Punch Taverns takeover: Heineken and pub entrepreneur Alan McIntosh in bidding war December 15, 2016 Punch Taverns is in the midst of a takeover tussle between Heineken and Alan McIntosh, an entrepreneur who was one of the pub company’s founders. Shares in Punch soared as news of the two approaches emerged, ending the day nearly 38 per cent up at 177p. Yesterday morning, City A.M. revealed that McIntosh has tabled [...]
BI announces its best performing champagne for 2016 December 14, 2016 One of the world's leading fine wine merchants and traders has announced its top performing champagne of 2016. BI, formerly Bordeaux Index, said this year's best champagne on its LiveTrade platform was the 2007 Louis Roederer Cristal, with sales up 53 per cent since it was added to the live, two-way buying and selling platform [...]
Lingerie brand Bluebella secures £1m through crowdfunding for US expansion December 14, 2016 The British brand which created the official Fifty Shades of Grey lingerie has raised £1m – double its original target – in a crowdfunding campaign. Bluebella turned to its fans for help funding an expansion to the US, and reached a grand total of £1,088,700 by the time the campaign ended. Founder Emily Bendell said: [...]
The global e-cigarette market is set to be worth $32bn by 2021, and the UK market will grow to $5.67bn December 14, 2016 The global electronic cigarette market is set to be worth $32bn (£25bn) by the year 2021, while the UK market grows to $5.67bn (£4.46bn), a new report suggests. The "tremendous" growth rate of vapour products is due to increased popularity in North America, particularly the US, and European countries including the UK, a new report by Beige Market Intelligence [...]
It takes us more than an hour to unwind after work and even longer to switch off on holiday December 14, 2016 Well, good luck enjoying your holiday – it takes British workers 2.63 days of annual leave to switch off from work mode, new research suggests. The data also found it takes us a shocking 10.31 days of annual leave to feel able to return to work completely refreshed and relaxed. That's equal to more than half of the UK's statutory [...]
It’s take off for Gordon Ramsay Group’s Plane Food as it secures a 10-year Heathrow deal December 14, 2016 Gordon Ramsay Group has secured a 10-year extension of its Plane Food restaurant at Heathrow’s Terminal 5. The restaurant will close for 12 weeks next year as it undergoes a makeover, before reopening in July, when it will boast a new bar along with the creation of semi-private dining areas. Plane Food opened in Heathrow back [...]
Zara owner Inditex announces profit rise amid ongoing global expansion December 14, 2016 Inditex, the owner of various fashion brands including Zara and Bershka, has announced a nine per cent rise in its nine-month profit. Net profit reached €2.2bn (£1.85bn), and gross margin was 57.9 per cent. The Spanish retailer's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) increased 8.4 per cent, hitting €3.6bn. Read more: Zara owner [...]
Watch: UK claims Amazon’s first ever drone delivery December 14, 2016 Amazon’s dream of drone deliveries just became a reality – and it happened first in the UK. A fully automated drone with no human input delivered a package to a customer in Cambridgeshire, taking just 13 minutes to get it from depot to door. The first flight of its kind is a major step forward [...]
Deliveroo and Diageo team up to put the spirit in your holiday with new alcohol home delivery service December 14, 2016 Let's set the scene: You've just come home from work, set a cosy fire and put on your most ridiculous Christmas jumper. All you need to complete the evening is a festive drink, but to your shock and horror you find your drinks cupboard is seriously lacking. Now you'll have to put the fire out, [...]
Meantime Bespoke will create your perfect pint based on your DNA December 14, 2016 A London brewer has made a personalised beer based on his own DNA, and now the brewery is opening the bespoke service to the public. Eager brewers-to-be will now have the option of blending a custom-made brew designed to appeal to their taste buds for a mere £25,000 at Meantime Bespoke, a new venture by Meantime Brewing Company, one of [...]