News
TGJones owner emerges as potential buyer for Poundland
27th August 2026Modella Capital, the private equity firm that acquired WHSmith’s high street business in 2025 before its rebrand to TGJones, has reportedly emerged as a potential buyer of discount retailer Poundland. Industry sources told Sky News that although Modella has not yet made an official bid for Poundland, the group was a “logical buyer” of the retailer, having bought its Polish sister company Dealz several months ago. Last week, it was reported that Gordon Brothers, which acquired Poundland for one euro last year, had appointed Alvarez & Marshall to oversee an auction of the retailer’s business. Poundland’s sale was part of a restructuring process that saw the closure of around 200 stores, with the chain now operating from around 600 locations. The addition of Poundland to Modella Capital’s business would be a continuation of the group’s strategy, which has seen it acquire retailers including Flying Tiger Copenhagen, Hobbycraft, and Claire’s in recent years.
Deals
Walsall shopping centre reaches full occupancy following two new lettings
26th August 2026Aldridge Shopping Centre in Walsall has reached full occupancy after the completion of two new lettings totalling 2,437 sq ft. Williams Nails has taken Units 41-42 on a six-year lease, adding to the centre’s health and beauty offer. The 595 sq ft unit adds to a growing cluster of personal care operators at the scheme. Meanwhile, Sweetland has signed a seven-year lease on Unit 11, Anchor Parade, taking 1,842 sq ft. The lettings bring the 150,000 sq ft centre to 100% occupancy across its 58 units. Aldridge Shopping Centre is located on the edge of Walsall town centre, close to the M6 and M6 Toll, giving occupiers access to the Birmingham and Wolverhampton catchments. Tenants at the scheme include Iceland, Boots, Home Bargains and Greggs. Rob Ellis, asset manager at LCP UK, part of M Core, said: “Reaching full occupancy at Aldridge Shopping Centre reflects the strength of demand for well-located, affordable retail space in the West Midlands. Williams Nails and Sweetland bring genuine diversity to our tenant mix, and both are already trading well. We’ll continue to invest in the centre to support our occupiers and the wider Aldridge community.”
Requirements
Toolstation eyes new sites as it looks to expand London and South East estate
22nd April 2026Toolstation has released its latest property requirements list as it looks to expand its store estate across Greater London and the South East. The trade supplies retailer is seeking units on high streets and trade parks ranging between 2,000 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft in size, located in prominent and visible roadside locations. Ideal units will be situated in easily accessible locations, with access to parking and loading bays essential. Target locations include: GCW has been retained to find suitable locations.
Insights
The rise of ‘treatonomics’: how changing spending patterns are affecting retail destinations
9th July 2026Times of economic difficulty and reduced consumer confidence have traditionally seen consumers tighten their purse strings, occasionally saving up for a larger purchase. But a recent shift in spending patterns suggests that shoppers are now shunning big-ticket purchases in favour of smaller, less expensive products or experiences. This concept, dubbed ‘treatonomics’, has been observed by Alex Petit, head of research and insights at Global Mutual, within the group’s portfolio of outlet shopping centres. “What we’ve seen is that cost-of-living crisis, combined with people wanting to keep on treating themselves, means that people are suddenly treating themselves on much smaller price points. That’s what we’re seeing with treatonomics”, she tells Completely Retail News. Data from the ONS found that despite increasing costs, sales volumes have remained broadly flat against pre-pandemic levels. This implies a shift towards consumers spending money less often, but instead choosing to make select purchases of higher values. “People are being very considered”, says Petit, “I think it comes from the pandemic as well, when we were all locked at home and we were deprived of a lot of things. People now have a slightly different outlook on life as there’s this hang-up psychologically, from us not being […]
Advice
Turn lease events from growing pains into commercial gains
10th March 2026By Simon Matley, director for dilapidations and occupier services at TFT After a period of acquisition, a large commercial retail portfolio can become either a major liability or a powerful cost saver for retailers who need every advantage they can get in a challenging consumer market. For national multiples and high street brands, often with sizeable portfolios numbering in the hundreds of units, or for smaller regional operations that are growing at speed, flexibility and control are hugely important. Brands today are adapting their portfolios in light of changing consumer behaviour and omni-channel retailing, and this is shaped by the increasingly sophisticated data capture that allows them to better understand stock, fulfilment, customer behaviour, and operations. For many who have been acquiring premises over the past 10 years, they will almost certainly find that data allows them to be more efficient in the space they need, not least because of the growth of last mile logistics and on demand deliveries which enables occupiers to be nimble in how they use their spaces. Whether they operate on the high street, in retail parks or rely on distribution centres, retailers want to scale fast, explore new territory and snap up the right […]
News
John Lewis unveils new restaurant concept on Oxford Street
26th August 2026John Lewis has unveiled a new in-store restaurant concept, Platter, at its flagship store on London’s Oxford Street. The concept forms part of a £800m investment in John Lewis, and will replace John Lewis restaurants across 32 stores by the end of 2027. The restaurants in Bluewater, Chichester, and Reading have already reopened. Platter Oxford Street features an open kitchen serving hand-stretched pizza, a made-on-site deli, a dessert parlour, a bar overlooking the shop’s atrium, and accommodates 300 covers including fifty on the fifth-floor terrace which overlooks Oxford Street. It also features an in-store roastery and The Residency, a rotating pop-up launching with London patisserie The Eclectic Collection. John Lewis said the change reflects changes in how people shop now. Hospitality accounts for over 20% of the retailer’s in-store transactions, with sales increasing by nearly 10% in the past year. John Lewis opened its first café in 1965 and now operates 62 cafés and restaurants across the country. Katie Papakonstantinou, director of services and hospitality for John Lewis, said: “This is a real investment in something customers told us mattered. Sitting down for something to eat and drink has become part of how people shop and Platter is built for that. […]
