Today’s news in brief-15/4/25

Halfords has appointed Henry Birch, former CEO of The Very Group, as its new chief executive, replacing Graham Stapleton, who steps down after seven years. Under Stapleton’s leadership, Halfords transformed from a cycling and motoring retailer into an omnichannel motoring services specialist, growing annual revenues from £1.1bn to £1.7bn. Birch, who also previously led Rank Group and William Hill’s online division, expressed confidence in Halfords’ future despite ongoing economic challenges.

Discount retailer B&M plans to open 45 new UK stores in 2025 despite a 3.1% drop in UK like-for-like sales to £4.5bn for the year ending March 2025. The group’s overall revenue rose 3.7% to £5.6bn, buoyed by expansion in France. B&M is also progressing in its search for a new CEO to replace Alex Russo, with reports suggesting former Morrisons boss David Potts is a leading candidate.

Frasers Group has partnered with Australia’s Accent Group to launch Sports Direct in Australia and New Zealand, targeting 100 new stores. The deal includes a £29m investment for the initial rollout and will see Frasers increase its stake in Accent Group to 19.57%. The collaboration will leverage Accent’s retail expertise and Frasers’ global brands, including Everlast and Slazenger.

UK retail sales saw a modest 1.1% year-on-year rise in March, driven by improved weather boosting gardening and DIY sales, according to BRC-KPMG data. Food sales grew 1.6%, while non-food sales edged up 0.6%, with jewellery and beauty products benefiting from Mother’s Day. However, larger purchases like furniture remained weak. The BRC warned that new business costs, including higher wages, could push inflation up later in the year.

Co-op Wholesale has secured a multi-year deal with motorway service operator Roadchef, replacing Spar in eight locations. The partnership, launching between June and September 2025, will expand Co-op’s presence in travel hubs, offering its own-brand range to Roadchef’s 52 million annual visitors. The move supports Co-op Wholesale’s strategy to grow its B2B market reach.

Majestic Wine has completed its acquisition of premium drinks supplier Enotria&Coe, significantly expanding its on-trade market share. The deal strengthens Majestic’s position in hospitality, combining Enotria&Coe’s exclusive wine and spirits range with Majestic Commercial’s B2B operations. Both brands will operate independently, with Majestic aiming to become the UK’s leading premium wine specialist. Enotria&Coe CEO Julian Momen hailed the move as a new era for the 52-year-old business.