- Retail Navigator Analysis
Ikea (Strategy)
Ikea opens a pop-up store in London celebrating its iconic blue Frakta bag, situated next door to its new Oxford Street site. The “Hus of Frakta” offers bag personalisation, curated products, and reflects the retailer’s commitment to affordable, stylish design. The pop-up will be open until March 2025.
- Retail Navigator Analysis
The Fragrance Shop (Financials)
Revenues increased 5.9% to £182.8m at The Fragrance Shop (TFS) in the 52 weeks to 30 March 2024 (FY2023). The retailer said all channels traded well during the year, opening 10 new stores while rationalising its existing store estate, shuttering four stores in the year. It ended the period with 222 locations including the successful opening of its flagship on Oxford Street, London.
- Retail Navigator Analysis
Lidl (Financials)
Lidl UK turnover rose by 16.9% to almost £11bn in the financial year ended 29 February 2024 (FY2023), from £9.3bn the previous year. EBIT grew to £220.8m in FY2023, compared to £28.5m the year before.
- Retail Navigator Analysis
WHSmith (Strategy)
WHSmith is set to significantly expand its food offering in 2025. Building on the success of its first own-label food-to-go range, the retailer plans to introduce a new bakery range under the Smith’s Family Kitchen brand and roll out its Smith’s Kitchen café format to more stores.
- Retail Navigator Analysis
Pets at Home (Financials)
Group revenue in the 52 weeks to 28 March 2024 (FY2023) increased by 5.2% year on year to £1.48bn. Total revenue comprised £1.33bn (+4.0%) from Retail (including products bought online and in store, pet sales, grooming services and insurance products) and £146.5m (+16.8%) from its veterinary business, the Vet Group, (including general practices and the veterinary telehealth business).
- Retail Navigator Analysis
Gymshark (Strategy)
Gymshark launches its Innovation Lab in partnership with L Marks, aiming to identify and support innovative startups that can bring “real value” to the retailer and its community. A 10-week programme will focus on two key areas: supply chain optimisation and robotics solutions.
- Retail Navigator Analysis
Urban Outfitters (Financials)
Urban Outfitters delivered record sales for the year ending January 31 2024 (FY2023) with total revenues rising 7.5% to $5,153.2m (£4,132.9m). Retail sales increased 6.0% to $4,678.7m (£3,752.3m) driven by “mid single-digit” growth in both its digital channel and stores.
- Retail Navigator Analysis
Halfords (Financials)
Halfords total sales increased 7.6% year on year to £1,712.8m for the year to 29 March 2024 (FY2023) against a restated FY2022 total of £1,591.8m. It said: “Our focus in FY24 [FY2023] has been to deliver on the areas that are within our control. We have made good progress both strategically and in further optimising the business to create a solid foundation for future growth. Business performance has, however, been impacted by continuing declines in the consumer tyres and cycling markets, and in consumer demand for big ticket purchases.”
- Retail Navigator Analysis
Abercrombie & Fitch (Financials)
Abercrombie & Fitch Co (A&F Co) delivered a 15.8% rise in sales to $4,281m (£3,433m) for the 53-weeks ending 3 February 2024 (FY2023). Sales climbed 16.0% in constant currency, with like-for-like sales jumping 13% year on year.
- Retail Navigator Analysis
AO (Financials)
AO’s renewed focus on profitability continued to pay off in the year to end-March 2024 (FY2023). The electricals specialist reported “good progress” in its profit performance despite a decline in sales. Total sales fell 8.7% year on year to £1,039.3m in FY2023, from £1,138.5m the previous year, which management said was “as expected following decisive actions taken to remove non-core channels and loss-making sales”. Sales returned to growth in the fourth quarter of the year. Pre-tax profits grew threefold to £34.3m in FY2023, from £7.6m the year before, reflecting a 3.3% margin, which management said marked “good progress on profit performance” amid the retailer’s “strategic pivot” to concentrate on profit and cash generation.