Gingardium Leviosa: Harry Potter star Emma Watson’s gin brand takes off October 9, 2025 The luxury gin brand co-founded by Harry Potter star Emma Watson has surged in value after raising an extra £5m. Renais Gin was launched in May 2023 by the actor and her brother Alex and is now sold in 11 countries. The siblings were inspired to set up the company by childhood trips to their family’s vineyard, [...]
Del Boy billionaire’s empire returns to profit after rescue deals October 9, 2025 The retail empire owned by the so-called ‘Del Boy billionaire’ and behind The Range and Wilko, returned to the black before rescuing the Homebase brand, it has been revealed. Chris Dawson’s Norton Group Holdings has reported a pre-tax profit of £10.5m for the year to 2 February, 2025, new accounts filed with Companies House show. [...]
Topshop and Topman losses revealed before John Lewis move October 7, 2025 Losses at the joint venture behind Topshop and Topman have been revealed ahead of the brand’s return to UK stores next year. The brands were sold by online clothing retailer Asos to a joint venture alongside Danish retail tycoon Anders Holch Povlsen’s Heartland in September 2024. Asos had previously acquired Topshop and Topman along with [...]
B&M shares tumble as boss vows to ‘correct operational weakness’ October 7, 2025 Shares in B&M have tumbled after the discount retailer reported sliding profits. The groups chief executive vowed to “correct the operational weaknesses” as the firm warned it expects to report pre-tax earnings of £198m in the six months to end September, a drop of 28 per cent on last year, while UK revenues were up [...]
Oxford Street pedestrianisation boosts sales, survey finds October 6, 2025 The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street led to higher sales at the majority of stores on the busy high street, a new survey has found, with business chiefs praising efforts to make traffic-free days more frequent. Oxford Street was closed to traffic for eight hours on Sunday 21st September in a pilot test for further plans [...]
Red Bull sales spike ahead of England ban October 3, 2025 Sales of Red Bull have spiked ahead of a planned new law in England to ban energy drinks being sold to under 16s. The giant has reported a UK revenue of £668.3m for 2024, up from the £594.1m it achieved in 2023. New accounts filed with Companies House also show that its pre-tax profit rose [...]
Wren Kitchens: Profit almost wiped out as 500 jobs lost October 3, 2025 Profit at the owner of Wren Kitchens has almost been wiped out as it shed more than 500 jobs during its latest financial year. The West Retail Group, which is headquartered in Yorkshire, has posted a pre-tax profit of £1m for 2024, new accounts filed with Companies House show. The total comes after the business made [...]
Frasers Group chairman urges Unite to avoid ‘reckless’ strike October 3, 2025 The chairman of retail giant Frasers Group has urged Unite the Union to avoid “reckless and irresponsible” strike action as retail firms across the UK feel the crunch of rising cost pressures. Sir Jonathan Thompson, who took the role of Chair in September, has asked the Union’s General Secretary Sharon Graham to reconsider plans to [...]
JD Wetherspoon: Profit rockets as Tim Martin takes jab at tax rises October 3, 2025 JD Wetherspoon has reported another successful quarter after outperforming the wider hospitality market again, although boss Tim Martin has warned on the effects of taxing the sector too hard. The pub giant told markets this morning that like-for-like sales rose 5.1 per cent year on year, while revenue rose 4.5 per cent to £2.12bn. Profit [...]
Green is good: How has Blank Street taken over London? October 3, 2025 Given the ubiquity of Blank Street’s pastel green branding across the capital, it is almost surprising to think the New York-based company only opened its first London shop in the summer of 2022. In fact, it only opened its very first shop in Williamsburg in 2021, after spending nearly a year housed in a Brooklyn [...]