Today’s news in brief-21/1/25
Aldi has announced a significant pay increase for its store assistants, setting a new minimum hourly rate of £12.71, rising to £14.00 within London’s M25 area, effective from March 1. This move reaffirms Aldi’s position as the highest-paying supermarket in the UK, exceeding the Real Living Wage standards. The retailer also plans to invest £650 million in Britain this year, including opening nine new stores in London, with a long-term goal of adding 100 more stores and creating 3,500 jobs in the capital.
Mulberry’s group financial director, Charles Anderson, will resign effective January 31, continuing to assist until August 1 during the transition. The luxury brand has initiated a search for Anderson’s successor following his contributions during challenging periods.
Shoe Zone reported a decline in profits to £10.1m for the year ended September 2024, attributing this to a challenging trading environment split between strong first-half performance and weaker consumer confidence affecting store sales later in the year. However, digital sales showed resilience, growing by 13.9% to £35.2 million.
Iceland forecasts a surge in frozen food popularity in 2025, echoing trends seen in the US, where sales rose by 54% recently. The supermarket aims to educate UK consumers on frozen food benefits, citing cost-effectiveness and nutritional advantages over fresh produce.
THG Ingenuity has appointed Lucy Cooper as its new chief commercial officer, bringing extensive experience in growth strategy and technology from roles at Microsoft and Accenture. Cooper will drive growth and innovation following THG Ingenuity’s demerger from THG PLC.
Toolstation has launched a rapid delivery service across 460 UK stores in partnership with TradeKart. Customers can now receive orders within 30 minutes, scheduling deliveries up to seven days in advance, aimed particularly at tradespeople for whom speed and convenience are crucial.
