Halfords to take £23m hit from Budget but maintains 2025 guidance November 26, 2024 In its latest interim results, the retailer said that the combined effect of policies announced in the Budget would put up costs by around £23m, of which around £9m was already fully mitigated.
AO World: Double-digit growth ahead of musicMagpie deal November 26, 2024 Electrical retailer AO World has announced double-digit growth in retail revenue and operating profit as it continues its “laser focus” on cost and efficiency ahead of its acquisition of musicMagpie. Business-to-consumer retail revenue grew by 13 per cent year on year in the six months ended 30 September from £339m to £382m, AO World told [...]
Retail chief warns about return of inflation after tax-raising budget November 26, 2024 The chief of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that tax-raising measures announced in the latest government may lead to the return of inflation in the UK. Shop prices remained in deflation in November, down 0.6 per cent month on month, up from deflation of 0.8 per cent in the previous month. Shop price [...]
Investors shed Kingfisher stocks as trading update a ‘clear disappointment’ November 25, 2024 After a strong run for much of the year, Kingfisher stocks have plummeted more than 13 per cent this morning as investors reacted to an underwhelming sales update. The top end of its previously-guided profit forecast of between £510m and £550m has been shaved to between £510m and £540n. While the estimate “does not represent [...]
Very Group: Loss widens at Nadhim Zahawi-led Littlewoods owner November 25, 2024 The Very Group, which is chaired by former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, lost more in the first quarter of its new financial year than it did in its last 12 months, it has been revealed. The Liverpool-headquartered group, which is owned by the billionaire Barclay family, has reported a pre-tax loss of £22.9m for the 13 [...]
B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher: Weak trading in France and £45m tax hit cause shares to plummet November 25, 2024 Shares in Kingfisher, the parent company of B&Q and Screwfix, have dropped nearly 13 per cent after it tightened profit guidance due to weak trading in France and a higher tax bill in both France and the UK. Kingfisher expects the impact of changes to employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs) announced in the UK’s latest [...]
Labour’s Budget will ‘hit growth’, CBI boss warns November 25, 2024 In a speech set to be delivered at the CBI's annual conference later today, Newton-Smith will warn about the impact of the Budget on businesses.
Shoppers warned to be wary of social media scams this Black Friday November 24, 2024 Fraud is set to reach an all-time high this Black Friday, with online social media scams the most likely place for fraud to occur, according to new data. UK shoppers are expected to spend £9.14bn over the four-day Black Friday weekend – a 4.5 per cent increase on last year, according to Globaldata. But fraud [...]
Asda brings back industry veteran Leighton as chair November 23, 2024 Asda brought back retail industry veteran Allan Leighton as its executive chair on Saturday, replacing Stuart Rose at Britain’s third largest supermarket. Rose will remain on the board to ensure an orderly transition before stepping down, the company, majority owned by private equity firm TDR Capital, said in a statement. In addition to holding the [...]
Budget uncertainty has gone but odds have been stacked against business November 22, 2024 If Rachel Reeves thought certainty would cure the UK economy’s growth problem, she was wrong. She’s just pitted consumers against retailers. This data-heavy week has reflected that uncertainty over the Budget has not been cured by policy which heaps pressure on business. We’ve had inflation rising, debt compounded, inheritance tax receipts soaring, farmers protesting, the [...]