Danone warns on sales growth target December 19, 2016 Yoghurt maker Danone has reduced its forecast for like-for-like sales growth due to the poor performance of its probiotic yoghurt Activia. Danone said in a statement the company has been facing an "increasingly volatile and complex environment" and that "Activia's performance as well as aggravated market conditions in Spain have impacted Europe Dairy results". Read more: [...]
Russell & Bromley quaking in its boots as profits take a beating December 18, 2016 Shoe shop Russell & Bromley has taken an axe to its dividend after profits fell by more than 12 per cent last year. Accounts recently filed at Companies House show the Kent-based footwear purveyor plans to give its dividend a £3m haircut to £11m after profits and revenue took a hit. Last year Russell & [...]
Harvey Nichols profits down but weaker sterling stimulates sales December 18, 2016 A £29 million revamp of the luxury retailer’s flagship store in Knightsbridge has eaten into the store’s profits, taking them down to £2.6m in April from £5.4m the year before. Harvey Nichols has radically re-imagined its most famous London outlet, in a project that has resulted in the entire menswear section being closed for 10 [...]
Average Christmas booze spend is 51 per cent tax December 18, 2016 UK households are paying 51 per cent tax on the alcohol they buy in the lead up to Christmas, according to industry body, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association. The association says the average household will buy 5 bottles of wine, 3 bottle of spirits, 2 bottles of sparking wine, 2 bottles of port, 12 [...]
Star Wars spin-off Rogue One feels the force of $290m global opening weekend December 18, 2016 The latest installment in the Star Wars saga raked in over $290m (around £232m) in its first weekend of global showings, as Disney’s $4bn investment in the series continues to pay dividends. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story made $71m on its first day in the US – the 12th best opening day of all [...]
Deliveroo set to expand delivery-only kitchens – in shipping containers and car parks December 18, 2016 Deliveroo is set to expand the number of delivery-only kitchens in unusual spaces – including car parks and shipping containers – moving the online company further towards owning property as it tries to keep pace with growing demand. The food delivery company already has two sites up and running in London, with up to 20 kitchens [...]
National Lottery owner Camelot fined £3m over fraudulent claim in 2009 December 16, 2016 The Gambling Commission has fined National Lottery operator Camelot £3m over allegations of a fraudulent prize claim in 2009. The commission said today that Camelot had breached its operating licence, with three key problems with its controls relating to databases and other information sources; the way it investigated a prize claim; and its processes around the [...]
London just got the first ever contactless payment beer pump December 16, 2016 It looks like bartenders are the latest workers to be threatened by robotic replacements. The world's first contactless, self-pouring beer pump prototype has been launched by Barclaycard. Set up in Henry's Cafe and Bar in Piccadilly, the first-of-its-kind contraption has been dubbed "Pay @ Pump", and it's designed to help pubs and bars reduce queuing times [...]
Putting his foot down: Nissan boss says sales will be driven up in 2017 by global demand December 16, 2016 The owner of one of the UK's largest car plants has said 2017 will be a year of record sales for the firm. Nissan's co chief exec Carlos Ghosn said 2016's political events wouldn't stop the Japanese carmaker from taking great strides and selling more cars than ever. Read more: Greg Clark says Nissan letter could be published [...]
Only a quarter of us are getting our festive haul on the high street December 16, 2016 Only a quarter of UK shoppers are collecting their haul on the high street this year, preferring to stay at home instead and order goods online. Figures from research company Qualtrics suggest that the proportion of Britons who are willing to physically search for gifts is falling. Last year, 29 per cent of people in the UK [...]