Retail CVAs decline as landlords push back against plans January 8, 2020 The number of retailers using company voluntary arrangements (CVAs) to rescue their businesses slumped last year due to backlash from landlords, as administrations spiked in December. The use of CVAs declined 24 per cent from 38 in 2018 to 29 in 2019 as landlords increasingly push back against rent cut requests by struggling retailers. Read [...]
Sainsbury’s Christmas sales slip despite online boost January 8, 2020 Sainsbury’s suffered the biggest drop in Christmas sales of general merchandise since it bought Argos in 2016, as consumer demand for toys and games weakened. General merchandise sales, which includes Argos, dropped 3.9 per cent in the 15 weeks to 4 January, driving a 0.7 per cent decline in total retail sales excluding fuel. However, [...]
UK house prices jump in December January 8, 2020 UK house prices jumped in December as the General Election result “reignited” the property market, according to the latest figures. UK house prices increased four per cent year-on-year and rose 1.7 per cent compared to November – the biggest monthly increase seen in 2019. Read more: London house prices rose twice as fast as rest [...]
Topps Tiles blames political uncertainty for sales slump January 8, 2020 Topps Tiles’ sales sank in the final quarter of last year, which the firm blamed on political and economic uncertainty in the run up to the General Election. Like-for-like retail revenue dropped 5.4 per cent in the 13 weeks to 28 December. Read more: Topps Tiles chief executive quits after 12 years In the first [...]
Shoe Zone profit slumps after £3m hit on property valuation January 8, 2020 Budget footwear retailer Shoezone suffered a slump in profit last year after it was forced to take a £2.9m hit on the value of 17 properties. The figures Statutory profit before tax dropped from £9.6m to £6.7m after the company reported a £2.9m writedown on the value of 17 freehold properties. Read more: Retail landscape [...]
UK landlords prepare to sell due to tax increases and reforms January 8, 2020 A quarter of landlords are planning to exit the market this year, citing tax increases and government reforms as the main driving factors behind the decision to sell, a new survey has found. The survey of UK landlords found that 26 per cent were preparing to sell at least one property this year, partly due [...]
Poundland owner lines up advisors for stock market listing January 7, 2020 The owner of Poundland is reportedly mulling a stock market listing that could value the discount retailer at about £3.4bn. Steinhoff International Holdings, the owner of Poundland’s parent company Pepco Group, is expected to appoint advisors in the next few days to support plans for an initial public offering (IPO), Sky News reported. Read more: [...]
Hobbs returns to profit as retailer opens new concession stores January 7, 2020 Fashion retailer Hobbs returned to profit last year despite a “challenging retail environment” as the firm ramped up its concession store expansion plan. The womenswear brand reported a profit after tax of £4.9m compared to a loss of £4.8m the previous year when it was hit with costs related to its 2017 sale to TFG [...]
Christmas supermarket sales growth slows to four-year low January 7, 2020 Supermarket sales growth over the Christmas period slowed to the lowest rate in four years as shoppers watched their budgets over the festive period. Retailers reported sales of £29.3bn, up £50m on last year, however growth slumped to the lowest rate since 2015. Read more: Morrisons sales fall in ‘unusually challenging Christmas period’ Year-on-year supermarket [...]
Premier Oil shares soar as it pays $625m for BP North Sea assets January 7, 2020 Shares in Premier Oil soared in early trading after the UK oil company announced it will buy two major North Sea assets from BP for $625m (£473.8m). The oil and gas firm is planning to buy the Andrew Area and Shearwater assets from competitor BP, as well as an extra 25 per cent interest in [...]
