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Pubs and restaurants brought to market rise 22%, says Christie & Co
07/10/2026Christie & Co brought 22% more pubs and restaurants to market between January and August 2026 than in the same months of 2025, according to the property adviser. It was instructed to sell more than 360 properties and agreed more…
Property Franchise Group takes 25% stake in Enteka AI
07/10/2026The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) has taken a 25% equity interest in Enteka AI, a conversational AI platform for UK estate agents and mortgage brokers. The group announced the investment on 7 October 2026 through a regulatory statement, with a…
Aldi names 24 new UK stores opening before Christmas
02/10/2026Aldi has published the list of 24 new UK stores it plans to open before Christmas, plus three relocations, in the 10 weeks to the end of 2026. The announcement follows annual results showing turnover up 5% to a record…
Vaping Products Duty takes effect at £2.20 per 10ml
01/10/2026Vaping Products Duty took effect across the UK on 1 October 2026 at £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid, alongside a stamps scheme intended to trace products through the supply chain. Retailers have until 31 March 2027 to sell existing…
Co-op Group’s first-half loss widens to £45 million
23/09/2026Costs rise despite a stronger balance sheet Underlying costs increased 2% across the half, after the group absorbed £78 million of additional headwinds, including higher employer National Insurance contributions, a rise carried by operators across the food and drink franchises…
Kingfisher lifts profit outlook as first-half profits rise 10%
23/09/2026Kingfisher, the retail group behind B&Q and Screwfix, raised its full-year profit guidance after adjusted pre-tax profit rose 9.9% to £404 million in the first half. Screwfix continued to outperform while B&Q's like-for-like sales fell, as the group narrowed its…
Mothercare warns on solvency as Middle East partner closes stores
21/09/2026Mothercare has told the market its longer-term solvency is highly uncertain, after its leading Middle East franchise partner said it expects to close the substantial majority of its Mothercare stores during 2027. The AIM-listed company, which holds no shops of…
Conservatives pledge to restore tax-free shopping for overseas visitors
21/09/2026The Conservatives have pledged to restore VAT refunds for overseas visitors shopping in Great Britain, five years after the scheme was withdrawn. The party puts the cost at £540 million a year and claims it would draw 2.35 million more…
Offers on UK convenience sites rise 26% in H1
16/09/2026Offers made on UK convenience stores and forecourts rose 26% in the first half of 2026, according to Christie & Co's latest Retail Market Review. The advisory firm recorded more than 100 sales in the period, around four a week,…
Digital ID goes live for alcohol sales in England and Wales
15/09/2026Licensed premises in England and Wales can accept digital proof of age for alcohol sales from today, under an amendment to the mandatory conditions of the Licensing Act 2003. Adoption is voluntary, physical ID stays valid, and only providers certified…
