Poundland owner could carve out Irish business in rush sale September 24, 2026 Poundland’s owners are considering selling off the discount retailer and its Irish branch, Dealz, in two separate transactions, City AM has learned. Gordon Brothers, which bought Poundland and Dealz only a year ago, is sounding out interest in the two retailers in hopes of completing a deal before the busy Christmas trading period. This process [...]
Lord’s Cricket Ground, West Ham, EY among creditors owed £190m by Brewdog September 24, 2026 Lord’s Cricket Club, West Ham United and Big Four accounting firm EY are among the big-name firms which are owed £190m by Brewdog. The craft beer firm collapsed earlier this year and its administrators have said that its unsecured creditors, who are owed £189.9m, will not be paid back. AlixPartners, Brewdog’s administrators, said there are [...]
Amanda Holden sofa range lifts DFS as profit jumps September 24, 2026 DFS has toasted its partnership with media personality Amanda Holden as the sofa seller saw profits jump by a third. The London-listed furniture store said its collaboration with the Britain’s Got Talent judge, which includes a range of three Amanda Holden-branded sofas, has lifted its performance. Steve Johnson, chairman of DFS, said that its partnership [...]
AO World strikes deal with Peter Jones to snap up Jessops September 24, 2026 AO World has struck a deal with Dragons Den star Peter Jones to acquire struggling camera retailer Jessops. The online retailer did not disclose how much it paid for the group but said the acquisition was funded from its “existing cash resources.” AO World said the deal “supports our strategy of expanding into adjacent categories, [...]
Burnham urged to boost West End with tax cuts and extra policing September 24, 2026 The West End risks losing its status as one of the world’s best shopping and hospitality destinations without immediate action to cut tax and boost policing, Andy Burnham has been warned. The New West End Company (NWEC), which represents 800 businesses involved in the world-famous district, has urged the government to slash business rates and [...]
Healey urged to cut business costs as consumer confidence slips September 24, 2026 Retailers have called on John Healey to slash the “burdensome” costs of doing business at the Budget next month, warning that consumer confidence will continue to stumble without urgent action. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents top retailers like Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer, has urged the Chancellor to tackle the “triple blow” [...]
Every Lidl helps: German grocer’s owner poised to snap up Tesco stores September 23, 2026 The owners of Lidl are among the front runners to snap up dozens of Tesco stores as the British supermarket chain seeks to offload some of its biggest subsidiaries. Schwarz Group is expected to submit an offer for Tesco’s Czech and Slovakian businesses, according to the Financial Times, after the FTSE 100 firm said it [...]
Co-op blames job cuts on Labour national insurance raid September 23, 2026 Co-op group has slashed its headcount this year to handle the added costs of Labour’s national insurance raid, its chief executive has revealed, saying the tax hikes had pushed the retailer to invest in more automation. The group, which runs life insurance and funeral businesses as well as its grocery arm, said on Wednesday that [...]
Co-op looks to funeral arm in hunt for turnaround from cyber-attack September 23, 2026 Co-op posted a jump in turnover at its funeral arm, as the member-owned group said it is setting out the foundations to recover from a costly cyber-attack last year. Kate Allum, interim chief executive of the food-to-insurance firm, said the group is facing a “year of two halves” and will see its turnaround plan deliver [...]
JD Sports bemoans ‘tough trading’ as US sales slip September 23, 2026 JD Sports has seen revenue and profit slip so far this year, as weak consumer confidence in its key US market drives a “tough trading environment”. Régis Schultz, chief executive of the so-called ‘King of Trainers’, said on Wednesday that he is “encouraged” by the progress towards his growth plan while admitting that cost-of-living pressures [...]