Matalan Retail Limited - apparel and textile industry company news 
just-style's most read stories this week...
3 May 2013
The most read stories on just-style this week focused on the response to the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh, which killed over 400 people. There have been renewed calls for increased worker safety, while Primark, Matalan and Joe Fresh, have all committed compensation for the victims.
Viewpoint: Making clothes should never mean life or death
2 May 2013
Is Bangladesh is a place where workers are safe to make clothes sold by Western retailers and brands - and is the lure of low costs a risk worth taking? Last week's collapse of the eight-storey Rana Plaza factory complex has brought these concerns to the fore all over again.
BANGLADESH: Retailers take steps towards safety plan
1 May 2013
A group of Western clothing retailers and brands have agreed to a deadline later this month to finalise a fire and building safety plan aimed at preventing industrial disasters like the collapse last week of the Rana Plaza factory complex in Bangladesh.
UPDATE: BANGLADESH: Primark, Joe Fresh, Matalan to compensate factory victims
30 April 2013
UK fashion retailers Primark and Matalan, as well as Canadian brand Joe Fresh, have all agreed to pay compensation and offer emergency food aid to victims who worked for their suppliers in the collapsed Bangladesh factory building.
Garment size and fit a "moving target"
19 April 2013
Fashion retailers, brands and manufacturers are facing a "moving target" when it comes to garment sizing and fit. A focus on changing consumer shapes, communication with both offshore factories and customers, pattern blocks and fit forms, as well as processes and training are all needed now if the industry is to prevent problems in the future, say leading executives.
UK: Speakers line-up for apparel size and fit seminar
12 March 2013
The latest issues and innovations in garment sizing and fit will be the focus of a new one-day seminar being organised by the ASBCI (Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry) next month.
UK: Sourcing director exits Matalan
6 February 2013
UK discount fashion and homewares retailer Matalan has parted company with two of its senior directors, including sourcing director Margaret Melville and commercial director Adrian Mountford.
UK: Matalan remains cautious as Christmas sales fall
11 January 2013
UK discount fashion and homewares retailer Matalan today (11 January) said it remains cautious in its outlook after Christmas revenues slipped 1.5%.
UK: Matalan introduces Smooth and Shape jeans
4 January 2013
UK discount fashion and homewares retailer Matalan has launched a range of women's jeans designed to create a toned silhouette.
Top ten news stories on just-style in 2012...
21 December 2012
Instead of our regular look at the most read stories on just-style during the week, we thought a fitting end to the year would be to take a look at the top stories on just-style in 2012. From Nike's Flyknit seamless running shoes to garment factory strikes, innovation and labour problems were some of the issues that made the headlines.
UK: Matalan taps ex-Asda exec Leighton as chairman
17 October 2012
Discount fashion and homewares retailer Matalan has appointed former Asda chief executive Allan Leighton as chairman, replacing John Mills.
UK: Matalan Q1 in line with expectations
9 July 2012
Discount fashion and homewares retailer Matalan saw first-quarter EBITDA dip, despite sales increasing over the period.
UK: Fenn Wright Mason sold to Maxine Hargreaves-Adams
29 March 2012
The administrators of Fenn Wright Mason have sold the business to Maxine Hargreaves-Adams, the daughter of Matalan founder John Hargreaves.
UK: Matalan working to boost brand via consistent fit
16 March 2012
Matalan is working to "change the DNA" of its brand by ensuring a consistent fit across its ranges, according to the retailer's men's wear technical manager Stephen Scott.
UK: Women's wear retailers urged to rethink sourcing strategies
15 March 2012
Rising costs and pressure on margins will force women's wear retailers to rethink their pricing and sourcing strategies this year, according to new research, with British manufacturing poised to make a comeback.
UK: Matalan sees Q2 profit dive 63%
19 October 2011
Discount fashion and homewares retailer Matalan has recorded a slump in second-quarter profits as promotional activity, higher input costs and VAT rises hit margins.
UK: Retailers urged to take action to end sweatshops
16 September 2011
Campaigners are using the start of London Fashion Week to step up calls for high street retailers to take more action to end poverty pay for overseas workers.
UK: Matalan focuses on price as Q1 sales fall
21 July 2011
Discount fashion and homewares retailer Matalan says it is focused on keeping prices as low as possible, after posting a 2.7% fall in first-quarter sales.
UK: Message campaign targets 'Killer Jeans'
1 June 2011
Ethical campaigners are targeting apparel brands including Dolce & Gabbana and Armani with a “secret message” campaign designed to highlight the health risks of sandblasted jeans.
UK: New Look confirms Alistair McGeorge appointment
26 April 2011
UK value fashion chain New Look has appointed former Matalan boss Alistair McGeorge as executive chairman of the group with effect from 3 May.
UK: New Look linked to Alistair McGeorge appointment
14 April 2011
UK fashion retailer New Look is reportedly poised to appoint former Matalan boss Alistair McGeorge as its executive chairman.
UK: Matalan poised to hire Blackhurst as CEO - report
12 April 2011
Discount retailer Matalan will appoint Darren Blackhurst as its new chief executive, according to a UK newspaper.
UK: Marks and Spencer wins retail award
2 March 2011
UK clothing retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) has been voted the UK's top clothing retailer by Verdict Research’s annual poll of consumers.
UK: Matalan sees sales dip over Christmas
26 January 2011
General merchandise retailer Matalan has posted flat earnings for the year so far, despite the "challenging market", and posted lower sales in the festive period.
UK: Sainsbury's responds to director departures
1 December 2010
UK supermarket chain Sainsbury's says the departure of two non-food executives this week are unrelated.
UK: Matalan CEO Alistair McGeorge to step down
20 October 2010
UK retailer Matalan has announced that Alistair McGeorge will be stepping down as chief executive of the business and will move to a non-executive role.
Meeting the challenges of the children's wear market
14 October 2010
A recent seminar looking at specific challenges facing the children's wear market concluded that weight and waist sizes are a better indicator of 'fit' than age; children's wear sales are being boosted by grandparents and fathers; and cross-shopping retail strategies are paying off as consumers prefer to shop under one roof in supermarkets, discount and department stores.
UK: Primark appoints John Lyttle as COO
2 August 2010
UK fast fashion firm Primark has announced the appointment of John Lyttle as its new chief operating officer.
UK: Matalan FY earnings rise 29%
28 June 2010
UK fashion retailer Matalan has posted improved full-year profits despite what it called a challenging market.
US: Wal-Mart appoints new Asda CEO
11 May 2010
Andy Clarke has been appointed to the role of president and CEO of UK supermarket chain Asda.
