Fragrance and gift sets boost Very’s festive sales

The Very Group has reported its strongest trading day since the pandemic, following a robust Black Friday and "resilient" festive trading period.

The online retailer processed over 1.3 million items during Black Friday week alone, surpassing last year’s busiest week, when 1.2 million items were processed.

The group’s flagship brand, Very UK, delivered sales growth of 1.9% in the six weeks to 27 December 2025, supported by strong performances across several core categories.

Home led the way with sales up 7.9%, while beauty rose 6.4% over the period. Perfume proved particularly popular, with brands such as Jimmy Choo and Calvin Klein among the best sellers, alongside beauty gift sets including those from Beauty Works.

Robbie Feather, Group CEO at The Very Group, said: "We know that Christmas is one of the most important times of the year for the families we serve and, here at Very, we’re proud to have been able to help customers make the season extra special.

"By bringing together our great assortment of products, competitive prices and flexible ways to pay, we’ve delivered a strong performance during the Christmas and Black Friday trading period."

Looking ahead, Feather said the company remains focused on its strategic priorities, including innovation and the use of technology and data to enhance the customer proposition.

"We are confident that our proposition will remain valued by customers and we enter 2026 with a great range of product offers that our customers will love, and we are well placed operationally to navigate the unpredictable nature of the market," he added.

The update comes as The Very Group’s owner is reportedly preparing to launch a £2 billion auction of the business, just months after taking control.

Private equity firm Carlyle is said to be lining up Barclays and JP Morgan to advise on the sale, with a formal auction process expected to begin shortly.

One insider told Sky News that Carlyle’s ownership was always intended to be transitional, with an onward sale timed to maximise value for all stakeholders.