Decathlon: Losses almost double amid ‘significant transformation’ July 22, 2025 Losses almost doubled at Decathlon during its latest financial year as a “significant transformation” impacted its sales. The retailer has reported a pre-tax loss of £23.7m for 2024, according to new accounts filed with Companies House. The total comes after Decathlon also posted a loss of £11.9m for 2023. The business last achieved a pre-tax [...]
Food inflation could push annual grocery bills up by £275 July 22, 2025 Food inflation surged in June as the prices of dairy and fresh meat products skyrocketed. Grocery price inflation hit its highest level since January 2024 at 5.2 per cent in the four weeks to 13 July, according to Kantar. The average household spend at the grocers has now reached £5,283 a year, which could add [...]
Distillers One of One returns with bespoke Scotch whisky selection July 22, 2025 The Distillers One of One auction will return this October, showcasing 40 uniquely crafted whisky lots in what has become the global stage for rare Scotch whisky and luxury design. Each one-off release, to be auctioned by Sotheby’s, will be sold in support of Scottish youth charities. The event will take place on Friday, 10 [...]
Compass: Catering giant buys Vermaat Groep in £1.3bn deal July 22, 2025 Compass has agreed to acquire European food services business Vermaat Groep for €1.5bn (£1.3bn). Shares in the hospitality giant rose by more than five per cent in early trades. Vermaat, which is a market leader in the Netherlands, will give Compass a “unique opportunity” for sustainable growth in Europe, the catering company told markets this [...]
Fraud risk surges as leaked files expose UK firms July 22, 2025 London’s cyber watchdogs are sounding the alarm over a growing wave of corporate data breaches, as new research reveals the vast majority of leaked datasets now include sensitive financial and personal files, fueling a sharp rise in fraud, cybercrime and reputational risk. A landmark study published on Tuesday by Lab 1, an AI-driven cybersecurity platform, [...]
Astrazeneca plots huge $50bn US investment after ditching UK expansion plans July 22, 2025 Astrazeneca has unveiled plans to invest as much as $50bn in manufacturing and R&D in the US after ditching its UK expansion plans in a blow to the government’s industrial strategy. The Cambridge-based pharma giant said it will spend the huge sum over the next five years, including on a new manufacturing facility in Virginia, [...]
Marston’s: New pub strategy helps sales July 22, 2025 Pub giant Marston’s has said its switch from brewing to ‘pure-play hospitality’ is progressing ahead of schedule and showing encouraging results. Like-for-like sales for the 15 weeks to 12 July 2025 rose 2.9 per cent, in line with expectations, Marston’s told markets this morning. Excluding the impact of last year Euro 2024 Championships, like-for-like sales [...]
Rachel Reeves oversees higher government borrowing than expected July 22, 2025 Government borrowing has overshot predictions, putting Rachel Reeves under more pressure to take control of public finances. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector borrowing hit £20.7bn in June, higher than market expectations which pencilled in just over £17bn in borrowing. Borrowing in June this year was some £6bn more than at the [...]
Lionesses and late licences set to deliver £135m boost to UK economy July 22, 2025 Pubs will be allowed to stay open until 1am tonight for the Lionesses’ Women’s Euros semi-final with Italy as the UK economy gets set for a boost of more than £135m. The Home Office announced plans in May to extend licensing hours if England reached the last four of the tournament and they were approved [...]
Universities have woken up to AI reality. Can businesses now keep up? July 22, 2025 Universities are moving from degree machines to AI-savvy, entrepreneurial training grounds. Businesses must keep up, writes Paul Armstrong.
