James Watt: I want to help young entrepreneurs learn from Brewdog mistakes April 3, 2023 Most public figures who have found themselves embroiled in the number of scandals that James Watt, the chief executive of craft beer firm BrewDog, has managed would by now surely have retreated from the public spotlight. However, that is not Watt’s style. The outspoken founder of the Punk IPA brand is once again generating his [...]
Banks, inflation, recession, gold AND Ocado: Five lessons the markets taught us this week March 31, 2023 It’s spring. The days are longer, the sun is shining, and fears about the imminent implosion of the global financial system are fading, for now anyway. Markets appeared to calm down after several weeks of banking-related aftershocks and both the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 were on course to end the week on a positive [...]
Moonpig shrugs off Royal Mail strikes to hold on to post pandemic loyalty March 30, 2023 Moonpig has reported its largest ever week of sales in the UK thanks to consumers scrambling for Mother’s Day cards. The listed retailer, which allows shoppers to personalise cards and gifts, said it now expects annual revenue for the year ending 30 April to remain at £320m, despite previously warning that Royal Mail strikes had [...]
In from the cold: H&M posts rising sales despite retailer putting its spring collection on hold March 30, 2023 H&M sales soared in the first quarter of the year, despite the roll out of its spring collection having been delayed in many markets due to a spell of cold weather. The Swedish fashion brand, which has 194 stores across the UK, said that sales increased 12 per cent to SEK 54,872m (£4.82bn) during the three [...]
What next for Waitrose? Supermarket quits Planet Organic talks after John Lewis fiasco March 29, 2023 Waitrose has pulled out of secret talks to acquire a stake in rival health supermarket Planet Organic. The high-end supermarket, which is part of the John Lewis Partnership, ceased discussions late last week about a possible agreement, according to reports first published in Sky News, Sources told the outlet that the deal would have meant [...]
Grain and a grape: Chapel Down sparkling wine sales fizz as Kent company sloes down gin and vodka focus March 29, 2023 Winemaker Chapel Down has reported a jump in sales and profits with drinkers snaffling up record numbers of it sparkling wine. The Kent-based company said sales of traditional-method sparkling wine – which includes its brut and sparkling bacchus – surged by more than 50 per cent over 2022, as the business took steps to become [...]
Next shares plummet as retailer braces investors for a ‘difficult’ year March 29, 2023 Next share price fell 7.44 per cent this morning as it assured investors that it is prepared for a “difficult” year ahead, as soaring inflation looks set to rattle the high street powerhouse. The FTSE 100 listed retailer said that it was budgeting for full price sales to be down slightly by 1.7 per cent [...]
Boots advantage card helps sales soar as shoppers sign up to bag beauty bargains March 28, 2023 Boots has reported a surge in sales as the high street chemist benefited from savvy shoppers keen to rack up points on its advantage card loyalty scheme. In the three months to 28 February 2023, the retailer’s sales increased 16 per cent as customers shrugged off the cost-of-living crisis to splash out on skincare and [...]
Can online favourite Ocado make a comeback, or will its share price sink lower? March 28, 2023 Ocado’s share price fell nearly six per cent in afternoon trade as the “magic” of the online retailer’s venture with Marks and Spencer did little to buoy the confidence of investors In its start of year trading update Ocado revealed that retail revenue grew slightly by 3.4 per cent, although a 7.5 per cent decrease [...]
Asda owners shrug off £9bn debt pile and size up £8bn Subway take over March 28, 2023 The billionaire owners of supermarket Asdaare reportedly sizing up an £8bn takeover of global sandwich maker Subway. According to reports in The Sun, billionaire’s Mohsin and Zuber Issa are understood to be eyeing up the 44,000 restaurant chain. The pair, who gained their notoriety as the founders of forecourt business EG Group, already have Subway [...]