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Retail & Consumer

Crazy golf course themed around Blackpool history wins support

A proposed crazy golf course has garnered significant support from the community, with some 180 comments and letters backing the plan. Residents across the Fylde coast have submitted comments to Blackpool Council, advocating for the planning application by the Tee Time Golf Centre on Fleetwood Road in Norbreck. The centre, which already features a nine-hole par 3 course and a 25-bay driving range, aims to construct a 12-hole adventure mini golf c...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-31 11:19

UK retail sales beat expectations in January amid discounting

British shoppers made a comeback in January, as bargain hunting drove the first monthly increase in retail sales volumes since August of the previous year. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), retail sales volumes rose by 1.7% in January, following a 0.6% decline in December, surpassing analysts' expectations of a modest 0.3% growth, as reported by City AM. This surge was largely attributed to a 5.6% increase in food sales, whic...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-31 13:44

Subway expands menu in major revamp as it faces fierce competition from Greggs

Subway has overhauled its menu as part of a new marketing strategy aimed at boosting UK sales. The fast-food giant will be testing a customisable jacket potato in 170 UK stores, attributing the decision to the potato's recent social media "renaissance" and "fame on social media," as reported by City AM. Deniz Safa, Director of Innovation & Culinary at Subway EMEA, stated that the move was due to the "surging popularity" of jacket potatoes and...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-30 18:58

'Inspiring' restaurant with roast dinners and music seeks council approval for expansion

A Liverpool venue which is renowned for its roast dinners, Ten Streets Social, has been described as an "inspiration" as its operators seek council approval to secure the business's continued growth. The venue, located on Regent Road in the Ten Streets regeneration zone, has become popular with diners and community groups since its 2020 opening in a formerly disused taxi repair site. As Ten Streets Social enters its fifth year, its operators have...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-29 18:20

McDonald's to create 120 jobs with new 24-hour drive-thru – despite council objections

A new 24-hour McDonald's drive-thru that could create more than 100 jobs has been greenlit for construction despite objections from the local town council. Cheshire West and Chester Council's planning department has given the thumbs-up to the project, which will occupy vacant land on Road Six at Winsford Gateway, part of the Winsford Industrial Estate. According to a planning statement in support of the scheme, the endeavour is expected to create...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-28 11:15

Very Group returns to profit despite drop in sales

Online retail giant Very Group has reported a pre-tax profit of £6.1m for the six months to 28 December 2024, marking a return to profitability despite a drop in sales. This comes after the Merseyside-based company that includes Littlewoods posted a pre-tax loss of £2m during the same period in 2023. However, the half-year results also reveal a decline in total revenue from £1.22bn to £1.17bn over the period. In its most recent full year, Very Gr...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-24 11:45

UK's first floating Padel courts set for Liverpool Waters

The developers of Liverpool Waters want to bring the UK's first ever floating padel courts to the city's waterfront. Padel, considered the fastest growing sport in the world, is a racquet sport that merges elements of tennis and squash, typically played in doubles. Peel Waters' proposed facility will be located at Princes Dock at Liverpool Waters and will feature three floating courts. These would be constructed on a special floating platform fro...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-23 11:09

Wetherspoons boss warns prices 'certain to rise' following national insurance hike

The boss of pub chain Wetherspoons has warned that prices are "certain to rise" when the national insurance (NI) hike comes into force in April. Devon-based entrepreneur Sir Tim Martin told Sky News the chancellor's plan to increase employers' NI contributions would cost his business £1.2m a week. In the Autumn Budget, Rachel Reeves confirmed NI for companies would rise from 13.8% to 15%, alongside a reduction in the threshold for employee wage e...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-22 11:11

New Look to close all stores in Republic of Ireland in 'difficult but necessary' decision

High street fashion behemoth New Look has announced its complete withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland, putting all of its employees in the country at risk of redundancy. The retailer's Irish division, which employs approximately 347 individuals, has initiated redundancy procedures following years of sustained losses, as reported by City AM. The privately-owned firm cited an increasingly unpredictable external environment as the reason for its ...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-20 11:35

Andy Burnham wants 'proper levy' on tourist hotel stays in Greater Manchester

Andy Burnham is advocating for the implementation of a 'tourist levy' to be paid by visitors staying in Greater Manchester from outside the region. The metro mayor has expressed his desire to replace the current voluntary 'city visitor charge', which is an optional £1-per-night fee, with a mandatory tax. The current scheme funds the local Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID), supporting tourism promotion and additional cleaning serv...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-19 11:01

B&M shares tumble as it cuts profit guidance and announces CEO exit

Shares in discount retailer B&M have taken a hit as the company lowered its profit guidance for the year, struggling to make headway in an increasingly competitive market. The firm's share price dropped nearly five per cent in early trading, as reported by City AM. B&M, which has its head office in Liverpool, now anticipates earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to fall between £605m and £625m, a decrease f...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-15 18:56

Coca-Cola bottling partner reports double-digit growth despite headwinds in emerging markets

Coca-Cola HBC AG, the bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company, has reported double-digit revenue growth despite facing significant exchange rate challenges in emerging markets. The company revealed a 2.8% volume growth for the twelve months ending 31 December 2024, fuelled by increased sales of coffee and energy drinks, as reported by City AM. Despite considerable headwinds from emerging markets such as Nigeria and Egypt, the Switzerland-based ...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-15 18:30

Bristol opticians relocates after nearly 30 years in old city

An independent Bristol opticians has relocated to new premises after nearly 30 years in the old city centre. Bramley Pope opened on St Stephens Street in 1997, catering for people working in central Bristol or in nearby offices. The company was established by Philippa Bramley and her friend Roger Pope, whose London-based optician was granted two Royal Warrants and supplied glasses to Queen Elizabeth II and to King Charles III when he was Prince o...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-13 11:59

Plans to demolish entire row of shops and flats in Bristol

Plans to demolish and rebuild an entire row of shops and flats as part of a multi-million regeneration scheme are inching closer to approval. A revised set of proposals for the west side of Filwood Broadway has been submitted to council planning officers, with work potentially starting this year if approved. The scheme involves the demolition of all buildings from 4 to 16 Filwood Broadway, including shop units and flats above on the western curve...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-11 18:18

Next ad featuring 'unhealthily thin' model banned over body image concerns

The UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has recently upheld a grievance against retailer Next for featuring what was deemed an "unhealthily thin" model in an online advert for leggings. This decision follows shortly after the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eating Disorders released a report highlighting the "alarming" surge in conditions such as anorexia and bulimia over the last ten years, noting that eating disorders possess "one of th...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-10 18:56

In The Style on brink of collapse with administration looming

Fast-fashion retailer In The Style is teetering on the edge of administration, just two years after a rescue deal was necessitated. FTS Recovery is being prepared to manage the potential administration of the company, which was established by Adam Frisby in 2013, as reported by City AM. Previously listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM, the business was sold off in a distress sale to Baaj Capital for slightly over £1m in March 2023. As 2024 dr...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-07 18:12

Club L London almost triples in size as it targets international expansion

Fashion retailer Club L London is eyeing international expansion after its sales and workforce nearly tripled over two years. The Manchester-based company reported a turnover of £44.4m for the 14 months ending 31 March, 2024, according to recent filings with Companies House, as reported by City AM. This surge in revenue follows a previous year's turnover of £29.5m and £15.7m the year before that. The firm also saw its staff numbers grow from 64 t...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-05 11:49

Major tool supplier collapses into administration

A major UK tool and maintenance supplier has fallen into administration and has been put up for sale. Devon-based Troy (UK), which has a workforce of 75, has been put on the market by administrators in an effort to salvage it following its collapse. The company, based at Exeter's Skypark, links suppliers with independent businesses to sell tools and other supplies to end users. Troy supports a network of more than 450 independent members in the t...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-05 11:25

Fashion firm Barbour launches second clothing collection with TV star Alexa Chung

Tyneside fashion firm Barbour has teamed up with TV presenter and model Alexa Chung to launch a new clothing collection. The South Shields firm, which can trace its history back to 1894, may have started out making waxed jackets for fishermen but its quilted coats and jackets are now worn by everyone from farmers and footballers to rock stars and royalty. And in more recent years Barbour has worked with famous names including ceramics designer Em...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-03 11:09

Burberry set to re-enter FTSE 100 in major milestone after share price doubles

Burberry is poised to make a comeback to the FTSE 100 in March as its shares have soared, doubling since hitting low points in September. The esteemed luxury brand had dropped from the FTSE 100 following the quarterly reshuffle last September when its share price plummeted by nearly 75% over 16 months, as reported by City AM. However, optimism for the luxury market's recovery and a well-received revival strategy under the leadership of CEO Joshua...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-03-01 18:32

Nikon's profit falls by half as it admits demand is waning

Nikon's European division has seen its pre-tax profit halved amid a slump in demand within its healthcare business, the company disclosed. The Japanese firm reported a pre-tax profit of €13.5m (£11.2m) for the year ending 31 March, 2024, as per the latest accounts filed with Companies House, as reported by City AM. This is a significant drop from the €26.8m pre-tax profit recorded in the previous financial year. Additionally, turnover in Europe d...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-28 11:33

Luxury stocks bounce back as high street brands Asos and Primark struggle

Luxury stocks are once again outpacing high street brands as investors anticipate a luxury resurgence. Brands that faced difficulties last year, such as Burberry and Kering, are making a comeback, while firms heavily reliant on physical stores like Primark are finding it tough, as reported by City AM. The top ten luxury retailers by market cap have seen their stock price increase by an average of 19 per cent so far this year. In contrast, high st...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-25 18:22

Kurt Geiger acquired by American footwear giant Steve Madden in a £289 million deal

In a significant change of ownership, private equity firm Cinven is set to sell the British footwear and accessories brand, Kurt Geiger, to American shoe brand Steve Madden, in a deal worth £289m. Acquiring Kurt Geiger for £245m in 2015, Cinven has overseen remarkable growth in the US market, particularly in the last year, with sales soaring by 58.7% to over £110m between February and September, as reported by City AM. The brand's e-commerce and ...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-24 11:51

Quiz enters administration as 23 stores close putting 200 jobs at risk – full list of shops closing

Quiz, the beleaguered fashion retailer, has been forced to close 23 stores following its slide into administration – putting approximately 200 jobs in jeopardy. The closures come despite the brand being rescued through a pre-pack administration deal by Orion, a subsidiary of the Ramzan family that founded the company. In the previous month, Quiz had been actively seeking emergency funding to avoid running out of money by March. The company appoin...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-23 18:06

Shein profit slumps by 40% ahead of London IPO as rival battles for market share

Shein's net profit took a significant hit in 2024, plummeting by almost 40%, casting uncertainty over its highly anticipated London stock market listing. The fast fashion group saw its profits fall by more than a third last year, posing additional challenges to its flotation plans, which could be one of the largest on the London Stock Exchange this decade, as reported by City AM. As reported by the Financial Times on Sunday, the Singapore-based r...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-22 18:10

Birkenstock sales to surge in UK as trendy footwear brand makes latest update

Birkenstock is predicting a significant stride forward in its UK sales for the current financial year as demand surges. The footwear brand has disclosed that so far, sales are "above initial expectations" for the year ending in September. Bolstered by retail store openings and growth in the wholesale channel, Birkenstock has enjoyed a continued increase in UK revenue, as reported by City AM. According to recent accounts filed with Companies House...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-22 11:43

Drayton Manor's profits slide for fourth year as theme park hit by wet weather

Drayton Manor has reported a drop in profit for the fourth consecutive year since being saved from administration, with inclement weather continuing to dampen sales. The Staffordshire-based theme park recorded a pre-tax profit of £1.2m for the year ending 30 September 2024, a decrease from the previous year's £2m, as reported by City AM. This follows pre-tax profits of £3.5m and £5.6m in the two years post-rescue. Prior to its collapse into admin...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-20 11:27

Decking firm Lakeland Verandahs celebrates Dubai sky pool contract as it plans £1m Middle East push

A decking specialist that’s expanding in the Middle East has completed a project at a Dubai sky pool that regularly attracts world-famous guests. Preston’s Lakeland Verandahs is set to complete 12 projects in its first year in the Middle East and estimates they will generate some £1m. It says negotiations are ongoing with hotels, commercial architects and luxury villa owners. It recently installed 800 sq m of its Solidek product at Aura Skypool i...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-19 18:40

The Stable pizza restaurant opens branch in Padstow

Pizza restaurant The Stable has opened a new branch in Cornwall. The 120-seater Padstow eatery opened at the weekend, serving a new menu including larger, thinner pizzas, smashed burgers and fish and chips. The chain, which has restaurants in Fistral, Plymouth, Bath, Bristol and Bournemouth in the South West, also launched its first-ever breakfast menu, which is exclusive to the Padstow branch. Emma Blackmore, director of The Stable, said: ‘We’re...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-19 18:54

Just Eat Takeaway.com sees shares rise as tech firm makes £3.3bn offer

Global technology company Prosus has tabled a £3.3bn bid to take over Just Eat Takeaway.com. The Amsterdam-based private equity firm plans to initiate the offer "as soon as practically possible", which is anticipated to be in the second quarter, with the deal expected to wrap up by year-end. Prosus has proposed €20.30 per share in cash, representing a 63% premium on Just Eat Takeaway.com's closing share price on 21 February, 2025, as reported by ...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-17 11:23

Holiday Inn owner IHG expands portfolio amidst robust travel market recovery

Holiday Inn owner IHG is celebrating the acquisition of its 20th brand and heightened returns for shareholders amidst a resurgence in the travel sector. The company, based in Windsor, has seen its fortunes ascend as travel regains momentum post-pandemic, with early projections for 2024 indicating that the hotel industry's revenues have eclipsed those of 2019, as reported by City AM. In a statement to the markets this morning, IHG revealed that it...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-15 11:29

Hair salons tell Chancellor to cut VAT to save industry from 'existential crisis'

The North’s hair and beauty industry could face a long-term crisis unless the Government cuts VAT – that’s the message from the owners of salons across Merseyside. The British Hair Consortium (BHC) says the tax system is “crushing” high street salons and that the whole industry so vital to the region’s economy is facing an "existential crisis". Collinge & Co has been in Liverpool city centre for decades and every year trains dozens of apprent...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-13 11:03

Ann Summers reports £13.1m loss amid inflation and Google search challenges

Ann Summers has reported a deeper pre-tax loss of £13.1m for the year ending 29 June, 2024, as it faced "significant external pressures" that include the cost-of-living crisis, rising inflation, and Google's safe search restrictions. This comes after a previous loss of £3.8m in the preceding 12 months, as reported by City AM. According to its latest filings with Companies House, the retailer also saw its turnover dip from £104.5m to £93m over the...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-12 18:42

Boss of South West Water owner has 'regret' for pollution incidents

The boss of Pennon says she has “regret” for the pollution incidents caused by the utilities firm. Chief executive Susan Davy, whose company owns South West Water, Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water and SES Water, admitted to a group of MPs that "from time to time things do go wrong". There were 194 individual pollution incidents across the Pennon group between 2023 and 2024, and the company was fined £2.2m in 2023 for illegal sewage spills spannin...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-12 18:52

'VAT costs are killing industry' - Exeter salon boss warns chancellor ahead of Spring Statement

An Exeter hairdresser is among UK salon owners urging the chancellor to throw the sector an "economic lifeline" as a new report highlights how an unbalanced tax system is "decimating" the industry. Nathan Plumridge, owner of Darts Farm-based Energy Hair, has warned VAT costs are "killing the industry". His business, which employs 25 staff, is also about to see its wage bill rise by £50,000 following Rachel Reeves' national insurance (NI) hike for...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-10 18:16

Unilever sales grow as Marmite and Dove maker's turnaround plan starts to pay off

Unilever, the household name behind brands like Dove and Marmite, has reported a profit increase as its restructuring efforts begin to bear fruit. The FTSE 100 consumer behemoth saw a turnover rise of 1.9% to €60.8bn (£50.71bn) in 2024, slightly surpassing analyst expectations of a 1.6% increase, as reported by City AM. Sales surged by 4.2%, predominantly propelled by the beauty and personal care sectors, while underlying operating profit soared ...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-09 11:17

Dragons' Den offer for Wiltshire gardening company Dig

A Wiltshire-based gardening start-up has secured a £75,000 investment after appearing on Dragons' Den. Entrepreneurs Henry Bartlam and award-winning garden designer Alex Hollingsworth won over Sara Davies after pitching their lifestyle brand aimed at beginner and budding gardeners. Mr Bartlam, who lives in Marlborough, conceived the idea for Dig during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020, when he noticed a dramatic rise in popularity for gardening and ...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-09 18:38

Lurpak maker Arla Foods eyes cuts as it battles rising prices and 'consumer uncertainty'

Arla Foods, the dairy behemoth behind brands such as Lurpak and Cravendale, has issued a warning that it is planning to make cuts of up to €110m (£91.1m) in 2025 due to escalating prices and consumer uncertainty. The Danish-Swedish multinational co-operative, which has a significant footprint in the UK and its headquarters in Leeds, also anticipates reporting a revenue of between €14.5bn to €15.3bn this year, driven by high dairy prices, as repor...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-08 18:24

New Lidl supermarket to be built on edge of Somerset town

As many as 40 new jobs are set to be created on the southern outskirts of Bridgwater following approval for a new Lidl supermarket near the M5. Lidl GB Ltd submitted an application in January 2024 to construct a new store on Carnival Way within the Bridgwater Gateway site, which is slated to eventually house nearly 500 new homes and commercial units just a stone's throw from junction 24 of the motorway. After about a year of consultation, Somerse...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-08 18:48

Superdry boss submits plans for Cheltenham hospitality venue

Thousands of people have signed a petition supporting plans by the boss of Superdry to enhance his Cheltenham hospitality venue, No.131 Promenade, despite planning officers expressing concerns about potential damage to the historic setting of the town centre. Today (Thursday, February 13), Cheltenham Borough Council is set to review two separate plans by Julian Dunkerton for a covered outdoor seating area at 129-133. Both schemes involve installi...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-06 18:04

AI platform working with OpenTable and Hawksmoor secures major funding

An Exeter-based AI platform that provides data to companies in the restaurant and hospitality sectors has secured a £350,000 equity investment as part of a £1m funding round. Big Business Intelligence, trading as Distil.ai, will use the cash from the British Business Bank's South West Investment Fund, via appointed Fund Manager The FSE Group, to scale and expand its team. The wider fundraising round also included investment from Waterspring Ventu...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-06 18:46

Scooter firm Pure Electric set for profit in 2026 after business overhaul

Pure Electric, the scooter company led by former Hargreaves Lansdown investor Adam Norris, has projected its first profit for 2026 following a shift in its business model. The Somerset-based firm anticipates that its pre-tax loss will continue to decrease throughout the current financial year as it expands globally, as reported by City AM. This forecast follows the company's report of a pre-tax loss of £7.5m for the 12 months ending on 29 Februar...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-05 11:39

Newcastle shopping destination Eldon Square appoints new director

A new boss has been appointed to lead Newcastle city centre’s premier shopping and leisure destination Eldon Square. Helen Cowie has been named as the new centre director for Eldon Square, one of the UK’s most visited city centre shopping malls with more than 26.5m people stepping into its shops every year. Ms Cowie, was born and raised in the region and has lived in the North East all her life, has more than 30 years of experience within retail,...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-03 11:53

Historic cider maker Thatchers posts record sales after Aldi legal battle win

Family-owned cider maker Thatchers has reported record-breaking sales, surpassing the £200m mark for the first time in its 120-year history. The Somerset-based business, established in 1904, recorded sales of £203.9m for the year ending 31 August, 2024, as reported by City AM. This is a significant increase from the previous financial year's turnover of £175.2m. Since 2018, when it posted a turnover of £99.2m, Thatchers has more than doubled its ...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-02-03 11:31

Pret A Manger hit with winding up petition over unpaid debts

Pret A Manger, the renowned sandwich chain, is facing a winding-up petition from Castle Water, an independent business water supplier, over unpaid debts. The High Court filing system shows that Pret A Manger (Europe) has been targeted by Castle Water with the petition, which was filed by Addleshaw Goddard, the water company's legal representatives, on Thursday, as reported by City AM. A winding-up petition is described as a serious statement of i...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-01-31 11:07

UK inflation hits 3.0% in January to challenge Bank of England as cost fears continue

Inflation has risen more rapidly than anticipated at the beginning of the year, according to official data, fuelling concerns about persistent price pressures in the economy. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports that the headline rate of inflation increased to 3.0 per cent in January, up from 2.5 per cent in December and exceeding the 2.8 per cent predicted by City traders. Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the ONS, said: "Inflation i...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-01-30 18:50

Investors urge Shein to slash IPO valuation by two-thirds as it plans London debut

Fast-fashion behemoth Shein is facing investor pressure to cut its valuation by two thirds from its peak, should it proceed with its anticipated float on the London Stock Exchange later this year, a report suggests. Shein was valued at $66bn (£52bn) in a funding round in 2023 and as high as $100bn in 2022, but a Bloomberg News report on Monday indicated that its backers are urging a reduction in its valuation to $30bn, as reported by City AM. The...

in Retail & Consumer 2026-01-29 11:41