NEW YORK, Feb. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE: VNO) today announced it has named Newmark as the exclusive leasing agent for the next stage in its retail transformation in THE PENN DISTRICT on Manhattan’s new West Side. Vornado has tapped the Newmark retail team overseen by Chairman of Global Retail Mark Masinter, who will work closely with Newmark’s Retail Vice Chairman Karen Bellantoni, Jackie Totolo, Pierce Thompson, and Nick Masinter. The reinvention of Vornado’s retail holdings ...

Group 1 - The core inflation indicator for UK stores has risen to its highest level in nearly two years, with the price of essential goods increasing by 1.5% year-on-year in January, marking the fastest growth since February 2024, up from 0.7% in December [1] - Food inflation in UK stores has reached 3.9%, the highest level since September, driven by rising energy costs and increased national insurance contributions [1] - Retailers are struggling with higher costs and thin profit margins, making it difficult to lower prices in a competitive market, as stated by the CEO of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) [1] Group 2 - The BRC's Shop Price Monitor tracks the prices of 500 commonly purchased items, both online and offline, indicating that rising grocery bills are a concern for the Bank of England's monetary policy officials [3] - The Bank of England is closely monitoring food costs, as last year's food prices significantly contributed to inflation levels that were double the central bank's target [3] - Retail inflation data may raise consumer inflation expectations and complicate the decline of service and wage inflation, leading the Bank of England to adopt a more cautious approach regarding interest rate cuts [5] Group 3 - Major UK retailers reported weak sales during the Christmas period due to fluctuating consumer demand, with companies like Primark, Tesco, and Marks & Spencer failing to meet sales expectations [4] - The ongoing cost inflation and government tax policies have been cited as reasons for the financial struggles of retailers, including the recent bankruptcies of Claire's Accessories and The Original Factory Shop [4] - Consumer spending remains cautious in January, and persistent inflation does not help stimulate shopping activity, according to the head of retail and business insights at NIQ [4]

Core Viewpoint - Associated British Foods PLC (AB Foods) is facing challenges due to weak demand for its Primark retail chain in continental Europe and subdued demand in the United States for its food business, leading to a potential decline in annual profit [4][6]. Group 1: Company Overview - AB Foods is a diversified international group involved in food, ingredients, and retail, owning Primark, a major affordable fashion retail chain [1]. - The company operates across various sectors, including grocery, sugar, agriculture, and ingredients, with Primark being a significant part of its retail operations [1]. Group 2: Market Performance and Ratings - Citigroup has maintained a "Sell" rating for AB Foods, lowering its price target from 1,830 GBp to 1,710 GBp, reflecting concerns over the company's performance [2]. - The current stock price of ASBFY is $25.20, with a minimal change of approximately 0.0003%, and it has experienced a yearly high of $31.96 and a low of $22.69 [5]. Group 3: Performance Concerns - Panmure Liberum downgraded AB Foods from 'buy' to 'hold' due to a surprise profit warning, highlighting concerns over Primark's declining performance in continental Europe [3][6]. - Weak like-for-like sales in Europe raise questions about Primark's value amidst increasing competition and cautious consumer behavior, contrasting with its recovery in the UK driven by strategic investments [3][6].

Core Insights - The luxury market is recovering, but the high street is suffering due to declining consumer confidence, particularly in the U.K. and Europe [1] Company Performance - Associated British Foods (ABF) has warned that Primark's adjusted operating profit and earnings per share for the fiscal year 2025-26 are expected to be below last year's figures, primarily due to under-performance [2] - Primark's sales growth for the 16 weeks ending January 3 was below expectations, with anticipated sales growth in the first half of 2026 projected to be in the low single digits [3] - In the U.K., Primark achieved approximately 3 percent sales growth, with like-for-like sales increasing by 1.7 percent despite a challenging clothing market [5] - In continental Europe, like-for-like sales declined by around 5.7 percent, indicating weak consumer confidence [5] - Overall, Primark's sales rose by 1 percent in the 16 weeks, but like-for-like sales were down by 2.7 percent [6] Market Environment - The retail environment in the U.S. is described as volatile, affecting consumer sentiment and foot traffic [5] - Primark has significantly increased markdowns to manage inventory levels, which has negatively impacted profitability [3] - The company continues its store roll-out program, contributing approximately 4 percent to sales growth, including the opening of its first store in Kuwait through a franchise model [5]

Core Viewpoint - Associated British Foods has issued a warning regarding lower annual profit due to weak demand at Primark in continental Europe and subdued demand in its food business in the U.S. [1] Group 1: Company Performance - The company anticipates a decline in annual profit, primarily driven by reduced consumer demand at its retail segment, Primark, particularly in continental Europe [1] - The food business is also experiencing subdued demand in the U.S., contributing to the overall profit warning [1] Group 2: Market Conditions - Weak demand in both the retail and food sectors indicates challenging market conditions for Associated British Foods [1] - The performance of Primark in continental Europe is a significant factor affecting the company's profitability outlook [1]

Core Insights - A significant portion of fashion executives (only 18 percent) viewed sustainability as a top-three risk for growth in 2022, with the 2026 report indicating that sustainability and ethical practices ranked seventh in factors influencing high-net-worth individuals' purchasing decisions from luxury brands [1] Group 1: Primark's Sustainability Efforts - Primark's interim CEO emphasized that sustainability remains a priority for the company, despite claims of reduced focus in other sectors [2] - The company aims for all clothing to be made from recycled or sustainably sourced materials by 2030, achieving 74 percent of clothing units sold containing such materials in the 2024-25 reporting year, a 12 percent increase from 2023 [3] - Of the 74 percent, 39 percent of Primark clothing now features recycled fibers, although comparisons to previous periods are not specified [4] Group 2: Primark Cares Strategy - The Primark Cares sustainability strategy was introduced in September 2021, building on the Ethical Trade program established 15 years ago [5] - Currently, 5 percent of items are designed for circularity, making them easier to recycle at end-of-life, with specific percentages for Jersey (20 percent) and denim (8 percent) [6]

Fashion retailer Primark is aiming for renewed growth in Germany with smaller, targeted locations, as reported by Reuters citing sales director for Germany and Austria, Sandra Luxem-Bremen. The news comes as the Associated British Foods’ business unit opened its first new store in five years on 19 November 2025, with plans to open two further sites. Primark’s German expansion seeks to counter falling sales in the country, which contributed to a 1% drop in Primark’s Northern Europe revenue in the financia ...

Core Insights - CBL Properties has opened a new Primark store at CoolSprings Galleria in Nashville, Tennessee, marking the second Primark location in the state and the first in CBL's portfolio [1][2] Company Overview - CBL Properties is headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, and manages a national portfolio of 88 properties totaling 53.9 million square feet across 22 states, including 55 enclosed malls and various retail centers [4] Retail Expansion - The new Primark store spans 35,000 square feet and offers a variety of products including fashion, homeware, and beauty items [2] - CBL has recently added several new retailers to CoolSprings Galleria, including LEGO, LoveSac, and Miss A, with Vans expected to open this winter [3] Community Engagement - The opening weekend of Primark included live music, giveaways, and a special appearance from the character Bluey, indicating a strong community engagement strategy [2]

Core Viewpoint - The recent vacancy for a CEO at Primark has prompted a renewed review of the potential spin-off from its parent company, Associated British Foods, after years of resistance [1] Company Summary - Primark is experiencing significant scale and growth potential, which has led to discussions about its independence from Associated British Foods [1]

Strategic Direction - Spinning off British fast-fashion favorite Primark is the right thing to do [1] Timing Considerations - The timing of the spin-off may be off [1]