Justin Emerson
Journalist
Thames Water's murky turnaround
Thames Water has unveiled half-year results that tell a story of progress shadowed by peril. Britain's biggest water utility is investing at a pace not seen in a century and claims to be stabilising its creaking network. Yet its finances remain so fragile that the company continues to teeter between rescue and special administration.
December 03, 2025 at 04:45 am
JD Sports runs to stand still
JD Sports, the trainer titan that once seemed able to outrun any market wobble, is now showing signs of strain. Its latest update paints a picture of a company still performing respectably, but doing so against an economic headwind that is becoming harder to ignore.?
November 20, 2025 at 04:40 am
ITV and Sky: A merger to build Britain's next streaming powerhouse
In an era when television is being redefined by streaming platforms and shrinking ad budgets, Britain's oldest broadcaster may be preparing for its biggest shake-up in decades. ITV confirmed on Friday that it is in preliminary talks with Sky, the Comcast-owned pay-TV operator, over a possible £1.6 billion sale of its Media and Entertainment division: a deal that could reshape the UK's broadcasting landscape.
November 07, 2025 at 04:57 am
Next's quiet boom
When most British retailers are praying for mild weather and forgiving consumers, Next plc is doing something unusual: raising its profit forecast again. The high-street and online retailer has now upgraded guidance for the fourth time in eight months, after third-quarter full-price sales jumped 10.5%, far ahead of its own modest predictions.
October 29, 2025 at 05:26 am
Unilever: From Grocer to Groomer
Unilever shifts its centre of gravity to beauty and wellbeing and is beginning to show signs of discipline. In its third-quarter results, the consumer goods giant reported underlying sales growth of 3.9%, respectable if unspectacular, but what stood out was not the headline number. Rather, it was the quiet shift in tone: margin-led growth, cost containment, and sharper focus under new chief executive Fernando Fernandez. Beauty and wellbeing led the charge, volume returned in key markets. The Unilever of tomorrow may be smaller in scope, but it is starting to look more deliberate.
October 23, 2025 at 04:55 am
Entain posts solid Q3, but heavy debt casts a long shadow
Entain delivered a steady third quarter, helped by online growth and a strong performance from its U.S. joint venture BetMGM, but the Ladbrokes owner remains hemmed in by debt and leadership uncertainty as it seeks to convince investors its turnaround has real momentum.
October 15, 2025 at 04:41 am
Glencore rebounds as demand and cost discipline pay off
Greencore Group has raised its annual profit forecast for the second time in under three months, buoyed by robust demand for its sandwiches and sushi lines and a firm grip on costs. The Irish convenience food manufacturer now anticipates adjusted operating profit for the financial year to reach approximately £125 million, an upgrade from its prior estimate of £118 million to £121 million.
October 08, 2025 at 04:38 am
Pubs, profits and the Wetherspoon gamble
In the saturated world of British pubs, few names provoke as much reaction as J D Wetherspoon. Revered by bargain-hunters and reviled by some industry purists, it's a chain synonymous with cheap pints, Brexit leaflets, and the defiant figure of Tim Martin. Its 2025 preliminary results, released this week, offer more than a glimpse into the pub giant's financials: they reveal steady progress in sales and profits, alongside signs of strategic caution in a challenging market.
October 03, 2025 at 04:22 am
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