Law firm HFW hires Deloitte executive as new global COO Legal Sector-focused City law firm HFW has hired its new chief operating officer from Big Four giant Deloitte
Discounts push retail footfall to first January rise in nearly a decade Retail Retail footfall rose year on year in January for the first time since 2016, although the boost was likely due to Brits delaying festive spending in favour of discounted goods in the new year sales. Footfall rose by 1.4 per cent in January 2025 compared to 2024 in all UK retail destinations, according to data [...]
High street sales grow but threat of closures looms Retail High street sales grew in January but the gains failed to offset volume losses last year, leading analysts to warn of closures as costs mount. Total retail sales in discretionary spend categories grew by 7.1 per cent in January, although this comes off the back of a 0.8 per cent drop last January, according to [...]
Zip World sold for £100m to Dolphin Capital January 26, 2025 A majority stake in adventure park operator Zip World has been acquired by private equity firm Dolphin Capital in a deal worth £100m. Zip World, which is headquartered in Llanrwst, Wales, has become the latest investment for the Oxfordshire-based private equity firm which already counts the likes of Snowcentres, Techmet and Dynisma in its portfolio. The [...]
Former Lord Mayor named president of London business group January 15, 2025 The former Lord Mayor of the City of London Michael Mainelli has been appointed as president of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). Mainelli, who served as Lord Mayor from 2023 to 2024, is currently chair of think tank Z/Yen, which he founded in 1994. The former Lord Mayor has also held senior [...]
JD Sports shares plunge after retailer warns on profit January 14, 2025 JD Sports shares plunged more than 12 per cent this morning after the company issued a profit warning. The FTSE 100 giant forecast full year profit before tax at between £915m and £935m, down from its previous estimate of £955m to £1.035bn. This morning, the retail giant told markets sales fell 1.5 per cent across November [...]
Big Four giant PwC names new Northern boss January 9, 2025 Big Four giant PwC has named its new Northern boss to succeed the incumbent who is retiring. Emma Suchland has been appointed as the firm’s new regional market lead for the North. She will take over from Armoghan Mohammed, who held the title of regional chair, who is to retire. Suchland joined the accountancy giant [...]
Seasalt: Cornish clothing brand bucks retail gloom over festive season January 7, 2025 Cornish retailer Seasalt has defied the despondent British high street and reported a significant uptick in sales over the Christmas season despite significant cost pressures. Total sales across online, stores, and marketplace partners like M&S increased by 10 per cent compared to last year in the last five weeks of the year, with every channel [...]
Grocery spending hit record high at Christmas as Brits favour food over gifts January 7, 2025 Grocery spending hit a record high this Christmas as Brits dined out on premium goods and fizz, in a marked contrast to the anaemic growth in retail spending. Overall take-home sales at the grocers rose by 2.1 per cent over the four weeks to 29 December compared with last year. Brits splashed out on premium [...]
Retail gloom as festive season fails to save 2024 trading January 7, 2025 High street stores showed anaemic growth in the 2024 festive season, despite hopes that Christmas trading would inject some cheer into the sector. Sales grew just 0.3 per cent overall in the ‘golden quarter’, which includes Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Online sales continued to beat in-store, [...]