The Very Group news and archive

Very Group finds new ownership, Barclay family exits

The Very Group, the parent company of Very and Littlewoods, has been taken over by investment firm Carlyle, seeing the exit of its long-time owners, the Barclay family. IMI will remain as a key stakeholder in the group. In a press release, The Very Group said the takeover was a “positive outcome” that provided a “strengthened capital base and...

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The Very Group mulls IPO

The owners of British online retailer The Very Group are reportedly mulling an IPO that could value the business at 3 billion pounds. The Barclay family is in the early stages of deciding whether to take the group public amid soaring investor interest in online retailers, Sky News reports. The Very Group has been one of the success stories of...

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Very reports record Christmas sales

Online retailer Very has reported record sales during the important Christmas trading period. For the seven weeks up to and including 25 December 2020, retail sales increased 25.2 percent year-on-year, while sales via the Very mobile app were up 33 percent. The retailer, which is owned by The Very Group, also gained over 500,000 new customers...

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Very hires former BBC tech director as chief information officer

The Very Group has announced the appointment of former BBC tech director Matt Grest as chief information officer, effective 21 December. In his new role, Grest will lead the British retailer’s 350-strong technology team as it continues to transform its technology and platforms. “The Very Group has a history of reinvention powered by technology...

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Very appoints digital customer experience director

UK online retailer The Very Group has announced the return of former head of ecommerce Paul Hornby to the company, this time taking the role of digital customer experience (DCX) director. Hornby will join in January and report to chief technology officer (CTO) Andy Burton. In his new position, Hornby will be tasked with leading a range of...

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The Very Group appoints chief data officer

British online retailer The Very Group has announced the appointment of Steve Pimblett as chief data officer (CDO). In his new role, Pimblett will oversee “all things data” at the retailer, including strategy, science, analytics and engineering, and will report to chief technology officer (CTO) Andy Burton. Pimblett joins Very from British tech...

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The Very Group revenue tops 2 billion pounds for first time

Annual revenue at The Very Group has passed 2 billion pounds for the first time and the company now expects to return to profit this year. The online British retailer, which rebranded last year from Shop Direct, experienced a 65 percent increase in website visits and a 36 percent increase in retail sales at Very.co.uk in the final quarter of...

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Online retailer Shop Direct rebrands to The Very Group

Online British retailer Shop Direct has today rebranded to The Very Group, a move the company says “reflects the next phase of the business’ ongoing transformation”, and one that brings its name and identity in line with its flagship consumer brand, Very. The company also said it will launch a recruitment drive over the next two years which will...