Next defies retail gloom with rise in profits but shares fall on weak start to autumn trading September 19, 2019 Next reported a rise in pre-tax profits and sales this morning, as the retailer shrugged off tough trading conditions on the high street during the first half of 2019. The group’s share price dropped four per cent in morning trading after it flagged a weak start to the autumn season as a result of the [...]
Watchdog warns JD Sports’ £90m Footasylum merger could hurt competition September 19, 2019 The UK’s competition watchdog has warned that JD Sports’ £90m move for rival Footasylum may hurt competition on the high street, referring it for a deeper investigation. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will begin a second phase of scrutiny into the acquisition. Read more: Government intervenes in £4bn Cobham takeover on national security grounds [...]
Sports Direct notifies business department as it continues auditor hunt September 18, 2019 Sports Direct has notified the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) department that it is tendering for a new auditor after Grant Thornton declined to be reappointed at its annual meeting last week. Sports Direct does not have an auditor following Grant Thornton’s withdrawal from the role. Read more: Mike Ashley survives shareholder vote at [...]
Falling computer game prices drag UK inflation to lowest rate in three years September 18, 2019 UK inflation slipped to its lowest point in three years in August, official figures have shown, dragged down by falling computer game prices. Read more: Fall in UK unemployment pushes earnings growth to 11-year high Prices in British shops rose by an annualised rate of 1.7 per cent in August, the Office for National Statistics [...]
Profits slide and sales wane at B&Q owner Kingfisher September 18, 2019 Kingfisher reported falling profits and sales this morning as its struggling B&Q chain held back the firm’s turnaround efforts. Pre-tax profits at the group hit £245m in the first half of 2019, falling from £280m in the same period a year ago. Read more: Retail footfall drops again Blaming “disappointing” performances in its core UK [...]
Caffeine kick: Starbucks rolls out coffee delivery service across UK cities September 17, 2019 Starbucks is rolling out a delivery service which will allow customers across the country to wake up and – immediately – smell the coffee. The world’s biggest coffee shop chain has teamed up with Uber Eats to allow people in 11 UK cities to order their favourite brew directly to their doorstep via the app. [...]
Sainsbury’s outperforms big four rivals September 17, 2019 Sainsbury’s was the best performing of the big four supermarkets, according to industry data for the latest 12 week period, as the UK grocery market returned to growth. The supermarket saw sales dip 0.1 per cent in the 12 weeks to 8 September. Read more: Aldi targets London expansion as profit falls Rival grocers Tesco. [...]
Ocado sales growth accelerates after Andover fire recovery September 17, 2019 Online supermarket Ocado reported accelerating growth in the third quarter after it secured an additional warehouse following a fire at the firm’s Andover site. Retail revenue increased 11.4 per cent to £386.3m in the 13 weeks to 1 September, the company reported in a trading update this morning. Read more: Firefighters put out blaze at [...]
French Connection: Sale talks ‘ongoing’ as losses narrow September 17, 2019 French Connection has said that sale talks are ongoing, as the embattled fashion chain posted narrowing losses and a fall in revenue this morning. Shares fell 12.37 per cent after the retailer announced it is extending a strategic review into the business amid continued discussions over the future of the struggling business, which has been [...]
New products boost Finsbury Food’s revenue September 16, 2019 Shares in Finsbury Food Group rose more than eight per cent this morning as the food manufacturer announced revenue growth driven by the launch of new product ranges. The figures The Aim-listed firm said revenue increased 3.8 per cent to £315.3m in the financial year ended 29 June. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and [...]