News-In-Brief
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Mar- 2025 -12 March
Today’s news in brief-12/3/25
Inditex, the parent company of Zara, reported a strong financial performance for FY24, with sales rising by 10.5% to €38.6bn and profit-before-tax increasing by 10.3% to €7.6bn. The company achieved these results with 2.0% more commercial space and 2.3% fewer stores compared to 2023, reflecting its ongoing store optimization and…
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11 March
Today’s news in brief-11/3/25
Boohoo has rebranded as Debenhams Group following its acquisition of the high street department store in 2021, which it relaunched as an online-only business. The rebrand comes amid challenges for Boohoo’s youth-focused brands, including Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing, and MAN, which have required heavy discounting. The group reported a 16% revenue drop…
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10 March
Today’s news in brief-10/3/25
WH Smith is nearing a decision on the sale of its high street business, with two bidders, Alteri Investors and Modello Capital, remaining in the race. The retailer, which has seen its Travel business outperform high street outlets, confirmed in January it was exploring strategic options, including a potential sale.…
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7 March
Today’s news in brief-7/3/25
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a deal worth £23.7bn. The transaction is expected to close in late 2025 and will see WBA become a private company, delisting from Nasdaq.WBA shareholders will receive $11.45 per share in cash, with potential…
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6 March
Today’s news in brief-6/3/25
Pepco Group is considering the sale of Poundland as part of a strategic shift to focus on its Pepco brand, which drives the majority of its earnings. Despite a 1.5% increase in group like-for-like sales in early 2025, Poundland has struggled with declining performance, exacerbated by a challenging UK retail…
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5 March
Today’s news in brief-5/3/25
Walgreens Boots Alliance, owner of Boots, is in advanced talks with private-equity firm Sycamore Partners for a potential $10 billion deal to take the struggling drugstore chain private. This move comes amid Walgreens’ shares declining sharply over the past decade, from a peak market value of over $100bn in 2015…
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4 March
Today’s news in brief-4/3/25
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is close to approving Topps Tiles’ £9m acquisition of CTD Tiles after both companies offered to divest stores in Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh, and Dorking to address competition concerns. The CMA had initially warned that the merger could reduce market competition, prompting an in-depth investigation.…
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3 March
Today’s news in brief-3/3/25
Asda is set to scrap bonuses for over 10,000 managers as part of cost-cutting measures amid challenging trading conditions. The decision comes shortly after chairman Allan Leighton returned to lead the supermarket after more than two decades, aiming to steer a turnaround for the struggling retailer. Leighton has already initiated…
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Feb- 2025 -28 February
Today’s news in brief-28/2/25
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched a public consultation on proposals to pedestrianise Oxford Street, aiming to transform it into a greener, more vibrant destination. The consultation, open until 2 May, seeks public input on creating a Mayoral Development Corporation to oversee the area’s regeneration. Oxford Street, contributing £25bn annually…
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27 February
Today’s news in brief-27/2/25
Aldi is consulting on a head office restructuring plan that could put 350 jobs at risk, primarily affecting buying, finance, and back-office roles. No customer-facing positions will be impacted, and the company aims to redeploy affected staff where possible. The restructuring aligns with Aldi’s growth strategy, including a £67m investment…
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