FTSE 100 news / Companies and sectors / Retail / 18 October 2026
Retail: sector news on Sunday 18 October 2026
Average tone +2.7 (slightly positive) across 5 companies with relevant coverage, from 40 stories.
Company by company
| Company | Tone | Stories | What the coverage was about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marks & Spencer | +4.5 | 19 | Coverage was mostly positive product news, with shoppers praising M&S clothing, Christmas items and the new 'Big Daddy' treat, plus a Coco de Mer lingerie collaboration. |
| Sainsbury's | +1.3 | 8 | Coverage was mixed: a new store opening, the Picard frozen food rollout and a clothing item were positive, while product recall roundups and shoplifting stories weighed slightly. |
| Tesco | +0.3 | 8 | Coverage was mostly minor and local, with a positive note on a new Tesco wine and a community grant. |
| Kingfisher | +2.8 | 3 | Coverage focused on Kingfisher's valuation, with one piece calling the shares modestly undervalued on cash flow and another noting a higher fair value despite mixed analyst target changes. |
| Burberry Group | +4.5 | 2 | Coverage was light, led by Bernstein keeping its 1,300p target on the shares. |
| JD Sports | – | 0 | |
| Next | – | 0 |
Strongest stories in the sector
- +6.7 M&S launches new 'Big Daddy' product and customers can't contain excitement
New product launch generating customer excitement - +6.7 M&S has released a sleek version of its bestselling barrel cargo trouser - just £40 and in 4 lengths
New version of bestselling trouser, positive product news - +6.7 'I opened the M&S sell-out beauty advent calendar packed with £460 of luxury treats'
Sell-out beauty advent calendar, positive product coverage - +6.7 Marks and Spencer drops new 'Big Daddy' treat and shoppers are already obsessed
New treat launch, shoppers obsessed - +6.3 Kingfisher (LSE:KGF) Stock Still Looks Modestly Undervalued On Cash Flow
Suggests shares modestly undervalued based on cash flow. - +6.3 How Investors May Respond To Sainsbury's (LSE:SBRY) Picard Frozen Food Rollout
Picard frozen food rollout viewed as growth initiative. - +5.8 M&S has brought out a Christmas twist on its best-selling chocolate whips – and it’s 10 times better
Christmas twist on bestselling chocolate whips praised - +5.8 M&S shoppers snap up 'best quality' €42 Christmas pyjamas that are 'so soft and warm'
Shoppers praising Christmas pyjamas as good quality - +5.8 Meghan Markle boldly backs British fashion in £26 M&S style staple
Meghan Markle seen in M&S staple - +5.8 Gillian Anderson's M&S merino wool and cashmere knit offers luxury on a budget
Celebrity-endorsed M&S knit praised as luxury on budget - +5.8 M&S shoppers rave about 'beautiful' £24 autumn cardigan that's 'so comfy'
Shoppers rave about affordable cardigan - +5.0 Burberry's Check Revival: The Inventory Fix Behind The Myth
Coverage of check revival and inventory management, mildly positive.