Today’s news in brief-12/3/25

Inditex, the parent company of Zara, reported a strong financial performance for FY24, with sales rising by 10.5% to €38.6bn and profit-before-tax increasing by 10.3% to €7.6bn. The company achieved these results with 2.0% more commercial space and 2.3% fewer stores compared to 2023, reflecting its ongoing store optimization and digitalization efforts. Online sales grew by 12% to €10.2bn, supported by an 8.1bn increase in online visits. Inditex expanded its presence in 47 markets, including its first stores in Uzbekistan, and plans to increase its annual gross space by around 5% in 2025-2026.

Stella McCartney faced a challenging FY23, with revenues plummeting from £40.06m to £21.9m and losses widening to £24.68m The brand attributed the decline to inflationary pressures on materials and salaries, which impacted the cost of goods sold. Despite reducing operating expenses to £42.06m the company’s operating loss increased to £22.5 million. Stella McCartney has initiated a turnaround plan under new CEO Armandine Ohayon, focusing on product and communication strategies to drive long-term growth. The company also completed the acquisition of its parent company, Anin Star Holding Limited, in January 2025, aiming to strengthen its market position.

Freemans, the online department store, reported a 13% sales boost in Q4 2024, driven by its partnership with pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Fashion sales rose by 5%, while home and living category sales surged by 18%. The retailer’s early Christmas campaign, featuring Ellis-Bextor, contributed to a 12% increase in holiday sales. Freemans also achieved record Cyber Week sales, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales up 25% and 28%, respectively. New customer numbers grew by 18%, and website visits increased by 10%. CEO Ann Steer credited the results to the company’s transformation efforts and expressed excitement about continuing the partnership with Ellis-Bextor.

ProCook appointed Joe Pennington as its new retail director to lead its store expansion strategy. Pennington, who has held key roles at Ralph Lauren and Charles Tyrwhitt, will focus on enhancing the in-store experience and supporting growth initiatives. His appointment follows the opening of a new store in Milton Keynes, part of ProCook’s broader expansion drive.

Cake Box announced the acquisition of Ambala Foods, a UK-based manufacturer and retailer of Asian sweets, for £22m. Ambala, founded in 1964, operates 22 stores and a manufacturing facility in Welwyn Garden City. Cake Box CEO Sukh Chamdal described the acquisition as a strategic opportunity to combine the strengths of both brands, leveraging Ambala’s heritage and Cake Box’s innovation to drive growth and profitability.