Falling rents help Shoe Zone walk to a profit in tough time for high street May 21, 2019 Falling rents helped UK value footwear retailer Shoe Zone hold steady in its interim half-year results, released today, in a tough trading environment. Read more: Shoe Zone shares soar as retailer posts record profits The figures The company’s profit before tax rose marginally to £1m in the half year ended 30 March. Shoe Zone’s revenue [...]
WH Smith chief executive to leave in October May 21, 2019 The boss of WH Smith is set to step down later this year after 15 years with the British retailer. Stephen Clarke will leave the role of chief executive at the end of October to be replaced by Carl Cowling, the managing director of the firm’s high street business, at the start of November. Read [...]
Thomas Cook forced to reassure holidaymakers as shares plummet further May 20, 2019 Thomas Cook has been reassuring customers their holidays will be going ahead after shares in the struggling travel firm plunged lower today. Shares in Thomas Cook dropped as much as 17 per cent to less than 10p, having suffered a 40 per cent plummet on Friday. Read more: Payment firm to hold onto Thomas Cook's [...]
Brands, forget about customer loyalty and trust. Just make stuff that people want to buy May 20, 2019 If you're a harassed brand manager, a chief marketing officer with a case of the shakes, or a branding agency strategist for whom visiting Twitter is like playing Russian roulette, here’s the good news: the average person couldn’t care less about your brand. I mean really, they don’t care. Don’t interject by stating the name of [...]
High spirits: City Pub Group cheers investors with sales rise as expansion continues May 20, 2019 The City Pub Group shareholders will this morning be toasting a rise in sales of more than one-third so far this year. Read more: City Pub Group shares rise as it returns to profit The pub operator, which runs 45 sites mainly in London, said sales were up 35 per cent on last year for [...]
Co-op signs deal to supply own-brand sandwiches to Superdrug stores May 20, 2019 The Co-op has struck a deal with Superdrug to provide the health and beauty chain with sandwiches and snacks for its food-to-go range. During a trial period set to launch this summer, the supermarket chain will supply its own-brand sandwiches, salads and fruit to seven Superdrug branches at railway stations and airports. Read more: Co-op [...]
Fast food chain Leon reports widening loss as rising costs hit margins May 19, 2019 Fast food chain Leon posted a record turnover of more than £65.2m last year but a third consecutive loss as it increases its UK footprint. The healthy food company has had a rapid rise in recent years, increasing its turnover by more than 15 per cent last year – from £56.3m in 2017 – [...]
Sports Direct mulls legal challenge over Debenhams rescue plan May 19, 2019 Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct is looking to launch legal action against Debenhams over a controversial rescue deal secured earlier this month. The sportswear group is set to challenge two company voluntary arrangements (CVA) that could lead to the closure of 50 the chain’s 166 stores, with rent cuts expected on dozens more. Read more: Local [...]
M&S braced for fresh decline in profits as store closures continue May 19, 2019 Marks & Spencer is set to report a sharp decline in profits for the full year as it looks to beef up its online offering amid a raft of store closures. The high street stalwart is expected to post pre-tax profits of roughly £520m in its full-year results of Wednesday, a fall of 10 per cent on [...]
Payment intermediary to hold onto Thomas Cook’s cash in latest blow to airline May 18, 2019 A payment intermediary from the Nordic region is in talks to extend the time it holds on to consumers' money owed to the Thomas Cook Group. The firm is seeking to retain millions of pounds of holidaymakers’ money, which is usually kept for two days, for several weeks, according to Sky News. Read more: Thomas [...]
