Sparkling wine and champagne sales are set to bubble up to £2bn by the end of the holiday season December 15, 2016 Britain's sparkling wine and champagne sales will continue to fizz over the holiday season to break £2bn by the new year. Twenty million more bottles of sparkling wine were sold in 2016 in the UK compared to the previous year, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) said in its year-end market report. With 114m litres, or 152 [...]
First the Rubik’s Cube now the Kit Kat: EU Court rules in favour of Cadbury over Nestle in chocolate trademark war December 15, 2016 EU authorities have thrown the chocolating world into turmoil after revoking confectionery giant Nestle's registered trademark for one of Britain's best loved treats, the Kit Kat. The annulling of the trademark means the Kit Kat shape can be used by anyone who wants to do so. Speculation may commence that leading competitors are plotting to [...]
Estate agent Lambert Smith Hampton is up for sale December 15, 2016 Countrywide has put estate agents Lambert Smith Hampton up for sale, according to reports. According to Estates Gazette, Countrywide are hoping for a sale to close next month and is making the sale through Deloitte. Read more: FTSE reshuffle: Travis Perkins, DFS and Countrywide are on the way out Countrywide issued a profit warning last [...]
Here’s where you should base your business along the Tube map for the highest turnover December 15, 2016 Got a feeling your business isn't living up to its potential? Well perhaps a change of scenery might cure the malaise. According to data intelligence firm DueDil, firms based along the Bakerloo line have the highest annual turnover and average growth rate. For specific stations, Waterloo had the highest average turnover of £2.53bn and is [...]
HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins spreads his wings to take chairman role at Gatwick December 15, 2016 HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins is picking up another role in the New Year. He's taking over as chairman at Gatwick Airport, replacing incumbent chairman Sir Roy McNulty from 1 January 2017. McNulty will stay on as deputy chairman. Higgins said: "Whilst the case for Gatwick expansion in the future remains very strong, the challenge [...]
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan invests £220m in the capital’s boroughs including central London’s first new park for 100 years December 15, 2016 The mayor has announced he's plugging £220m into the capital's boroughs to boost transport, town centre and public space developments. Sadiq Khan said the funding will be used by boroughs across the capital for a range of projects, with initiatives to encourage walking and cycling, reduce road dangers and improve air quality. Among the projects to receive [...]
Murdoch swoops: 21st Century Fox agrees Sky takeover deal December 15, 2016 Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox today agreed a takeover deal for UK broadcaster Sky. Fox, which already owns 39 per cent of Sky, has made a £10.75-per-share offer, worth £11.7bn. The approach values the whole of the UK media giant at £18.5bn. Fox said it would be using a scheme of arrangement, meaning it would need 75 [...]
Heineken is poised to win Punch Taverns’ hand in takeover battle December 15, 2016 Punch Taverns today agreed to a £403m offer from Heineken and its investment partner Patron Capital. The Dutch brewing giant has until mid-January to make a firm offer. The current offer will lapse if a competing bid of 200p or more is made. Heineken and its partner Patron are facing competition from Alan McIntosh and [...]
It’s unanimous: Bank of England keeps interest rates on hold at 0.25 per cent December 15, 2016 The Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) has unanimously voted to hold interest rates at 0.25 per cent. However, the MPC warned a slowdown in growth was still likely following the Brexit vote, although it added inflation will not rise as much as it had forecast. In minutes of its December meeting, it added [...]
Paddy Power has the odds on which group will call a strike next December 15, 2016 After Southern rail strikes left commuters stranded, Post Office workers threatened branch closures before Christmas, cabin crew at British Airways voted for industrial action and even Argos drivers announced a disruptive strike before talking it out with their bosses, Paddy Power has now offered the odds on which group will strike next. "Glorious post-Brexit Britain is doing its best [...]