Amazon-mageddon: Prices set to rise online due to lack of warehouse space December 7, 2016 Rock-bottom prices for online products may end if the UK doesn't build a shedload more warehouses. The rapid expansion of online retailers is expected to lead to a shortage of warehouse space, which would push up rents, and ultimately the price of goods. Read more: MPs pay surprise visit to Sports Direct's Shirebrook warehouse It is [...]
Ikea’s global profit is up 20 per cent for 2016 with growth in China December 7, 2016 Swedish furniture retailer Ikea Group reported global profit rose 20 per cent following its fifth year of sales growth in the UK last month and rapid growth in China. The figures Total sales for the financial year reached €34.2bn (£29.1bn), up 7.1 per cent from last year, and sales grew in 27 out of 28 markets. China was one of [...]
Kew Gardens beats the Tower of London and the London Eye as the city’s top attraction December 7, 2016 Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Big Ben – these might be the first London landmarks tourists want to visit, but expectations were smashed this year as The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew won the top spot as London's best attraction for 2016. More than 23,000 public votes were cast and a panel of industry experts weighed in on top attractions [...]
Are Ryanair’s package holiday deals set for take off? December 7, 2016 Budget airline Ryanair has announced it is going to sell package holidays alongside its flights, placing it in direct competition with tour operators. The company wants to reposition itself – from a business known mainly for cheap flights to a broader leisure offering, all while undercutting its rivals. I have used YouGov profiles data to [...]
Half of us will buy Christmas dinner at discount supermarkets this year December 7, 2016 Nearly half of us are going to buy our Christmas meal from one of the discount supermarkets this year. Aldi and Lidl have steadily being growing their share of the grocery market as shoppers looking for cheaper and cheaper prices. Read more: Iceland Foods wants "peaceful coexistence" with Iceland (the country) But, the discounters have [...]
John Lewis sales bolstered by final Black Friday promotions December 6, 2016 John Lewis' sales over the past week received a boost from the final Black Friday promotions on offer. Sales for the week to 3 December increased 3.9 per cent year-on-year, the department store said, reaching £172.1m. Read more: Nespresso is teaming up with John Lewis to open two new boutiques Year-on-year, fashion and home sales [...]
Unibet, one of the largest gambling companies in the world, is changing its name December 6, 2016 Unibet has taken a gamble today announcing a brand new name for its holding company: Kindred Group. Shareholders approved a decision to change the name of the group in order to unify its brands. Read more: Unibet lays down huge profits in first quarter The name change won't affect the company's 10 consumer-facing brands like Unibet, [...]
Real Good Food’s shares plummeted as exec warns earnings could fall short of estimates December 6, 2016 Real Good Food reported sales growth but experienced losses following trouble with commodity pricing and weak sterling. Executive chairman Pieter Totté said "there is a risk" the company's earnings won't meet market estimates. The figures Total group sales for the Aim-listed ingredients and baking products company grew by 5 per cent to £49m, the company reported in its interim results for [...]
This independent beer brand has just started a war on corporate craft beer wannabes December 6, 2016 HonestBrew has started a row with what they claim are faux craft beer peddlers, claiming global industry leaders "hide behind" craft beer names to "trick" beer lovers into thinking they're supporting local businesses. The craft beer seller said multinational companies like AB InBev, a group they nickname "Blandy", buy out local breweries like Camden Town and retailers like Beer Hawk [...]
Lego’s not playing around: Toymaker appoints first British chief executive in structure shake-up to build for the future December 6, 2016 It's all go at Lego at the moment. The company's just announced that Jorgen Vig Knudstorp is stepping down from his position as chief executive and will be replaced by Bali Padda. Padda, currently chief operations officer at the firm, will be the Danish toymaker's first British chief executive and assumes the role on 1 January 2017, with [...]