Breakfast Briefing: Retail news on shop prices, Aldi, Sports Direct and Toys 'R' Us

Aldi sales densities soar as it outpaces the big grocers

Aldi’s sales densities have more than doubled since 2010 and the discounter has outstripped rivals among the big four.

The findings came as the German grocer this week overtook Waitrose to become the sixth largest supermarket in the UK. It marked a meteoric rise for Aldi, which has gained ground at the expense of the big four.

Aldi’s sales densities have overtaken Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, rocketing from £465 per sq ft during 2010/11 to £1,075 per sq ft in 2014/15, data compiled by Retail Week analysts showed.

Sales densities are a critical measure of store productivity and Aldi’s rise shows its success is not simply the result of adding space.

Retail Week analyst Philip Wiggenraad said: “The extent of Aldi’s improvement has been remarkable. Significant like-for-like sales growth has had a direct impact on its sales densities.”

Ex-USC staff to take administrators to tribunal over layoffs

Around 50 former workers for Sports Direct’s USC are taking the administrators of the bust fashion chain to an employment tribunal, The Independent understands. Sports Direct and joint administrators Duff & Phelps and Gallaghers should have consulted with staff at the USC Dundonald warehouse at least 30 days prior to the closure, lawyers will argue.

Instead staff were given just 15 minutes’ notice, with the saga described as more akin to a ‘dodgy backstreet outfit’ by MPs. The notice was filed at Glasgow’s Employment Tribunal and is due to be heard in the next few months. Staff are demanding 13 weeks’ pay from the administrators, but are expected to get back around eight weeks’ worth.

Toys ‘R’ Us mulls breaking into Ireland

US toy retailer Toys “R” Us are said to be gearing up to expand into Ireland, Indo Business reported. The chain is to open six outlets in Dublin and other cities around the country, with details of the new shops expected within weeks. The expansion is likely to follow a franchise business model rather than be run directly by Toys “R” Us itself.