Suez keen to buy back UK business ahead of Veolia competition ruling June 16, 2022 French waste and water firm Suez is gearing up to buy back its former UK business. The UK’s competition watchdog is set to make a judgement next month on whether rival Veolia can take over the arm. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had warned last month that the merger could result in council bills [...]
Revlon files for bankruptcy as lipstick seller reassures customers trading will continue June 16, 2022 Revlon has filed for bankruptcy as the cosmetics firm has struggled under the weight of hefty debt, supply chain disruption and sky-rocketing headwinds. The 90-year-old make-up maker said that it anticipated some $75m in financing from existing lenders, contingent on court approval. The rescue cash will help it to keep daily operations up and running. [...]
THG rejects all takeover approaches as significantly undervaluing e-commerce firm June 16, 2022 THG has rejected all recent approaches for the e-commerce beauty firm, stating the proposals had “significantly undervalued” the firm. Matthew Moulding’s retail emporium had received indicative proposals from “numerous parties” in recent months, it had confirmed in its full year results earlier this year. Last month, it also rejected an indicative non-binding proposal from a [...]
Boohoo posts first ever UK sales drop as fast fashion struggles to keep shoppers spending June 16, 2022 Boohoo has posted its first UK sales drop in the fast fashion retailer’s history, pointing to supply chain disruption and a struggle to be competitive with international players. In a trading update on Thursday, the Manchester-based retailer posted a one per cent drop in UK revenue while overall sales plunged eight per cent in the [...]
Asos warns profit will be hit as shoppers return more clothes amid cost of living crunch June 16, 2022 Asos has warned it is expecting lower profit this year after an increase in customers returning clothes due to the pressures of higher living costs. Asos lowered forecasts for the year, with sales anticipated to be in the range of four per cent and seven per cent, which it put down to “market volatility and [...]
Taco Bell ‘on fire’ as Mexican fast-food chain gears up for 100th UK site June 16, 2022 “We’re on fire” is how Taco Bell International’s president Julie Felss Masino described the Mexican fast food chain’s rollout to CityA.M. After launching 50 sites in the UK over the past decade, the US-based firm has expanded by another extra 50 sites in just the past 18 months. The chain, a subsidiary of Pizza Hut [...]
Trading standards seize thousands of counterfeit chocolate bars from Oxford St candy shops June 15, 2022 More than £100,000 worth of counterfeit or illegal chocolate bars and vapes were seized from US candy shops on Oxford Street yesterday. Trading standards seized a huge haul of dodgy goods yesterday, including 2246 counterfeit Wonka Bars, with a raid worth £22,000 from one shop alone. Council officials are endeavouring to crack down on the [...]
H&M beats expectations with sales boost amid warnings of rivals snapping up market share June 15, 2022 H&M has posted a sales boost larger than anticipated for the three month spring period, echoing figures from rival Zara last year. The Swedish fashion giant revealed net sales were up 17% year-on-year, or 12% measured in local currencies, at 54.5bn Swedish crowns (£4.36bn), According to the Reuters news agency, analysts polled by Refinitiv had [...]
Motorpoint warns car sales likely to dip as households tighten budgets this year June 15, 2022 Online car retailer Motorpoint has warned that inflationary pressures will mean a drop in consumers buying used cars this year while supply chain disruption will continue to bite. The London-listed company said consumers were under “increasing pressure” to cut back on discretionary spending, with inflation at a 40-year high. “This position has worsened since the [...]
Covid recovery: WHSmith airport shops exceed pre-pandemic revenue levels June 15, 2022 High street staple WHSmith is anticipating its full year outturn to hit the higher end of analysts’ expectations after its travel division has surpassed pre-pandemic revenue levels. In a trading update, the stationery seller said group revenue in the 15 weeks to 11 June was ahead of 2019 levels, sitting at 107 per cent. In [...]
