M&S takes on Vinted and Depop with eBay tie-up August 27, 2025 Marks & Spencer has announced it will launch a new resale platform on eBay as it looks to evolve with the changing face of high street shopping. Customers will be able to trade in their clothing, footwear and accessories through M&S’s first online takeback scheme, while pre-loved items will be available to buy on the [...]
Retail sales fall for eleventh consecutive month August 27, 2025 UK retail sales have continued their steady decline as price pressures weigh on already-stretched consumers, according to new data. The CBI’s monitor for annual retail sales was little changed at -32 in August, from -34 in July. “Weak demand and higher labour costs continue to put pressure on margins, dampening sentiment across the retail and [...]
Debenhams transformation ‘underway’ as fortunes start to look up August 27, 2025 Debenhams has announced an improvement in trading after a long period of decline fuelled by a restructuring of its business model. The company, which rebranded from Boohoo Group earlier this year, reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of £41.6m in 2025. The standout performer was the Debenhams brand, which grew sales by [...]
Thames Water agrees payment plan with Ofwat for historic fine August 27, 2025 Thames Water has agreed a payment plan with Ofwat for its £123m fine over rule breaches tied to its wastewater operations and dividend payouts. The payment plan will see 20 per cent of the total penalty – £24.5m – paid no later than 30 September this year. The penalty will not be funded by customer bills, [...]
JD Sports announces new buyback despite falling sales August 27, 2025 JD Sports has announced a new share buyback programme despite a drop in like-for-like quarterly sales. The FTSE 100 company said it would invest £100m into the programme, which it said reflects “confidence in medium-term industry growth, our ongoing market share gains and focused execution”. This is despite a three per cent drop in like-for-like [...]
Warm dry summer expected to produce top vintage for UK wines August 26, 2025 English wine producers are expecting a top quality 2025 vintage after “optimal” weather conditions for many winemakers this summer. Comparisons have already been drawn to the record-breaking harvest of 2018, which provided outstanding grape ripeness and yields. Cherie Spriggs, head winemaker at Nyetimber said she was “quietly optimistic” about this year’s harvest. “2025 is definitely [...]
UAE buyers swoop on cheap London prime property August 26, 2025 Wealthy buyers from the UAE are swooping on prime properties in central London, according to new data. UAE nationals accounted for three per cent of overseas buyers in prime central London in the year to July, up from 0.6 per cent the previous year, according to Knight Frank. “The uptick in interest from the Middle [...]
Workspace vacate London HQ for Unilever-acquired Wild Cosmetics August 26, 2025 Wild Cosmetics has signed a new lease with Workspace which will see it move into Workspace’s current head office at Kennington Park. Workspace, which owns and manages flexible office and light industrial spaces, will move its headquarters to The Centro Buildings in Camden. Freddy Ward, co-founder of Wild, said he was “really happy” to be [...]
Food inflation jumps to 18-month high as chocolate and butter prices rise August 26, 2025 Food prices have risen at their fastest pace for 18 months amid surges in the cost of chocolate, butter and eggs, latest figures show. Food inflation lifted to 4.2 per cent this month from per cent in July, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-NIQ Shop Price Monitor. It marked the highest level since February [...]
Business rates ‘double whammy’ to cost English companies billions August 26, 2025 Businesses in England are to face an “unavoidable double hit” to their property tax payments next year, which will see total payments surge by about £2.5bn, according to new figures. Analysis from global tax firm Ryan indicated that inflation and a government tax change will combine to drive up business rates bills further. Business rates [...]
