Asda needs to ‘dig down into its soul’ and recover sense of purpose, say analysts December 9, 2024 Asda needs to “dig down into its soul” and reshape its pitch to customers if it wants to tackle the rising threat from the likes of Aldi and Lidl following a rollercoaster 2024, analysts have warned. The Leeds-headquartered supermarket giant has not been far from the headlines all year amid debt struggles, strikes, falling sales [...]
Pubs boss: ‘We cannot allow the government to destroy family companies’ December 8, 2024 The boss of a seventh-generation pub and brewing giant has argued that “we cannot allow the government to destroy family companies” as they are the “bedrock of the UK economy”. In a post on LinkedIn William Lees-Jones, who owns and runs Manchester-based JW Lees, which has produced real ale since 1828, reiterated his opposition to the changes [...]
Observer newspaper sale to Tortoise Media approved December 6, 2024 A deal to sell the Observer newspaper to Tortoise Media has been approved, it has been announced. The boards of the Scott Trust and Guardian Media Group have given their blessing to the sale – only days after Observer newspaper journalists went on strike over the proposed sell off. No information has been given over [...]
Ian King quits Business Live and will leave Sky News in Spring December 6, 2024 Presenter Ian King has quit Business Live and will leave Sky News early next year, it has been announced. King has been with the news channel for ten years and has “agreed to contribute analysis and reporting” to Sky News’ website over the coming months ahead of his departure. The move comes after City AM [...]
Watches of Switzerland: Why shares in Rolex seller are on the road to recovery December 5, 2024 Shares in Rolex seller Watches of Switzerland have surged to their highest value since January after the retailer revealed positive half-year results. The Leicester-headquartered group reported a revenue of £785m for the six months to 27 October, 2024, a four per cent rise. In a trading update issued to the London Stock Exchange, Watches of [...]
Vodafone and Three: What £16.5bn merger actually means for customers and prices December 5, 2024 After an almost 18-month battle the UK’s largest ever telecoms deal – which will see Vodafone and Three complete a £16.5bn merger – has been given the green light. Described by Vodafone as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the UK’s digital infrastructure”, the deal has now satisfied the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) enough for [...]
Fancy coloured diamonds boosts sales at Boodles December 4, 2024 Revenue has increased significantly at Boodles, the historic jewellery retailer, thanks to a rise in demand for white and fancy coloured diamonds. The family-run business, which was founded in 1798, said revealed its trading in the year to 28 February, 2025, has so far been “encouragingly strong” and showing a “significant increase” in revenue and net [...]
Debenhams makes first profit since Boohoo rescue December 4, 2024 Debenhams has returned to the black for the first time since it was rescued out of administration by Boohoo in 2021. For the year to 29 February, 2024, the firm’s marketplace arm has reported a pre-tax profit of £4.5m, having posted a pre-tax loss of £732,000 for the prior 12 months. Its revenue has also [...]
Tyson Fury: Property firm set up by Gypsy King at risk of being shut down December 4, 2024 A company set up by former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury to buy, sell and lease real estate is at risk of being shut down. Greenwaybalmoral Ltd, which is registered to an address near Lancaster, was established in January 2023 and counts Fury as its sole director. But having failed to file any set [...]
Gymshark: Finance chief abruptly leaves apparel giant December 3, 2024 The chief financial officer of Gymshark has abruptly departed the business after two years in post. Mat Dunn joined the Solihull-headquartered company in December 2022, having been hired from Asos where he was chief operating officer and chief financial officer. He had previously worked as CFO at Robinsons squash maker Britvic and at South African [...]
