B&M Faces Sales Slump as Weather Dampens UK Performance

A sluggish start to the outdoor gardening season has stalled B&M’s momentum in the UK, where like-for-like sales fell 2.3% in the first quarter. Despite this localized cooling, the discount retailer managed a marginal revenue increase to £1.43 billion, propped up by a double-digit surge in its French operations.

Editorial·July 15, 2026·reads: 713

B&M Faces Sales Slump as Weather Dampens UK Performance

Investors reacted sharply to the cooling UK demand, sending B&M shares down 4% to 195.7 pence in early trading. CEO Tjeerd Jegen is currently steering a "Back to B&M Basics" strategy to reclaim profitability in a market defined by aggressive price competition. To move stagnant inventory, Jegen implemented aggressive price markdowns, which successfully boosted interest in general merchandise throughout May and June.

While the French division posted a standout 14.6% revenue jump driven by higher footfall, the domestic outlook remains complex. UK grocery margins are under sustained pressure as the company sacrifices potential gains to stay competitive against rival discounters. The firm’s ability to balance these thin grocery margins with the recovery in general merchandise will define its success in the coming quarters.