Lidl joins Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Primark to shut shops for Queen’s funeral September 12, 2022 Top supermarkets and retailers including Lidl, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s are set to shut their UK stores on the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Major retailers B&Q and Primark will also close shops for the bank holiday to mark the Queen’s state-funeral next Monday. Some supermarkets are also working on plans to cut some of [...]
How Brits (and businesses) fell in love with the humble retail park September 20, 2023 On the outskirts of every bustling town and city lies the reliable, yet boring, retail park. But, as dull as they may be, retail parks are having their moment in the sun.
Who are the frontrunners in the race to save Wilko? August 30, 2023 Why did Wilko go bust? A cocktail of dwindling demand for physical stores and competition in the discount market appeared to tip Wilko into administration. Even when a squeeze on public finances forced shoppers back to the high street in search of cheaper goods, they seemed to favour rivals B&M and Poundland when nabbing a [...]
Retailers tumble as investors fret over spending squeeze June 9, 2022 Retailers took a tumble in London today driven by investors fretting over the impact of the cost of living crunch on the sector’s bottom line. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index slid 1.54 per cent to 7,476.21 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK [...]
Warnings of a profit crisis for retailers as margins shrink in the past decade June 14, 2022 Retail profit margins will plunge to 5.1 per cent in 2022, the lowest level in a decade. Excluding the initial impact of the Covid 19 pandemic and related shop closures, profit margins will drop to the lowest level in a decade, down from 8.3 per cent in 2021. Some 57 per cent of UK consumers [...]
Poundland sale delayed due to CEO’s illness amid market volatility March 12, 2020 Poundland owner Steinhoff International has reportedly paused the potential sale of its European arm Pepco amid increased market volatility and its chief executive’s leave of absence. Steinhoff announced last year that it was mulling a range of strategic options for Pepco Group, which contains Poundland, including a potential public listing. However the process has been [...]
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 [...]
Exclusive: High Street queen Mary Portas says retail’s 2022 race to the bottom is finally over January 12, 2023 City A.M. sits down with the 'Queen of retail', or Madam High Street, retail consultant and broadcaster Mary Portas.
Poundland owner lines up advisors for stock market listing January 7, 2020 The owner of Poundland is reportedly mulling a stock market listing that could value the discount retailer at about £3.4bn. Steinhoff International Holdings, the owner of Poundland’s parent company Pepco Group, is expected to appoint advisors in the next few days to support plans for an initial public offering (IPO), Sky News reported. Read more: [...]
Discounter Pepco sets sights on Europe with 400 store openings February 19, 2021 The owner of British discount retailer Poundland has targeted 400 store openings across Europe in the upcoming financial year as it expands its Pepco brand, its boss said on Friday. The group opened 327 new stores in the previous financial year, taking the total to more than 3,000 across 15 countries. Italian confidence Pepco entered [...]