Can Primark go it alone after ABF split? Retail FTSE 100 giant Associated British Foods ended months of rumour when it announced its demerger from Primark. Felix Armstrong explores how the budget clothes retailer will fare on its own. Walk into Oxford Street’s Primark, battle through the tightly packed rows of cut-price clothing, and your eyes will seize on the bright blue lights of [...]
On: Sales surge by £40m before Ibiza Final Boss viral boost Retail Sales at sports clothes and shoes brand On in the UK jumped by £40m in the year before it went viral thanks to the ‘Ibiza Final Boss’. The brand was caught up in a social media sensation earlier this year when the ‘Ibiza Final Boss’, real name Jack Kay, was captured on video dancing at [...]
eBay: UK profit surges after selling fees removed Retail Profit at the UK arm of eBay has surged despite its decision to waive selling fees impacting its revenue during its latest financial year, it has been revealed. The division of the US giant has posted a pre-tax profit of £36.5m for 2024, up from the £2.7m it achieved in 2023. New accounts filed with [...]
British icon in the red after Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes costs jobs October 10, 2025 John Smedley, the historic family-owned luxury knitwear brand, has been forced to raise prices and make redundancies as it battles Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes as it fell into the red. The Derbyshire-headquartered business can trace its roots back to 1784 and is currently run by the eighth generation of the Smedley family. Executive chairman [...]
Topshop and Topman losses revealed before John Lewis move October 7, 2025 Losses at the joint venture behind Topshop and Topman have been revealed ahead of the brand’s return to UK stores next year. The brands were sold by online clothing retailer Asos to a joint venture alongside Danish retail tycoon Anders Holch Povlsen’s Heartland in September 2024. Asos had previously acquired Topshop and Topman along with [...]
New Balance: UK sales pass £1bn for the first time October 2, 2025 Sales at the UK arm of New Balance have surged to more than £1bn for the first time, it has been revealed. The Cheshire-headquartered division has posted a turnover of £1.02bn for 2024, new accounts filed with Companies House show. The total is up from the £882.1m it achieved in 2023, the £679.7m it posted [...]
Levi Strauss bets on Beyonce as over 200 UK jobs lost September 1, 2025 The UK arm of Levi Strauss cut more than 200 jobs as its turnover jumped to almost £100m during its latest financial year. The Northampton-headquartered division reduced its headcount from 1,857 to 1,630 in the 12 months to 30 November, 2024, new accounts filed with Companies House show. Over the same 12 months, Levi Strauss’ [...]
Arne: Brothers enjoy huge pay day as profit surges September 1, 2025 The brothers behind clothing brand Arne have raked in the cash after sales and profit at their company surged in 2024 ahead of the brand opening its first store. The Warrington-headquartered business has posted a turnover of £84.1m and pre-tax profit of £11.9m for 2024 The figures compare to the turnover of £37.4m and pre-tax [...]
Seraphine: Princess of Wales’ favourite owed a king’s ransom August 15, 2025 Seraphine, the maternity fashion retailer whose clothes were worn by the Princess of Wales, owed over £33m as it collapsed into administration before being rescued. The business ceased trading and entered administration in July with consultancy firm Interpath appointed to oversee the process. The move led to the majority of its 95-strong staff being made [...]
FatFace slims down workforce as brand returns to profit August 14, 2025 FatFace shed almost 300 jobs as it returned to profit in its first full year after being acquired by FTSE 100 giant Next. The retailer was snapped up by the Leicester-based group for £115.2m in October 2023 in a deal which saw it fall to an initially reported pre-tax loss of £3.2m in the 35 weeks [...]