M&S cyberattack helps Next to beat expectations again July 31, 2025 High Street darling Next has said that good weather and the disruption to Marks & Spencer caused by its recent cyberattack has helped it to beat expectations yet again. The Lord Wolfson-run fashion group said full price sales were up over 10 per cent in the first half of this year, nearly £50m ahead of [...]
Rare Lionesses ‘Champions’ shirt almost gone as sales rocket 250 per cent July 29, 2025 Special Lionesses replica shirts commemorating their Women’s Euro 2025 victory have almost sold out as fans revel in Sunday’s historic win. The Nike kit, which costs £125 and is emblazoned with “Champions” and the number 25 on the back, only launched after England’s triumph over Spain. It is part of a range of new merchandise [...]
WH Smith sells Funky Pigeon brand for £24m in travel pivot July 29, 2025 WH Smith has sold its Funky Pigeon brand to Card Factory, as the retailer sheds legacy assets ahead of a pivot towards becoming a pared down travel retailer. The Bristol and Guernsey-based novelty greeting cards line was sold for £24m, with Card Factory looking to integrate its technology into its consumer business. Funky Pigeon’s sale [...]
Price of fresh food pushes up Brits’ supermarket bills July 29, 2025 Higher wholesale prices for meat and tea have pushed up grocery prices at UK supermarkets, with warnings of more inflation ahead. Food inflation increased to four per cent year-on-year in July, against growth of 3.7 per cent in June and above the three-month average of 3.5 per cent. Fresh food rose in price by 3.2 [...]
Wayfair more than halves UK workforce in two years July 28, 2025 Online retail giant Wayfair has more than halved the number of people it employs in the UK in the space of two years, it has been revealed. The UK division of the US homewares and furniture seller had a headcount of 405 at the end of 2024, compared to 587 in 2023 and 847 in [...]
UK retail sales bounce back as Brits enjoyed warmest June on record July 25, 2025 Sales for UK retailers rose last month as Britons enjoyed the warmest June on record, which helped drive sales of food and drink, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said overall retail sales volume rose by 0.9 per cent in June, following a 2.8 per cent fall in May, as consumers [...]
Lionesses fever sends shirt sales skywards ahead of Women’s Euro final July 24, 2025 The Lionesses’ run to the Women’s Euros final has triggered a scramble for shirts and other merchandise, with sales far higher than even during the team’s 2023 World Cup run. Global retailer Fanatics, which operates England’s official stores, said that sales of Lionesses products were up 41 per cent on the same stage at the [...]
How a slow burning legal battle could cost UK supermarkets millions July 24, 2025 UK supermarkets are struggling through turmoil but quietly in the background, an ongoing legal battle is unfolding that could cost them millions
Alphabet and Tesla to kick off pivotal week for the Magnificent Seven July 23, 2025 The high-stakes earnings season for the Magnificent Seven tech giants begins on Wednesday, as Tesla and Alphabet report after the closing bell. With both companies under pressure to justify elevated valuations and market leadership, their results could set the tone for the rest of the sector’s global heavyweights – and for equity markets more broadly. [...]
Demand for strawberries and cider help grocery sales surge July 23, 2025 Sales at UK supermarkets surged in June as shoppers splashed out on summer staples like strawberries and cider. Total till sales growth at the grocers soared 5.8 per cent in the four weeks ending July 12, up from 3.8 per cent growth in June, according to new data released today by NielsenIQ (NIQ). “With three [...]