Primark profit margins to be hit by high energy costs and shoppers’ budget worries September 8, 2022 Primark owner Associated British Foods said it expects the retailer’s profit margins to take a hit next year due to rising energy costs. In a trading update on Thursday morning, the retailer said it anticipated Primark’s profit margin to be lower than expected as the budget-chain has opted to limit further price hikes. ABF acknowledged [...]
Wagamama owner enjoys sales rebound but warns of ‘uncertain’ consumer environment September 8, 2022 The owner of the Wagamama restaurant group has seen sales surge in its half-year results, as an “uncertain consumer environment” looms. The Restaurant Group said total sales hit £423.4m in the 26-week period to 3 July, versus £216.8m in 2021. Diners returned to the group’s restaurants and pubs after the easing of Covid restrictions, with [...]
Gymshark to open doors of first physical store on London’s Regent St next month September 7, 2022 Gen Z sportswear retailer Gymshark is set to make its venture into physical retail this autumn, revealing the opening date of its Regent St flagship. The online brand is to open up shop at 165 Regent St on Saturday 1 October, after huge success over the last few years. Gymshark store on Regent Street will [...]
New job: Ocado Retail appoints Hannah Gibson as CEO September 7, 2022 Ocado’s online grocery business has appointed Hannah Gibson as new CEO, as the company hopes to retain consumers amid the cost of living crunch. Gibson will take up her position on 20 September, stepping into the shoes of Melanie Smith, who left in July, Ocado Retail announced on Wednesday morning. She has spent more than [...]
Heineken takes full ownership of London’s Beavertown Brewery September 7, 2022 Heineken has purchased all remaining shares of Beavertown, meaning it now has full ownership of the London brewery. The Dutch brewer snapped up a minority share in the North London craft brewer in 2018. The two firms did not reveal the purchase amount for the remaining shares on Wednesday. Within the latest deal, Beavertown founder [...]
Halfords warns cost pressures could lead to road safety risks September 7, 2022 Halfords share price boomed more than 10 per cent on Wednesday morning, following a trading update. Halfords saw like for like sales dip 1.9 per cent compared to the year before, for the 20-week period to 19 August 2022. Sales last year benefitted from the end of the Covid lockdown in the UK. The motoring [...]
WH Smith high street sales lower than pre-Covid levels after Funky Pigeon hack September 7, 2022 WH Smith has said its high street arm has been impacted by a cyber security issue with its greetings cards business, denting sales. The stationery seller said its high street business was performing in line with expectations. Sales stood at 80 per cent of 2019 revenue for the 26 weeks to 27 August 2022, following [...]
Tears for beers: Brits face staggering pub bill of £20 for a single pint September 6, 2022 Pubs and bars across the UK could be forced to close because it is not “viable” for landlords to raise the price of a pint to £15 or £20 to cover their soaring energy bills. Tom Stainer, the chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) group, told the Daily Star the cost of [...]
Halfords fined for sending 500,000 unwanted marketing emails September 6, 2022 Halfords has been fined £30,000 after an investigation found it had sent nearly 500,000 unwanted marketing emails. The bike retailer had received complaints over emails about a government voucher scheme that gave people £50 off the cost of repairing a bike at any participating store or mechanic in England. Halfords jumped on the scheme to [...]
Supermarket shelves could be bare of certain food and drink items during ‘really difficult winter’ September 6, 2022 Supermarket shelves could be left lacking certain food and drink items this winter if smaller companies go bust amid high energy bills, a food industry leader has warned MPs. It will be a “really difficult winter,” Karen Betts, chief executive, Food and Drink Federation (FDF) told MPs at the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee [...]