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Shoe Zone Halves Full-Year Profit Forecast to £2.5M as Shares Plunge

The retailer blames rising employer national insurance alongside living wage hikes for its downgrade, halting dividends to preserve cash in favour of its new-format store rollout.

Overview

  • Shoe Zone now expects around £2.5 million in adjusted pre-tax profit for the year to September 2025, down from a prior £5 million forecast.
  • Shares tumbled roughly 20–24% in early trading following the profit warning.
  • Management attributed the forecast cut to increased employer national insurance and national living wage costs coupled with weak consumer spending.
  • The company has withdrawn its dividend plan and highlighted that it remains debt-free with cash levels higher than a year ago.
  • Shoe Zone confirmed that it will open its 200th new-format store this month as part of its broader strategic rollout.