H&M profits get a small boost as new store opening on the cards January 31, 2017 Fashion darling H&M today revealed a small increase in profit after missing estimates for five of the previous six quarters. The figures The Spanish retailer's profits after tax stood at £1.7bn (18.636bn kronor) in the year ending 30 November 2016. Sales in the first 29 days of this month rose 11 percent at constant currency rates, up [...]
Ocado to increase prices this year due to devaluation of sterling January 31, 2017 Ocado has become the latest retailer to say it will be increasing prices this year due to the fall in the value of the pound since the Brexit vote. Speaking to City A.M., Duncan Tatton-Brown, Ocado's chief financial officer, said it was likely that the company would increase prices on certain products "as and when the [...]
Britvic toasts solid start to the year despite “uncertain” environment January 31, 2017 The owner of drinks brands including Robinsons, J20 and Fruit Shoot might have warned that Brexit would cap its fizz last year, but it's announced a strong start to the year in its first quarter results. The figures Revenue for the three months to 25 December 2016 was up 4.3 per cent to £351m, with volume growth of [...]
Ocado’s share price jumps eight per cent at the open on profit surge January 31, 2017 Ocado's share price jumped eight per cent at the open as it reported a spike in profits. The company's full-year profits beat expectations – despite rising labour costs and price deflation throughout last year. The figures In its results for the year ending 27 November, Ocado reported a 13.6 per cent rise in gross retail sales, up from [...]
The final Rolls-Royce Phantom VII has rolled off the production line January 31, 2017 The last Rolls-Royce Phantom – or at least as we know it – will roll off the production ramps in Goodwood this week. Officially decommissioned at the end of last year, Phantom VII's will be replaced by an eighth generation of the Rolls-Royce car by owner BMW. Read more: Rolls-Royce car sales motor to new record [...]
Private jet trade soars as the UK overtakes the rest of Europe January 31, 2017 The UK buys more private jets than anywhere else in Europe, according to Global Jets Capital research published today. British public companies could be splashing out on 30 of the luxury planes. Another 68 may be purchased by other private enterprises. Some 959 private jets will be delivered to Europe between now and 2025, worth [...]
Cheeky IPO? Nando’s is considering a float January 30, 2017 Nando's, the South African restaurant chain famous for its spicy peri-peri chicken, is reportedly considering a cheeky initial public offering (IPO). Sources told Bloomberg Nando's is in the process of speaking to advisers and planning a share sale. Among its options, the Johannesburg-based company is mulling a London listing, the unnamed sources said. In a statement, a spokesperson [...]
Shoppers flocked to St Pancras for luxury goods from John Lewis and Fortnum & Mason over Christmas January 30, 2017 St Pancras International scored an uplift in sales over the festive season, as shoppers flocked to the train station to stock up on Christmas gifts. Over the ten weeks from 29 October to 31 December, St Pancras scored a 6.2 per cent sales growth year-on-year. This compared to a growth of 1.7 per cent across [...]
New ruler: Paperchase takes on former Pets at Home boss who led stock market float January 30, 2017 Stationery and greetings card retailer Paperchase has named a former Pets at Home chief executive as its chairman. Nick Wood was Pets at Home boss between 2012 and 2016, and led the company to a 2014 flotation. Read more: UK retailers slash 84,000 jobs amid storm of rising costs and price wars Paperchase itself has [...]
Fever-Tree is branching out as it finds there’s more room to grow January 30, 2017 Posh tonic maker Fever-Tree has a knack for finding holes in the market. More than a decade after founders Tim Warrillow and Charles Rolls launched their first product, an Indian tonic water, the firm is flying. The company’s premium alcohol mixers, including Sicilian lemonade and ginger beer, are sold on and off trade to retailers, [...]