Two-year mortgage rates fall as markets brace for future interest rate cuts September 20, 2024 Two-year mortgage deals are becoming increasingly competitive as rates continue to fall faster than longer-term deals.
Retail sales smash expectations despite a drop in consumer confidence September 20, 2024 Retail sales in the UK blew past expectations in August, climbing to their highest level since July 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Sales were up one per cent compared to the previous month, beating analysts’ predictions of a 0.4 per cent rise. The increase builds on July’s return to growth, which [...]
Fentimans in the red after poor summer weather flattens drinks brand September 19, 2024 Soft drinks and tonic water brand Fentimans fell into the red during its latest financial year after bad summer weather and the cost-of-living crisis impacted its sales. The Northumberland-based business has reported a pre-tax loss of £655,708 for 2023, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. The loss comes after Fentimans posted a pre-tax profit [...]
Portmeirion Pottery sinks deeper into the red as Asian sales falter September 19, 2024 Portmeirion, the historic maker of ceramic tableware and cookware, has slipped further into the red as declining sales in Asia continue to weigh heavily on the company. The London-listed group, which is headquartered in Stoke-on-Trent, saw its revenue fall to £36.6m in the first six months of 2024, down from £44.1m year on year. As [...]
Sosandar pushes ahead with brick-and-mortar expansion as new flagship store revealed September 19, 2024 UK fashion brand Sosandar has announced its expansion into in-store retail with historic Irish department store Arnotts, in a bid the company hopes will allow it to connect better with its customers. The London-listed company, which is headquartered in Cheshire, said the decision to base its flagship store in the Dublin department store had been [...]
John Lewis: ‘Transformation on track’ but chain still in the red September 12, 2024 The John Lewis Partnership has reported an improved set of half-year results and has said it is on target to significantly boost its performance for the full year. The iconic UK name, which also owns Waitrose, said sales topped £5.9bn in the 26 weeks ended 27 July, up by two per cent year on year. [...]
WH Smith shares jump on buyback plan after pension buy-out frees up cash September 11, 2024 WH Smith has announced strong revenue growth, driven by a boost in its airport and train station stores and a £50m share buyback programme. It also announced a £85m cash benefit as the result of its pension fund buy-out. Shares in WH Smith rose more than 12 per cent in early trades. Revenue at the [...]
Dunelm prepares to open first London stores as sales and profit rise September 11, 2024 London-listed homeware retailer Dunelm has seen its sales tick up despite its customers facing “competing demands” for their disposable income. The Leicester-headquartered firm saw its overall revenue climb to £1.7bn in the 12 months to 29 June 2024, up from £1.64bn the previous year—growth of 4.1 per cent. This increase was largely driven by 6.2 [...]
Mike Ashley works his magic at Hornby as sales jump September 11, 2024 The impact of Mike Ashley advising Hornby, the international models and collectibles group, has been revealed. The retail tycoon. whose Frasers Group significantly upped its stake in the Kent-headquartered listed company in February, took up a consultancy role in March. Hornby, in a trading update to the London Stock Exchange, has revealed that its sales [...]
Aldi hails record sales as profit surges by almost £400m but loses market share September 9, 2024 Aldi has lost market share despite achieving record sales during its latest financial year as its profit surged by almost £400m, new figures have revealed. The Warwickshire-headquartered UK arm of the German supermarket giant lost 0.2 per cent to report a market share of 10 per cent in 2023. That’s despite Aldi posting record sales [...]