Wagamama owner has ‘little hope for future’ activist shareholder says, urging major strategy overhaul February 16, 2023 Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group has shown “little hope for the future” and is in need of a strategy overhaul, an activist shareholder has urged. Oasis Management, a hedge fund which holds a 6.5 per cent stake in the company, called on the hospitality firm to “re-align its priorities” and take immediate steps to restore [...]
SSP: Upper Crust owner’s UK recovery hampered by rail strikes as commuters stop buying baguettes February 16, 2023 Upper Crust owner SSP has seen the recovery in its UK arm hampered by repeated waves of strike action across railway networks. The company, which runs food outlets at transport sites such as airports and railway stations, revealed the performance of its UK and Ireland business lagged behind other regions globally due to train strike [...]
Dunelm’s profits dip as end of home improvement boom and high inflation eats into margins February 15, 2023 Homewares retailer Dunelm today said its profits have dipped since the pandemic due to soaring inflation and the end of the Covid house improvement boom. The Leicestershire firm said higher prices and slower sales had caused its pre-tax profits to drop by 16.6 per cent to £117.4m. Dunelm’s results come as the amount of [...]
Ads for delivery service Gorillas banned for drugs, sex and alcohol content February 15, 2023 Ads for grocery delivery service Gorillas have been banned for featuring offensive references to drugs, sex and excessive or unhealthy drinking. The TV, video on demand and social media ads, seen in April last year, featured a series of short scenes, starting with a man chopping lemons as the voiceover stated “London loves acid.” Other [...]
Supermarket wars: Waitrose to invest £100m in own brand products as it squares up to discount rivals February 15, 2023 Waitrose is to invest £100m in cutting prices on hundreds of its own-brand products amid intense competition in the sector as consumers battle record inflation. The upmarket grocer is reducing the prices of almost a third of its lowest-priced Essential Waitrose range by an average 14%, while almost a quarter of the cuts, which come [...]
Buy-now pay-later firms braced for clampdown as Treasury looks to grant regulator new powers February 13, 2023 The government said it will give City watchdogs the power to “clamp down” on buy-now pay-later firms this year as it prepares to publish a much-delayed update on the scope of regulation around the sector tomorrow morning. The Treasury will lay out the details of regulation that will include plans to bring firms like Klarna, [...]
Castore eyes $200m fundraising boost as it sets to take on rivals Nike and Adidas February 12, 2023 According to reports in Sky News, the business which has received backing from tennis star Andy Murray, is in talks with bankers to secure a “significant capital injection”.
ASOS announces new interim CFO as fast fashion chain attempts to rebuild after £32m loss February 10, 2023 Online fashion giant ASOS has brought in an experienced new interim CFO with as it continues its post-pandemic overhaul to plug on-going losses. The pandemic darling announced that 75 per cent of its new 12-person decision-making team has been filled, as part of a major turnaround bid called ‘Driving Change’. Its new ‘reinforced leadership and [...]
Deliveroo cuts 350 jobs as cost of living dims British and Irish appetite for takeaways February 9, 2023 Deliveroo has been forced to slash 350 job roles across all levels as it attempts to navigate a difficult economic outlook and a decline in take away sales post pandemic. Will Shu, chief executive of the food delivery app, revealed the news to staff on Thursday – blaming high inflation, recession fears and a decision [...]
Watches of Switzerland revenues tick past £400m as buyers ‘invest in a rational indulgence’ February 9, 2023 Watches of Switzerland has seen its revenues soar in the three months ending 29 January with the group crediting a demand for luxury watches for the sales boost. The UK-based retailer, which stocks Swiss watches such as Rolex and Tag Heuer, brought in revenues of £407m in its third quarter, up 17 per cent from [...]