Peacocks has called in the administrators after talks to save the business broke down. Peacocks, which operates 611 stores and 49 concessions and employs approximately 9,600 people, appointed KPMG last night. While the administrator seeks a buyer for the business as a going concern, all stores will continue to operate as usual. The Bonmarche business, which employs approximately 3,800 staff and is also owned by The Peacock Group plc, has not entered administration and continues to trade. However, the business filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators on 16th January.
ASOS joins the roster of Christmas winners, with UK retail sales up 10 percent to £62.1 million in the three months ended 31st December. International sales almost doubled, up 93 percent, to £84.5 million. Further, in contrast to some of its peers, Asos saw retail gross margins up 300 basis points on the previous year.
British consumers spent £50.34 billion online last year, a growth of 14 percent on the previous year, according to a report by the Centre for Retail Research and commissioned by comparison-shopping website Kelkoo. For the third consecutive year, the UK topped the European table, representing almost a third of European online sales. Consumers in Germany spent £38.18 billion online last year, while French consumers spent £32.75 billion.
Robin McMillan, currently chief operating officer at Berry Bros & Rudd will join The Wine Society as chief executive officer in May. In related news, the mail order wine business recently appointed Tim Sykes as head of buying, he joins the business in March.
Wyndeham Pre-Press has merged with its sister company Masterpiece to form Rhapsody. Clients include consumer magazine publisher IPC and retailer/cataloguer Boden.
Independent postal operator Secured Mail has acquired the Downstream Access (DSA) division of DHL Global Mail UK Ltd. The deal, for an undisclosed sum, includes a mail depot in Crick, Northamptonshire, and 55 staff.
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