Latest news with #B&M
Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
B&M shares slump to all-time low after meagre sales growth disappoints investors
B&M shares crashed to an all-time low after meagre sales growth disappointed investors. Sales rose just 1.3 per cent across its 700 UK shops over the 13 weeks to June 28. Total group sales increased by 4.4 per cent to £1.4billion. And it said sales of its fast-moving consumer goods – which include packaged food and cleaning products – fell during the period. Shares fell by as much as 13 per cent yesterday to a fresh low of 223p, before closing down 9.1 per cent at 234.3p. Last month, the retailer pointed to a 'challenging UK retail trading environment'. It said its core customer base of lower-income consumers were hesitant to spend due to 'limited real wage growth'. Boss Tjeerd Jegen, who started last month, also hinted at a major overhaul ahead of the crucial Christmas period.
Times
a day ago
- Business
- Times
B&M shares slide as margin woes overshadow a good summer
Concerns over B&M European Value Retail's struggling grocery and household goods division, and pressure on margins, outweighed an otherwise solid sales performance in the first quarter. While warm weather and strong sales of garden furniture helped group revenue rise 4.4 per cent year-on-year to £1.41 billion in the 13 weeks to June 28, shares in the discount retailer fell more than 12 per cent on Tuesday — their lowest level since November 2016. Investors reacted sharply to the finer details. Like-for-like sales in the core UK business rose just 1.3 per cent, while fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sales — which includes snacks, cleaning products, baby care and toiletries — were in decline over the period. • Why B&M is the new middle-class shop of choice The company also flagged a squeeze on trading gross margins due to deflation in average selling prices across some general merchandise categories, though it expects this pressure to ease in the second quarter as new, higher-margin ranges are introduced. Analysts at Panmure Liberum said: 'Despite favourable trading conditions and soft comparatives, today's performance was, in our view, somewhat disappointing and does little to ease fundamental concerns around the health of the FMCG grocery channel.' The analysts were 'surprised by the softer tone around gross margin performance in that category. On this basis, fears of a potential margin reset may persist, keeping earnings volatility elevated — we suspect like-for-likes will struggle to maintain momentum for the remainder of the year.' Deutsche Bank also labelled the results 'disappointing'. Founded in 1978, B&M operates 777 B&M stores and 343 Heron Foods stores in the UK, as well as 135 B&M stores in France. Like others in the discount sector, it has faced intensifying competition and consumer pressure from the cost of living crisis, with both factors hitting profit margins and spending habits. • What's in Tjeerd Jegen's in-tray at B&M? Heron Foods posted a slight 0.4 per cent year-on-year decline in sales during the quarter, though momentum was stronger in France, where revenue rose 7.6 per cent, with like-for-like growth of 1.1 per cent. B&M said UK general merchandise sales increased on both a like-for-like and total basis, with particularly strong performances across garden, toys and DIY, despite price deflation. While FMCG sales remained negative for the quarter, the group said performance in health and beauty and cleaning categories had improved in June, 'following the improvements made in operational execution'. Work was continuing to strengthen its overall FMCG proposition, its bosses said. Tjeerd Jegen, the newly appointed chief executive, said: 'While B&M UK's like-for-like sales are growing, I see a significant opportunity and requirement to sharpen our commercial and operational execution as we move towards and beyond the golden quarter. 'Looking ahead, my focus is on building on our strong foundations, leveraging our market position and continuing to deliver exceptional value for our customers.' Jegen, a former Tesco executive, took over from the interim chief executive Mike Schmidt last month, following the departure of Alex Russo after three years in the role. The group said it remained on track to open 45 gross stores over the full year. Eighteen gross new B&M UK stores were opened in the first quarter. Half-year results for the 26 weeks to September 27 will be published on November 13, when B&M will provide full-year profit guidance. Shares in B&M, which have almost halved in value in the past 12 months, retreated another 7.2 per cent, or 18½p, to 239¼p in late-afternoon trading on Tuesday.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Two rare KitKat bars are spotted back on UK shelves as shoppers fill their trolleys with ‘decadent' flavours
TWO rare KitKat bars have made a surprise return to UK shelves — and sweet-toothed shoppers are already filling their trolleys with the decadent flavours. The fan-favourite treats have been spotted back in stock — sending chocoholics into a frenzy to snap them up before they disappear again. 2 One of the returning flavours is the indulgent KitKat Honeycomb flavour buzz, packed with crunchy pieces of honeycomb and a rich sweet kick. Also back is the KitKat Gold Rush, a cult classic with crushed caramel crisps. Shoppers have taken to social media to rave about the comeback, saying the bars are "interesting" and "I have to get these!" The limited-edition flavours are available in B&M. They've been popping up in stores on and off for the past few years. So fans are warning others to move fast, as they're not expected to stay on shelves for long. Taking to the Facebook group New Foods UK, one member wrote: "Two new KitKats spotted at B&M!" along with a photo attached of the chocolate bars. Excited users flooded the comment section, with one writing: "Mm yummy yummy can't wait to try them cheers everyone." Another added: "Very interesting." A third penned: "I have to get these!" KitKat and ketchup viral trend has die-hard fans feeling 'sick'- but some are more disgusted by how they're eating it New flavour A brand new KitKat flavour landed in the UK for the first time - but it's left chocolate lovers divided. The unusual flavour - Lemony Lime - is being described as a "citrusy take on the classic KitKat". It's being sold at Sunny's Premier Store in Stirling, which is a family-run corner shop that's earned a huge online following. The store has got a massive 10,800 followers on Instagram as it's become known for stocking rare and sought-after snacks. The Lemony Lime KitKat is the latest rare snack to land at Sunny's Premier - but shoppers can't agree on whether they'd want to try it. Some commenters said "yes please!!!" or "I need me some of those kitkats". Another said: "I'd love this one!" But a fourth person said: "NO. Just stop messing with a KitKat! There's no need." And another simply said "ewww". How to save money on chocolate We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar. Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs... Go own brand - if you're not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you'll save by going for the supermarket's own brand bars. Shop around - if you've spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it's cheaper elsewhere. Websites like let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you're getting the best deal. Look out for yellow stickers - supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they've been reduced. They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged. Buy bigger bars - most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar. So if you've got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger. Other new flavours KitKat has recently launched a series of new flavours to excite chocolate lovers. The new KitKat Chunky Funky is a crispy cocoa wafer smothered in a marbled mix of creamy milk and white chocolate. Then there's also the KitKat Chunky Salted Caramel and KitKat Blue Riband Vanilla. The Salted Caramel flavour is like a normal KitKat Chunky but it has salted caramel in its milk chocolate. The Blue Riband Vanilla flavour is inspired by the popular chocolatey snack. Elsewhere, supermarket chain Farmfoods has started selling rare Japanese KitKat flavours. They include Matcha, Milk Tea and Strawberry. KitKats are wildly popular in Japan and there have been more than 300 limited edition flavours of the chocolate bar released in the East Asian country. Many of the flavours are released regionally, and there is a popular tradition where people will bring back flavours for their friends and family when they travel to different regions. 2
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
B&Q's £9 weeding gadget will leave your driveways & patios spotless – plus you don't have to bend down
IF you're fed up crouching down to tackle stubborn weeds in your garden, B&Q has just the thing. A handy gadget will leave your driveway and patio looking spotless, and it will set you back less than £9. 2 The Telescopic Extending Patio Groove Weed Remover is available for just £8.70 from B&Q Credit: B&Q Weeds have an annoying habit of popping up in the most awkward places. This can make the task of removing them seem all the more overwhelming. With the Telescopic Extending Patio Groove Weed Remover, £8.70, you can tackle any stubborn weed without having to even bend over. The extendable mechanism makes the gadget perfect for clearing weeds and moss from patios and paving stones. This buy is designed to easily fit between paving stones, removing weeds instantly. It comes manufactured with a soft grip foam handle for your comfort. The gadget features a scraper blade and handle as well as a telescopic twist tight feature enabling it to adjust in size. This weed remover measures approximately 70 centimetres to 100 centimetres in size. B&Q shoppers can enjoy a one year guarantee with this buy. And B&Q isn't the only retailer selling gadgets designed to tackle weeds. Trying out Lidl's new weeding tools More gadgets for weeding Aldi shoppers can pick up a £10 buy that will leave your lawn free of weeds all summer. And an Amazon gadget also helps to tackle stubborn weeds in your outdoor area. Another handy buy is approved by experts for instantly lifting these unwanted plants. B&Q also has a hand-held weed removing tool for removing stubborn dandelions. And The Range is selling a nifty gadget that will blitz all the weeds in your garden this summer. How to save money at B&M Shoppers have saved hundreds of pounds a year by using B&M's scanner app. The scanner lets you see if an item's price is cheaper than advertised on the shop floor label. Products that are typically discounted are seasonal items and old stock that B&M is trying to shift. The app is free to download off the B&M Stores mobile app via Google Play or the Apple App Store. According to one ex-B&M manager, you'll want to visit your local branch at 10am on a Wednesday too. Here's how you can join the B&M bargain hunt: Download the B&M app for free on any smartphone with an App Store or Google Play. Once you've installed it on your device, click on the option labelled "more" on the bottom, right-hand side of the app home page. You'll then find an option that says "barcode scanner". Click on this and you'll open a camera screen. Use the camera to hover over the barcode of the product you wish to check. If the price comes up as lower, take it to the cash desk and it will automatically scan at the lower price. You don't need to sign up to the B&M app to use the barcode scanner. Weeding hacks You can also tackle weeds on your patio for free with a handy viral hack. A 30p tick also works wonders for removing weeds for your outdoor area. And a DIY solution will leave your garden free of weeds for up to a year at a time. Plus, another homemade weed killer will banish unwanted plants overnight for just 50p. There are five other hacks you can try, but the most successful has an unexpected con.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
B&Q's £9 weeding gadget will leave your driveways & patios spotless – plus you don't have to bend down
IF you're fed up crouching down to tackle stubborn weeds in your garden, B&Q has just the thing. A handy gadget will leave your driveway and patio looking spotless, and it will set you back less than £9. Advertisement 2 The Telescopic Extending Patio Groove Weed Remover is available for just £8.70 from B&Q Credit: B&Q Weeds have an annoying habit of popping up in the most awkward places. This can make the task of removing them seem all the more overwhelming. With the The extendable mechanism makes the gadget perfect for clearing weeds and moss from patios and paving stones. Advertisement Read More On Garden Buys This buy is designed to easily fit between paving stones, removing weeds instantly. It comes manufactured with a soft grip foam handle for your comfort. The gadget features a scraper blade and handle as well as a telescopic twist tight feature enabling it to adjust in size. This weed remover measures approximately 70 centimetres to 100 centimetres in size. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous B&Q shoppers can enjoy a one year guarantee with this buy. And B&Q isn't the only retailer selling gadgets designed to tackle weeds. Trying out Lidl's new weeding tools More gadgets for weeding Aldi shoppers can pick up a And an Amazon gadget also helps to Advertisement Another B&Q also has a And The Range is selling a nifty How to save money at B&M Shoppers have saved hundreds of pounds a year by using B&M's scanner app. The scanner lets you see if an item's price is cheaper than advertised on the shop floor label. Products that are typically discounted are seasonal items and old stock that B&M is trying to shift. The app is free to download off the B&M Stores mobile app via Google Play or the Apple App Store. According to one ex-B&M manager, Here's how you can join the B&M bargain hunt: Download the B&M app for free on any smartphone with an App Store or Google Play. Once you've installed it on your device, click on the option labelled "more" on the bottom, right-hand side of the app home page. You'll then find an option that says "barcode scanner". Click on this and you'll open a camera screen. Use the camera to hover over the barcode of the product you wish to check. If the price comes up as lower, take it to the cash desk and it will automatically scan at the lower price. You don't need to sign up to the B&M app to use the barcode scanner. Weeding hacks You can also Advertisement A And a DIY solution will leave your Plus, another There are Advertisement 2 The gadget is designed to fit between the paving stones to reach stubborn weeds Credit: BQ
