Consumers feeling cheery ahead of the Christmas shopping season October 21, 2016 Consumer confidence is looking up ahead of the biggest quarter for retailers – the Christmas season. Consumers are shaking off the Brexit blues and feeling more positive about their earnings before Christmas, according to a report from PwC. PwC said 19 per cent of respondents in its consumer survey said they expect to be better off [...]
China’s Alibaba begins its countdown to the world’s biggest shopping day of the year – Singles’ Day October 20, 2016 Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has started the countdown to its shopping festival Singles’ Day, the world’s biggest sales event of the year. The retailer has promised consumers a bonanza of pop stars, fashion shows, and virtual reality to whip them into a spending frenzy. The annual celebration of being single – now in to its [...]
John Lewis opens flagship store in Leeds October 20, 2016 John Lewis has opened a flagship store in Leeds that it says will focus on providing customers with experiences, rather than just goods. The £37m store at the Victoria Gate Development in Leeds has created 550 jobs for the area. Read more: John Lewis warns on job losses due to its commitment to staff pay [...]
MPs vote to strip Sir Philip Green of his knighthood October 20, 2016 MPs have voted to strip Sir Philip Green of his knighthood. MPs have been debating the collapse of BHS in the House of Commons. The amendment to take Green's knighthood was supported by over 110 MPs. The vote is not binding, and the ultimate decision over his knighthood will be taken by the honours forfeiture committee. Read more: [...]
Nestle’s shares fall after missing targets due to softening prices October 20, 2016 Nestle's share price fell by one per cent today after posting weak underlying sales and cutting its outlook for the rest of year. While nine month revenues at the food giant increased by 3.3 per cent, the group downgraded its forecast growth for the rest of the year to 3.5 per cent, having previously advised investors of a 4.2 per cent increase. [...]
Pernod Ricard’s share price is up but warns British booze prices may need to go the same way October 20, 2016 Prices of some of Britain's best-loved spirits may be on the rise in coming months after the boss of spirits giant Pernod Ricard (Pernod) confirmed to investors that it would need to "adjust" prices in order to protect margins after sterling's recent slump. Pernod's finance chief, Gilles Bogaert, revealed the plans to increase prices in the UK after the group posted first [...]
Tesco executives to go on trial in September next year October 20, 2016 Three former Tesco executives have appeared in court today on fraud charges and a trial date has been set for September next year. Former finance director for Tesco UK Carl Rogberg, 49, ex-UK managing director Christopher Bush, 50, and ex-commercial director for food John Scouler, 48, have been charged with one count of fraud by abuse [...]
MPs to get a symbolic vote on whether to strip Sir Philip Green of his knighthood October 20, 2016 MPs will get a symbolic vote today on whether to strip Sir Philip Green of his knighthood. An amendment by Conservative MP Richard Fuller has been accepted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, which means MPs will get a vote, but it will not be binding. The backbencher called for today's debate in parliament on [...]
Sir Philip Green takes fresh swipe at Frank Field on the eve of parliamentary showdown October 19, 2016 First Sir Philip Green published a report from a top lawyer criticising MPs, and now he’s gone one step further by launching a stinging attack on Frank Field in the form of a letter from the retailer. On the eve of the Commons debate on whether Green should be stripped of his knighthood, a letter seen by [...]
BHS administrators submit investigatory report on former BHS directors to Insolvency Service October 19, 2016 Pressure is mounting on Sir Philip Green ahead of a parliamentary debate on BHS' collapse as City A.M. has learned the BHS administrators have submitted an investigatory report on the retailer's former directors to the Insolvency Service. The report from Duff & Phelps on the conduct of former directors will remain confidential unless the Insolvency Service publishes its investigation. Ministers [...]