Retail sales fall as ‘suffocating’ Brexit uncertainty envelopes UK high streets January 18, 2019 Retailers suffered a weak end to 2018 as Brexit uncertainty saw shoppers spending less in the face of Brexit uncertainty, the latest data shows today. Sales fell 0.9 per cent month on month in December as shoppers kept their purses closed, the Office for National Statistics data revealed. Read more: All the high street giants [...]
Slippers and sleep: Mattress founder saves Mahabis from administration January 18, 2019 Mahabis, the self-styled “Nike of downtime”, has been saved by a similarly cCHILL retailer – the owner of mattress maker Simba Sleep. Founder James Cox’s investment boutique YYX Capital has snapped up Mahabis’ assets, after the luxury slipper retailer fell into administration over Christmas. Read more: Mahabis drops into administration after mounting debts Founded by trained [...]
Peppa Pig goes big at Christmas, boosting Character Group figures January 18, 2019 Peppa Pig is having a good day in the City as toymaker the Character Group reported positive momentum from the second half of last year has carried into 2019. The AIM-listed group – which owns rights to several popular brands, including Pokemon, Little Live Pets and Laser X – weathered a storm on the high [...]
New Look slapped with fresh downgrade as Moody’s casts doubt over restructuring plan January 17, 2019 Moody’s, the influential ratings agency, has downgraded New Look’s senior secured notes rating, just days after the retailer unveiled a restructuring deal aimed at cutting its debts by £1bn. On Monday, New Look agreed a debt-for-equity swap proposal to reduce debt from £1.35bn to £350m, and also announced a £150m capital raise through the issuing [...]
Travel food operator SSP sees sales rise despite yellow vest protests January 17, 2019 Travel food operator SSP posted a rise in sales for the first quarter, despite seeing its European sales pulled down by protests in France. SSP, which runs food concessions in airports and railway stations, said total revenues rose 7.7 per cent in the three months to the end of December, with like-for-like sales up 2.5 [...]
Bowling alley group Ten Entertainment targets expansion as it reports sales growth January 17, 2019 Ten Entertainment group has reported sales growth today as the bowling alley chain outlined plans to open up to four new sites a year. The group posted total sales growth of 7.5 per cent in its full-year trading update, with like-for-like sales growth of 2.7 per cent. The four new centres which were opened in [...]
N Brown sales slide in wake of ‘challenging’ Christmas January 17, 2019 Shares in plus-sized fashion group N Brown slumped more than eight per cent this afternoon after the e-commerce giant became the latest retailer to report a fall in sales over the Christmas period. Growth in online trading was offset by a slump in its traditional catalogue-focused arm, with revenue in N Brown’s mail-order catalogue brands, [...]
Premier Foods logistics issues take a slice out of third quarter revenues January 17, 2019 Mr Kipling maker Premier Foods saw sales fall in the third quarter after logistics problems ate into revenues. The food manufacturer, which also makes Bisto and Oxo cubes, said sales fell 2.2 per cent to £256m in the 13 weeks to 29 December. Read more: Tesco and M&S reveal stockpiling amid concerns of a 'no deal' [...]
Advertising watchdog issues ultimatum to retailers over faux fur January 17, 2019 The advertising watchdog has issued an ultimatum to retailers to ensure products they advertise as fake fur do not contain real fur. UK retailers have until 11 February to ensure their adverts are accurate, according to the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), which draws up advertising regulations. CAP warned firms may face sanctions if they [...]
Debenhams shares slide as Moody’s hands struggling retailer a negative outlook January 17, 2019 Debenhams’ share price slumped seven per cent in morning trading, after ratings agency Moody’s lowered its outlook for the beleaguered retailer from stable to negative. Concerns over the risks that creditors might incur when lending to the embattled department store chain were flagged by Moody’s, pushing shares in Debenhams down 7.26 per cent to 2.8p [...]