Retailers urge Healey to unwind national insurance hike to boost jobs September 3, 2026 Retailers have called on Chancellor John Healey to unwind some of the national insurance reforms made by his predecessor in a bid to tackle the youth joblessness crisis. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer, has written to the Chancellor, urging him to unwind “soaring employment costs”. [...]
Poundland owners rush to sell discount retailer before Christmas September 2, 2026 The owners of Poundland are racing to find a buyer for the discount retailer ahead of the all-important Christmas trading period, having already received interest from suitors. Gordon Brothers, who bought Poundland only a year ago, have appointed advisors Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) to sound out interest in the company after several parties approached the [...]
Tesco and M&S warn Burnham against Budget tax raid on retailers September 1, 2026 Top supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer have urged Andy Burnham to rule out a Budget tax raid on retailers, warning they are already facing “unsustainable” costs. The Retail Jobs Alliance (RJA), which represents retailers employing more than 1m people, has urged the Prime Minister not to prioritise pubs and bars over high [...]
‘Big hitter’ Baldock readies Boots makeover August 31, 2026 As workers across the City return to their desks after the summer holidays, one executive is starting somewhere new. Alex Baldock, the former boss of Currys, will take his place as chief executive of health and beauty retailer Boots on Tuesday, City AM understands. The group, one of the UK’s biggest and best-known retailers, has [...]
The Danish retailer plotting to outsmart ‘unsentimental’ Modella Capital August 25, 2026 On the modern-day British high street, a Scandinavian shop featuring maze-like aisles, quirky homeware and bags of licorice near the till is not quite a reinvention of the wheel. But Mikkel Grene, chief executive of Danish homeware retailer Søstrene Grene, believes his business can go toe-to-toe with Ikea and Flying Tiger for pride of place [...]
Burnham accused of ‘piecemeal’ business rates reform August 24, 2026 Andy Burnham has been accused of taking a “piecemeal” approach to business rates instead of committing to Labour’s manifesto pledge to replace the tax system. The government has launched a review into how business rates bills are calculated for pubs and hotels, but industry bodies have urged the Prime Minister to commit to wholesale reform [...]
Poundland loss doubles as discount retailer nears sale August 24, 2026 Poundland nearly doubled its loss amid a drastic downturn which pushed the discount retailer to post a “challenging set of numbers” last year. The retailer slumped to an £85.2m pre-tax loss in the year to September, nearly doubling the previous year’s £45.4m, its latest filings have revealed. This loss came in the run-up to Poundland’s [...]
The decline of Harvey Nichols is a tale of London’s decline too August 21, 2026 The decline and fall of Harvey Nichols is not just another business story. It is a warning about the crisis engulfing London’s high streets.
New planning rules ‘could blight high streets with empty pubs’ August 18, 2026 Angela Rayner’s attempt to stop pubs being redeveloped into offices and housing could “blight high streets” with empty venues, property experts have warned. The housing secretary has unveiled reforms to planning rules which mean that developers can only turn a pub into housing or an office if there is no reasonable prospect that it can [...]
Poundland owner eyes sale one year after takeover August 18, 2026 The owner of Poundland is weighing up a sale of the discount retailer only one year after snapping it up for just £1. Gordon Brothers, a Boston-based investment firm, is in talks with advisers over launching a potential auction for the retailer – which is in the midst of a drastic restructuring. The sale would [...]