Bounce and Flight Club owner raises $35m to expand experiential bar estate in US and UK March 14, 2022 The company behind Bounce and Flight Club has announced a growth capital raise of more than $35m to support its expanding portfolio. State of Play Hospitality said the raise was funded by both existing and new investment partners, including US-based Bregal Partners. The company, which specialises in experiential bar concepts, said the fund will be [...]
EU demands billions from UK as ‘Made in China’ row widens: Britain accused of flouting Brexit rules March 14, 2022 The European Union is demanding £2.5bn in compensation from Britain for failing to apply customs rules to Chinese imports. The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that the UK was “negligent” in applying EU customs and import rules between 2011 and 2017, which has led to lost revenues for the EU. The [...]
Microsoft among best firms to work for despite CEO making 410 times average salary March 14, 2022 HP and Microsoft are some of the best Fortune 500 firms to work for, with high average earnings despite eye-watering sums going to those at the top. Chief executives for some of the world’s leading companies earn up to 840 times the average employee according to a new report released this week. Ranked number one [...]
First Gap shop opens in Next’s Oxford St shop in retailer’s return to UK high street March 14, 2022 The first Gap-branded shop within a Next store has opened on Oxford St, after the two firms entered a joint venture franchise. The fashion retailers have joined forces with Next managing Gap’s e-commerce business plus Gap-branded “shop-in-shops” at Next stores. The opening marks Gap’s physical return to the UK high street after the US retailer [...]
Office for National Statistics throws men’s suits out of inflation calculation basket and adds meat-free sausages March 14, 2022 The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has added meat-free sausages, sports bras and anti-bac wipes to the basket of goods its statisticians use to calculate price hikes. In its annual shake up of the basket, the ONS added 19 items to its Consumer Prices Index and threw out 15 items. Products to be added include [...]
Chicken boss warns food prices could rise 15 per cent this year amid war in Ukraine March 14, 2022 A food industry leader has warned prices could rise up to 15 per cent this year as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 2 Sisters CEO Ronald Kers told the BBC’s Today programme it had already been forced to pay 50 per cent more for the chicken it receives from farms. Russia and Ukraine [...]
Radiator firm Stelrad’s revenue up almost 40 per cent, with operating profit more than doubling March 14, 2022 A UK-based producer for steel panel radiators has announced a near 40 per cent increase in revenue for 2021. Stelrad made £272m in the last 12 months with its operating profit more than doubling to £33.2 million in 2021 up from £15.6 million the previous year. The firm, which entered into the London Stock Exchange [...]
Retail and hospitality face growing army of whistleblowers reporting national minimum wage breaches March 14, 2022 The number of whistleblower reports relating to alleged National Minimum Wage breaches in the retail sector saw a 37 per cent jump in the past year, according to new data shared with City A.M. this morning. Figures show that 235 complaints were made in 2020 to 2021, up from 171 in the previous year, 2019 [...]
Fridays owner Hostmore revenue soars in maiden results as CEO warns of ‘challenges raised by Ukraine crisis’ March 14, 2022 Fridays owner Hostmore has reported revenue standing at £159m as the hospitality operator strikes out on its own after a demerger. Hostmore made its debut on the London Stock Exchange last November after it was made a separate entity from Electra Private Equity. Now, in results for the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2022, the [...]
New business growth in London at eight year high amid concern about inflation and input costs March 14, 2022 New business activity in the capital has reached an eight-year high, but optimism remains cautious with rising inflation and pressures on input costs. There has been a resurgence in trade across the London, with growth rising from 57.3 per cent in January to a three month high of 63 per cent, in February. Growth reported [...]