Cussons profit hit by margins in Europe and Africa
Manchester-based soaps and consumer products company PZ Cussons said its adjusted operating profit fell 10.3% to £37.5 million despite revenue rising 1.9% to £385.4 million in the six months to…
January 2018
FCA to publish RBS small business report in full
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority said on Tuesday it will publish in full a report it commissioned on how a controversial unit of Royal Bank of…
Yorkshire Bank owner says mortgage growth to ease
Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank owner CYBG said it saw strong mortgage growth of 7.4% to £23.9 billion in the three months to December 31, 2017 — but…
Conviviality shares sink 11% as profit falls
Shares of Crewe-based alcohol wholesaler and distributor Conviviality Plc — which owns Bargain Booze and Wine Rack — fell 11% on Monday after it said revenue for the 26 weeks…
Manchester’s Concept Life Sciences sold for £163m
Precision instruments maker Spectris plc said it completed the acquisition of Manchester-based Concept Life Sciences from Equistone Partners Europe and company management for about £163…
Founder steps down at Durham’s Atom bank
Durham-based Atom bank, the UK’s first bank designed exclusively for mobile technology, said founder Anthony Thomson has announced his resignation as chair of Atom. Bridget…
Benchmark revenue up to £140m as loss narrows
Sheffield-based Benchmark Holdings, the aquaculture health, nutrition and genetics company, said its revenue increased 28% to £140.2 million in the year to September 30, 2017, and its loss for…
KKR to sell remaining stake in Pets At Home
US buyout fund KKR is to sell its remaining 12.3% stake in Chesire-based Pets At Home, the retailer of pet food, accessories and veterinary services. Pets…
Sage shares fall after trading update
Shares of Newcastle-based software giant Sage Group fell more than 6% after investors were left underwhelmed with its trading update for the three months to December…
Man Utd retains top spot in Deloitte Money League
Manchester United retained its top spot for a second consecutive year in the Deloitte Football Money League, generating total revenue of €676 million (£581 million). Real…
N Brown shares plunge amid margin concerns
Shares of Manchester-based fashion retailer N Brown Group — whose brands include JD Williams, Simply Be and Jacamo — fell about 12% after it cut its…
Pets At Home Q3 revenue hits £223m; shares rise
Shares of Chesire-based Pets At Home, the retailer of pet food, accessories and veterinary services, rose about 9% after it reported revenue growth of 9.6% to…
Revolution Bars revenue up 10.6% to £73.7m
Manchester-based Revolution Bars Group plc said its revenue for the 26 weeks to December 30, 2017, rose 10.6% to £73.7 million. Revolution said four new venues…
Bonmarché shares plunge after weaker sales
Shares of Wakefield-based Bonmarché, the discount fashion retailer aimed at women over 50, fell 17% after it said sales for the 13 weeks ended December 30…
Provident Financial warns of £120m loss; shares fall
Shares of troubled Bradford-based subprime lender Provident Financial fell 13% on Tuesday after it said its consumer credit division (CCD) is expected to report a pre-exceptional…
B&M quarterly revenue up 23% to £970m
Liverpool-based B&M European Value Retail said its total sales revenue increased 22.9% to £969.8 million in the quarter ended December 23. B&M CEO Simon Arora said: “B&M continues to…
Card Factory shares fall 17% on lower forecast
Shares of Wakefield-based greeting cards retailer Card Factory fell about 17% after it predicted lower core earnings for the current year. Card Factory said said it now…
Rotherham’s Fishing Republic in search for CEO
Rotherham-based fishing tackle retailer Fishing Republic said acting CEO Chris Griffin will leave the firm and chairman James Newman will assume the role of executive chairman until…
Boohoo.com upgrades revenue growth forecast
Manchester-based online fashion giant Boohoo.com plc said revenue growth for its current financial year is now expected to be around 90%, ahead of its previous guidance…
Revenue up 16.6% at Bolton’s AO World
Bolton-based European online electrical retailer AO World said its group revenue was up 16.6% for the three months to December 31, 2017, year on year. In a trading update for…
SIG reviews cheque issuance; revenue hits £2.8bn
UPDATE 1 — Sheffield-based European building products distributor SIG plc said its 2017 revenue from continuing operations increased 7.5% to about £2.8 billion. SIG also said it has…
Morrisons Xmas & New Year sales up 3.7%
Bradford-based supermarket group Morrisons said its like-for-like (LFL) sales excluding fuel for the 10 weeks to January 7 were up 2.8% “comprising contributions from retail of 2.1% and wholesale of…
Pay row Persimmon says revenue up 9% to £3.4bn
York-based house builder Persimmon plc said 2017 revenues rose 9% to £3.42 billion and its average selling price increased by 3% to £213,300. “We anticipate…
‘Northern Forest’ planned from Liverpool to Hull
The UK government has announced ambitious plans to create a new “Northern Forest” along the M62 corridor from Liverpool to Hull. Over the next 25…
Sales up 42% at York’s Gear4music, but shares fall
York-based Gear4music, the online retailer of musical instruments and equipment, said in a trading update for the four months to December 31, 2017, that sales rose 42%…
Nisa Xmas period sales up 18% to £277m
Scunthorpe-based Nisa Retail, currently being acquired by Manchester-based Co-op Group, said its sales rose 17.7% to £277 million over the Christmas period — the 10 weeks…
Grainger to buy Sheffield development for £32m
Newcastle-based Grainger plc, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, said it exchanged contracts with Abode Hallam Limited and agreed to forward fund and acquire a private…
£160m investment to open 100 new Co-op stores
The Co-op has announced plans to open 100 new food stores across the UK in 2018, creating 1,600 jobs. The Manchester-based community retailer will invest…