Can vapes save Imperial Brands? April 14, 2026 Twenty years ago, tobacco companies were among the top performers on the London Stock Exchange, driven by consistent cigarette demand and aggressive global expansion. But the attitude towards smoking has since shifted, with the numbers of smokers in the UK dropping off the back of campaigns, the rise of vaping and public health policies. In [...]
High street spending gets ‘much-needed boost’ but cost alert sent to shoppers April 14, 2026 High street spending in March remained robust though travel companies suffered from holidaymakers’ fears about organising a trip to the Middle East, research has suggested. Retail surveys have suggested that high street shops were boosted by shoppers’ Easter hunt for food, computers and toys last month. Research by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) suggested that [...]
Google partners with Opentable with AI that books your dinner April 10, 2026 Google has taken a swipe at the restaurant booking market, rolling out AI in the UK that can line up your next reservation directly from search. The new feature, launched on Friday, lets users describe exactly what they want, with Google’s AI then scanning the web for real-time availability and serving up bookable options in [...]
Dolce & Gabbana co-founder quits and mulls selling stake April 10, 2026 The founder of the leading Italian fashion house, Dolce & Gabbana, has quit the label and is considering flogging his stake altogether. Stefano Gabbana resigned as chairman in December, according to Italian corporate filings. The fashion mogul founded Dolce & Gabbana in 1985 with his then-partner Domenico Dolce, and the pair had remained in charge of its [...]
Easter boosts high street footfall but retailers hold their breath April 10, 2026 Retail footfall jumped in March as Easter boosted shopping activity, but business leaders fear tax and employment costs could yet cause havoc. Total footfall in the UK increased by 2.4 per cent last month, according to trade body the British Retail Consortium (BRC), offering a welcome boost for retailers after wet weather drove shoppers away [...]
John Lewis boss takes 20 per cent pay rise as retailer cuts jobs April 9, 2026 The new chairman of John Lewis took a pay rise and bonus despite the retailer cutting thousands of jobs. Jason Tarry saw his basic pay rate increase by 21 per cent and took a two per cent bonus, despite his firm slashing more than 3,000 jobs last year. Tarry took the reins of the John [...]
Co-op merger to bring huge shakeup to retail and funeral giant April 9, 2026 The Co-op Group is preparing to takeover the Southern Co-op, in a merger which would bring a major shakeup to the retail and funeral giant in its bid to move on from a crushing cyber attack. The deal would see the group snap up around 300 food stores, funeral branches and Starbucks coffee shops. The [...]
Holland & Barrett bets on high street with public health pivot April 9, 2026 Holland & Barrett is mounting a renewed focus on its high street presence, offering free health drop-ins amid growing online misinformation and an “under pressure” NHS. The health foods retailer has faced huge losses in recent years and its new chief executive is battling to raise the profile of its high street stores. Anthony Houghton, [...]
Energy bills threat recedes but retail and hospitality remain on brink April 8, 2026 Retail and hospitality leaders are optimistic that the Iran-US ceasefire could spare them from the worst energy bill shocks, but are urging the government to address an array of other cost pressures. British businesses had warned that the soaring energy prices caused by the war in the Middle East could be devastating if the conflict [...]
Businesses brace for costs as new workers’ rights kick in April 7, 2026 Businesses across Britain are bracing for a sharp hike in costs and hiring struggles as the government’s new workers’ rights laws begin to take effect this week. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), a leading trade body, said the Employment Rights Act risks adding to an onslaught of rising cost pressures facing firms, including wage hikes [...]