Could a ‘land blocking’ rule change spell danger for Aldi and Lidl? Retail German discounters Aldi and Lidl have rapidly taken control of the UK’s budget grocery market in recent years. But could new curbs on ‘land blocking’ slow their insurgency? Only a few decades ago, Lidl and Aldi were oddities. By 2008, the German discount supermarkets had been in the UK for more than 10 years but [...]
Twilight and Thunder the Calls at Shergar Cup Sport SOME of the world’s best jockeys will line up at Ascot this Saturday for Flat racing’s annual team competition, the Shergar Cup. This year’s edition looks a high-class one, with the decision to move the Curragh’s Group One Phoenix Stakes to Sunday meaning that both Ryan Moore and Dylan Browne McMonagle are free to compete. [...]
Retailers hit back at Healey’s ‘profiteering’ threat Retail Retailers have hit back at the Chancellor’s warning against profiteering, saying they will prove they have fought hard to keep food prices down during the Iran war. Chancellor John Healey said at the weekend that the Treasury is prepared to crack down on any retailers which are taking Brits “for a ride” by using the [...]
Ocado lets Marks & Spencer off hook in £190m payout dispute July 28, 2026 Ocado has quietly let Marks & Spencer off the hook in a long-running £190m dispute over its home delivery joint venture. FTSE-250 Ocado has dropped its pursuit of the payout from M&S, which it believed it was owed as part of the business they run together, City AM understands. The two companies took a 50-50 [...]
Tiktok pledges three-stage age checks as it pilots alcohol sales July 22, 2026 Tiktok will strictly enforce age checks to block under-18s from buying or even viewing alcohol on Tiktok Shop, City AM understands, as it expands into one of retail’s most tightly regulated categories. The social media giant said its ecommerce platform is strictly for adults and that alcohol sales are being piloted only with a small [...]
Ocado boss Steiner ‘energised about future’ despite succession battle July 16, 2026 Ocado boss Tim Steiner has insisted he is “as excited and energised” about the firm’s future following a battle over his succession which will see him depart in around 18 months. The co-founder and chief executive of the FTSE 250 firm is expected to step back from his current role as soon as December 2027 [...]
Why chilled red wine is the coolest thing to drink right now July 13, 2026 Rosé is a safe summer bet, but the coolest thing to be drinking right now, in more ways than one, is a chilled red. There was an inkling that this was going to be a thing last summer, but now that chilly glass of rouge has its feet well and truly under the table. I [...]
Why Fifa World Cup players are drowning in commercial red tape July 12, 2026 Joshua Charalambous and Ellie Chakarto take a look at why this World Cup is restraining its stars A lot has been made about the star power at the Fifa Men’s World Cup – goals for Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal – and of course, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo who both [...]
M&S to face shareholder grilling over cyber attack recovery July 6, 2026 Marks and Spencer is set to take a grilling from shareholders over whether it has made a meaningful recovery from the cyber attack which wiped out nearly a third of its profit. The FTSE 100 retailer will face investors at its annual general meeting on Tuesday, where it will expect to be quizzed on whether [...]
The best wine to take to a picnic in the sun June 25, 2026 Picnic season is on a roll and no matter what picky bits you are currently into, there is a drop of the good stuff to make it taste even better. Scotch Eggs x English Sparkling Wine Fortnum & Mason first invented the modern “scotch egg” in 1738 as a convenient meal for coach travellers from [...]