Retail News UK

Threshers owner First Quench is on the brink of going into administration, Retail Week has learned.

Updated: Fashion brand Banana Republic is on the verge of signing a deal for its third UK store as the retailer prepares to open its second shop in shopping centre Brent Cross

UK retail sales grew 2.8% in September on a like-for-like basis, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.

John Lewis department store sales rose by a higher than expected 6.3% last week, despite a strong year-on-year comparative.

Tesco has reported a 1.5% rise in group first half pre-tax profits to £1.4bn.

Tesco said profits had been held back by higher interest payments on borrowings to pay for its two big acquisitions last year, Homever in Korea and Tesco Bank.

Waitrose is to make a major play for the convenience market, and has embarked on a partnership with Boots UK to sell select product ranges in each others' stores.

Boden, the catalogue and internet retailer, reported sales in the first half to June 30 rose by 20%, or 6% excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates.

Primark owner Associated British Foods said sales and profits in the year to September 12 at the value fashion retailer will be "well ahead of last year".

Like-for-likes are expected to grow 7% in the period, driven by a "very strong performance" in the UK.

Morrisons is to temporarily freeze the price of its fuel despite the Government's 2p a litre rise in duty from Wednesday.

Sainsbury's has launched its biggest ever pre-Christmas recruitment drive, hiring 20,000 seasonal staff.

Last year the supermarket giant hired 12,000 staff to help it through its busy Christmas period.