Primark owner says larger stores to come under pressure from rates changes September 15, 2025 The boss of Primark’s parent firm has warned the Government that proposed business rates changes are “mistaken” and heap pressure on big stores on UK high streets. George Weston, the billionaire boss of Associated British Foods (ABF), told the PA new agency that the Labour Government “should not increase taxes on businesses any more” in [...]
Food inflation to spike as suppliers can ‘no longer absorb’ costs, FDF warns September 15, 2025 Food and drink inflation could climb to 5.7% by the end of the year thanks to cost pressures on manufacturers “trickling down” to supermarket shelves, a leading industry body has warned. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said current prices were “steeper than anything in recent decades”. The group – whose members make a quarter [...]
Sainsbury’s terminates discussions with Chinese retail giant over Argos sale September 14, 2025 Sainsbury’s has terminated discussions with Chinese retail giant JD.com over the sale of Argos only a day after rumors of the deal came to light. The UK grocer said that the proposed deal with JD.com was “not in the best interests of Sainsbury’s” and has subsequently ended discussions, it said on September 14. “JD.com has [...]
Coco di Mama bets on meal deals as it launches in Tesco September 12, 2025 Coco di Mama has announced the launch of a range of freshly made Italian sourdough sandwiches in Tesco’s premium meal deal as it bets on the grocery market. The launch follows a “hugely successful” debut year in retail with its range in Sainsbury’s’ £5.50 meal deal. “Capital-light, fast-growing channels,” are the focus of the brand at [...]
Toyota’s UK profit almost wiped out amid ZEV mandate battle September 12, 2025 Toyota’s UK profit has almost been wiped out as the carmaker battled a decline in market share and compliance with the ZEV [Zero Emission Vehicle] mandate. The Surrey-headquartered division has posted a pre-tax profit of £462,000 for the 12 months to 31 March, 2025, down from the £11.5m it achieved in the prior year. New [...]
John Lewis blames higher taxes as it swings into the red September 11, 2025 A rise in national insurance contributions and a packaging levy has ‘significantly’ impacted John Lewis, with the retailer reporting a half-year loss despite an increase in revenue. The company, which also owns Waitrose, reported a loss before tax and exceptional items of £33m for the 26 weeks ended 26 July. It has been “significantly impacted [...]
Landlords reject idea higher taxes benefit first-time buyers September 11, 2025 The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has rejected analysis by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) that suggests tax hikes on the private rented sector have benefited first time-buyers. A report from the JRF has found that reforms introduced by governments from 2016 were “effective in addressing tax imbalances that benefitted landlords over and above ordinary [...]
THG: Shares spike as e-commerce giant gains momentum after slow start to the year September 11, 2025 Ecommerce platform THG returned to growth in the second quarter of the year, driven by a sales boost for its supplement brand Myprotein, causing an eight per cent share price boost. THG told markets this morning that revenue rose 0.9 per cent quarter on quarter, although overall revenue in the first half of the year [...]
Revealed: How much profit Amazon makes in the UK September 10, 2025 Amazon’s UK profit has been revealed – with the total estimated to be well above the £500m mark. Unusually, Jeff Bezos’ empire doesn’t file a single set of group accounts for its UK activities, instead choosing to report each company’s results separately with no parent entity in this country. The picture is also further complicated [...]
Jaguar Land Rover issues cyber attack update amid data breach September 10, 2025 Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has admitted that data may have been compromised in a cyber attack that has paralysed its global operations since 2 September, forcing shutdowns at factories and dealerships across the UK and abroad. The UK’s biggest carmaker said in a statement: “We now believe that some data has been affected and we [...]