Debenhams Group and Peak Collaborate on Cutting-edge AI to Stay Ahead of Holiday Demand - Agentic AI solution will help to drive smarter, faster trading decisions
Mahmud Kamani-backed vertical farm collapses after failing to find a buyer Business A vertical farming group backed by the likes of Boohoo co-founder Mahmud Kamani has collapsed after being unable to find a buyer, owing creditors nearly £8m. London-based Vertical Future had raised more than £37m in capital since it was founded in 2016, courting high-profile investors including Kamani, Charles Tyrwhitt founder Nick Wheeler and World First [...]
LadBible founder rakes in over £40m as shares rise Media The chief executive and co-founder of LadBible has raked in more than £40m through his investment vehicle which is a major shareholder in the online publisher. Alexander “Solly” Solomou set up the Manchester-based company in 2012 alongside Arian Kalantari. The group floated on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM at the end of 2021 while its [...]
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 [...]
What happened to River Island? June 26, 2025 River Island is suffering from a common affliction. Declining sales and an inability to keep up with competition have led to a restructuring plan, with imminent store closures if the strategy goes ahead. High-street peers like Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and Debenhams have already disappeared and become online-only – River Island is just the “latest [...]
Gymshark: How going public could help take on ‘monster rivals’ Nike and Adidas May 7, 2025 Gymshark, the activewear brand co-founded by billionaire Ben Francis, could be pushed towards becoming a public company in its bid to “achieve the kind of global domination enjoyed by monster rivals Nike and Adidas”. According to Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, the Solihull-headquartered business would need to “amp up its presence” [...]
Asos: Losses narrow as e-commerce giant drives turnaround April 24, 2025 Struggling ecommerce giant Asos has reported reduced losses as its turnaround plan begins to take shape. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) moved into positive territory at £42.5m in the 26 weeks to March 2, from a loss of £16.3m last year. Its share price dipped by nearly two per cent in [...]
Will Trump tariffs end up helping Next, M&S and Dunelm? April 8, 2025 UK heavyweights who aren’t exposed to the US market, like Next and M&S, may end up seeing some silver linings from Trump’s tariffs, according to analysts. Only a few UK retailers – namely JD Sports, Doc Martens and Burberry – sell to the states and produce in eastern Asia. Berenberg analysts said that positives from [...]
Asos and Boohoo stick to US closures despite Trump tariffs April 8, 2025 Asos is to continue with its plan to close its distribution centre in Georgia, USA, and serve the country from Yorkshire despite the imposition of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. At the start of the year, the fast-fashion group announced plans to close its US base in another effort to boost profitability and streamline operations. The [...]
Motor finance: Insurance industry nervously watches legal battle March 31, 2025 As the lenders brace for the start of a high-profile legal battle on Tuesday, the insurance industry lurks in the sidelines