Retail and construction lead insolvencies as UK firms in ‘perilous position’ June 20, 2025 Wholesale and retail traders and construction firms accounted for nearly a third of all insolvencies seen in the 12 months to April. Data published by the Insolvency Service has pointed to a further concerning trend in the UK economy as the number of companies insolvencies in May grew eight per cent month-on-month. The number of [...]
Louis Vuitton: Sales and profit slashed amid luxury spending slowdown June 20, 2025 A continued slowdown in luxury retail spending saw sales at the UK arm of Louis Vuitton slashed by almost £90m and profit tumble during 2024, it has been revealed. The fashion powerhouse has reported sales of £488.2m for its latest financial year, down from the £575.2m it achieved in 2023. New accounts filed with Companies [...]
Alarm bells as retail sales suffer largest fall in 18 months June 20, 2025 UK high streets suffered from post-Easter fatigue among shoppers as official data showed retail sales dropped by 2.7 per cent in May. The Office for National Statistics said a fall in sales in May represented the largest month-on-month drop since December 2023. A Bloomberg poll of economists expected retail sales to drop by 0.5 per [...]
Swiss watch exports plummet after tariff uncertainty hits sales June 19, 2025 Swiss watch exports fell significantly in May after anticipation of steep tariffs caused a downturn in the US market. Exports fell 9.5 versus May, according to new figures from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH), reversing a recovery in sales that has been brewing since the start of the year. The market for [...]
Morrisons boosts sales amid looming ‘trolley wars’ June 19, 2025 Supermarket giant Morrisons has posted an increase in sales as it works to offload debt and compete in an ever-tougher sector. Like-for-like sales rose 3.9 per cent in the second quarter of the year, while total sales grew 4.2 per cent to £3.9bn. Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 7.2 per [...]
Refy: Sales spike at influencer Jess Hunt’s beauty brand June 19, 2025 Sales and profit have both spiked at Refy, the beauty brand co-founded by British model, social media influencer and entrepreneur Jess Hunt. The Manchester-based business, which Hunt launched alongside chief executive Jenna Meek, has posted a turnover of £40.3m for the year to 31 August, 2024, according to new accounts filed with Companies House. The [...]
B&M swaps one tax haven for another June 19, 2025 B&M has revealed plans to swap Luxembourg, the European tax haven the discount retailer has been domiciled in for over a decade, with Jersey. The London-listed company, which has its operational headquarters in Liverpool, said the move would simplify its corporate and administrative structure and provide “greater flexibility for returning capital to shareholders going forward”. [...]
Matalan: Huge losses continue as almost 200 jobs lost June 19, 2025 Huge losses have continued at Matalan as its sales dipped below £1bn and it shed almost 200 jobs. The Liverpool-headquartered retailer has reported a pre-tax loss of £67.2m for the 12 months to 22 February, 2025. The total comes after Matalan also posted a pre-tax loss of £60m in its prior year. New accounts also [...]
Danish bakery Ole & Steen brews up success with buns on demand June 18, 2025 International bakery Ole & Steen has reported a double-digit uplift in sales, boosted by online deliveries to business and consumers. Turnover grew five per cent last year after a strategy revamp, with revenue increasing to £36m from £34m in 2023. UK managing director Graham Hollinshead said the company has “firmly re-established [its] position as London’s [...]
AO World: Record earnings after Music Magpie acquisition June 18, 2025 AO World has reported better-than-expected revenue growth after its acquisition of Music Magpie and an expansion in its membership scheme helped boost the figures. The electrical retailers told markets this morning that life-for-like adjusted profit before tax grew 32 per cent to £45m in the year ended March 31, above the top end of its [...]