Stop clinging to the last century and let the high street evolve February 10, 2020 Every January, without fail, the hand-wringing begins. After predictably poor Christmas retail results, everyone wants to know: are we seeing the death of the high street? The gloom doesn’t stop. Last week, the boss of John Lewis was the latest to lament the retail landscape, warning of potential store closures and job losses. Why are [...]
Burberry says coronavirus has had ‘more significant impact on sales than Hong Kong protests’ February 7, 2020 Burberry has said that the coronavirus outbreak in China has had a more significant impact on its sales than the last year’s Hong Kong protests. The luxury fashion group has had to close around 24 of its 64 stores in China, while the rest were operating on reduced hours. The Chinese market accounts for around [...]
Pets at Home appoints new chairman February 7, 2020 Pets at Home has appointed current Studio Retail Group chair Ian Burke as its new chairman. Burke will takeover the role from the outgoing non-executive chairman Tony DeNunzio following a hand over process. The pet product and veterinary company announced that DeNunzio would be stepping down in its interim results last November. In a statement, [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: This Rebel has a cause in valuable handicap February 6, 2020 IN JUST over four weeks time the curtain will be raised for the greatest four days of National Hunt racing. This time of year is like the run up to Christmas for racing fans and there is plenty to whet the appetite at Newbury tomorrow. Any day Altior runs is a good day and it’s [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: Whittington set for a Rouge letter day with Vif at Warwick February 6, 2020 TRAINER Harry Whittington and owner Andrew Brooks teamed up to win the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (2.05pm) at Warwick two season ago with Saint Calvados and they look to have an excellent chance of repeating that trick with ROUGE VIF tomorrow. The six-year-old rounded off his novice hurdling career with a really good third in Aintree’s [...]
Royal Mail shares tumble as strikes threaten turnaround plan February 6, 2020 Royal Mail shares have tumbled more than eight per cent after it warned that the outlook for the next financial year “is challenging”, adding that threats of industrial action will hurt its turnaround plan. Revenue at the 500-year-old company grew 3.7 per cent in the nine months to the end of the year, however, as [...]
M&S appoints strategy and transformation director February 5, 2020 Marks & Spencer has appointed a new chief strategy and transformation director as the retailer seeks to improve the performance of its key clothing and home division. Former Dixons Carphone UK and Ireland boss Katie Bickerstaffe, currently a non-executive director at the high street chain, will take up the new role on 27 April. Bickerstaffe, [...]
Poundland-owner Pepco’s boss says sale ‘almost inevitable’ February 5, 2020 The chief executive of Poundland-owner Pepco Group said it is “almost inevitable” the company will be sold, as the retailer updated the market on its strong Christmas trading last year. Pepco Group boss Andy Bond said it is likely that its owner Steinhoff will sell the firm, adding he is “genuinely open minded” on the [...]
Investment in UK supermarket property surges to six-year high February 5, 2020 UK supermarket property deal value surged to a six year high last year as investors targeted retail real estate with steady returns. According to the latest research, property investors pumped £1.78bn into the UK supermarket sector in 2019, an 80 per cent jump on the previous year. There were 48 transactions during the year, up [...]
New John Lewis boss makes first key hire February 4, 2020 Former Ofcom boss Sharon White has made her first key hire as she takes over as chairman of struggling department store John Lewis. Nina Bhatia has been appointed executive director of strategy and commercial development following a reshuffle of the partnership’s structure. Bhatia, who was most recently managing director at home energy management company Hive [...]