Boots: ‘Lipstick effect’ boost to sales as cash-strapped shoppers help chemist post record-breaking Black Friday sales figures January 5, 2023 High street stalwart Boots saw sales jump in its stores over its Christmas trading period, as the return of tourism and office-working proved a shot in the arm for its city locations. The privately owned chemist said like-for-like retail sales leapt 8.7 per cent in its first quarter to November, marking record-breaking sales on Black [...]
Greggs: Baker on a sausage roll as it plots further expansion across UK January 5, 2023 Greggs has said it is on track for 150 net new stores this year as its value-proposition protects it from a wider consumer down-turn. In a fourth quarter trading update, the sausage-roll seller said its sales stood at £1.5bn, as the firm bounced back after experiencing pandemic-related disruption last Christmas. Sales had surged 23 per [...]
Next: Prices to rise in the spring – but boss hopeful inflation will ease in second half January 5, 2023 Next has warned it will lift prices further in the spring as the retailer’s chief said he was optimistic that inflation would let up in the second-half of the year. The fashion firm hiked its full-year profit guidance after seeing better than expected sales over the Christmas shopping period. The high street staple lifted its [...]
B&M: Bargains boost sales during ‘golden quarter’ – but will shares continue to rally? January 5, 2023 Bargain hunters gave discount retailer B&M a timely Christmas present as it looks to continue a share price rally that has seen its value jump 18 per cent in the last six months. In its third quarter trading update B&M reported 12.3 per cent year-on-year revenue growth of £1.5bn during the 13 week period 25 [...]
Cost of living fears don’t stop Brits spending record £12bn in supermarkets in run-up to Christmas January 4, 2023 BRITS brushed off cost of living and recession fears to spend a record £12bn in UK supermarkets in the run-up to Christmas.
Dubai ends 30 per cent tax on alcohol sales January 1, 2023 Dubai has ended its 30 per cent tax on alcohol sales in the sheikhdom and made its required liquor licences free to obtain, ending a long-standing source of revenue for its ruling family to apparently further boost its tourism to the emirate. The sudden New Year’s Day announcement, made by Dubai’s two state-linked alcohol retailers, [...]
Next: Fashion chain starts January sales early ahead of update January 1, 2023 Fashion chain Next is set to shine a light on the health of the retail sector in the aftermath of the “crucial” Christmas shopping period. Investors will be closely watching the clothing and homeware giant’s trading update on Thursday for detail on its sales figures over the festive season. In August, chief executive Lord Wolfson [...]
Inflation surge reshapes Brits’ spending, but so does end of Covid-19 curbs December 30, 2022 Inflation reaching a 41-year high. Interest rates back to 2008 levels. Mortgage costs up substantially. It’s been a tough year for the Great British consumer. Income growth has failed to keep pace with what was a 11.1 per cent cost of living peak, meaning households have been forced to cut back to protect their finances. [...]
Mining and retail stocks push FTSE 100 into the green after Christmas shopping boost December 29, 2022 The FTSE 100 has been given a boost by its top retail stocks as investors cashed in on the post-Christmas sales shopping, and as China is set to ease its Covid restrictions for inbound travellers from January 8. Among the top performers on London’s leading index on Wednesday were JD Sports Fashion, Next, Kingfisher and [...]
Made.com customers will not see return of £12m in deposits for pricey furniture December 27, 2022 Tens of thousands of Made.com customers will be left out of pocket by a total of nearly £12m, according to the homeware firm’s administrators. The London-listed sofa seller collapsed this autumn after a consumer crunch caused sales to slow, resulting in hundreds of job losses. Now, a report by PwC administrators has revealed that more [...]