stores said to be “muted”.
• Zalando expects total sales to grow between 10% and 20% this year, having added 50 new partners to its luxury fashion marketplace in the past three weeks, including Vaude, American Eagle Outfitters and Lipsy London.
• White Stuff is preparing to make a “significant” number of redundancies as demand plummets.
• Matalan has reportedly asked existing lenders Barclays and Lloyds to inject a combined £50m of government-backed funding into the business to prevent it running out of cash.
• Superdry reported a 57% fall in store sales in its fourth quarter following mandated store closures, which contributed to a 19.1% decline in full-year group revenue to £705.5m in 2019/20.

Wednesday 6 May

• Ocado said its retail revenue from its second quarter to date was up by 40.4% year-on-year, compared to a 10.3% rise in Q1. Demand has remained “unprecedented”, although Ocado said basket sizes have passed the peak seen between mid-March and early April.
• Ocado said its established consumer fulfilment centres (CFC) are running at full capacity, while its Ertih CFC has increased the capacity of orders it can process to 110,000 from 80,000 in Q1.
• In a City update, Halfords group like-for-like sales for the four weeks to 1 May were 23% down on a year earlier, but “better than we initially anticipated” as cycling received a boost from shoppers exporting alternatives to public transport and staying healthy. However, its motoring arm showed “overall weakness” due to a drop in car journeys in lockdown. The retailer expects its pre-tax profit to be at the upper end of its guided range of £50m to £55m for 2019/20.
• Halfords reportedly has £159m of total liquidity, including overdraft facilities. The retailer is looking to preserve cash as it looks towards the next phase of easing the lockdown.

Tuesday 5 May

• Waitrose is opening a new customer fulfilment centre in London’s Enfield on Thursday, reporting that this would see it double the number of available online delivery slots for Londoners by September, adding 13,000 weekly delivery slots.
• Amazon executive Tim Bray made headlines for leaving his role in protest of the retailer’s treatment of staff who protested against a lack of coronavirus safety measures in its warehouses.

Monday 4 May

• Harrods is launching ‘remove clienteling’, which offers personal shopping for some of its most valuable customers over the phone and by smartphone messaging.
• Hotel Chocolat is increasing its banking facilities with a new £35m line of credit from Lloyds Bank, replacing a £10m overdraft facility. £25m is provided under the terms of the government’s coronavirus large business interruption loans scheme, expiring in December 2021.
• Essential retailer Homebase is expected to reopen all of its shops over the coming weekend. This follows rival B&Q stepping up reopenings, trading from 288 stores by the end of last week.

Sunday 3 May

• Essential retail Superdrug has asked landlords to accept rent cuts. A letter addressed to landlords on 22 April said it intended to “reduce our lease payments to 25% of our passing rent commencing from the next due rental date for a minimum period of three months”, despite keeping stores open.

Friday 1 May

• Following the announcement that Gregg’s wanted to reopen 20 stores on a trial basis next week, the business has rowed back on the plans following “significant interest” as it fears excessive customer numbers to operate with safety measures.
• In its first quarter trading update, Amazon warned that earnings in its second quarter will be wiped out by costs related to coronavirus, including personal protective equipment, cleaning of warehouses, higher wages, social distancing processes and its own development of coronavirus testing facilities.
• Intu has negotiated waivers on covenants with lenders until 26 June on a £600m revolving credit facility, which were set to be breached. The landlord has also appointed David Hargrave to the new position of chief restructuring officer to focus on shoring up its turnaround.
• In a first quarter update, Apple said it has seen an “uptick” in the second half of April from sales of its new iPhone SE, Airpods headphones, and updates for the iPad tablet and MacBook Air. This follows a “sharp decline” in worldwide demand in March.
   

Thursday 30 April

• TK Maxx has restarted selling online – more than two weeks after it stopped taking orders. It has set daily order limits and warned that lead times could be extended. The retailer has also adopted contactless deliveries with its partner Hermes.
• In its full year update, Sainsbury’s said its food sales rocketed 48% in the week to 21 March amid peak stockpiling.
• Sainsbury's said food sales rose 12% in the seven weeks to 25 April. This represents an 8% uplift in total sales (excluding fuel) and offsets the 53% and 22% sales declines across clothing and general merchandise in Sainsbury’s stores respectively.
• Sainsbury’s expects its underlying profit in 2020/21 to be flat, providing lockdown restrictions have eased by the end of June. This assumes that a £500m coronavirus hit – from protection measures and weaker sales across clothing, general merchandise and fuel – is broadly offset by £450m of business rates relief and increased grocery sales.
• In an update to analysts, John Lewis said it is mulling the permanent closure of some of its department stores, even after the coronavirus lockdown ends as the department store chain struggles to return to profitability.
• In its full year update, essential retailer Wilko said: “We quickly invested in safety and protection measures, we’re providing full pay for all our team members without seeking government assistance to do so, we’re working hard to protect as many jobs as we can, and we’ve met all rent and supplier obligations in full to date.”
• Law firm Clifford Chance and investment bank Moelis & Company are advising bondholders on the £1.3bn of debt secured against Intu shopping centres, as the landlord is at risk of breaching covenants on debts. Sites include the Victoria Centre in Nottingham and Lakeside in Essex, as well as the Braehead centre in Glasgow and Watford centre in Hertfordshire. A standstill agreement during the pandemic is expected, meaning covenant breaches would be temporarily waived.

Wednesday 29 April

• Homebase opened a further 50 stores across the UK, following the reopening of 20 shops earlier in the week.Its remaining UK stores are set to reopen from 2 May.
• In a trading update, Dixons Carphone said that in the five weeks to 25 April its online channels had seen sales rise by 166%, compared to 23% in the 11 weeks to 21 March. The electricals retailer said online sales in the UK and Ireland have recovered around two-thirds of sales lost to store closures.
• Dixons Carphone also said it had extended its debt facilities by £266m, giving access to over £1.3bn in borrowing.
• In a trading update, Next said it saw deep declines from the second week of March, which accelerated as each day passed. In the three days before lockdown, Next’s retail sales were down an eyewatering 86%.
• Next has made strong use of the government’s Job Retention Scheme and initially furloughed 88% of its staff across the business as both stores and warehouses shut down. By the end of April, this had reduced to 84% following the reopening of its online operations.
• Next said basic spring summer lines such as plain T-shirts and chinos planned to be sold this year will instead be retailed in 2021. Next is storing around £330m (at selling value) of 2020 stock to sell in 2021, representing around 15% of the total spring summer 2021 buy.
• The multichannel giant has scenario planned for sales to decline this year between 50-62% in Q2, 19%-33% in Q3, and 17%-28% in the final quarter.

Tuesday 28 April

• Marks & Spencer is looking to shore up its balance sheet during “highly uncertain trading conditions”. It plans to borrow from the government’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility and has additionally reached an agreement with banks to “substantially relax or remove covenant conditions” on its existing £1.1bn credit facility.

Monday 27 April

• Homebase has reopened 20 of its bricks-and-mortar stores on a trial basis, following the closure of its entire store estate on 25 March.
• John Lewis is making plans to reopen stores next month, but stressed it would not happen until the government signals that restrictions can be relaxed.
• Greggs is looking to open branches on a limited trial, with distancing measures in place.
• Timpson has reopened 40 supermarket shop-in-shops.

Friday 24 April

• As a cost-cutting measure, JD Sports chief executive Peter Cowgill has taken a voluntary 75% pay cut, while the retailer’s board and senior management team have temporarily reduced their salaries by a quarter.
• In a bid to reduce queues, Sainsbury’s is extending its opening hours from 8am until 10pm, with opening hours in many convenience stores extended to 11pm. It will also reopening its petrol filling station stores.
• Additionally, Sainsbury’s is installing additional protective screens at manned checkouts in a further 150 stores.
• Sainsbury’s is aiming to offer 600,000 online slots per week by the end of April, as boss Mike Coupe says its home delivery and click-and-collect services “are in more demand than ever before”. Its on-demand delivery service ChopChop is also being extended to London zones 1 and 2.
• The Co-op warned that it faces additional costs of more than £200m due to the coronavirus crisis, which will only “in part” be offset by business rates relief and increased food sales. The business has, for instance, taken on 7,000 new workers since the start of the outbreak.
• Amazon has donated £250,000 to The Book Trade Charity fund, set up to help its physical bookshop rivals.
• Marks & Spencers is looking to support its clothing suppliers. It is paying for all made garments yet to be shipped by 24 March – the date it asked suppliers to stop production. The retailer has also committed to covering purchases already made by suppliers of “large” fabric volumes, and offering vendor finance and letters of credit.
   

Thursday 23 April

• After a successful trial of social distancing measures at 14 stores over the weekend, B&Q reopened 61 outlets yesterday and a further 80 today bringing the total number opened to 155.
• Morrisons is offering its suppliers a 5% discount on groceries until at least mid-July as a gesture for helping to feed the nation.
• DFS raised £64m in an equity fundraising round and received credit approval for a new 12-month bank facility of £70m from its existing lending banks. The retailer said this gives it enough “liquidity headroom through a pessimistic scenario of a lockdown to December 2020, followed by a historically weak sofa market”.
• eBay is working with teams across the NHS supply chain, the Department of Health & Social Care and the Army to build a dedicated portal on its website, from which UK healthcare workers across the UK can order personal protective equipment.
• Kering group, which owns Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta, recorded 16.4% drop in revenue in Q1 2020, with Gucci particularly hit by the coronavirus.
• Online fashion business Studio Retail Group reported it withdrew a revolving credit facility of £85m and a securitisation facility supporting credit receivables of up to £200m on 27 March.
• Fashion retailer Animal will cease trading by next year, closing all of its stores, website and concessions, “as a result of the extremely challenging retail market, which has now further worsened due to Covid-19”.
• LK Bennett administrators EY have extended the company’s administration process to 7 March 2021.

Wednesday 22 April

• Boots has hired 500 additional delivery drivers across the UK and has introduced prescription delivery to another 40 of its stores to help cope with greater demand since Covid-19.
• Primark has announced its support for the UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO) call for “urgent collaboration” across the fashion industry, to support garment workers faced with the prospect of unsafe working environments or losing their jobs as a result of Covid-19.
• Restructuring firm Gordon Brothers has bought the Laura Ashley brand and its intellectual property from administrators PwC, and is set to maintain “a streamlined portfolio” of stores in the UK but primarily focus on online and wholesale.
• In its full year update, Boohoo said its trading has been “mixed” since the coronavirus outbreak in the UK, with “a marked decrease” in sales in mid-March. However, it said its “performance has improved in more recent weeks and we are now seeing improved year-on-year growth of group sales during April”, but could not provide guidance for 2020/21.
• Brigadier Acquisition Company is hoping to retract the £22.6m offer it made to acquire Moss Bros in mid-March. It is hoping to lapse its offer because of coronavirus disruption, which saw Moss Bros close all retail operations including online on 26 March.

Tuesday 21 April

• CK Acquisitions has bought the Cath Kidston brand, ecommerce platform and wholesale business from administrators. The retailer’s UK shops are under management of administrator Alvarez & Marsal and are likely to be closed with the loss of 740 jobs.
• Primark parent ABF reported that the retailer has been able to mitigate about half of the financial impact during lockdown through lease negotiations and cost cutting, with a monthly cash outflow of about £100m while shops shut. 
• ABF Chief executive George Weston warned: “Much as I would love to be allowed to reopen Primark stores, because lockdown has so harmed our business and our supply chains, I know that we must not do so until we have suppressed this disease”
• Joules reported it has agreed a £15m increase in borrowing facilities. Alongside an equity raise earlier in the month, the retailer said it has “sufficient liquidity headroom to manage a Covid-19-related downside scenario and the resources to emerge relatively stronger from this unprecedented situation” as online sales outperform expectations.
• John Lewis Partnership cautioned that its full-year sales could fall 35% at John Lewis and a “more modest decline of less than 5%” at Waitrose – anticipating a “significant” sales decline between April and June, and weak sales thereafter.
• The department store reported sales across John Lewis are down 17% overall since mid-March, despite online sale surging 84% year-on-year in the period, with store closures prompting John Lewis to furlough 14,000 staff at the beginning of April.
• Waitrose sales are up 8% year-on-year since 26 January, driven by cupboard essentials such as rice, pasta, home baking, frozen food and cleaning products.
• By the end of the year, Amazon is planning to launch a rapid grocery delivery service called Ultra Fast Fresh, covering some 40% of UK households.
• Ikea has acquired augmented reality start-up Geomagical Labs to allow shoppers to virtually visualise big ticket items in their home without a store visit. Geomagical Labs’ key product enables users to scan a room using a smartphone to create a 3D render and allow existing furniture to be virtually removed and new items added in.

Monday 20 April

• Following the closure of all of its stores, essential retailer B&Q has reopened 14 stores, trialling social distancing measures including two-metre floor-markers and perspex screens at checkouts.
• DFS is in “advanced stages” with lenders to extend its existing £250m debt facility by an additional £60m to £70m. It is also mulling an equity issue of up to 19.9% of its existing capital to provide “resilience for a continued disrupted trading environment” and has reduced its cash outflow.
• In a trading update, DFS said online gross sales increased by 20.2% between 25 March and 17 April.
• Ted Baker announced that it is launching a virtual pop-up store dubbed Ted’s Bazaar, selling A4 prints, T-shirt. Beanies, tea-towels and mugs, with profits going to local community charities that support Covid-19. The virtual store will be hosted on the retailer’s existing website with its first collection released on 1 May.
• Asda has reportedly cancelled clothing orders and offered suppliers 30% of an order’s value as a “gesture of goodwill”, rising to 50% for already completed orders.
• Primark has extended its support for suppliers, paying £370m of additional orders for product on top of the £1.5bn of stock in stores, depots and in transit – despite its shops being shut and its inability to trade online.
• Pret a Manger is aiming to launch a range of whole and ground coffee beans in supermarkets at the end of the month, as it tries to adapt to new trading realities.

Saturday 18 April

• It has been reported that Arcadia has given notice on at least 100 store leases, which could lead to renegotiations or closures by the end of the summer.

Friday 17 April

• Gousto has secured £33m in a funding round, as the coronavirus lockdown has supported a 70% year-on-year increase during Q1 for the meal-kit retailer.
• Waitrose’s same day delivery slots are set to increase from 2,000 to 7,000 per week, while its click-and-collect slots are increasing by 10,000 per week to over 30,000 slots a week.
• Primark is giving care packs containing 74,000 products to London’s NHS Nightingale Hospital, including underwear, leggings, T-shirts, footwear and towels for staff and patients.

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