MPs urge government to slap penny tax on new clothes in bid to cut fashion industry waste February 19, 2019 An influential group of MPs has called for a 1p tax on new clothes in a bid to tackle consumer waste within the fashion industry. The penny tax, which would be levied on every new item of clothing sold by Britain’s retailers, has been proposed this morning by the cross-party Environmental Audit Committee to raise [...]
Human bone discovered in socks from Primark January 25, 2019 Police are probing what is believed to be the discovery of a human bone in a pair of Primark socks. Officers from Essex Police are liasing with the retailer after it said socks bought from a Primark store in Colchester were reported to the force on 2 January. A police spokesman said: "Detectives are continuing [...]
Primark sales sweeten the pill as retailer outperforms Christmas gloom January 17, 2019 Primark today reported a rise in revenues over the festive period as store expansion outweighed a fall in like-for-like sales. The fashion retailer saw UK sales rise one per cent on last year in the 16 weeks to 5 January, defying a downturn in the wider retail market. Read more: Retail sector suffers worst Christmas in [...]
City focuses on Boohoo as online giant hopes to defy retail gloom January 13, 2019 Online fashion giant Boohoo looks set to defy the gloom hanging over Britain’s retail industry later this week when it is expected to post another quarter of sharp sales growth. The City will be turning its attention towards the e-commer giant to see whether its festive fortunes were enough to buck a current trend of dismal [...]
Debenhams share price plunges as investors fear disappointing Christmas trading January 2, 2019 Shares in Debenhams plunged almost nine per cent this morning amid fears of poor trading over the festive period. The department store chain saw its share price tumble to 4.68p on the first day of trading in 2019, ahead of an update due on 10 January. The sliding shares suggest investors have low expectations for [...]
Primark owner warns of challenging trading and tough retail market December 7, 2018 The chairman of the company behind Primark is today warning of a tough market for retail saying that during November Primark trading was challenging. Associated British Foods chairman Michael McLintock will say at the firm’s annual general meeting today that “during November Primark trading was challenging, in a tough retail market, but with careful inventory management [...]
Proxy adviser tells investors to vote against ‘excessive’ pay of Associated British Foods boss December 5, 2018 An influential advisory group today recommended that shareholders vote against the "excessive" pay package of the Associated British Foods (ABF) boss. The firm’s chief executive George Weston, who belongs to the billionaire family that owns a majority stake in ABF, earns approximately 129 times the salary of the company’s average employee, with proxy firm Pensions [...]
Online sales are set to hit record levels on Black Friday as high street footfall declines November 21, 2018 The proportion of sales made online is likely to hit its highest level ever in November, boosted by a Black Friday internet shopping rush and fewer high street shoppers. Internet sales are expected to exceed 20 per cent of total retail sales for the first time ever this month, according to research by real estate firm [...]
Shareholders need to hear more than just contrition if they are to believe in the future of M&S November 8, 2018 Another day, another bleak set of results from a struggling high street retailer. This time it was the turn of M&S to take centre stage, reporting falling food and fashion sales and pledging to leave “no stone unturned” in its bid to restructure the business. Blighted by rising costs, more competition, and major changes in [...]
Sugar business misses the sweet spot as eyes turn to Primark November 6, 2018 Primark has today been pinned as next year's source of growth for its owner Associated British Foods (ABF), which is looking to fill a gap left by falling profits from its sugar arm. ABF is hoping that expansion of Primark’s selling space will help deliver expected earnings per share next year, in a bid to [...]