AN IRISH fashion designer told a court yesterday that a Dunnes Stores top was “a direct copy” of a Karen Millen sweater, in a landmark legal case over the protection of design rights.

Excitement over a possible Icelandic bid for Moss Bros caused shares in the menswear retailer to jump by 15% today.

A recruitment drive began today to fill 1,500 jobs at one of the country’s largest shopping centres.

An Icelandic investment group is building up a shareholding in struggling retailer Marks & Spencer, according to a report.

British supermarket chain Iceland was poised to be separated from its parent company Big Food today after the group received a £326m (€474.5m) offer from Icelandic retailer Baugur.

Budget British retailer MK One was gearing up for a major expansion today after Icelandic group Baugur confirmed it had bought the chain in a deal worth £55m (€78.8m).

Icelandic group Baugur is to add Mk One to its shopping basket of UK retailers in a deal worth £55m (€78.5m).