The Co-op fights attempted hack as M&S cyber attack rages on April 30, 2025 The Co-op has been forced to shut off parts of its IT systems after it was confronted with an attempted hack. The Manchester-headquartered group has confirmed some of its back office and call centre services have been impacted. However, it added that all its stores, including grocery and funeral homes are trading as usual. A [...]
Truly: Losses continue at brand backed by Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones April 30, 2025 Losses have widened at Truly, the lifestyle brand launched by Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones which used to be backed by Holly Willoughby. The online business has been trading since the end of 2018 – led by Jones and wife Tara Capp – after TV presenter Willoughby stepped away a few months before. At the [...]
Gymshark puts 300 jobs at risk despite record sales April 30, 2025 Gymshark has put almost 300 jobs at risk despite reporting record sales for its latest financial year this week. The Solihull-headquartered company, which was co-founded by self-made billionaire Ben Francis, has entered into a consultation with 296 employees, almost a third of the total workforce. The news, first reported by Drapers, came on the same [...]
Vinted launches venture capital arm with eye on UK start-ups April 29, 2025 Vinted, the Lithuanian-founded secondhand marketplace, has launched its own venture capital (VC) arm and is eyeing UK start-ups. The move adds new competition to the UK’s fast expanding, re-commerce and resale market, now worth already £7bn, as major platforms look to capitalise on shifting consumer habits driven by inflation and sustainability concerns. Vinted Ventures will [...]
M&S: FTSE 100 shares start recovery after near-£700m cyber attack hit April 29, 2025 Shares in Marks and Spencer (M&S) have risen for the first time since a cyber attack wiped almost £700m off the FTSE 100 retailer’s valuation. M&S has seen its share price tumble from 411p to 383p in the last week after first revealing the cyber attack last Tuesday. The cyber attack initially impacted contactless payments [...]
Cotswold Outdoor racks up a decade of losses April 29, 2025 The firm behind Cotswold Outdoor has failed to make a pre-tax profit for a decade but the retailer did significantly cut its losses in 2024, it has been confirmed. The Wiltshire-headquartered retailer has posted a pre-tax loss of £380,000 for its latest financial year, down from the £7.3m it reported for 2023. The last time [...]
Gymshark: Record sales as brand continues global expansion April 29, 2025 Gymshark, the activewear brand co-founded by self-made billionaire Ben Francis, has seen its revenue pass £600m for the first time. The Solihull-headquartered business has posted sales of £607.3m for the year to 31 July, 2024, new accounts filed with Companies House have revealed. The latest total comes after Gymshark reported a revenue of £556.2m in [...]
Puregym bulks up in US market as membership soars April 29, 2025 UK-based gym operator Puregym is set to expand into the US after a bumper 2024. The firm increased revenue by 10 per cent to £605m as membership soared. The British gym franchise ended 2024 with 2.25m customers, adding 400k in the last year – a jump of 21 per cent. The group’s total gyms rose [...]
Employment Rights Bill will ‘cut retail staff numbers’ April 29, 2025 Labour’s Employment Rights Bill will lead to job cuts and price hikes, a poll of 31 major retailers has found, in the latest sign the government’s legislative agenda risks harming economic growth. The legislation, which is nearing its final stages in Parliament, introduces sweeping changes to zero-hours contracts, sick pay, leave, flexible working and dismissal, [...]
The UK isn’t celebrating risk takers and wealth creators – Castore boss April 29, 2025 The UK is at risk of “taking too many steps down a road of not wanting to celebrate risk takers and wealth creators”, according to the co-CEO of sports apparel brand, Castore. Tom Beahon, who shares the top job with his brother Phil, added “there’s not a lot of incentive for anyone to take risks [...]