ABF: Primark owner’s shares sink as sales slow at FTSE 100 giant September 10, 2025 Shares in Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) have plunged after posting what analysts branded a “mixed bag” of results. The FTSE 100 warned that challenging conditions were weighing on the company’s trading, listing consumer caution, geopolitical uncertainty and inflation as top factors. Shares plunged 13 per cent on the news to their lowest value [...]
Profit slashed at Mike Ashley-backed Hugo Boss September 10, 2025 Profit at the UK arm of Hugo Boss, which counts Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group as a major shareholder, has been slashed for a second consecutive year. The London-headquartered division of the German group has posted a pre-tax profit of £9m for 2024, down from the £16.8m it achieved in 2023 and £30.4m in 2022. New [...]
Ben & Jerry’s founders call for release from parent company on social justice grounds September 9, 2025 The co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s have written to the board of The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC) and Magnum’s potential investors, requesting that the brand be released from the conglomerate. “Ben & Jerry’s was founded on a simple but radical premise: that our business could thrive and make outstanding products whilst standing up for progressive [...]
Pret A Manger writes down value by a third amid £525m losses September 9, 2025 Pret A Manger has written off a third of the value it was handed after its 2018 acquisition by European investment group JAB as an uncertain UK economy puts pressure on the sandwich chain. The group made a £553m non-cash impairment to the £912m goodwill on its balance sheet created as part of the 2018 [...]
Tesco Mobile returns to profit thanks to Samsung Galaxy September 9, 2025 Tesco Mobile returned to profit thanks to Brits’ demand for premiums handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, it has been revealed. The provider, which is a joint venture between the supermarket giant and Virgin Media 02, has posted a pre-tax profit of £1.2m for 2024, new accounts filed with Companies House show. The [...]
Dunelm shares plummet despite ‘successful year’ September 9, 2025 Dunelm’s share price dropped more 10 per cent to 1,114p on Tuesday after profit growth slowed, despite reporting a rise in sales and market share gains. City broker Peel Hunt said the company’s “operational grip shone through”, with numbers as expected. “Outgoing CEO Nick Wilkinson hands over a business in great shape, demonstrating increased relevance [...]
Shopper confidence falls as Brits expect food inflation to climb September 9, 2025 Surging food inflation has dented Brits’ confidence at supermarkets, with many expecting food prices to climb even further, according to new data. Inflation at the grocers hit five per cent in the four weeks ended August 10, down from 5.2 per cent in the previous month but well above the wider UK rate of 3.6 [...]
Modella and HMV owner compete for Claire’s Accessories September 8, 2025 Modella Capital, the investor behind WH Smith’s UK acquisition the man responsible for rescuing HMV are locked in a battle to buy struggling high street chain Claire’s. Claire’s appointed administrators for its UK arm in August, just a week after it filed for bankruptcy in the US and entered administration in France. The company had been considering [...]
Starmer to back unions over businesses amid backlash over Employment Rights Bill September 8, 2025 Keir Starmer is set to push back against business-led amendments proposed by the House of Lords to water down the Employment Rights Bill, as the government is backing unions’ calls for workers’ rights to be strengthened. MPs are set to consider changes proposed in the Lords to replace a new right against unfair dismissal from [...]
How Ordnance Survey is fighting to stay relevant against Google and Apple September 8, 2025 The chief executive of Ordnance Survey has revealed how the historic mapping agency is taking the fight to US giants Google and Apple to remain relevant in the 21st century. Nick Bolton, who runs the Southampton-headquartered business which traces its roots back to the reign of George III, has insisted Ordnance Survey remains crucial to [...]