George MacDonald
George MacDonald is executive editor of Retail Week.
He has worked on the title since 1998, originally starting as a reporter, and has covered sectors ranging from grocery to department stores. During that time, George has carved out a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable, trustworthy and respected retail journalists in the UK.
George has interviewed many of the biggest names in retail and is often asked to comment in the wider media on the latest industry developments.
Contact info
- Tel:
- +44 (0)20 3960 9227
- Email:
- george.macdonald@retail-week.com
- Opinion
‘The answer does not lie in data, but in the stores’
Starbucks founder Howard Schultz has made some great points about what lies at the heart of business success. They apply to all of retail, believes George MacDonald
- News
Walgreens gauges interest in Boots among potential buyers
The American owner of Boots, Walgreens Boots Alliance, is understood to be reaching out to potential buyers of the UK health and beauty giant.
- News
Greggs posts like-for-like sales rise as it ‘builds capacity for further growth’
Greggs has made a strong start to the new financial year and is investing to power future growth.
- News
Currys to beat profit guidance after ‘strong finish to year’
Electricals specialist Currys expects annual profits to come in ahead of expectations after returning to like-for-like growth at group level.
- Opinion
‘Even by its own measures, Boohoo faces a long path to recovery’
Boohoo’s KPIs did not tell a happy story when the retailer posted its annual results this week, and achieving sustainable and profitable success will be a challenge as competitors such as Shein grow, writes George MacDonald
- News
Revealed: The new Toys R Us locations opening in WHSmith this summer
Retail Week can exclusively unveil the first 17 locations for a new wave of Toys R Us shop-in-shops in WHSmith branches.
- News
Watches of Switzerland builds US business with $130m jewellery deal
Watches of Switzerland has bought US jeweller Roberto Coin for $130m (£104m) as it targets growth in the luxury branded jewellery category.
- News
Marks & Spencer to make ‘biggest single store investment’ in Fosse Park
Marks & Spencer is to undertake its “biggest single renewal investment to date” with an overhaul of its store in Fosse Park, Leicester.
- News
Morrisons snaps up stores to grow convenience business
Morrisons has bought 38 c-stores on the Channel Islands from local partner SandpiperCI as it builds its convenience business.
- Opinion
‘Can Co-op Live ever make sweet music after bum note launch?’
With Co-op Live’s planned grand opening becoming something of a PR disaster, George MacDonald wonders if things can be turned around
- News
Lidl targets big cities for next wave of store openings
Value grocer Lidl is seeking more locations in leading cities as it pursues an ambition to open “hundreds of new stores”.
- News
Morrisons completes sale of forecourts to MFG
Grocer Morrisons has concluded the sale of its forecourts business to specialist operator MFG.
- News
Fifth of Ocado shareholders revolt over chief executive’s reward package
Almost a fifth of Ocado shareholders rebelled against Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner’s remuneration deal but it will still go ahead.
- News
Card Factory sales and profits climb as stores perform strongly
Greetings cards specialist Cards Factory has posted strong annual revenue and earnings growth as stores traded well.
- Opinion
‘WHSmith, JD Sports and Primark can successfully target a slice of American retail pie’
Retailers from this side of the pond have frequently come a cropper when attempting to expand in the US, but the signs look good for JD Sports, Primark and WHSmith judging by the retailers’ updates this week, believes George MacDonald
- News
WHSmith rolls out store-in-store tie-up with Toys R Us
WHSmith is to extend its partnership with Toys R Us to more branches following the success of the first wave of store-in-stores.
- News
Getir raises cash to fund UK and Europe retreat
On-demand food retail platform Getir is seeking funding from investors to cover its retrenchment from Europe.
- News
John Lewis finance boss heads for the exit
John Lewis Partnership finance supremo Bérangère Michel is to leave after more than a decade at the retailer, where she held a raft of top roles.
- News
Retail sales flat in March, official data shows
Retail sales growth was flat last month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported.
- Analysis
Sephora CEO Guillaume Motte reveals secrets of retailer’s success
It’s 10am and the doors to Sephora’s Champs-Élysées flagship are opened to an expectant queue of customers in the heart of Paris.