UK retail sector sheds 57,000 jobs after tough year for high street January 23, 2020 The retail sector shed 57,000 jobs in the fourth quarter of last year following the “worst year on record” for the UK high street. The total number of retail employees fell 1.8 per cent year on year, in the 16th consecutive quarter of decline, the latest research found. The job loss figures come after it [...]
Customer satisfaction levels suffer as retailers battle tough trading condtions January 23, 2020 Customer service satisfaction levels have suffered the longest decline since records began as retailers struggle to juggle meeting consumer expectations and facing the challenging trading conditions on the UK high street. The latest research showed that customer service satisfaction is at the lowest level since July 2015 with a score of 76.9. The top five [...]
Shopping centre owner New River ‘pleased’ with tenants’ Christmas trading January 22, 2020 Property landlord New River this morning said it was pleased with its tenants’ performance during the Christmas trading period despite a drop in footfall at its shopping centres. The real estate investment trust (REIT) said its top 15 tenants, which include Sainsbury’s, B&M, Primark, Next and Iceland, had reported a “robust” trading performance despite “challenging [...]
JD Wetherspoon toasts Christmas sales but warns on debt January 22, 2020 Pub chain JD Wetherspoon reported this morning that sales were up over the Christmas period, but warned that full-year debt will be higher than expected due to a spike in capital expenditure. The pub operator said like-for-like sales in the 12 weeks to 19 January increased 4.7 per cent, and total sales were up 4.2 [...]
Failed Asda merger ‘trigger’ for Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe’s exit January 22, 2020 The departure of Sainsbury’s boss Mike Coupe’s was sparked by the failure to merge the supermarket with rival Asda, analysts said today. Industry experts said it was impossible to look beyond the failure of the Asda merger, and felt his resignation – announced today – was simply a matter of time. Coupe was caught on [...]
Ted Baker reveals £25m accounting error actually cost it £58m January 22, 2020 Ted Baker’s torrid time continued this morning after the designer brand said that it had overstated the value of its inventory by £58m. Last month the luxury clothing firm said that it had appointed magic circle law firm Freshfields to investigate the issue, which it expected to cost £25m. Big four auditor Deloitte has now [...]
Pets at Home groomed for 2020 glory after record Christmas January 22, 2020 Pets at Home is making progress in its bid to be top dog in the UK pet market, announcing a 12th consecutive quarter of growth in this morning’s trading update. The grooming company, which has said that it wants to generate 50 per cent of its revenue through services, saw group revenue grow 7.9 per [...]
WH Smith in the sun as travel division drives growth January 22, 2020 WH Smith defied the winter woes that have affected many of its fellow retailers, with revenue up seven per cent for the 20 weeks to Christmas. The growth was largely driven by an especially strong performance by the high street stalwart’s travel business, which runs stores in airports and rail stations. In total, the division [...]
Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe to retire after six years January 22, 2020 Mike Coupe is set to retire as chief executive of Sainsbury’s after six years at the helm, the company revealed today. The CEO will leave the role in May before retail and operations director Simon Roberts takes charge in June. Mike Coupe said leaving had been a “very difficult decision for me personally”. Read more: [...]
Burberry raises full year guidance after sales rise January 22, 2020 Designer brand Burberry this morning raised its guidance for the year after a quarter in which the luxury brand saw revenue rise three per cent. Revenue in the third quarter hit £719m, up from £711m twelve months ago, as the firm’s focus on the far eastern market looked to be paying off. In response Burberry [...]