Londoners’ anxiety skyrockets 57 per cent due to rising bills, going out less November 1, 2022 Almost sixty per cent of Londoners are increasingly anxious about rising energy bills, with millions eating less healthily and staying in more to save cash. The human impact of the cost of living crisis continues to deepen, with new figures exposing a deep generational dive between young professionals and over-65s. The data, published by Personal [...]
Homeware retailers ‘draw short straw’ in economic crunch as Made.com nears collapse October 31, 2022 Homeware retailers are facing a turbulent 2023 as mounting operational costs and hesitant consumer sentiment piles the pressure on the sector. It comes as Made.com was still teetering on the brink of collapse on Monday after customers have pulled back from spending on pricier items like furniture. Last week, the ailing sofa seller said it [...]
More a third of hospitality businesses fear last orders due to cost crunch October 31, 2022 More than a third of pubs and restaurants are facing last orders by early next year due to the pressures of historically high inflation. Pubs have been hit with soaring energy, food and wage costs, as they seek to rebuild after the Covid-19 pandemic. These mounting costs have resulted in 35 per cent of businesses [...]
Asos eyes cutting 100 jobs as part of turnaround plan for fashion retailer October 31, 2022 Asos is looking to slash 100 jobs as the fashion retailer tries to rebuild after hemograhing losses. The London-listed company confirmed it was launching a consultation on a number of roles across the firm, after it was first reported in RetailWeek. The retailer, which currently employs around 3,300 people, will begin mulling which roles to [...]
Asda completes £611m swoop for Co-op’s petrol business October 31, 2022 Asda has completed a £600m deal to buy the Co-op’s petrol business Asda this morning. The deal includes 129 petrol forecourt sites, spread across the UK and represents five per cent of Co-op’s retail estate of 2,564 stores. Co-op said it would use the proceeds to reinvest in the convenience business and reduce net [...]
First of its kind in UK retail: All 60,000 staff at Co-op to be given paid time off for fertility treatments October 31, 2022 In what is considered a unique new policy by a major UK retailer, all 60,000 employees at supermarket giant Co-op will be able to take paid time off for fertility treatments. Co-op’s chief executive, Shirine Khoury-Haq, said that she has gone through the process of fertility treatment herself and wants to create a supportive environment [...]
Rollercoaster tycoon: Billionaire owner of Camden Market launches amusement park for kids October 29, 2022 The owner of Camden Market has launched a new three-storey 35,000 sq ft amusement park for children, complete with a rollercoaster. Billionaire businessman Teddy Sagi opened the Babylon Park site this week, replicating similar ventures in 20 locations around the world. In June of this year, Sagi put Camden Market up for sale and delisted [...]
Exclusive: Deliveroo injects £2.5m into subsidising cost of eco-friendly packaging for small restaurants October 28, 2022 Deliveroo is pumping £2.5m into subsidising the cost of eco-friendly packaging for its smaller restaurant partners. Restaurant partners will receive a 50 per cent subsidy on the cost of sustainable packaging, the delivery firm told CityA.M. on Friday. The scheme will cover any item that is home-compostable or made from recyclable paper, cardboard, or recycled [...]
Royal Exchange owners Oxford Properties sell City gem to Ardent for around £50m October 28, 2022 The owners of the Royal Exchange have sold the City’s retail gem to an Atlanta-based real estate investment firm. The retail element of the neoclassical site – which is home to luxury brands including Tiffany & Co and Hermès – has been snagged by Ardent UK, a subsidiary of its US owner. While Ardent did [...]
Grafton names Eric Born as new chief October 28, 2022 DIY retailer Grafton has appointed Eric Born as its new chief executive officer, it announced on Friday morning. Born will take on the job on 28 November, succeeding Gavin Shark at the helm of the Woodie’s owner. Born has previously served a five year stint running global aviation services giant Swissport International AG, as well [...]