AO World
This coverage examines AO World’s strategic performance within the UK electricals retail sector. Reporting focuses on its FY25 results, which include a 12% increase in B2C retail sales and a record £45m in adjusted pre-tax profit, driven by cost efficiencies and the growth of its membership programme. Coverage also explores AO’s acquisition of Music Magpie, customer retention strategies, and its navigation of rising labour costs and macroeconomic challenges. These insights are tailored for retail executives, brand managers, and professionals monitoring digital retail, consumer electronics, and operational resilience.
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Sep- 2025 -25 SeptemberEconomy
AO chief warns UK economy is sliding towards recession
AO World founder and chief executive John Roberts has warned that the UK is heading into recession in a recorded interview with the BBC yesterday (24 September) as inflation and labour pressures weigh on businesses. According to Roberts, Britain is “heading into another” downturn, noting that rising costs were affecting…
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15 SeptemberElectrical
AO World HY group revenue expected to rise 13%
AO World has announced that its group revenue is expected to rise 13% year-on-year for the six months ended 30 September 2025. Alongside this, the company revealed that it expects its B2C retail revenues to increase 11%. As a result, the company reiterated its FY26 revenue guidance of double-digit B2C…
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Aug- 2025 -12 AugustPeople Moves
AO World appoints Sophie Tomkins as non-executive director
AO World has announced that Sophie Tomkins has been appointed as an independent non-executive director of the Company with effect from 1 September 2025. AO World said Tomkins brings “extensive” board-level experience, currently serving as a non-executive director at Wilmington PLC, Virgin Wines UK PLC, and System1 Group PLC and…
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Jun- 2025 -18 JuneElectrical
AO World profits rise amid membership scheme success
AO World has revealed that its adjusted profit-before-tax rose 27% to £44m for the year ended 31 March 2025, up from £34m in the previous year. Alongside this, the company’s LFL group revenue grew 7%, to £1.11bn with its core B2C retail revenue rising 12% to £832m. This growth was…
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Apr- 2025 -1 AprilNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-1/4/25
Retailers are bracing for a £5.56bn rise in costs following the implementation of recent Budget measures, including higher National Insurance contributions and an increased minimum wage. According to Retail Economics, these changes will force businesses to absorb £1.76bn in profit losses while passing £1.72bn onto consumers through price hikes. Chancellor…
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Mar- 2025 -26 MarchNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-26/3/25
John Lewis is close to securing approval for its housing project in Reading, transforming a former customer collection facility into 215 homes, including 49% family-sized units and 10% affordable rentals. The development, featuring shared workspaces, a gym, and communal areas, is part of an £80m investment in rental housing. A…
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26 MarchElectrical
Frasers ups stake in AO World to 25%
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has revealed it has increased its stake in fashion retailer Brown to 25.01%, according to the latest holding documents filed by the company. It now holds 145,148,997 voting rights in the company. The news comes as the electrical retailer AO raised its full-year forecast to between…
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Jan- 2025 -31 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-31/1/25
Homebase, the DIY retailer that collapsed into administration in November 2024, owes more than £650m to unsecured creditors, including suppliers AO World, Halfords, and The Hut. Administrator Teneo reported total unsecured claims of £657m, with £100m owed to trade creditors. Major debts include £2.9m to Close Brothers for till systems,…
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31 JanuaryDIY
Homebase owes over £650m to unsecured creditors post collapse
Homebase still owes more than £650m to unsecured creditors, including AO World, Halfords, and The Hut, following its collapse into administration in November 2024. According to Teneo, the DIY retailer’s appointed administrator, unsecured creditor claims totalled £657m – of which roughly £100m is owed to trade creditors. With unsecured creditors…
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Nov- 2024 -26 NovemberNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-26/11/24
AO World has raised its full-year profit forecast to between £39m-£44m after reporting a 30% rise in pre-tax profits to £17m for the six months ending 30 September. Despite adverse summer trading conditions due to wet weather, which affected cooling product sales, AO’s B2C retail revenue grew 13%. Group revenue…
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