Consumer Confidence

Why provenance is the pet industry’s quiet superpower

These days, “natural” claims are on everything from supermarket chicken to shampoo. So how can pet food brands face the growing challenge of standing out to and building trust with discerning pet parents? One answer is provenance. Specifically, being proudly and transparently ‘Made in the UK’. While other industries like…

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Pets at Home FY profits rise 14% to £120m despite flat revenues

Pets at Home has seen its profit before tax rise 14% to £120.6m for the year ended 27 March 2025, following strong growth in its veterinary sector. Its vet group consumer revenue was up 13%, with record sales supported by higher visits, average transaction values and significant growth in Care…

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OATA calls for simplified tariff regime on US imports

OATA has written to the Department for Business and Trade to raise concerns over potential US retaliatory tariffs, with OATA chief executive Dominic Whitmee urging for a simplified regime and lower tariffs to benefit the UK aquatics industry. In its letter, the trade organisation highlighted three key issues that could…

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Pets at Home warns of profit drop in FY26

Pets at Home has revealed that it expects its retail profits to drop in FY26 to within a range of £115m to £125m, as a result of the uncertain economic backdrop for both demand and inflation. The retailer also stated that it expects increased costs of around £30m following changes…

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BoE cuts interest rates to 4.5%

The Bank of England (BoE) has voted to cut interest rates from 4.75% to 4.5%, the lowest level since June 2023, but warned that GDP growth has been “weaker than expected”. At its meeting this week, the bank’s monetary policy committee voted by a majority of 7–2 to reduce the…

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UK sales slightly increase by 0.7% in May

UK total retail sales increased by 0.7% year on year in May, against a growth of 3.9% in May 2023. This was above the 3-month average growth of 0.3% and below the 12-month average growth of 2.0%. Food sales increased 3.6% year on year over the three months to May,…

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Retail sales slump 2.3% in April amid wet weather

Retail sales fell by 2.3% in volume over April, following a fall of 0.2% in March, as the retail sector was hampered by ongoing wet weather over the period. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), sales volumes were down across most sectors, with non-food stores particularly “doing badly”…

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Retail sales jump 3.4% giving optimism despite recession

Retail sales in the UK jumped 3.4% in January 2024 after falling 3.2% in December, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. This is the biggest rise in retail sales since April 2021 when the UK had just emerged from the third covid lockdown. The price of goods…

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Early signs of footfall recovery ahead of festive trading, BRC finds

The retail sector experienced early signs of footfall recovery in November as total UK footfall decreased by 0.7% in November(YoY), an improvement on -5.7% in October, according to the latest data from the BRC. High Street footfall decreased by 1.7%, an improvement on -4.6% in October, whereas Retail Parks again…

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Retail sales growth slows in July amid heavy rain

The UK’s total retail sales increased by 1.5% in the four weeks to 29 July, against the 2.3% growth experienced in the same month last year. This was below the three-month average growth of 3.5% and the 12-month average growth of 3.9%, according to BRC data. This lacklustre growth in…

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