Reiss reports record results after product investment March 9, 2020 British fashion brand Reiss bucked the retail trend to report record-breaking results this morning. Earnings before interest, tax depreciation and amortisation soared 51.6 per cent to £29.3m in the 52 weeks to 1 February. The retailer said improved product quality has translated into more full-price sales, boosting profit. Full-year like-for-like sales jumped, driven by a [...]
Tesco sells Thai and Malaysian businesses for £8.2bn March 9, 2020 Tesco has sold its Thai and Malaysian businesses to CP Group for £8.2bn, the supermarket giant announced this morning. Following the deal Tesco will return £5bn to shareholders and make a £2.5bn pension contribution. The disposal of the two Asian units, which were operated under the Lotus brand, will simplify the group’s structure and allow [...]
Coronavirus crisis wipes £59bn off FTSE 100 March 6, 2020 Coronavirus wiped £59bn off the FTSE 100 today to cap off another week of stock market turmoil. The blue-chip stock index sank by 3.6 per cent, or 242.88 points, to finish the week on 6,462.55 points – its lowest since July 2016. Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 was down 2.98 per cent, or 576.62 points to [...]
Coronavirus and stormy weather dampen high street sales March 6, 2020 High street sales slumped for the seventh February in a row last month as coronavirus fears and stormy weather hurt footfall. In-store like-for-like sales dropped 0.9 per cent last month from a base of minus 3.7 per cent in February 2019 as shoppers abandoned the high street amid mounting fears over the outbreak of Covid-19. [...]
Entertainment sales hit £7.8bn as streaming growth continues March 6, 2020 Sales of video, music and games grew 2.4 per cent last year to hit an all-time record of £7.8bn, according to figures published today. The Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) said the rising sales, which mark the seventh consecutive year of growth, was once again driven by the popularity of digital streaming. In 2019 streaming accounted [...]
CMA warns firms against coronavirus rip-offs as face mask and hand sanitiser prices soar March 5, 2020 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today warned companies not to gouge customers during the coronavirus scare as prices for hand sanitiser and face masks rocket. The watchdog said it would look at evidence that companies may have broken competition or consumer protection law by charging excessive prices or making misleading claims about their products. [...]
Car industry calls for electric vehicle tax break as new sales decline March 5, 2020 The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has called for a tax break on all new battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric cars in order to encourage the take up of more environmentally friendly models in the UK. According to the SMMT, cutting VAT on such models would reduce the [...]
Tenant restructurings hit shopping centre owner Capital & Regional March 5, 2020 Shopping centre owner Capital & Regional posted a drop in net rental income for last year as it was hit by retailer restructurings. Net rental income fell five per cent to £49.3m compared to £51.9m the previous year after a £3m hit from retailer company voluntary arrangements and restructuring plans. Adjusted profit fell 10.2 per [...]
John Lewis cuts bonus and puts stores at risk of closure March 5, 2020 New John Lewis Partnership boss Sharon White this morning slashed workers’ bonuses and announced store closures as the struggling retailer posted a dive in profits for 2019. The figures John Lewis cut its bonus to two per cent today, down from three per cent last year, the lowest pay out to partners in 67 years. [...]
Coronavirus: UK retailers launch action plan to win back Chinese visitors March 5, 2020 Retailers have this morning launched a battle plan to tackle the impact of coronavirus on the sector, as a sharp drop in Chinese visitors has hurt UK high streets. The international retail sector has set up a new Association of International Retail, which has unveiled a recovery plan for the industry which will be put [...]