Primark profits soar but owner ABF blames poor sugar performance for fall in profits April 24, 2019 Primark delivered an “excellent” 25 per cent profit growth in the six months to March even as owner Associated British Foods (ABF) saw overall income shrink. Read more: A look inside the world's largest Primark The figures ABF witnessed a huge 15 per cent year-on-year drop in statutory profit before tax to £515m after paying a [...]
Primark unveils its largest ever store with Disney cafe, barber shop and Wizard World April 11, 2019 The world’s biggest Primark opened its doors to customers for the first time this morning. Featuring a Disney-themed cafe, Hogwarts Wizarding World and barber shop, the new outlet spans 160,000 ft across five floors. A Disney-themed cafe is part of the new Primark store It is the latest sign of the budget retailer’s expansion, which [...]
Death of the High Street? Why we’re still backing UK retail April 9, 2019 Following some dire headlines you might rightly wonder why the share prices of UK retailers have recorded double-digit gains this year (see graphic, below). Surely the relentlessly downbeat mood music from the mainstream media (and pessimism among analysts) is confirmation that the UK consumer is in full retreat, and consumer-exposed sectors are in deep trouble? [...]
Babcock could appoint Rolls-Royce director Cairnie as first woman chair within weeks March 31, 2019 Defence giant Babcock is planning to appoint a female director at Rolls-Royce as its next chair, according to reports. Ruth Cairnie, a non-executive director on the engine maker’s board and former executive at oil giant Shell, could be named the contractor’s chair within weeks. Read more: Defence giant Babcock's chairman to step down after decade [...]
Primark boosts revenue with new store openings but warns on like-for-like sales drop February 25, 2019 Primark said today it expects half-year sales to grow four per cent compared to last year, driven by new store openings, but the budget fashion retailer will post a two per cent drop in like-for-like sales. In the UK sales were up two per cent, while Eurozone sales jumped five per cent with strong growth in Spain, France, Italy and Belgium. However, [...]
Shopping centre landlord Intu swings to a loss after swallowing £1.4bn hit to property values February 20, 2019 Embattled shopping centre landlord Intu moved into the red last year, as more than £1.4bn was wiped off the value of its property following a swathe of retail challenges. Shares in the group dived almost 10 per cent in early morning trading. The figures Losses at the FTSE 250 firm, which suffered two failed takeover bids [...]
Human bone discovered in socks from Primark January 25, 2019 Police are probing what is believed to be the discovery of a human bone in a pair of Primark socks. Officers from Essex Police are liasing with the retailer after it said socks bought from a Primark store in Colchester were reported to the force on 2 January. A police spokesman said: "Detectives are continuing [...]
Profit warnings by UK retailers at the highest level since Global Financial Crisis January 20, 2019 The number of UK retailers issuing profit warnings reached a ten year high last year as the sector endured a torrid twelve months, according to data from accounting giant EY. Data showed that 38 per cent of FTSE general retailers issued profit warnings in 2018, a 50 per cent increase on the previous year and [...]
Poor trading over Christmas period dulls Tiffany and Co’s outlook January 18, 2019 Luxury US jeweller Tiffany and Co has become the latest retailer to suffer in a global downturn as it reported a decline in sales over the Christmas period. Worldwide net sales declined one per cent to $1.04bn and like for like sales were down two per cent for the two months ending 31 December. Read [...]
Primark sales sweeten the pill as retailer outperforms Christmas gloom January 17, 2019 Primark today reported a rise in revenues over the festive period as store expansion outweighed a fall in like-for-like sales. The fashion retailer saw UK sales rise one per cent on last year in the 16 weeks to 5 January, defying a downturn in the wider retail market. Read more: Retail sector suffers worst Christmas in [...]