UK has the chance to be a leader in safer vice products post-Brexit such as e-cigarettes and synthetic alcohol, Adam Smith Institute argues September 23, 2016 The UK has the opportunity to become a “world leader” in reducing the risks of smoking and drinking by slashing regulation around safer vice products, a new paper has argued. Think tank the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) has recommended the government replaces “self-defeating regulation” on products such as e-cigarettes and hangover-free synthetic alcohol with a system [...]
Amazon rolls out arts and crafts sites across the UK and Europe September 22, 2016 Online retail giant Amazon is expanding its specialist arts and crafts store selling handmade goods to the UK, shortly after bouncing its Echo home assistant over to British shores. The site is also coming to four other European countries – Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. The business, which is already operational in the US, will [...]
Sales at Aim-listed Liverpool FC nutrition supplier Science in Sport rise by almost a quarter in first half September 22, 2016 Sales at Aim-listed fitness nutrition group Science in Sport raced ahead to grow by almost a quarter in the first half of this year. The figures Revenues at the firm, which is the official sports nutrition partner to Liverpool Football Club, increased 24 per cent to £6.48m in the six months to 30 June. E-commerce and third-party [...]
Flour and caster sugar sales at risk as Bake Off’s future crumbles September 22, 2016 Britain is reeling from the news that the iconic Mary Berry has quit Bake Off, and the retail industry is set to suffer some collateral damage. Sales of baking goods such as caster sugar, flour and golden syrup have all been boosted since Bake Off began at the start of this month – sales that could [...]
Burgundy wine price hike more likely as survey estimates yields could fall by more than a quarter September 22, 2016 The likelihood of wines from the Burgundy region of France facing a price hike has increased further after a survey has found yields could dip by up to 27 per cent for some producers. A survey among winegrowers in Burgundy suggested "a dip in yields of 20 to 27 per cent compared to the average", [...]
Majestic Wine share price fails to regain much fizz following profit warning yesterday September 22, 2016 Shares in Majestic Wine have failed to regain their fizz today after the announcement of a profit warning yesterday sent the booze merchant's stock plummeting by nearly a quarter. Majestic's stock failed to make significant gains today, with shares in the wine specialist trading just 1.4 per cent higher this afternoon to 334.72p. At the market [...]
All Bar One owner Mitchells & Butlers’ share price lifts despite drop in full-year sales September 22, 2016 All Bar One owner Mitchells and Butlers has toasted a rise in drinks sales during the summer heatwave, but this hasn't been enough to lift a decline in turnover over the full year. The figures Like-for-like sales in the 51 weeks to 17 September fell by 0.8 per cent, the pub and bar group said today [...]
Start saving: The average cost of a UK wedding has reached a new record high driven by a boom in “mini-moon” breaks and expensive venues September 22, 2016 If you have any weddings left to go to this year you may want to avoid catching the bouquet – unless you have a hefty pile of savings. The average cost of a wedding has reached its highest-ever level, increasing 21 per cent in the last year to a record £25,090, as venue hire and "mini moons" [...]
Slimmed corporate travel budgets have hit London’s hotel sector September 22, 2016 Corporate uncertainty and tight travel budgets took their toll on hotels in the capital during the first half of the year, according to figures from PwC. Occupancy rates are forecast to have declined by 1.8 per cent this year to 81 per cent for London-based hotels and are expected to drop again by 0.8 per cent [...]
Seaside pubs and managed estate give Kent-based group Shepherd Neame something to toast September 21, 2016 Shepherd Neame was raising a toast to its managed pubs and seaside pub sales this morning, as the group posted "record" annual sales and boosted trading at its coastal pubs over the summer. The figures Turnover at the pub group, which is also the UK's oldest brewer, grew by 1.2 per cent to £139.9m in [...]