Today’s news in brief-27/2/25
Aldi is consulting on a head office restructuring plan that could put 350 jobs at risk, primarily affecting buying, finance, and back-office roles. No customer-facing positions will be impacted, and the company aims to redeploy affected staff where possible. The restructuring aligns with Aldi’s growth strategy, including a £67m investment in store upgrades for 2025, focusing on enhanced layouts, energy efficiency, and new in-store features. Aldi also announced a pay rise for store assistants, increasing hourly rates to £12.75 nationally and £14.05 within the M25, with further raises planned for 2025.
Ocado is reducing its global R&D workforce as part of efforts to return to profitability, despite narrowing its pre-tax loss to £374.5m in FY24. The company reported a 14.1% increase in group revenue to £3.2bn but remains in discussions with M&S over a £190.7m payment tied to their joint venture, Ocado Retail.
EG Group reported a 9% rise in FY24 EBITDA to $992m, driven by strong performances in the US and Europe. The US division saw a 17% EBITDA increase, while Europe grew by 12%. Grocery and merchandise gross profit rose 7%, and foodservice gross profit increased 5%. Despite challenging fuel market conditions, EG Group strengthened its balance sheet through divestments and refinancing.
Asos has appointed new managing directors as part of an organisational overhaul to align with its growth strategy. Sean Trend will oversee the UK and US, while Jag Weatherly will manage Europe and the rest of the world. Michelle Wilson will lead Topshop, Topman, and global wholesale operations. The changes aim to enhance customer focus and operational efficiency, supported by new technology leadership under Przemek Czarnecki.
Co-op has launched Peckish, a £1m grocery delivery app designed to help independent retailers move online. The app addresses barriers like cost and resource limitations, enabling retailers to offer local delivery services. Following a successful pilot, Co-op aims to onboard 1,000 stores in the first year, with potential to triple that number by year three. Peckish integrates with retailers’ EPOS systems, offering pricing flexibility and delivery options through Co-op’s partners.
