Heatwave drives retail sales but autumn slowdown anticipated as inflation masks falling volumes August 9, 2022 The summer is set to be “the lull before the storm,” with consumers splashing out on heatwave essentials at the tills while inflation masks a drop in volume sales. UK retail sales increased 1.6 per cent on a like-for-like basis from July 2021, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG sales monitor. However, [...]
High street names including Tesco and Greggs call on Tory leadership candidates to slash ‘shop tax’ August 9, 2022 A coalition of retailers including Morrisons, Greggs and Tesco, have called on the Conservative party leader candidates to slash business rates. The Retail Jobs Alliance has called on both Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss to pledge to cut business rates, which it said were “killing our high streets”. The group, consisting of Co-op, Greggs, Kingfisher, [...]
Jupiter Fund Management halves stake in e-commerce retailer THG August 8, 2022 Jupiter Fund Management has halved its stake in the e-commerce retailer THG. In an announcement published on the London Stock Exchange yesterday afternoon, the fund said it had reduced its holding from 8.94 per cent to 4.97 per cent. The fund manages shares in THG for BNP Paribas, Northern Trust and Citigroup. The Manchester-based retailer, [...]
Lion sells beer brands Fourpure and Magic Rock to Odyssey Inns August 8, 2022 Australian beverage giant Lion has sold its UK operations, including craft beer brands Fourpure and Magic Rock to Odyssey Inns. Alongside the beer brands, Odyssey has also snapped up breweries and taprooms in London, Huddersfield and Holmfirth and the Little Creatures craft beer hospitality venue in Kings Cross. Lion, a subsidiary of Japanese drinks conglomerate [...]
WH Smith de-risks pensions scheme via Standard Life insurance policy August 8, 2022 WH Smith on Monday said it had taken out a bulk annuity insurance policy with Standard Life, through which the Phoenix Group subsidiary will cover the costs of the retailer’s £1bn pension scheme. The high-street bookseller’s insurance policy will see Standard Life pay the pensions of the almost 13,000 members of WH Smith’s defined [...]
The Works warns of cost of living impact on Christmas sales August 8, 2022 Stationery chain The Works has slashed its guidance for the 2023 financial year and warned about consumer spending amid the Christmas spending period. The London-listed company, which sells discount books, toys and art supplies, said the general market outlook had “deteriorated” since the start of the calendar year, pointing to “low consumer confidence and rising [...]
UK hotel prices through the roof as demand for rooms soars with daily rates and occupancy skyrocketing August 8, 2022 A surge in demand for hotel rooms across the UK is increasingly pushing up daily rates for rooms. As a result, most hotel businesses see their revenues skyrocketing. Occupancy levels in the UK rose 10 per cent from the first quarter of this year to 80 per cent in the second quarter, BNP Paribas Real [...]
Joules confirms talks with Next about retail giant acquiring £15m minority stake August 8, 2022 Joules has confirmed weekend speculation that Next is set to acquire a minority stake in the lifestyle retailer for around £15m. Sky News reported at the weekend that the high street staple had been in talks with Joules for several weeks over a deal. Now, Joules has confirmed these discussions are taking place, with talks [...]
Apple asks Taiwan suppliers to label products as ‘Made in China’ August 8, 2022 Apple yesterday asked Taiwan-based suppliers to use the ‘made in China’ label, as the firm reportedly wants products to comply with Bejing rule in a bid to avoid disruption from Chinese customs inspections. According to Nikkei, the company wants manufacturers on the island to label components bound for China as made in “Chinese Taipei” or [...]
Workers give Amazon until Wednesday to present improved offer after Tilbury strike August 7, 2022 Workers have given Amazon until Wednesday to present an improved pay offer after staff walked out last week over salaries, City A.M. understands. Around 450 workers at the Tilbury warehouse went on strike on Wednesday night and Thursday after Amazon responded to demands for a pay increase with a 35p per hour raise. Members of [...]