Fevertree profits fizz despite UK sugar tax hit to margins March 26, 2019 The glass was half full at Fevertree today as it reported a surge in profits and revenue for 2018. Read more: Fevertree sales fizz as tonic maker cheers bumper summer The figures Profit after tax rose 26 per cent year on year to £61.8m in 2018, even as the profit margin was squeezed almost two [...]
Ocado strikes factory deal with Australian grocer Coles a month after £1.5bn Marks & Spencer tie-up March 26, 2019 Ocado has agreed a deal to provide two robot-operated fulfillment centres for Australian grocer Coles Online, as it doubles down on its growing role as a retail technology supplier. Read more: Ocado shares burn after 48-hour blaze at robotics centre The online supermarket will build and operate the customer fulfillment centres in Sydney and Melbourne, [...]
Galliford Try boss leaves to revive struggling housebuilder Crest Nicholson March 26, 2019 Housebuilder Crest Nicholson’s shares soared this morning as it announced its chief executive is to be replaced by the boss of rival construction firm Galliford Try. Crest, whose profits fell 15 per cent last year as Brexit uncertainty hurt its core high-end market, parts ways with CEO Patrick Bergin at the firm’s annual general meeting [...]
Moss Bros wipes out dividend as it swings to a loss after ‘extremely challenging’ year March 26, 2019 Historic men’s tailoring firm Moss Bros moved into the red this morning, blaming a turbulent trading environment for its first losses in almost a decade. Shares tumbled more than five per cent in early morning trading. Read more: Joules boss Colin Porter to take on role as Moss Bros chairman The figures In its preliminary [...]
Commuters suffer rush hour chaos as Tube lines hit by severe delays March 26, 2019 Commuters were left to contend with a nightmare journey this morning as a signal failure struck multiple Tube lines down with delays. Read more: This London Tube map shows the busiest times at stations in the morning Severe delays hit the Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line and the Metropolitan Line after a signal systems [...]
Debenhams shares soar as Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct considers offer March 26, 2019 Debenhams has doubled down on its major restructuring strategy this morning, saying that it will continue with its plan to obtain funding hours after Sports Direct revealed it was mulling a bid for the embattled department store chain. Read more: Sports Direct mulls cash offer for Debenhams Last night Mike Ashley’s sportswear firm said that [...]
Irn-Bru maker AG Barr sees revenues edge up March 26, 2019 Irn-Bru maker AG Barr revealed a modest bump in annual profits and revenues this morning, shrugging off challenges from a new sugar tax and CO2 shortages but forecasting continued uncertainty in the months ahead. The figures In its full-year results this morning, the FTSE 250 soft drinks manufacturer said that revenue grew by 5.6 per [...]
May suffers fresh Commons blow as MPs grab control of Brexit process March 26, 2019 Theresa May was hit by further ministerial resignations last night after three ministers quit the government in order to back a rebel amendment granting MPs the power to organise key Brexit votes today. Business minister Richard Harrington, health minister Steve Brine and Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt all went against the whip to vote in [...]
City Moves for 26 March – who’s switching jobs at Applause, Amino Technologies and Flexible Office Space? March 26, 2019 Who’s on the move today? Applause Applause, the worldwide leader in digital quality and crowdsourced testing, has announced that Lisa Landa will join the company as chief marketing officer. Her success in building strong brands, generating demand and leading worldwide teams will be instrumental as Applause extends its market leadership across the globe. She comes [...]
John Lewis tumbles down UK top employer rankings March 26, 2019 John Lewis and Partners has lost its crown as Britain’s top employer following a tough 2018 that saw its profits drop by 45 per cent, according to a yearly survey released today. Read more: John Lewis profits plummet 45 per cent in ‘challenging’ market Wren Kitchens now tops the list of UK employers as ranked [...]