The final chapter in a long-running New Zealand retail battle played out this week when Woolworths offloaded its shares in The Warehouse Group.

Rich-listers David and Anne Norman have snapped up Australian supermarket operator Woolworths' stake in The Warehouse Group.

The operator of Farmers and Whitcoulls has more than doubled its shareholding in The Warehouse but says it will not make a takeover bid for the retailer.

Mark Powell says "healthy societies need healthy businesses and healthy businesses need healthy societies".

A staff member is being supported by colleagues after a brazen gunpoint hold-up of The Warehouse in Henderson in the early hours of this morning.

Police in Waitakere are investigating after The Warehouse in Henderson was held up at gunpoint early this morning.

The Warehouse Group chairman says the company remains committed to its strategy amid criticism that its growth push has failed and major changes need to take place at the board and CEO level.

Warehouse chief executive Mark Powell says it will be "a very difficult ask" for the group to beat last year's profits after it announced weaker-than-expected sales.

Retailers are hoping positive economic conditions will offset a blustery and wet start to the spring and summer period.

NZ's largest listed retailer, affirmed its expectation for a rise in annual earnings even as sales lag heading into the key Christmas trading period.

The Warehouse lifted first-quarter sales 3.5pc, opening more Noel Leeming stores, and widened margins at its dominant 'Red Shed' unit.

Higher wages and a specialised degree are among the initiatives helping change the perception of retail from a boring job to a high-flying career, says Warehouse boss.

What are the top 10 worst performing shares of 2014 so far? Find out with a graphic showing the biggest losers.

The retail group owned by David and Anne Norman, has added to its holding in the Warehouse by buying 730,000 shares on market this week.

A Warehouse security officer who was sacked for allegedly calling a customer an "arrogant p****" has won her job back.

I had an unusual experience at The Warehouse last weekend that told me something had changed for the better.

Warehouse Group investors await evidence that the retailer will get a return on the hundreds of millions of dollars spent overhauling stores.

Warehouse Group's profit warning last week has raised concerns about the outlook for both its core business and the success of its acquisition strategy.

David and Anne Norman have nabbed a strategic stake in the country's largest listed retailer, Warehouse Group.

The Norman family, has taken advantage of a slump in Warehouse shares to nudge its holding up to 5.15 per cent.

New Zealand's largest listed retailer cut its forecast for annual earnings as warmer autumn and winter weather crimped sales and margins.

The chief financial officer of The Warehouse, Stephen Small, has died, the company has announced.

NZ shares rose yesterday, led by Goodman Property Trust, after the property investor said full-year net profit rose 72 per cent. Trade Me and Xero paced the gains while Ryman Healthcare fell ahead of reporting earnings today.

New Zealand's largest publicly listed retailer, posted an 8.6pc gain in third quarter sales and said profitability improved at its largest 'red shed' unit.

The Warehouse Group boss Mark Powell thinks his $1.7 million salary package is a ridiculous amount of money.