http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/ Retail news for executives in the UK. Covering issues in wholesale retailing, internet retailing, globalisation, retail marketing, economic growth, recession. Woolworths Group, the sweets-to-DVDs retailer, said on Friday it has agreed to sell leases on up to nine stores to supermarket giant Tesco for up to 9 million pounds http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Woolworths-sells-up-to-9-store-leases-to-Tesco_8498.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Woolworths-sells-up-to-9-store-leases-to-Tesco_8498.aspx Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:57:47 GMT Retail Digital UK Carphone Warehouse and U S partner Best Buy could signal plans for over 100 new UK shops on Tuesday, as the first step of their assault on Europe's electrical goods market, analysts believe http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Carphone-and-Best-Buy-to-unveil-Europe-expansion-plan_8508.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Carphone-and-Best-Buy-to-unveil-Europe-expansion-plan_8508.aspx Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:52:24 GMT Retail Digital UK Philip Green, the billionaire owner of Bhs and the Arcadia fashion group, denied a report that he bought a 3 percent stake in J Sainsbury, the country's third largest supermarket chain. http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Philip-Green-denies-Sainsbury-stake-report_8484.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Philip-Green-denies-Sainsbury-stake-report_8484.aspx Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:13:47 GMT Retail Digital UK Alan Sugar, the millionaire founder of Amstrad computers and host of BBC television's The Apprentice, has purchased a near 4 percent stake in Woolworths Group , an industry source said on Friday. http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Millionaire-Sugar-buys-Woolworths-stake_8491.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Millionaire-Sugar-buys-Woolworths-stake_8491.aspx Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:48:45 GMT Retail Digital UK John Lewis Partnership , the employee-owned store chain seen as a barometer of the retail sector, said on Friday the latest weekly sales at its 27 department stores fell 0.5 percent. http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/John-Lewis-weekly-dept-store-sales-down-0-5-pct_8482.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/John-Lewis-weekly-dept-store-sales-down-0-5-pct_8482.aspx Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:34:46 GMT Retail Digital UK The competition watchdog believes the market for retail payment protection insurance needs improving because there is little competition between providers and limited ability for shoppers to find alternatives http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Watchdog-says-retail-payment-protection-needs-improving_8479.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Watchdog-says-retail-payment-protection-needs-improving_8479.aspx Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:00:34 GMT Retail Digital UK WH Smith, the newspaper and book retailer, reported better-than-expected profits, contrasting with a profit warning from bakery chain Greggs, while both firms reckoned they could weather the consumer slump. http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Mixed-fortunes-for-retailers-as-downturn-bites_8407.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Mixed-fortunes-for-retailers-as-downturn-bites_8407.aspx Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:24:49 GMT Retail Digital UK WH Smith , the newspapers, books and stationery retailer, posted a better-than- expected 15 percent rise in full-year profit, as margin gains and cost savings offset a fall in underlying sales. http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/WH-Smith-year-profit-up-15-percent_8380.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/WH-Smith-year-profit-up-15-percent_8380.aspx Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:40:10 GMT Retail Digital UK J Sainsbury posted quarterly sales towards the top end of forecasts, but its shares tumbled as major investor Robert Tchenguiz sold his stake and amid some concern over shoppers switching to cheaper ranges. http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Sainsbury-Q2-sales-up-4-3-percent_8261.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Sainsbury-Q2-sales-up-4-3-percent_8261.aspx Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:33:42 GMT Retail Digital UK Asda, Britain's second-biggest supermarket group, said on Wednesday it delivered "strong sales growth" in September. http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Asda-says-September-sales-growth-was--strong-_8306.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Asda-says-September-sales-growth-was--strong-_8306.aspx Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:26:12 GMT Retail Digital UK Furniture retailer Land of Leather reported an 87 percent drop in annual profit on Wednesday, falling foul of an economic downturn and weakening consumer confidence, and said 2009 would be challenging. http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Land-of-Leather-full-year-profit-down-87-percent_8262.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Land-of-Leather-full-year-profit-down-87-percent_8262.aspx Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:36:18 GMT Retail Digital UK Woolworths Group said it was comfortable with its financial and cash positions and was continuing to trade normally with its suppliers despite their loss of credit insurance cover. http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Woolworths-comfortable-with-finance-and-cash-position_8276.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Woolworths-comfortable-with-finance-and-cash-position_8276.aspx Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:21:16 GMT Retail Digital UK Bhs Group Ltd has seen sales fall four percent in the last six weeks of trading as consumers tighten their purse strings, reflecting the impact of the market http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Bhs-sees-sales-drop-4-_8137.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Bhs-sees-sales-drop-4-_8137.aspx Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:09:03 GMT Retail Digital UK Harrods has announced record sales of £688 3 million for the full year to February as its shoppers continue to buy luxury goods despite the credit crunch http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Harrods-sees-double-digit-growth-during-credit-crunch_8092.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Harrods-sees-double-digit-growth-during-credit-crunch_8092.aspx Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:30:42 GMT Retail Digital UK Asda, the No 2 grocer, has launched a non-food arm, Asda Direct, selling products ranging from clothes and furniture to power tools and toys to compete with rival Tesco and Home Retail's Argos http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Asda-launches-non-food-arm-to-take-on-Tesco-and-Argos_8061.aspx http://www.execdigital.co.uk/Retail/Asda-launches-non-food-arm-to-take-on-Tesco-and-Argos_8061.aspx Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:31:47 GMT Retail Digital UK