Trouble for B&M as millions wiped off value despite huge pay day Retail Despite reporting increased sales and a huge dividend of more than £150m, shares in B&M plunged in the aftermath of its latest trading update last week. Shares in the Liverpool-headquartered discount retailer slumped from 360p to 316p following the publication of its third quarter results. B&M’s price has hardly recovered in the days since, with [...]
Brits buy 50m Aldi mince pies as budget grocer hails ‘best Christmas ever’ Retail Aldi has recorded its best festive season ever in 2024, with sales topping £1.6bn in the month before Christmas. Sales at the grocer grew 3.4 per cent year on year, while its seasonal offering rose 10 per cent and its premium range jumped by 12 per cent compared to 2023. Aldi UK’s chief executive officer, [...]
Record profit for Totally Wicked ahead of single-use vapes ban as sales double in two years Retail Profit at Totally Wicked has surged to a new record level ahead of the sale of single-use disposable vapes being banned in England and Wales later this year. The Lancashire-headquartered has reported a pre-tax profit of £8.1m for the 12 months to 31 March, 2024, up from the £3.3m it posted for the prior year. [...]
In The Style cuts job as sales continue to fall ahead of stock exchange return December 12, 2024 In The Style slashed jobs in a bid to stem its losses amid continuing falling sales as its return to the London Stock Exchange edges nearer. The Manchester-headquartered fast-fashion retailer has posted a pre-tax loss of £2.6m for the year to 31 March, 2024, down from the £7.7m loss it reported in the prior 12 [...]
Asda needs to ‘dig down into its soul’ and recover sense of purpose, say analysts December 9, 2024 Asda needs to “dig down into its soul” and reshape its pitch to customers if it wants to tackle the rising threat from the likes of Aldi and Lidl following a rollercoaster 2024, analysts have warned. The Leeds-headquartered supermarket giant has not been far from the headlines all year amid debt struggles, strikes, falling sales [...]
Vodafone and Three: What £16.5bn merger actually means for customers and prices December 5, 2024 After an almost 18-month battle the UK’s largest ever telecoms deal – which will see Vodafone and Three complete a £16.5bn merger – has been given the green light. Described by Vodafone as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the UK’s digital infrastructure”, the deal has now satisfied the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) enough for [...]
Fancy coloured diamonds boosts sales at Boodles December 4, 2024 Revenue has increased significantly at Boodles, the historic jewellery retailer, thanks to a rise in demand for white and fancy coloured diamonds. The family-run business, which was founded in 1798, said revealed its trading in the year to 28 February, 2025, has so far been “encouragingly strong” and showing a “significant increase” in revenue and net [...]
Debenhams makes first profit since Boohoo rescue December 4, 2024 Debenhams has returned to the black for the first time since it was rescued out of administration by Boohoo in 2021. For the year to 29 February, 2024, the firm’s marketplace arm has reported a pre-tax profit of £4.5m, having posted a pre-tax loss of £732,000 for the prior 12 months. Its revenue has also [...]
Gymshark: Finance chief abruptly leaves apparel giant December 3, 2024 The chief financial officer of Gymshark has abruptly departed the business after two years in post. Mat Dunn joined the Solihull-headquartered company in December 2022, having been hired from Asos where he was chief operating officer and chief financial officer. He had previously worked as CFO at Robinsons squash maker Britvic and at South African [...]
Typhoo Tea: How trespassers and losing £120m led to downfall of historic brand November 29, 2024 Despite not making a profit since 2017, the management running Typhoo Tea had still been optimistic for 2024 just months before the historic brand crashed into administration. Writing in its latest accounts, the company’s directors stated they were “excited” for the 2024 financial year, proclaiming that “legacy issues have been largely dealt with and the [...]