Easing inflation helps retail footfall in August despite riots August 30, 2024 Retail footfall in the UK was boosted by good weather and easing inflation in August, despite the effect of the violent riots which erupted earlier in the month. Total UK retail footfall fell by 0.4 per cent in August year-on-year, compared to an annual drop of 3.3 per cent in July, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). It’s [...]
What’s Next: Retailer seeking appeal but does it stand a chance? August 28, 2024 Next lost a major equal pay case this week, resulting in an estimated £30m bill to foot but what does this mean for businesses? Lawyers tell City A.M. that the ruling is a "worrying precedent for employers"
Victoria Beckham’s beauty brand bucks luxury fashion downturn again August 28, 2024 Victoria Beckham’s eponymous beauty brand has reported its third consecutive year of double-digit growth, bucking the trend of much of the luxury market. Its positive results came after it clambered out of the red in 2022 for the first time since its inception in 2008, despite a tough industry. Total revenue rose by 52 per [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group snaps up stake in Australian retail group August 28, 2024 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has continued its acquisition spree with a strategic investment into the Australian retail and distribution firm Accent. The London-listed retail empire snapped up a 14.65 per cent stake in the company in a move it hopes will further its footprint in Australia and New Zealand – identified as a key market [...]
Oasis world tour: Ticketing companies set for Champagne Supernova August 28, 2024 Ticketing companies are set for a Champagne Supernova of demand as legendary English rock band Oasis has officially reunited after a 15-year hiatus. The iconic Mancunian brothers, Noel and Liam Gallagher, who famously parted ways after a heated backstage bust-up in Paris back in 2009, have set aside their long-running feud to make an on-stage [...]
Naked Wines ‘in much better shape’ despite further losses August 28, 2024 Online wine seller Naked Wines has reported a slump in profit and a higher loss despite “significant strides” made over the past few months to restructure the business. Total sales fell by 18 per cent year on year to £290m in the 52 weeks ended 1 April 2024, while the company’s statutory loss before tax widened [...]
Asda, Tesco and UK retailers face anxious wait after Next loses £30m equal pay claim August 27, 2024 Britain's supermarkets face an anxious wait after fashion retailer Next lost a major legal battle today over unequal pay in its UK operations.
Primark owner AB Foods’ shares drop after investors advised to sell up August 27, 2024 Shares in Associated British Foods, which owns British stalwarts like Primark, Kingsmills and Twinings, dropped this morning after stockbroker Deutsche Numis downgraded its rating from ‘hold’ to ‘sell’. Shares in the FTSE 100 firm, which owns businesses in five segments including grocery, sugar, agriculture, ingredients and retail, dropped more than three per cent in early [...]
Arts and crafts giant Hobbycraft sold to Ted Baker investor August 27, 2024 Hobbycraft, which is one of the UK’s biggest arts and crafts retailers, has been snapped up by a specialist investor whose team has previously supported chains including Paperchase and Tie Rack. Investment group Modella Capital announced it had bought the Bournemouth-headquartered company from its majority owner, the fund management group Bridgepoint, for an undisclosed sum. [...]
Hamleys: World’s oldest toy store closes 40 loss-making shops as sales fall August 27, 2024 Toy retailer Hamleys is hoping a new digital strategy will help turn around its falling sales after closing 40 loss-making stores last year. The brand’s holding company has reported a revenue of £51.4m for 2023, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House, down from the £56.6m it posted for 2022. Over the same period, its [...]