B&Q owner Kingfisher profit nosedives 30 per cent amid economic gloom September 20, 2022 B&Q owner Kingfisher posted slumped profit in half-year results, with bosses citing an “exceptionally strong” comparable period last year. Operating profit was down 29.1 per cent, the DIY retailer highlighted, in results for the six months ended 31 July. Depleted sales came against a “backdrop of exceptionally strong” trading in the first-half of 2021, Thierry [...]
Mike Ashley to relinquish director role on Frasers’ board September 20, 2022 Frasers Group founder Mike Ashley will relinquish his role as a director on the Sports Direct owner’s board. Ashley will not be standing for re-election as a director at the high street giant’s Annual General Meeting, Frasers announced on Tuesday. The former CEO, who handed the reins of his retail empire over to son-in-law Michael [...]
1 in 3 high street businesses miss out on rates relief September 20, 2022 The Government failed to support a third of high street businesses in England promised a discount on their business rates bills, according to new data. Property specialists at Gerald Eve found that just 272,000 out of a promised 400,000 retailers, leisure and hospitality venues were able to claim a 50% discount on the commercial property tax announced [...]
Childcare costing parents up to 70 per cent of total pay with huge differences across UK September 19, 2022 Childcare in England, Scotland and Wales for children under the age of two is costing some parents more than half of one person’s weekly take-home pay. In fact, in some areas, this figure climbs to a staggering 70 per cent of parents take-home pay. The analysis was shared by Business in the Community, The Prince’s [...]
Hospitality hit ‘from both sides’ of energy price crisis as number of insolvent firms shoots up September 18, 2022 There has been a huge spike in the number of company insolvencies in the past year by 72 per cent, as hospitality bears the brunt of soaring energy bills. New figures from the Insolvency Service show pubs, bars and restaurants have been the worst affected, being “from both sides” by the cost of living crisis. [...]
Frasers bid for majority stake in Aussie fashion marketplace MySale rejected September 16, 2022 Frasers’ bid to become the largest shareholder in Australian fashion marketplace MySale has ben rejected. Mike Ashley’s fashion empire Frasers, which also owns Sports Direct, offered to buy a 28.7 per cent stake in the company at 2p per share in late June. The offer was the minimum price Frasers could have offered MySale, which [...]
Naked Wines founder turns advisor in bid to weather financial storm September 16, 2022 Naked Wines’ founder and former chief executive Rowan Gormley has been appointed to an advisory role as the winemaker weathers the current financial storm. The company, which connects shoppers and wine makers, recently said it was “reviewing potential operational and financial plans for the next 18 months.” It will publish an update during the week [...]
Retail sales continue year-long downward spiral amid cost of living crisis September 16, 2022 Retail sales fell last month, according to official figures, as the cost of living crisis prompts Brits to dial back spending. Sale volumes fell by 1.6 per cent in August, continuing a downward trend since summer 2021. Both food and non-food stores, as well as non-store retailing and fuel forecourts all saw lower sales over [...]
London hotel occupancy soars to 85 per cent during week of Queen lying in state September 15, 2022 Hotel occupancy rates in the centre of London have soared to almost 85 per cent ahead of the Queen’s funeral. Mourners and well-wishers have come to the capital from across the country and around the world to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth, and they all need somewhere to stay. This week, hotel occupancy peaked [...]
H&M misses sales estimates as third quarter ‘got off to a weak start’ September 15, 2022 H&M has admitted its third-quarter “got off to a weak start” as shoppers fret about stark increases to household bills. The Swedish fashion group posted weaker than expected quarterly sales on Thursday, missing out on analyst expectations. Net sales were up three per cent from a year prior, at $5.4bn. However, Refinitiv analysts had expected [...]
