Unilever hikes dividend by eight per cent with €6bn share buyback programme kicking off in May October 22, 2018 Unilever said this morning it will be hiking its dividend by eight per cent with a share buyback of up to €6bn starting next month, as it looks to keep investors on side. The consumer goods giant, which owns brands from Dove to Marmite, reported underlying sales growth – excluding its spreads business – of [...]
New stomping grounds: Dr Martens posts strong growth after opening 25 new stores last year October 22, 2018 Dr Martens’ new chief executive said there is room for further growth as the company posted strong results for the financial year, opening 25 new stores. The iconic footwear brand increased revenue by 20 per cent to £349m, while growing operating profit by a third to £50m. Read more: Fintech startup Worldremit poaches former Paddy [...]
Audit’s perfect storm: How bean counters found themselves at the centre of a public uproar October 21, 2018 On the the surface, there is little reason for audit to get the blood pumping. The reality, however, is quite different, and threatens to present the sector’s biggest players – sprawling multi-nationals used to finding that all news is good news when you count the beans – with the toughest challenge they have seen in [...]
Patisserie Valerie could face investor action over £40m black hole in accounts October 21, 2018 Cafe chain Patisserie Valerie could face legal action from shareholders over the £40m black hole in its accounts. Lawyer Philip Rubens, from the firm Teacher Stern, is canvassing institutional shareholders and claims to be on the verge of securing third-party funding. He is aiming to make a claim against the AIM-listed firm for losses endured [...]
London’s iconic Burlington Arcade sold to billionaire Reuben brothers for £300m | City A.M. October 18, 2018 Billionaire brothers Simon and David Reuben have bought the iconic Burlington Arcade for £300m from New York property group Thor Equities and European private equity firm Meyer Bergman. The Mayfair arcade was bought by Thor Equities and Meyer Bergman for £104m back in 2010. Commenting on the sale, Joseph Sitt, CEO of Thor Equities, said: [...]
Retail sales slide in September as analyst warns future is ‘highly uncertain’ October 18, 2018 Retail sales slipped last month as September recorded the largest decline in food store sales for three years. Sales declined 0.8 per cent compared to August, mainly due to a 1.5 per cent fall in food sales, which is the largest drop since October 2015. Read more: Footasylum records £4m loss as difficult retail environment hits [...]
New Look confirms China exit plans October 18, 2018 Fashion chain New Look confirmed today that it was planning on pulling the plug on its operation in China. The company said it has been gradually reducing its number of stores and now intends to close its remaining 120 stores in the country by the end of December 2018. Its Shanghai head office will close [...]
Games Workshop shares slip after it warns of uncertainties in upcoming trading periods October 18, 2018 Shares in model retailer Games Workshop fell more than six per cent this morning after it warned of “uncertainties in the trading periods ahead for the rest of the 2018/19 financial year”. In a trading update this morning Games Workshop said trading to 7 October had continued well with sales ahead of the same period [...]
FTSE 100 bookie GVC places all bets on Europe in quarterly sales boost October 18, 2018 Sales at sports betting firm GVC were boosted in the third quarter as customers turned to online outfits in the midst of the football World Cup, but Brits themselves were not so convinced. GVC, which owns brands such as Gala, Ladbrokes and Coral, revealed today in a trading update for the three months to 30 September that [...]
Domino’s Pizza trims profit guidance despite UK sales growing in summer heatwave October 18, 2018 Domino's Pizza sales grew by six per cent year-on-year across the UK and Ireland this summer despite the hot weather, it revealed today, but the fast food brand also cut back its full year forecast for pre-tax profits. Online sales were up by 11.4 per cent – comprising 78 per cent of total sales in the period [...]