All Saints back in black after non-retail boost October 31, 2019 Fashion retailer All Saints returned to profit in its latest full-year results after increasing focus on its wholesale and licensing businesses. Operating profit in the 12 months to 2 February was £3.6m, up from a loss of £6.2m the previous year. Read more: All Saints profits hit by retail storm The east London-based company reported [...]
Carpetright mulls cut-price £15m takeover bid from largest shareholder October 31, 2019 Embattled retailer Carpetright is in last ditch rescue talks with its biggest investor. The flooring specialist is mulling a £15.2m offer from its largest shareholder, Meditor, amid fears that it will not be able to pay off its debt pile. Read more: Retail stockpiling soars on Brexit uncertainty The takeover offer of 5p a share [...]
Government’s smoke-free aim threatened by ‘moral panic’ over vaping October 30, 2019 The health of an entire generation of young Brits could be under threat if the UK falls victim to a “moral panic” over vaping, a new report has warned. Free market think tank the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) today urged the government to take a more liberal approach to e-cigarettes if it wants to achieve [...]
Mike Ashley hits out at competition watchdog over JD Sports probe October 30, 2019 Retail tycoon Mike Ashley has slammed the UK’s competition watchdog for its investigation into the merger between JD Sports and Footasylum, saying it has overstated Sports Direct’s share of the market. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether JD Sports’ £90m takeover of Footasylum could result in higher prices and reduced competition in [...]
Next sales beat guidance, but store performance worries investors October 30, 2019 Next sales beat guidance in the retailer’s third quarter with a two per cent rise, it revealed today. However, retail sales dropped 6.3 per cent in the three months to the end of October, saved by a 9.7 per cent increase in online revenue. Read more: Next defies retail gloom with rise in profits Warm [...]
Two Sainsbury’s executives to step down in boardroom shake up October 29, 2019 The new chairman of Sainsbury’s is planning a major boardroom reshuffle as the UK’s third-biggest supermarket tries to move on from the collapse of its planned £15bn merger with Asda. Read more: Sainsbury’s heir to the thrown quits to join media powerhouse WPP Google’s Europe operations chief Matt Brittin and ex-Marks and Spencer executive Jean [...]
UK shoppers call for carbon footprint data October 29, 2019 More than 70 per cent of UK consumers want businesses to share data regarding the carbon footprint created in the making of their products so they can make more ethical purchasing decisions. According to a new poll commissioned by En+ Group, the world’s largest producer of low carbon aluminium, 68 per cent of the UK [...]
Mike Ashley calls Goals Soccer Centres’ move to call in SFO ‘too little, too late’ October 29, 2019 Mike Ashley today blasted a reported move by embattled Goals Soccer Centres to enlist the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to investigate suspected fraud. The Sports Direct owner called the alleged action “far too little, too late”. Read more: Goals Soccer Centres calls in fraud watchdog The billionaire added that it “is a deliberate case of [...]
Shop Direct could fail unless £150m is found, auditor warns October 28, 2019 Shop Direct, the UK retail group owned by the Barclay brothers, could collapse unless it finds £150m to cover the costs of payment protection insurance (PPI) compensation, its auditor has warned. Read more: Media veteran David Montgomery weighing up Telegraph bid The Littlewoods.com and Very.co.uk owner last week revealed it had seen higher-than-expected demand for [...]
Hammerson consults shareholders over executive pay concerns October 28, 2019 Property developer Hammerson is continuing to consult shareholders after two resolutions, including its remuneration report, faced investor backlash at the company’s latest annual meeting. The shopping centre landlord, which owns Birmingham’s Bullring, said that the remuneration report was approved by shareholders, but noted that 29.7 per cent of the votes were against the policy. Read [...]