Real estate veteran announced as new chair of London-focused Workspace February 28, 2023 An industry veteran and former Schroders real estate chief has been unveiled as the chair of flexible office company Workspace. Stephen Hubbard will step down from his position in July after three years in post, with Duncan Owen taking the helm of the flexible working space group. Hubbard joined the real estate investment trust’s board [...]
Ocado blames ‘macro economic and political headwinds’ for a drop in sales and widening losses of £500m February 28, 2023 Online grocer Ocado has reported a 3.8 per cent fall in sales, claiming its business model has been “tested” in 2022. In its results for the full year year, Ocado posted retail revenues of £2.20bn, down from £2.28bn the previous year. The firm also posted a harrowing loss before tax of £501m for 2022 up [...]
Amazon strikes: Coventry workers say they are ready for ‘David and Goliath battle’ against employer over poor pay conditions February 28, 2023 Amazon workers have said that they are ready for a “David and Goliath battle” as they begin their second round of strikes this year over poor pay and working conditions. More than 350 workers at Amazon’s Coventry warehouse will walk out today in anger at a pay rise of 50 pence. Employees at the warehouse [...]
Manchester beats London, as capital’s hotels struggle to return to pre-pandemic occupancy levels February 27, 2023 Manchester has trumped London in hotels occupancy levels for January, as the capital struggles to return to pre-pandemic levels. According to data by STR, a division of CoStar Group, occupancy rates in London were down six per cent in January to 65.1 per cent compared to 71.1 per cent by 6.0 per cent during the [...]
Gravity bags £30m as punters pick experiences over goods February 27, 2023 Gravity, which runs trampoline parks and other active entertainment experiences, across the UK, has secured £30m in funding from investor Sculptor to help grow the business. Gravity, which has 17 sites nationwide, said the funding will help to expend the business, with the group expected to announce a pipeline of new venues in UK cities [...]
Primark owner Associated British Foods ‘dodging most economic bullets’ as outlook improves February 27, 2023 Primark owner Associated British Foods has upped its outlook for the full year after reporting a jump in sales at the budget fashion chain as consumer spending held up better than expected. The group said sales at the retailer, which has 419 stores, are set to rise by 16 per cent at actual exchange rates [...]
Meatless Farm wants to drive down prices to win cash-strapped customers February 27, 2023 Morten Toft Bech, the Dutch founder of plant-based company Meatless Farm, launched his company in an effort to save the planet. “Animal protein is unsustainable,” claims Bech, comparing it to driving an old car full of polluting fuel. The public has been made aware of this argument for years, with numerous documentaries warning about how [...]
Food shortages heap more pressure on struggling restaurants and cafes February 26, 2023 British restaurateurs have said shortages of fruits and vegetables are proving “very problematic” for business amid an already challenging period for the sector. “We’re experiencing mass shortages with the supply of fruit and vegetables. We are struggling to get avocado and berries in particular,” Philip Inzani, founder of Polo 24 Hour Bar, a cafe and [...]
Gousto forced to slash jobs after food delivery service’s ambitious hiring plans fall flat February 24, 2023 Meal kit delivery service Gousto, is understood to have cut its workforce by some 14 per cent as the group’s ambitious hiring plans have taken a hit. According to reports in Sky News, the convenience service made all redundancies at the end of last year and fewer than 100 employees were let go. Earlier this [...]
Retailers demand scrapping of ‘£2bn’ waste strategy policy amid fears it will increase consumer costs February 24, 2023 The UK’s largest retailers are urging the government to scrap its waste strategy policy, or risk forcing prices up for consumers who are already facing a cost of living crisis. A draft letter obtained by Sky News, which it is understood will be sent to government officials next week, outlines industry concerns about the costs [...]