M&S turned it around and is now in FTSE 100. Here’s why John Lewis is so far off September 14, 2023 The John Lewis Partnership has had a torrid day, following an announcement it will push its turnaround plan back by two years. It’s the latest bit of bad news that has seen it fall further behind rival Marks and Spencer, whose high street revival recently raised its profit outlook after pivoting towards clothing and homeware. [...]
Marks & Spencer shares fall as profits decimated amid restructuring efforts May 22, 2019 Profit before tax at retailer Marks & Spencer fell nearly ten per cent in the last financial year, it said today as it announced plans to close 85 stores. The figures M&S said profit before tax for the year to 31 March was £532.2m, down 9.9 per cent from £580.9m the previous year. Revenue fell [...]
No, the traditional suit won’t ‘die’- and here’s why October 13, 2021 We are told that formal dress is dying, its mortal wound inflicted by the pandemic and the lockdown embrace of more casual attire. Certainly there are worrying signs: Marks & Spencer has stopped selling suits in many of its stores, and in the market as a whole sales are down dramatically. I have written in [...]
Marks & Spencer pension scheme transfers £1.4bn to two insurers May 23, 2019 Troubled retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has transferred £1.4bn in pension scheme liabilities to two insurance companies, bringing the total insurance coverage to two thirds. Phoenix Group has insured £460m of liabilities, covering 5,000 pensioners, while Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) has insured £900m of the £10bn pension scheme. Read more: M&S braced for fresh decline [...]
UK set for major EU row as Frost prepares to redraw Northern Ireland Protocol July 21, 2021 The UK is set to force another major post-Brexit row with the EU as it prepares to demand significant changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol today. Defacto Brexit minister Lord David Frost will reportedly call for almost all checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland to be removed to avoid economic and civil disruption. The [...]
Four key things we learned from Marks & Spencer’s results May 22, 2019 There were not expectations of a strong set of results from Marks & Spencer today. The profit drop was expected and profit before tax of £532m was actually in the higher end of the forecast range. However, a share price decline of four per cent shows that these were still a disappointing set of results for investors. [...]
‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ for Superdry after reporting return to growth May 6, 2021 Superdry sees “light at the end of the tunnel” after reporting a return to revenue growth in the fourth quarter, boosted by its ecommerce division. In a trading statement Superdry said it had been “substantially impacted” by the pandemic with group revenue for the full year down 21 per cent year-on-year to £556.6m. However the [...]
Waitrose to ramp up convenience store expansion with 100 new sites August 21, 2024 The premium grocer Waitrose will expand its store portfolio by around a third over the next three years in one of its “biggest periods of expansion” as it ramps up investment into ‘Little Waitrose’ convenience shops. The Berkshire-headquartered company will invest over £1bn in a project to open 100 new stores and revamp a further [...]
John Lewis returns to profit but cuts staff bonus for third year running March 14, 2024 The employee owned John Lewis Partnership (JLP) will again not pay staff a bonus this year, but has reported a return to proft.
Next snaps up stake in womenswear brand Reiss for £33m March 10, 2021 High street giant Next has acquired a stake in womenswear retailer Reiss for £33m. The fashion firms this morning announced that Next will purchase a 25 per cent equity stake in Reiss. Warburg Pincus, Reiss’s private equity owner, said the deal values the company at around £200m. As part of the strategic partnership, Reiss will [...]