M&S set to buck retail trend and see a bumper golden quarter November 6, 2024 After reporting a set of results far ahead of analysts’ expectations for the third quarter, Marks and Spencer is set for a bumper Christmas period as its turnaround continues to bear fruit. Its food division is particularly well-placed to deliver, with sales already up more than seven per cent in the third quarter. M&S’ food [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group warns Boohoo over break-up plans November 6, 2024 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has handed Boohoo a list of demands after its campaign to install the retail tycoon as the new CEO of the fast-fashion giant failed last week. The owner of Sports Direct and House of Fraser had sought to get Mike Ashley installed as the new chief executive of Manchester-headquartered Boohoo, in [...]
Asda cuts jobs and demands three-days-a-week return to office November 6, 2024 Asda has announced job cuts and asked its staff to return to the office three days a week in the latest move in its turnaround plan. In an internal email on 5 November, the grocer said it was changing its office attendance policy at its George House site in Leicester as well as its Asda [...]
FCA approves £10m acquisition of Musicmagpie by AO World November 6, 2024 The UK’s financial watchdog has approved the acquisition of Musicmagpie by AO World for £10m. First announced in October, the deal will see the electrical retailer acquire Musicmagpie for 9.1p per share, a fraction of its market capitalisation at IPO in 2021. It floated with a share price of 193p. Bolton-headquartered AO sells white goods [...]
Marks and Spencer shares up on double-digit growth as turnaround pays off November 6, 2024 Marks and Spencer has reported another bumper set of results ahead of the golden quarter as its turnaround plan continues to pay off. The company’s share price rose by nearly five per cent in early trades and reached a level not seen since 2016. Profit before tax rose 17.2 per cent to £407.8m, up £348.1m [...]
Huge pay day for Cheshire Oaks owner as profit almost triples November 5, 2024 The group behind outlet shopping centres such as Cheshire Oaks has issued a huge dividend to its owner after its sales and profit surged. Mcathurglen UK has issued a dividend of £58.9m for 2023 after paying out £2.2m in 2022. Newly-filed accounts with Companies House also show that the group’s revenue jumped from £128.4m to [...]
Primark earnings jump despite weather hit November 5, 2024 Budget retailer Primark has seen annual earnings jump by more than 50 per cent in spite of an early summer weather hit to sales. Owner Associated British Foods reported a 53 per cent rise in operating profits at Primark, to £1.1 billion over the year to September 14 as groupwide like-for-like sales lifted 1.2 per [...]
Mike Ashley helps Hornby clean house after strategic review November 5, 2024 Hornby, the international models and collectables group advised by billionaire Frasers Group founder Mike Ashley, has announced the sell-off of a loss-making part of its business and the departure of its former chairman. The Kent-based listed company, in which Frasers owns a stake, has announced the LCD Enterprises is to be sold to EKD Enterprises, [...]
Womenswear firm Sosandar signs homewares agreement with Next November 5, 2024 Sosandar, the women’s fashion retailer, has signed a capex-free licensing agreement with Next for a homeware range. The licensing agreement, which requires no capital expenditure for Sosandar, will see the two companies extend their pre-existing agreement to sell clothing. Co-ceos Ali Hall and Julie Lavington said it was a “proud moment” for the Sosandar brand and [...]
Asos: Loss widens but company optimistic on growth November 5, 2024 Asos has reported a steep drop in revenue but said its restructuring has created the foundations for a return to growth. The e-commerce giant reported an operating loss of £331.9m for the year to 1 September 2024, up £83.4m from a loss of £248.5m in 2023. Like for like, revenue fell by 16 per cent [...]