Heatwave boost for retailers as Brits snapped up BBQs and fans Retail The late-May heatwave offered a much-needed boost for retailers as the hot weather prompted red-hot spending on barbecues, fans and sandals. Retail sales in the UK jumped by 3.7 per cent year on year in May, soaring above the full-year average of two per cent, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Many Brits opted [...]
Mr Kipling’s ‘biggest ever year’ bakes in sweet-looking profit at Premier Foods Business The owner of some of the UK’s best loved and most famous food brands hailed standout performer Mr Kipling, on Thursday which helped Premier Foods eat City profit forecasts for lunch. Mr Kipling – the brand behind the “exceedingly good cakes” tagline, in use continually since 1967, when the range made its debut – had its [...]
M&S shakes off cyber chaos with strong Christmas sales Marks & Spencer (M&S) has delivered a steadier than feared Christmas trading update, offering some festive cheer for investors after a year, overshadowed by a costly cyber attack and months of disrupted online sales. The retailer reported group sales of £5bn for the 13 weeks to 27 December, up 3.3 per cent excluding Ocado Retail, [...]
Asda: Will 2026 be the year supermarket giant bounces back? December 26, 2025 This time last year, analysts warned that Asda needed to “dig down into its soul” if it was to turn around its fortunes. After a rollercoaster 2024 in which it struggled with debt, strikes and falling sales, the Leeds-headquartered supermarket giant was hoping the new year would begin to reveal green shoots of recovery. Under [...]
Kellogg’s UK returns to profit despite £200m sales slump December 15, 2025 The combined UK operations of Kellogg’s returned to profit despite sales slumping by more than £200m during its latest financial year, it has been revealed. Kellogg’s runs two separate companies in the UK from its headquarters in Salford: Kellogg Marketing and Sales Company (UK) and Kellogg Company of Great Britain. For 2024, Kellogg Marketing and [...]
Heinz: UK profit rockets despite ketchup and baked beans battles September 22, 2025 Profit has nearly doubled at the UK arm of Heinz despite “strong competition” from rivals to its sauces and beans categories. The London-headquartered division of the US giant has reported a pre-tax profit of £191.9m for 2024, according to new accounts filed with Companies House. The total is up from the £104.1m it achieved in [...]
Papa John’s: UK losses continue as over 70 locations closed August 4, 2025 The UK arm of Papa John’s continued to make significant losses in 2024 as it closed more than 70 locations. The division of the US pizza giant has reported a pre-tax loss of £21.8m for its latest financial year, having also lost £19.2m in 2023. New accounts filed with Companies House also show the firm’s [...]
McDonald’s sheds 2,000 UK jobs as profit almost doubles August 4, 2025 Profit at the UK arm of McDonald’s almost doubled in 2024 as it shed more than 2,000 jobs, it has been revealed. The US fast food giant has posted a pre-tax profit of £120m for its latest financial year, up from the £66.3m it reported in 2023. That figure though was down from the £170.8m [...]
Wasabi: Sushi restaurant chain sheds jobs as profit slashed July 28, 2025 Profit at popular London sushi restaurant chain Wasabi has been slashed as it shed more than 100 jobs during its latest financial year, it has been revealed. The business has reported a pre-tax profit of £2.2m for 2024, according to new accounts filed with Companies House. The latest total comes after Wasabi posted a pre-tax [...]
Flora and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter maker issues huge pay day June 17, 2025 The company behind Flora and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter has issued a huge dividend to the tune of £90m – the first since it was taken over by private equity giant KKR. The US-headquartered group, which acquired Flora Food Group – then called Upfield – from Unilever for more than $8bn in 2017. [...]