Retail
Jollyes Pets is targeting significant expansion, identifying over 160 potential new store locations across Great Britain over the next five years, with the potential to secure a further 25 sites in 2026. The retailer, which currently operates around 120 stores, continues to grow its estate through retail park and roadside locations, following rapid expansion in recent years (Retail Gazette, 14 April 2026).
7-Eleven plans to close 645 U.S. stores in 2026 as part of a restructuring by parent Seven & i Holdings, shifting away from smaller sites toward larger, food-focused formats. Some locations will be converted to fuel-only sites, while over 200 new stores are planned, reflecting changing consumer habits and inflation pressures (CBS News/Newsweek, 15 April 2026).
Logistics
Asendia (a joint venture between French postal service La Poste and Swiss Post) has agreed a lease for an 81,500 sq ft Grade A unit at SEGRO Park Axis near Heathrow, which will become its main UK hub for international parcel processing, mail distribution and air freight operations. The facility, part of a redevelopment and extension project, is due for completion in September with occupation expected by January 2027, featuring upgraded specifications including a 15m eaves height, new office space, and targeted BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and EPC ‘A+’ ratings (Property Week, 15 April 2026).
CMA CGM Group has agreed to acquire 100% of Fattal Group, subject to regulatory approvals with completion expected in Q3 2026, strengthening its expansion into end-to-end logistics by integrating Fattal’s distribution platform and enhancing cargo flows between ports and end markets, particularly across MENA, while reflecting a broader industry trend of shipping lines vertically integrating inland logistics capabilities to secure volumes and optimise supply chains (Port Technology International, 15 April 2026).
Panattoni is developing an 11,000 sqm build-to-suit warehouse for InPost at Panattoni Park Sosnowiec V, with completion due in 2026. The facility will support InPost’s operations with advanced sorting and energy-efficient technology (Property Forum, 15 April 2026).
Office
OpenAI has signed a lease for its first permanent London office at Regent Quarter, King’s Cross, taking 88,500 sq ft across two buildings with capacity for up to 544 staff. The office is set to open in 2027 and reflects the company’s plans to expand its UK presence, despite recently pausing its Stargate UK infrastructure project (Property Week, 13 April 2026).
Anthropic has signed a major 158,000 sq ft lease at 1 Triton Square in London (owned by British Land Company plc and Royal London Asset Management), establishing a new European HQ as it expands its footprint in the region. The space significantly exceeds current needs (~800 staff), indicating planned rapid growth, and positions the firm within London’s “Knowledge Quarter” alongside peers such as OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Synthesia. The deal highlights strong demand for high-quality, tech-focused office space, particularly in AI clusters, and marks a turnaround for the building, which had previously been vacated by Meta Platforms, Inc., despite paying a substantial surrender premium (CoStar News, 17 April 2026).
Other
BP plans to simplify its structure by reorganising into two core divisions - upstream and downstream - under new CEO Meg O'Neill, who took over on 1 April 2026. The move aims to streamline operations and follows investor pressure, although no timeline has been set; BP previously operated a similar structure before its 2020 shift toward renewables (Reuters, 14 April 2026).
People Moves
Hyde Group has appointed Sharon Pearce as Chief Financial Officer, a newly created board-level role, succeeding Rod Holdsworth, who will remain as an adviser until June. Pearce brings over 30 years’ experience and has held multiple senior roles within Hyde. The Group reported strong financial performance, including a 33% rise in turnover and 11% EBITDA growth for the year to March 2025, while maintaining solid liquidity and investment-grade ratings (Investegate, 17 April 2026).
Nagarro has appointed Prateek Aggarwal as Chief Financial Officer and Management Board member, effective 1 May 2026. He brings over 20 years of experience in global IT services firms and will help strengthen financial governance and support the company’s growth and capital markets engagement (Source, PR Newswire, 17 April 2026).
IKEA has appointed David McCabe as UK and Ireland retail boss and chief sustainability officer, effective July 2026. The move comes amid continued expansion, with nine new locations opened across the region since early 2025, alongside additional smaller-format and planning stores (Retail Gazette, 14 April 2026).
