UK economy grew unexpectedly after Burnham took over as Prime Minister September 11, 2026 The UK economy had surprise growth in the month Andy Burnham became Prime Minister. Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed GDP expanded 0.4 per cent in July, racing ahead of City economists’ forecast of zero growth. This was led by 0.4 per cent growth in the UK’s mammoth services sector, [...]
Panini sales tumble after sticker maker loses Premier League licence September 10, 2026 Collectable stickers maker Panini has seen its sales tumble in the UK following the loss of a major Premier League licence. The Italian company’s UK subsidiary recorded a more than 20 per cent drop in turnover to £43.3m in 2025, according to accounts seen by City AM. The 65-year-old firm, which has had a partnership [...]
Primark sales slip as owner dresses up retailer for demerger September 10, 2026 Primark has seen its sales slip due to heatwaves and “weak” consumer spending, despite efforts by its owner to revamp the discount clothes seller as it prepares to be spun off. Associated British Foods (ABF), the FTSE 100 consumer goods giant which owns Primark, said it is working “at pace” to improve the retailer ahead [...]
John Lewis posts £120m loss as Labour tax raid pushes up costs September 10, 2026 The owner of John Lewis fell to a loss of more than £120m in the first half of its trading year as the retail giant hit out at Labour tax raids for “the increased costs of doing business”. The John Lewis Partnership, which also owns Waitrose, posted a pre-tax loss of £124m, 41 per cent [...]
Black market cigarette trade ‘accelerating high street decline’, Co-op tells Burnham September 9, 2026 Criminal gangs selling illicit cigarettes in shops across the UK are “accelerating” the decline of Britain’s high streets and must be stopped, the Co-op has warned Andy Burnham. The black market trade of tobacco is undermining the Prime Minister’s push to rejuvenate UK high streets, eroding public safety and weakening community cohesion, the cigarettes-to-funerals seller [...]
Dunelm shares crater as hot weather undermines growth plan September 8, 2026 Shares in Dunelm plummeted after its new boss warned that record summer temperatures had posed an early hurdle to her plans to kick off growth at the furniture and homeware seller. Clo Moriarty, who joined the group from Sainsbury’s in October last year, said progress towards her new strategy has so far been delayed by [...]
Retail sales slow as heatwave boost cools September 8, 2026 The heatwave boost fuelling summer sales cooled last month, as Brits cut back on retail spending to deal with rising bills. Retail sales grew by 0.7 per cent in the year to August, marking a significant slowdown compared to 3.1 per cent growth in August 2025, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). August’s rate [...]
Activist investor accuses The Works of unfairly swaying crucial vote September 7, 2026 The activist investor seeking to tighten its grip on The Works has accused the retailer’s board of attempting to sway a crucial shareholder vote. Kelso, a London-listed activist investor, has been locked in a weeks-long row with the arts and craft retailer, as it attempted to convince shareholders to appoint a former Card Factory director [...]
Next dodges ‘hammer blow’ with equal pay court victory September 7, 2026 Retail giant Next has won an equal pay appeal allowing it to pay warehouse workers more than shop-floor staff, warning that its defeat “would have represented a hammer blow to retail employment in the UK”. The FTSE 100 retailer told shareholders on Monday that it was justified in paying its warehouse operatives a higher rate [...]
Iceland boss Richard Walker vows to set up shop on Falkland Islands September 4, 2026 The boss of Iceland has waded into the fresh row over the Falkland Islands, vowing to open a supermarket in the British territory. Lord Richard Walker, executive chairman of the retailer, wrote on LinkedIn: “We’ve been supporting the Great British high street for 50 years. “As we continue our international expansion programme, we are committed [...]