Consumers are going to spend a record amount on supermarket premium ranges this Christmas December 13, 2016 Consumers have been preparing to taste the difference this Christmas as they stock up on supermarkets' premium own label brands. Data from Kantar Worldpanel showed that during the three months to the end of 4 December, shoppers spent 13 per cent more on brands such as Tesco Finest and Asda Extra Special than they did the year before. Read more: These [...]
Japan’s Asahi will buy AB InBev’s eastern European brands for €7.8bn December 13, 2016 Japan's Asahi has just announced it will buy five of Anheuser-Busch InBev's eastern European beer brands for €7.3bn (£6.1bn). The former SABMiller brands include the Czech Pilsner Urquell, Poland's Tyskie and Hungary's Dreier. AB InBev is working to close the deal as part of its efforts to pass competition regulations after its £79bn takeover of SABMiller. Asahi, on [...]
Post Office workers to strike in week before Christmas, although Royal Mail deliveries said to be unaffected December 12, 2016 Workers at the Post Office have announced that they will strike during the run-up to Christmas. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) says that strike action will commence on Monday 19 December and run through to Christmas Eve in 300 branches around the country. They have so far notified the Post Office, which is run separately [...]
London Southend is flying high as business travelers push private jet usage up 25 per cent December 12, 2016 Business travel is taking off this year as London Southend Airport reported private jet usage was up 25 per cent year on year between March and August. Compared to London's other business jet airports, the Stobart-owned business has the advantages of its convenience and special offerings, said the airport's head of business aviation Hannah Lo Bao. London Southend is located 35 miles from central [...]
Christmas and New Year holidays abroad will boost Gatwick’s total passenger numbers by more than 10 per cent December 12, 2016 More Britons are choosing to spend the winter holidays abroad this year than ever before, boosting passenger numbers at Gatwick Airport. With Christmas and New Year both falling on weekends, significantly more people are jetting off for extended holidays compared to the previous year. Gatwick expects more than a 10 per cent boost to its total passenger numbers as a result. [...]
Gin sales are now set to overtake Scottish whisky sales by 2020 December 12, 2016 This year, gin stole the spotlight as Britain's most popular spirit, and now its sales are set to overtake Scotch whisky within the next few years. Back in 2010, gin sales were a measly £774.9m compared to whisky's £1.29bn, according to Euromonitor data. The research firm predicted gin sales will continue to rise well into the future and will exceed [...]
The chipping forecast: Fish and chips could become squid and chips by 2025 due to global warming December 12, 2016 There's no easy way to put this, but Britain’s traditional culinary staple fish and chips is set to take a battering in the next 10 years, becoming squid and chips or even sardine and chips by 2025 due to global warming. Government scientists from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) have found squid [...]
Asos is creating 1,500 new jobs at its Camden headquarters December 12, 2016 Asos has proven online fashion retail is still firmly en vogue – after it said it wants to create another 1,500 jobs at its Camden headquarters, and is taking another 40,000 sq ft to house them. The roles will stretch across disciplines including technology, marketing, content and retail, it said this morning. That means it [...]
DFS chairman to step down having overseen stock exchange return December 12, 2016 The chairman of one Britain's best loved sofa firms will relax and pop his feet on foot stool from next Spring after it was announced he was stepping down. DFS's chair Richard Baker will leave the post next year after six years in the role. Read more: FTSE reshuffle: Travis Perkins, DFS and Countrywide are on [...]
This business scanning women’s feet to make heels that don’t hurt December 12, 2016 Leaving for work in the morning, a City worker will check they have their keys, wallet, and phone. And some of them will also check that they've packed their shoes. Many women in the City bring a second pair of shoes because the ones they wear in the office aren't actually suitable for walking in. It's [...]