Company news from across global commerce: M&A, leadership changes, earnings, and corporate strategy.
Primark’s profit fell 12% to £1,005m in the year to 12 September as owner ABF cut prices and spent more on marketing and digital. UK sales grew, home delivery in Great Britain remains undated and group profit is set to fall again in 2027.
B&M has filed a High Court claim against Morrisons and one of its general merchandise buyers, alleging intellectual property infringement and breach of confidence. Here is what the court records show, how the two retailers compare and what it means for UK shoppers.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has warned Poundland owner Gordon Brothers it has serious questions to answer if it rejected a rescue bid. With the administration moratorium running out, 600 shops and 12,000 jobs hang on the next ten days.
Next publishes its third quarter trading statement on Thursday 5 November 2026, with UK sales guided up just 2% and profit guidance at £1,255m. Shoppers using pay in 3 also face a higher APR on missed instalments from the fourth quarter.
Marks & Spencer publishes half-year results on 4 November, with profit expected to more than double to around £390 million. The real test is whether online clothing sales have recovered from last year’s cyber attack.
ASOS publishes full-year results on Thursday 5 November, its first numbers since hackers took customer data in October. Profit is already flagged above the midpoint of guidance; trading since the hack is the figure that matters.
Associated British Foods publishes Primark’s full-year results on 3 November 2026, with UK like-for-like sales guided to +0.6% and the group total to -2.6%. Shoppers should watch for a home delivery launch window, the cost of the Iconic Value price cuts and the demerger timetable.
Poundland owner Gordon Brothers has declined a solvent takeover offer from Martin Property Group, pushing the 600-shop discount chain towards administration. A revised bid within 48 hours could still save the business whole.
The Very Group, owner of Very and Littlewoods, reported record adjusted EBITDA of £317.5m on flat sales of £2.09bn as home and credit offset falling fashion. Shoppers face a free delivery trial over £75, InPost lockers and new Very Pay instalment plans.
Debenhams Group, the owner of boohoo and PrettyLittleThing, made a £28.3m pre-tax profit in the six months to August, its first since 2021. A one-off US warehouse credit did much of the work, but sales growth, cash flow and the marketplace share all improved.