Brits’ growing taste for Guinness – and price hikes – drive Diageo forward August 1, 2023 Rising sales of Guinness in the UK, and global price hikes and premiumisation, drove drinks giant Diageo forward
Domino’s Pizza delivers hot half year results as it opens 29 new stores August 1, 2023 Domino’s Pizza Group has benefited from a bleak winter with UK and Ireland stuffed-crust lovers staying in and ordering cheesy slices, as the chain adds more stores around the country. The pizza delivery company has reported a 19.6 per cent rise in revenue to £332.9m, up from £278.3m in the first half year ended 25 [...]
Greggs: Evening sales and travel hubs send baker’s sales soaring August 1, 2023 Greggs recorded total sales of £844m in its interim results, up from £694m compared to the same period last year.
Food inflation slumps to lowest level this year but experts caution against declaring victory yet August 1, 2023 Food inflation has slipped to its lowest level this year and has fallen for the third month in a row, an encouraging signal that suggests the UK is through the worst of the cost of living crisis, a new survey out today shows. The cost of groceries climbed 13.4 per cent over the year to [...]
Tortilla boss remains ‘quietly confident’ despite investment and Brexit challenges July 31, 2023 The boss of fast-food Mexican chain Tortilla, Richard Morris, has said that soaring costs and a tumultuous two years for restaurants has led the sector to be hit “quite badly” from a lack of investment. Tortilla, which serves lunchtime burritos and salads, floated in 2021 on London’s junior AIM market, as part of a five [...]
Retailers in trouble as 51 per cent of punters cut back on clothes shopping July 31, 2023 Retail and hospitality industries continue to be bruised by the UK’s cost of living crisis as 59 per cent of people have cut their spending on eating out and a further 51 per cent have cut spending on clothing. As Brits continue to watch their pennies amid high inflation, figures from Oxera show that in [...]
Argos ‘well positioned’ to face Amazon challenge amid transformation, says boss July 31, 2023 Argos is “well positioned” to face up to the challenge of Amazon and other online retail giants, according to bosses at parent firm Sainsbury’s. Paula Nickolds, the boss of the grocery giant’s general merchandise business including Argos, said the retail brand has maintained its “strong emotional bond with customers” despite changes to its operations amid shifting consumer habits. It comes as the high street stalwart marks 50 years since it was founded by Richard Thompson [...]
Marlboro boss defends cigarette giant’s diversification into health market July 30, 2023 The boss of cigarette company Philip Morris International, Jacek Olczak, has said he thinks he can “come up with an even better business”, as the Marlboro maker steams ahead with plans to amp up its selling of smoke-free products. “We need to do something. I think we can come up with an even better business,” [...]
Fresh kicks: Fund manger builds stake in ailing Dr Martens July 30, 2023 An activist fund manager has reportedly been building a stake in struggling bootmaker Dr Martens. Sparta Capital has bought stock worth “tens of millions of pounds” in the London-listed footwear brand, according to reports by Sky News. It is said that Sparta is also engaging in talks with the board to help the brand as [...]
Sales of Covid tests have increased by a third in July, says Boots July 29, 2023 Sales of Covid tests have increased by a third this month, while official estimates of the number of people with the virus have also risen. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said its surveillance showed a slight increase in cases and hospital admissions, including those in intensive care, as of July 20. Its records show [...]