Frasers Group chairman urges Unite to avoid ‘reckless’ strike October 3, 2025 The chairman of retail giant Frasers Group has urged Unite the Union to avoid “reckless and irresponsible” strike action as retail firms across the UK feel the crunch of rising cost pressures. Sir Jonathan Thompson, who took the role of Chair in September, has asked the Union’s General Secretary Sharon Graham to reconsider plans to [...]
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 [...]
Exclusive: Peter Kyle says Employment Rights critics ‘come from certain educational backgrounds’ October 2, 2025 Business secretary Peter Kyle has dismissed critics of the Employment Rights Bill as people on an “above average income” and those who have not had an “ordinary experience in the economy”. Labour’s workers’ rights package has faced staunch opposition from CEOs as well as top business groups including the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and [...]
Marylebone High Street: Host of lettings take super-prime village to capacity October 1, 2025 Marylebone has welcomed eight new names to its high street, with continued demand for spots taking the village to full capacity. A host of fashion, perfume and food brands have leased shops on the high street, while two longstanding companies are set to unveil enhanced new store layouts. “Demand for stores is at its highest… [...]
David Beckham shares huge pay day amid record year October 1, 2025 David Beckham has shared a huge pay day after profit at his business empire jumped by almost a quarter in 2024, it has been revealed. DRJB Holdings Limited, which includes David Beckham Ventures Limited, Seven Global LLP and Studio 99 Group, has posted a net profit of $44.9m (£35.1m) for the year, up from $36.2m [...]
Selfridges: Losses slashed despite revenue hit October 1, 2025 Losses at luxury department store chain Selfridges have been slashed during its latest financial year despite its revenue taking a hit. The business, which has UK stores in London, Birmingham and two in Manchester, has posted a pre-tax loss of almost £16m for the 48 weeks to 4 January, 2025. The latest figure comes after Selfridges’ [...]
‘Packaging tax’ to force further price rises October 1, 2025 UK businesses will be forced to pass the vast majority of costs incurred by a new packaging tax onto consumers, in a move that will stoke already rampant food inflation and compound financial pressures on hard-pressed households. According to fresh figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), retailers plan to pass over 80 per cent [...]
Asahi cyberattack halts domestic operations amid ongoing investigation September 30, 2025 Japan’s largest brewer, Asahi Group Holdings, remains unable to resume production at its domestic factories following a cyberattack on Monday, with the firm unable to provide a timeline for when normal operations might resume. “Asahi Group Holdings is currently experiencing a system failure caused by a cyberattack, affecting operations in Japan,” it said in a [...]
Asos shares sink after sales fall behind expectations September 30, 2025 Shares in e-commerce fashion firm Asos have tumbled after the company reported sales short of expectations and vowed to extend its cost-cutting programme in a bid to secure “even stronger profitability foundations”. The London-based business said it “had planned to shift gears” from rebuilding its commercial model towards “re-engaging with customers.” “Instead, more opportunity to [...]
Will we mourn the loss of WH Smith from the high street? September 29, 2025 So long then, WH Smith, a firm which has graced our high streets for more than a century – even though it never intended to. Founded as a small newspaper kiosk in Mayfair in 1792, the business grew massively in the mid-19th century, spurred by the rapid expansion of the railways, which allowed consumers up [...]