Up-to-date coverage of the latest events in UK retail.
Inditex posts profits rise
Zara-owner Inditex reported net profits up 4% in the first nine months of its financial year, a lower rise than in the previous year advance after warm weather hit performance.
Inditex made a net profit of €2.44 billion in the period.
Inditex posted total sales ahead 3% to euro 18.4bn.
Intu Watford boosts leisure appeal
Cineworld and Hollywood Bowl opening this week at Intu Watford’s £180 million extension as part of plans to make the shopping centre a night-time as well as retail destination.
Hollywood Bowl chief financial officer Laurence Keen said: “Intu Watford is a major leisure destination for the wider area and this really attracted us to the new town centre scheme.
“We’re extremely confident the new Hollywood Bowl will thrive in this location by meeting the growing leisure demand among shoppers working and living in and around the town.”
New openings at Bluewater
Bluewater owner Landsec has unveiled29,500 sq ft of new openings and upsizes at the Kent shopping centre. New arrivals will include Levi’s, which will open a women’s store, Happy Socks and Penhaligon’s.
JD Sports, Beaverbrooks and Chisholm Hunter are increase their floor space.
The 1,900 sq ft Levi’s women’s store will offers personalisation and is the second of its kind globally.
Landsec portfolio director Robert Hardie said: “The scale and diversity of recent lettings is testament to the quality of the existing offer at the scheme and to [our] ability and skill in driving a relevant consumer base through brands’ doors.”