Gong Cha: Bubble tea chain plans huge UK expansion and 2,000 new jobs March 17, 2025 Bubble tea chain Gong Cha has revealed plans to open more than 225 stores across the UK and create nearly 2,000 jobs after signing a franchise agreement with a Costa Coffee giant. The London-headquartered business, which was founded in Taiwan in 2006, said the deal with Jinziex forms part of its wider strategy to reach [...]
Select Fashion on verge of collapse as it shuts UK stores – reports March 15, 2025 Retailer Select Fashion is reportedly on the verge of collapse as the struggling chain nears the closure of 35 shops across the UK. The group has drafted in advisers to oversee a process of liquidation, according to documents seen by the Sun. It comes as it is believed the chain will have shut 35 shops [...]
Starmer needs to “smash the gangs” behind shoplifting and phone theft March 12, 2025 The clip shared on social media yesterday by the BBC’s Nicky Campbell was unremarkable only because variations of it can be seen every day. Two men frantically empty shop shelves of cosmetics, pouring them into large bags while onlookers film the outrageous scene. They make no effort to hide their faces and when their bags are [...]
Stella McCartney: Fashion brand suffers sales slump amid huge loss March 11, 2025 Sales at Stella McCartney’s fashion brand were slashed almost in half as its losses widened by £15m in the year before the designer bought out LVMH, it has been revealed. Accounts filed almost six months after the Companies House deadline show Stella McCartney Ltd’s turnover was slashed from £40m to £21.9m in 2023. The accounts [...]
Hellofresh: Profit hike expected as cost-cutting drive extended March 11, 2025 Hellofresh has warned that its sales are set to fall this year but that its profit is expected to rise as it extended its cost-cutting drive. The recipe box delivery company, which is headquartered in Germany, said its cost-cutting programme, which was announced in the second half of 2024, would be extended until 2026. Hellofresh [...]
Gary Neville signs deal with cult London coffee brand Grind March 10, 2025 Cult coffee brand Grind is to open its first base outside London after signing a deal with Gary Neville to take space at his landmark city centre development in Manchester. Grind has agreed to take over 3,000 sq ft at No.1 St Michael’s scheme which is being led by Neville’s Relentless Developments. Grind joins the [...]
Ocado: CEO pay jumps despite heavy losses and flagging share price March 6, 2025 The chief executive of Ocado has seen his pay jump despite continuing heavy losses at the technology and grocery platform. Tim Steiner took home more than £2.6m for his company’s latest financial year, a rise from the £1.9m he was awarded in the prior 12 months. The increase was mainly driven by a rise in [...]
HMV: Sales on song as billionaire owner helps turn around high street icon March 6, 2025 Sales at HMV have more than doubled in the last three years as its recovery under the ownership of Canadian billionaire Doug Putman continues at pace. The high street staple has reported a turnover of £189.5m for the 12 months to 30 May, 2024, up from the £177.9m it achieved in the prior year. The [...]
Jollyes sinks further into the red despite sales surge at Pets at Home rival March 5, 2025 Jollyes has sunk further into the red despite its sales continuing to surge as it attempts to increase its rivalry with Pets at Home. The company has posted a pre-tax loss of £13.3m for the year to 26 May, 2024, after having also made a £5.3m loss in the prior 12 months. However, newly-filed accounts [...]
Boxpark launches new concept alongside a new CEO March 5, 2025 Matt Snell grew up above a pub and has done “every single job there is to do in hospitality”. For the last seven years, he’s been running Italian chain Gusto, directing it through a set of unquestionably tough years for the hospitality sector. Now, he’s running London’s Boxpark – and spearheading the roll-out of its [...]