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 [...]
MPs demand Sir Philip Green ends BHS black hole December 16, 2016 A top group of MPs has made fresh demands that Sir Philip Green dig deep to plug the gap in BHS’ pension fund as new figures reveal the magnitude of the shortfall. City A.M. can reveal that Duff & Phelps, the administrators salvaging the wreckage of BHS, are set to contribute a maximum of £45.7m in [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]