Coffee beans and ready meals send food inflation soaring yet again – and peak is yet to come May 2, 2023 Food inflation reached new highs in April soaring 15.7 per cent, according to new data, with the cost of convenience food such as ready meals and coffee beans increasing due to supply chain woes. While shop price inflation fell slightly by one per cent in the month to 8.8 per cent, food prices remained at [...]
Boots chief steps down after owner shelves sale plans again June 30, 2024 The chief executive of Boots is stepping down after the high street pharmacy chain's US parent company once again shelved plans to sell the business.
Watches of Switzerland backs full-year guidance as luxury demand still buoyant December 14, 2022 Watches of Switzerland has said it is sticking to its full-year guidance for 2023 as there continues to be strong demand for luxury watches. In half-year results, the London-listed retailer said revenue from luxury watches made up 87 per cent of group revenue, with sales growth of 31 per cent versus the previous year. Group [...]
Weetabix: Shoppers switching to supermarket own brand squeezes profit June 25, 2024 Shoppers switching to supermarket own brand cereals has squeezed Weetabix's profit despite its sales edging up, according to newly-filed documents.
Asos revenues tumble but chief remains ‘hopeful’ despite £87.4m loss May 10, 2023 Asos has posted a half year loss as the fashion retailer continues to be beaten by a tough economic climate and a slowdown in consumer spending, with its share price down over five per cent when markets opened this morning. The FTSE 250 retailer, which sells its goods exclusively online, said it had made an [...]
Ocado set to post grocery growth in latest festive update January 15, 2023 Ocado investors will be hoping it becomes the latest retailer to indicate that consumer spending over the key festive quarter was more resilient than many expected. The online retail giant is set to post an increase in grocery sales over the latest period when it updates investors on Tuesday 17 January. The firm’s technology operation [...]
Brits set to plunge themselves into £3.7bn worth of Buy Now Pay Later debt before Christmas November 8, 2023 Cash strapped Brits are forecasted to spend a whopping £3.7bn using Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) schemes in the run up to Christmas, as the cost of living crisis continues to plunge shoppers into debt. The figure is expected to rise a staggering 8.8 per cent from the previous year, as more customers under the [...]
Cold weather weighs down ‘flattish’ sales for H&M – but Swedish chain has reasons to be cheerful June 15, 2023 Fashion chain H&M has revealed weaker-than-expected sales over the latest quarter after demand was weighed down by chilly weather. The Swedish retail giant, however, added that June trading has started well amid improving conditions, driving an increase in shares in early trading. It told investors on Thursday morning that net sales were “flattish compared with [...]
HSBC completes exit from French retail market as boss hails ‘positive start’ to 2024 January 2, 2024 "This represents an important milestone in our strategic vision for Europe," HSBC's chief executive Noel Quinn said.
Shop small and shop online: changed consumer habits are powering micro-businesses June 27, 2021 It comes as no surprise the nation’s GDP shrank by 1.5 per cent in the first quarter of this year. The third lockdown took its toll on businesses of all sizes. As the economy recovers, we need to steer the nation to smoother waters by supporting even the smallest of small businesses. Micro-businesses make up [...]