Retail
Blacks and Millets drag down JD Sports
RESCUING Blacks Leisure and Millets out of administration for £20 million last year is continuing to weigh on JD Sports, which confirmed that its outdoor clothing chains would rack up further “substantial” losses in the current year.
1 commentTwo Scottish malls go out of business
Two Scottish shopping centres owned by Glasgow-based Cairnduff Developments Ayr have been put into administration after suffering from lower footfall and a slump in rental values.
Business briefs: Paterson’s | Leith Agency | BMW
SHORTBREAD maker Paterson’s has extended its work with supermarket giant Asda, which is becoming the first retailer to stock the firm’s new biscuits.
Rox jeweller expands into England with two stores
SCOTTISH luxury jeweller Rox is investing £2 million to expand into England, with stores in Leeds and Newcastle expected to open in time for Christmas.
Majestic Wine toasts new Scotland store success
A SUCCESSFUL store launch in Scotland helped Majestic Wine keep profits stable even as it retreats from wholesale selling in favour of growing its retail estate.
Grahams enter cheese market with cheddars range
DAIRY business Graham’s is sinking its teeth into Britain’s multi-billion-pound cheese maket,launching a range of Scottish cheddars.
Sainsbury’s in relaunch of Tu clothing brand
SUPERMARKET chain Sainsbury’s will be hoping to boost its fashion credentials this week with the launch of a new look for its clothing brand Tu.
Costa owner set to gain from cold snap
Results from Whitbread, owner of the Brewers Fayre and Premier Inn chains, are likely to show that Britain’s love affair with frothy coffee shows no signs of abating.
Payday loan complaints submitted to CAB soar 71%
THE number of complaints about payday loans companies submitted to Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) in Scotland has risen 71 per cent over the past year, new figures have revealed.
Majestic Wine expected to feel chill of competition
STIFF competition is expected to have trimmed margins at Majestic Wine as the drinks warehouse chain prepares to unveil full-year results tomorrow.
Tough diamond jubilee figures hurt John Lewis
SALES at John Lewis fell last week as the department store chain came up against tough comparisons with the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations last year.
NVIDIA and government lab develop super-computers
NVIDIA, one of the largest computer chip developers, yesterday sealed a deal with the UK government’s Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to develop the next generation of super-computers.
1 comment
Mulberry aims high as it looks to recover
ITS handbags may sell for more than £1,000 a piece, but Mulberry is convinced it can continue attracting new customers despite signs of a global slowdown.
Shares in Home Retail hit a slump
Home Retail Group, the UK’s biggest household goods retailer, was hit by disappointing first-quarter sales of outdoor toys and garden furniture at its Argos chain.
Sales at WH Smith dip but margins improve
NEWSAGENT and books retailer WH Smith has seen a drop in sales at its high street stores but said margins were improving as it kept a lid on costs.
Comment: Supermarket boss could be King of the hill
SAINSBURY’S has rung up its 34th consecutive quarter of like-for-like sales growth. It’s beginning to resemble consistency. Chief executive Justin King is too canny a retailer to crow and tempt fate.
Sainsbury’s is the supermarket winner
SAINSBURY’S first-quarter sales have turned up the heat on rivals Tesco and Morrisons.
Primark trial a success for Asos
Online fashion darling Asos has reported “phenomenal” demand for Primark products in the first week of its tie-up with the discount clothing retailer.
1 comment
Schuh delivers record profts of £25.6m
SCOTTISH footwear retailer Schuh returned record profits for its American owner last year as it expanded its store base and rolled out a tablet-optimised website for customers on the move.
Business briefs: Opec | Park Group | Stagecoach
OPEC predicted world oil demand will grow more quickly in the rest of 2013 and indicated the group can keep pumping more than the output target it retained at a meeting last month without over-supplying the market.
Convenience stores boost sales for McColl’s owner
Sales at Martin Retail Group, the Glasgow-based operator of the McColl’s and RS McColl chains, have edged up after the company converted more of its newsagent branches into convenience stores.
Mulberry creative director Emma Hill set to leave
EMMA Hill, the highly-regarded creative director of Mulberry, is set to leave after more than five years with the luxury goods maker, sending shares in the group tumbling.
Business briefs: Amec | Utec | Dobbies
ENGINEERING firm Amec has won a two-year extension to its contract to provide gas producer BG Group with project management support in the North Sea.
Forbo sales hit by slowdown in export markets
FLOOR coverings maker Forbo, the last linoleum manufacturer in the UK, saw sales and profits hit by a slowdown in export markets last year.
Hobbs international expansion plan after sales rise
WOMEN’S fashion retailer Hobbs has unveiled plans to expand into Australia, Germany and the United States after posting an 11 per cent rise in sales.
Sales rise pushes Sainsbury’s ahead of Tesco
SAINSBURY’S has continued turning the screw on big rival Tesco as it is set to unveil another market-beating sales increase this week.
Barr–Britvic merger expected to be given go-ahead
IRN-BRU maker AG Barr’s proposed £1.4 billion merger with rival Britvic is expected to get the go-ahead from the competition regulator this week.
Pop-up shop contest aims to revitalise high street
FINDING ways to revitalise the high street has tested everyone from planning experts to television’s “queen of shops” Mary Portas. Now a group of young people think they may have the solution.
2 comments
Iceland announces home delivery plans
FROZEN food chain Iceland yesterday unveiled plans to roll out an online grocery service nationwide and create 2,000 in-store jobs as it looks to combat “intense” competition from supermarket rivals.
2 commentsJohn Lewis rings up ‘decent’ sales gains
John Lewis has reported an 8.4 per cent rise in sales as a cool, damp half-term week south of the Border provided “ideal shopping conditions”.
Hornby production flying back to UK
MODEL maker Hornby says its latest range will be made in the UK after Chinese supply problems decimated its profits last year.
1 comment
Ford has a fiesta as sales race ahead
Scotland’s new car market continued to outpace the rest of the UK last month as private buyers flocked to showrooms.
Twitter and WPP in tie-up to explore business impact
THE march of Twitter continues apace as the instant cyberspace communication platform and Sir Martin Sorrell’s advertising agency giant WPP have teamed up to explore the impact of social media on business.
Weak M&S profits sees Bolland miss bonus payout
Marks & Spencer’s chief executive Marc Bolland missed out on a shares bonus worth a potential £2.9 million after the retailer delivered its worst annual profits for four years.
Scots paté maker secures funding as it sinks teeth into new market
PATÉ specialist Findlater’s Fine Foods is gearing up for a further surge in growth following a six-figure funding deal and the launch of a division serving mass caterers.
Ikea founder leaves key post as power handover continues
Ingvar Kamprad, creator of Swedish furniture giant Ikea, is to take another step back from his company as the youngest of his three sons takes a key board role in a gradual handover of power.
Comment: No green shoots but the ground is fertile
AS THE services industry makes up about 75 per cent of Britain’s economy, it is obviously good news that in May it grew at its fastest in over a year. But it is not just the sector’s expansion in every month of 2013 to date that is cheering.
Tesco recovery put in doubt as UK business slides
Tesco’s £1 billion turnaround plans were called into question as the supermarket giant blamed the horsemeat scandal and poorly selling consumer electronics goods for a drop in sales.
5 commentsMoss Bros sales rise despite fall in suit hire business
Menswear retailer Moss Bros has reported a pick-up in trading following a “difficult” start to the year, although takings from its suit hire business have fallen.
Hunter and Sorrell back e-commerce acquisition
A BUSINESS in which Sir Tom Hunter and Sir Martin Sorrell are investors has acquired a Canadian electronic commerce company.
Food price inflation falls as discounts begin to bite
Food price inflation has slowed to its lowest level in almost three years as retailers lure in cash-strapped shoppers with promotions and vouchers.
1 comment
New Look revamp as fashion chain posts profit
FASHION chain New Look will spend the next three years revamping hundreds of stores after it improved margins and returned to the black with a slim full-year profit.
UK and US help Wolseley overcome European woes
Building material supplier Wolseley today said that good growth in the UK and US helped to offset “challenging conditions” across Europe as it reported a rise in third-quarter profits.
Topshop to launch Hong Kong flagship
Fashion chain Topshop will get its first glimpse of the Chinese market this week when a 14,000sq ft flagship store opens its doors in Hong Kong.
Mackie’s growth to meet global appetite rise
Growing global demand has led to a multi-million pound investment to double production at a Scottish crisp manufacturer.
1 comment
Retailers defy weather to deliver high sales
Further signs of recovery in the retail sector emerged today as figures showed promotional activity among stores helped to overcome last month’s “topsy-turvy” temperatures.
Retailers benefit from avoiding price discounting
A REFUSAL by many retailers to resort to price-discounting kept high street sales in positive territory last month despite unhelpful weather, according to the latest figures.
Laing jeweller sees profits pass £1 million mark
LAING, the Edinburgh-based jeweller, is seeking to expand its high street presence after its profits broke the £1 million mark.
1 comment
Pressure on Tesco chief Clarke to increase sales
TESCO boss Philip Clarke will have to convince investors this week that the grocery giant’s turnaround plans remain on track as he unveils an expected easing in UK sales.
Blackwood’s gin and vodka brand sold to Blavod
A FAST-growing Scottish gin and vodka brand has been bought in a move aimed at accelerating its sales in the UK and overseas.
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North
