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Investment group acquires majority stake in Weber-Stephen

BDT Capital Partners takes over majority share in new partnership with family-owned US barbecue manufacturer. 
17 January 2011

New TradePoint counters open in London

B&Q is opening new TradePoint counters in four of its London locations: Wandsworth, Sidcup, Eltham and Chiswick. 
14 January 2011

Bathroom manufacturer to cut 249 jobs

Bathroom manufacturer Ideal Standard has announced the closure of its Middlewich ceramics production site, which could mean the loss of 249 jobs. 
14 January 2011

Major retailers join forces against new levy

Firms warn that Scottish Government's proposed large retailer levy will harm business expansion and endanger future job creation. 
14 January 2011

Home Retail profit expectations improve

Home Retail Group (HRG) has revealed a better than expected performance despite "volatile trading conditions" in a Q3 interim management statement released today. 
13 January 2011

Poor Christmas trading hits Dixons profit prediction

Adverse weather in the run up to Christmas reduced UK sales by 2%, while full year profit is now expected to be at the bottom end of the firm's original forecasts. 
13 January 2011

Peat-free composts still have a way to go, says Which?

B&Q has come top in the latest Which? compost trials with its multipurpose compost and sowing & cutting compost being named as 'Best Buys'. 
13 January 2011

December discounts kept prices low over Christmas

Shop price inflation rose just 0.1% last month, as retailers try to take the sting out of shopping for consumers and keep them spending. 
12 January 2011

Strong manufacturing growth boosts UK economy in Q4

The UK economy continued growing in the fourth quarter of 2010, with a strong performance in the manufacturing sector, said the latest Quarterly Economic Survey from the British Chambers of commerce (BCC). 
12 January 2011

Luxury pet products fly off Asda's shelves

Sales volumes of luxury pet food, speciality shampoos and dog mattresses up at supermarket chain this week, as pampering household animals becomes "normal part of everyday life". 
12 January 2011

Positive start for Topps

Chairman Barry Bester will tell shareholders at today's agm that Topps Tiles like-for-like revenues for the first 13 weeks of its financial year increased 2.2%. 
11 January 2011

Tough trading knocks Dunelm Mill's Christmas results

Homewares retailer reports 4.2% drop in sales during key Christmas trading period, resulting in 1.2% like-for-like decline in first half of 2011. 
11 January 2011

Snow made tough Christmas worse, says BRC

Snow hit sales in December, but winter products outperformed for DIY retailers despite the slow month, according to new figures from the BRC/KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. 
11 January 2011

Haskins to invest £3m in new catering facilities

Four-strong garden centre firm announces the development of a new 460-seater restaurant and function room at its Southampton site. 
10 January 2011

Westland disposes of bulb business

Westland Horticulture has announced that it has ceased production of Unwins bulbs, transferring all trade and assets to Taylors Bulbs. Westland retains all rights to the Unwins name and brand. 
10 January 2011

High street sales remain buoyant despite icy conditions

The coldest December in 100 years may have forced some shoppers to stay home but year-on-year sales growth held firm, says BDO, dropping just 0.5% in December. 
10 January 2011

UPDATE: PPG and ICI reach legal agreement

The legal dispute between ICI Paints AkzoNobel and PPG regarding the latter's Johnstone's 'Best on Test' advertising campaign has been settled out of court. 
7 January 2011

Arnotts reveals €295m loss but trading improving

Irish department store Arnotts has said it expects single-digit turnover growth for the year ending January 23, 2011, after suffering dramatic losses in the previous year. 
7 January 2011

Merchanting sales improve for Grafton in 2010

Group reports 3% increase in merchanting sales for the year, while its DIY retailing business saw a 7% decline. 
7 January 2011

Retail and wholesale was 'least confidant sector' in Q4

Economic growth will be slower than forecast next year according to the latest ICAEW/Grant Thornton UK Business Confidence Monitor (BCM). 
6 January 2011
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