Supermarkets had a record Christmas – but prices are rising January 10, 2017 Supermarkets had a record Christmas period in 2016, with sales growing at their fastest rate since June 2014, but prices are finally starting to rise following the Brexit vote. The latest figures from Kantar Woldpanel show that sales were up 1.8 per cent for the 12 weeks ending 1 January. Consumers spent nearly half a billion pounds [...]
It was a very merry Christmas for Morrisons with sales up 2.9 per cent January 10, 2017 Morrisons today revealed that sales in the nine weeks to 1 January were the strongest the supermarket has seen for seven years – and it's raised its expectations for full year profits. The group's shares jumped 4.5 per cent at the open. The group reported a 2.9 per cent jump in like-for-like sales excluding fuel – with [...]
Boohoo sets the online shopping trend to start the New Year January 10, 2017 Boohoo.com has ended 2016 on a high and looks set to continue the form into the New Year, with the online clothing retailer reporting strong increases in revenues and raising its revenue guidance for the start of this year. The figures Revenues grew 55 per cent, with growth in America particularly impressive: US revenues increased by [...]
Consumers wasted a whopping £13bn of edible food in 2015 January 10, 2017 Consumers threw out £13bn – 7.3m tonnes – worth of perfectly edible food in 2015. That generated 19m tonnes of carbon emissions, equivalent to those generated by one in four cars on UK roads, according to food waste reduction charity Wrap. However, 60 per cent of us believe we waste either no food or hardly any. Wrap has built off its work with [...]
Consumer spending cooled in December after post-Brexit spending spree January 10, 2017 Consumer spending cooled towards the end of 2016, pointing to a slowdown in Britain's spending spree following the Brexit vote. In October and November, consumer spending growth hit 5.5 per cent and 5.1 per cent respectively, according to Barclaycard. But this figure fell to four per cent growth year-on-year in December. Read more: Aldi bags [...]
UK retail scores “solid yet unspectacular” end to 2016 January 10, 2017 Retailers are bracing themselves for a possible slowdown in consumer spending this year, but the sector ended 2016 in (relatively) good health, thanks to a strong performance on Christmas week. Like-for-like sales in UK retail increased one per cent year-on-year in December 2016, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG, improving from a [...]
Manufacturing giant Premier Foods to increase prices due to Brexit vote January 10, 2017 Premier Foods, the supplier of iconic brands such as Mr Kipling cakes and Bisto gravy, is in talks with its major retail customers about lifting prices due to a double whammy of weaker sterling and higher commodity costs. City A.M. can reveal that the listed food manufacturer last month opened discussions with the likes of [...]
Deliveroo riders speed towards legal action for workers rights with the lawyers that won rights for Uber drivers January 9, 2017 Legal eagles at the same law firm that last year won a landmark tribunal against Uber have said they are advising Deliveroo riders on potential legal action over workers rights. Law firm Leigh Day is counselling delivery staff at the food and drink service, which claims its riders are self-employed contractors and therefore not entitled [...]
Tesco to shed 1,000 members of staff from distribution business in streamlining move January 9, 2017 Tesco is set to lay off 1,000 members of staff from its distribution network as part of a wider streamlining programme. The proposed changes will reduce the number of its distribution centres in the UK from 25 to 23 and will result in 1,000 redundancies. However, the move will also create 500 new jobs, leaving a net [...]
Marks and Spencer chairman rejects demand for reversal of company’s benefit cuts January 9, 2017 The chairman of high street stalwart Marks and Spencer has defended the company's decision to cut some of the benefits it offers to employees. Last year M&S staff were asked to sign new contracts ending benefits such as double pay for employees working on Sundays. MPs asked to meet M&S chief executive Steve Rowe to discuss the changes, [...]