‘Fantasy land’: AO World boss blasts Labour over employment costs Retail The boss of AO World has hit out at the government after it shifted hundreds of jobs to South Africa in a bid to dodge soaring employment costs. John Roberts, chief executive of the electrical retailer, claimed the UK’s political class lives “in an economic fantasy land” and blasted Labour for forcing his company to [...]
Watch: Is the UK at risk of recession? Video We were told this would be the most pro-business government in the history of the country – so why have a gang of top chief executives this week fired warning shots at the Treasury – and why has one of them warned that we’re heading into a recession? It wasn’t supposed to be like this. [...]
Top retail boss warns UK heading into recession Economics The boss of AO World has warned that inflation, new red tape around hiring and higher taxes are quickly pushing the UK into a recession. “We’ve lived through a few recessions in the last 25 years – I think we’re heading into another one,” founder and CEO of AO World, John Roberts, told the BBC. [...]
Mike Ashley’s investments double to £1bn thanks to Hugo Boss shares July 17, 2025 The total value of the stakes Mike Ashley’s empire holds in the likes of Hugo Boss, AO World and Boohoo have doubled to £1bn in just over a year, it has been revealed. According to the group’s latest financial results, which have been filed with the London Stock Exchange, the value of its investments in [...]
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 [...]
WHSmith and Inchcape lead fall in retail stocks April 4, 2025 UK retail stocks have dropped in value this morning, led by a sell-off of WHSmith, Inchcape and AO World. Earlier today, tax body RSM said that price rises at UK retailers as a result of the tariffs were “inevitable”. “The tariffs announced by President Trump this week would in themselves be a blow to the [...]
Profit jumps at electrical retailer AO World March 25, 2025 Profit has risen more than twice as fast as sales and far outstripped revenue growth at online electrical retailer AO World. The company told markets this morning that it expects retail revenue to increase by around 12 per cent in the 12 months to March 31. It expects like-for-like revenue to increase by around seven [...]
AO World: Double-digit growth ahead of musicMagpie deal November 26, 2024 Electrical retailer AO World has announced double-digit growth in retail revenue and operating profit as it continues its “laser focus” on cost and efficiency ahead of its acquisition of musicMagpie. Business-to-consumer retail revenue grew by 13 per cent year on year in the six months ended 30 September from £339m to £382m, AO World told [...]
FCA approves £10m acquisition of Musicmagpie by AO World November 6, 2024 The UK’s financial watchdog has approved the acquisition of Musicmagpie by AO World for £10m. First announced in October, the deal will see the electrical retailer acquire Musicmagpie for 9.1p per share, a fraction of its market capitalisation at IPO in 2021. It floated with a share price of 193p. Bolton-headquartered AO sells white goods [...]
Electrical supplier AO World snaps up Musicmagpie in near-£10m deal October 2, 2024 London-listed online retailer Musicmagpie will be snapped up by AO World as the electrical supplier looks to enhance its presence in consumer tech.