Retail news

• WHSmith could close half of high street stores under new owner

  09-02-2025 19:05 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  WHSmith could shut at least half of its 500 high street stores under a new owner, raising the possibility of large-scale job cuts at the business, according to industry experts.
  Forecasts for the final size of the stationery retailer range from no more than 250 shops, The Guardian reported. 
  Offers for WHSmith are expected during the next few weeks, with a deal finalised by early May.
  The brand is currently in discussions with potential bidders, such as Hilco, Alteri, Modella Capital, and H
  
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• M&S boss says UK retailers being ‘raided like a piggy bank’ over planned tax rises

  09-02-2025 17:55
  Stuart Machin also speculates about whether successive governments have been guilty of ‘snobbery’ towards retailThe chief executive of Marks & Spencer has called on the UK government to delay or ease planned tax and recycling charges, claiming the retail industry is being “raided like a piggy bank”.Stuart Machin said that without pausing or staggering the changes to national insurance and business rates, which come into effect this April, UK retail would get smaller.
  
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• At least half of WH Smith stores could close under a new owner, experts say

  09-02-2025 15:15
  Potential buyer would want only about 250 outlets, retail specialists say, raising prospect of major job lossesAt least half of WH Smith’s 500 high street stores could be closed by any new owner, industry experts say, raising the prospect of sweeping job losses at the ailing retailer.Predictions for the eventual size of the chain, which employs about 5,000 people in its high street shops, range from no more than 250 stores. Offers for the group are expected in the next few weeks and a deal
  
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• At least half of WH Smith high street stores could close under a new owner

  09-02-2025 15:15
  
  Experts say potential buyer would want only about 250 of those outlets, raising prospect of significant job lossesAt least half of WH Smith’s 500 high street stores could be closed by any new owner, industry experts say, raising the prospect of sweeping job losses at the ailing retailer.Predictions for the eventual size of the chain, which employs about 5,000 people in its high street shops, range from no more than 250 stores. Offers for the group are expected in the next few weeks and a d
  
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• M&S CEO warns against mountain of costs facing retailers

  09-02-2025 11:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  M&S CEO Stuart Machin has warned against the mountain of costs facing UK retailers following the Budget, despite Chancellor Rachel Reeves pushing for growth.
  Writing in The Sunday Times, Machin claimed the UK’s retailers were being “raided like a piggy bank”.
  He said: “Many of the announcements in Rachel Reeves’s speech last month were commendable — a focus on long-term planning, good ideas to free up investment in infrastructure and a more positive tone.
  
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