News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

Next cautious on second-half trading outlook

Fashion retailer Next has today reported a 13.8% rise in first-half profit and stuck to its full-year profit forecast but said it remained cautious about trading for the rest of the year, expecting sales growth to slow.

Business • 18 Sep

AO World ups annual profit outlook, plans share buyback

UK electronics retailer AO World today laid out plans for its first-ever share buyback and raised the lower end of its annual adjusted pre-tax profit forecast, with the announcement sending its shares as much as 15.6% higher.

Business • 15 Sep

John Lewis on track for full year profit growth

UK retailer the John Lewis Partnership posted a deeper first-half loss but struck an upbeat tone on its Christmas prospects, citing rising customer numbers, and forecast full year profit growth.

Business • 11 Sep

A green sign above an entrance to a Dunelm Group store

Dunelm says no clear signs of consumer recovery

UK homeware retailer Dunelm Group said today it was yet to see signs of a sustained consumer recovery in the market, but said it was "pleased" with trading in the early part of its financial year 2026.

Business • 09 Sep

Hot summer boosts sales at electrical retailer Currys

Electricals retailer Currys said group sales were up 3% in the first four months of its financial year, putting it on track to meet forecasts.

Business • 04 Sep

JD Sports underlying sales fall in Q2 on weak UK

JD Sports Fashion reported a deeper decline in underlying sales for its second quarter, reflecting weakness in the UK, though there were signs of stabilisation in its key US market after a sharp decline in the previous quarter.

Business • 27 Aug

WH Smith cuts profit forecast after accounting blunder

UK travel retailer WH Smith has today lowered its annual profit outlook after a review revealed earnings had been overstated in its North America division, sending its shares tumbling over 30%.

Business • 21 Aug

UK toy chain The Entertainer hands ownership to its staff

One of the UK's biggest toy chains is set to become employee-owned after the founders said they were handing over control to the group's 1,900 staff.

Business • 11 Aug

M&S's website said today that its click and collect services had resumed

M&S UK click & collect services back 15 weeks after hack

Marks & Spencer has resumed taking click and collect orders for clothing on its UK website after a nearly four-month hiatus following a cyber hack and data theft.

Business • 11 Aug

Next sales boosted by warm weather and M&S disruption

Clothing retailer Next has today raised its annual profit outlook for the third time in five months after reporting better than expected second-quarter sales, benefiting from warm weather and disruption at cyberattack-hit rival Marks & Spencer.

Business • 31 Jul

Greggs first-half profit drops as heatwave slows sales

British baker and fast food chain Greggs is keeping its foot on the pedal in an expansion drive, despite a slowdown in sales growth that dragged down first-half profit by 14%, its boss said today.

Business • 29 Jul

Mike Ashley's Frasers' annual revenue misses expectations

Frasers Group has today reported lower-than-expected annual revenue as the British retailer grappled with a tough luxury market and took a hit from closures of unprofitable stores, sending its shares lower.

Business • 17 Jul

Currys posts annual pre-tax profits above estimates

British electricals retailer Currys has today reported annual adjusted pre-tax profit above market expectations, as higher sales and tight cost control helped offset pressures from increased wages and costs.

Business • 03 Jul

Greggs warns of profit dip as heatwave deters customers

UK baker Greggs warned today that its annual operating profit could dip below last year's levels as unusually high temperatures in the UK discourage customers from eating out, sending its shares sinking nearly 15%.

Business • 02 Jul

AO World's annual profit jumps 27% as consumer sales soar

AO World's chief executive said today he expects the British electronics retailer to maintain its growth momentum this year after strong sales from returning and new customers boosted fiscal 2025 profit to record levels.

Business • 18 Jun

Currys said like-for-like sales are up 4% since early January, driven by its UK and Ireland division and a sales recovery in the Nordics business

Currys up annual profit outlook for third time this year

British electricals retailer Currys has today raised its annual profit forecast for the third time this year as rising sales countered growing costs.

Business • 21 May

The cyber attack forced M&S's online clothing operation offline and left some food shelves bare

M&S says £300m cyberattack upheaval to linger into July

A "highly sophisticated and targeted" cyberattack will cost Marks & Spencer about £300m in lost operating profit, and disruption to online services is likely until July, the British retailer said today.

Business • 21 May

Greggs' like-for-like sales rose 2.9% in the first 20 weeks of the year having disappointed with a rise of 1.7% in the first nine weeks

Greggs' sales growth picks-up in first half of year

UK baker and fast food chain Greggs reported sales growth picking up as the year progressed, helped by better trading conditions, including warmer weather, sending its battered shares higher.

Business • 20 May

Next has today raised its guidance for sales and profit growth in its new financial year

Next reports over £1 billion profit for first time

Clothing retailer Next has today reported a 10.1% rise in annual profit, making in excess of £1 billion for the first time, and raised its guidance for sales and profit growth in its new financial year.

Business • 27 Mar

DFS has been streamlining and simplifying its operations, and is targeting £50m in annualised cost savings by next year

DFS Furniture forecasts 2025 profit above expectations

DFS Furniture said it expects to beat annual profit expectations, assuming no further supply chain disruptions, helped by robust sales and effective cost management - sending its shares up over 10% today.

Business • 13 Mar

John Lewis said it made a profit before tax and exceptional items of £126m in the year to January 25, up from £42m in 2023/24

John Lewis to step up investment as profit trebles

UK retailer John Lewis Partnership said it would accelerate investment this year as it reported a trebling in annual profit, driven by an improvement in its food business, and forecast more growth as its turnaround plan gains momentum.

Business • 13 Mar

WH Smith has posted a 4% rise in its group revenue for the 21-week period ended January 25

WH Smith posts higher revenue growth on travel demand

Retailer WH Smith, which is exploring a potential sale of its UK high street business, has today reported a 4% rise in group revenue for the 21-week period to January 25, supported by strong growth in its travel division, sending its shares up 7%.

Business • 29 Jan

Shares in JD plunged 12% in early deals in London to a near five-year low today

JD Sports warns on profit in 'challenging' market

Sportswear retailer JD Sports Fashion has downgraded its profit forecast after weaker trading in Britain and the US and promotional activity at competitors hurt sales, and it warned the outlook was "cautious".

Business • 14 Jan

Dr Martens has reported a pretax loss of £28.7m for the six months ended September 29, compared with a profit of £25.8m a year earlier

Dr Martens sees strong US winter sales, cuts inventory

Dr Martens said today that the autumn-winter festive season had got off to an encouraging start and investors welcomed a reduction in net debt as the bootmaker tries to turn its performance around.

Business • 28 Nov 24

JD Sports said volatile trading last month dragged underlying sales down by 0.3% in its third quarter to November 2

JD Sports says discounting to weigh on full year profits

British sportswear retailer JD Sports Fashion has warned today that annual profit would come in at the lower end of its guided range after a tough October of discounting, mild weather and consumer caution, sending its shares down 9%.

Business • 21 Nov 24