Nestlé: Nespresso and Kit-Kat maker hikes prices and sweetens sales growth April 25, 2023 Share price in Kit-Kat maker Nestlé were up as the food giant beat profit expectations while hiking the price of its goods. The Swedish packager, which owns brands such as Nespresso, Smarties Nesquik and Maggi stock cubes, reported a sales growth of 5.6 per cent to CHF23.5bn (£21.2bn) in the first leg of the year [...]
Ocado closure of Hatfield fulfilment centre puts 2,300 jobs on the line April 25, 2023 Ocado, the upmarket digital grocery store, will close its oldest fulfilment centre in Hatfield placing 2,300 jobs at risk. The supermarket, which operates as a joint venture with M&S, said that the centre was currently responsible for 20 per cent of Ocado’s 400k order per week, however it is ceasing operations at the site due [...]
Whitbread pockets £2.6bn revenue: Premier Inn owner’s shares soar five per cent despite ‘most challenging’ period April 25, 2023 Whitbread said its earnings returned to pre-pandemic levels with the Premier Inn owner’s bottom line boosted by Brits embracing more leisure and travel. Whitbread, which also owns restaurants Beefeater and Bar+Block, reported revenues of £2.6bn for the year to March 2023, up 54 per cent from £1.7bn the previous year. Whitbread (WTB) shares soared nearly [...]
Grocery inflation dips by just 0.2 per cent as Aldi now has a tenth of the market April 25, 2023 Grocery price inflation dipped slightly in April – but consumers are still paying 17.3 per cent more than this time last year, figures show. Kantar warned that the fall from last month’s 17.5 per cent only meant that prices were not increasing as quickly after 10 months of double-digit growth. As consumers continued to find [...]
Primark owner claims fast fashion still a draw as cost of living crisis boosts sales April 25, 2023 Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) has reported a slight dip in its adjusted operating profit as the retail and grocery giant felt the pain of soaring inflation and a tough economic climate. For the 24 weeks to 4 March, the group’s adjusted operating profit came in three per cent lower at £684m, compared to [...]
LVMH becomes first European company to reach $500bn in market value April 24, 2023 LVMH became the first European company to reach $500bn (£401bn) in market capitalisation on Monday morning as the luxury retailer was strengthened by a renewed demand from Chinese consumers. According to reports published in The Financial Times, shares in the Paris-listed company rose 0.3 per cent against last week’s close to €903.7 (£799) shortly after [...]
60 Uber Eats and Deliveroo drivers arrested amid Home Office ‘crackdown’ on illegal working April 24, 2023 Some 60 fast food delivery drivers have been arrested across London as the Home Office cracks down on alleged illegal working. Gig workers employed through Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat were arrested between 16-21 April following a “week long crackdown” on illegal workers led by the Home Office. Following the arrests, the department said [...]
Only five UK retailers issued profit warnings in first leg of 2023, but experts warn of challenges April 24, 2023 Only five UK retailers raised concerns about their profits in the first leg of 2023. However, the sector has warned that challenges remain for shops and the high street. According to data by accountancy firm EY, the number of profit warnings issued by retailers fell by 44 per cent in quarter one compared to the [...]
Prezzo shuts 46 branches including four in London as 810 jobs put at risk April 24, 2023 Prezzo will shut 46 loss making sites across the UK including three in London and place 810 workers at risk of redundancy, as soaring energy and a hike in food costs rattle the business. The Italian restaurant chain, which is owned by private equity firm Cain International said that the closures will impact sites where [...]
THG shares soar 10 per cent as investors cheer the appointment of BAT’s Farr April 24, 2023 Shares in THG soared 10 per cent after the beleaguered e-commerce platform drafted in a director of British American Tobacco to help take it private. Sue Farr, the senior independent director (SID) of BAT sits on the board of a number of FTSE 100 companies including used car dealership Lookers and real estate company Helical. [...]