B&M revenue up on pre-Covid levels as retailer plots more UK stores January 6, 2022 Discount variety goods retailer B&M has posted boosted revenue compared to pre-Covid levels and hiked its earning expectations. The firm said revenue was up 14 per cent compared to pre-pandemic third quarter comparatives, for the 13 weeks from 26 September 2021 to 25 December 2021. In a trading update for the third quarter posted on [...]
New CEO for Greggs as sales slow at its 2,181 stores with inflation and supply chain issues hitting the sector hard January 6, 2022 Greggs has revealed sales continue to rise at its 2,181 stores although bosses said more recent Covid restrictions led to sales growth easing in December. The company also said rising inflation and supply chain issues facing the sector continue to hit but added it enjoyed strong sales of Christmas products, including 6.7m mince pies. Separately, [...]
Sales growth at furniture firm Made hit by Covid-related factory closures in Vietnam January 6, 2022 Furniture retailer Made has said its sales growth was hit after its Vietnamese factories were forced to close during Covid restrictions earlier this year. The online retailer said disruptions resulted in 20 per cent of its most popular furniture ranges being unavailable during its peak autumn trading period. Its key factories have now all opened [...]
Next lifts profit forecast to £822m as shareholders await New Year payday January 6, 2022 Next has told shareholders to expect a special dividend at the end of the month, after lifting its profit guidance for the full year. The high street retailer has raised in profit before tax guidance by £22m, to £822m – up nearly 10 per cent in comparison with pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, investors eye a £205m [...]
Pub bosses implore January teetotallers to not avoid local after dry Christmas January 5, 2022 Hospitality leaders have called on customers to keep visiting the pub this month, after venues lost out on sales this Christmas. Pubs, particularly in city hotspots, faced waves of cancellations this Christmas while office workers were also instructed to work from home under Plan B Covid measures. Now, bosses have urged customers to keep supporting [...]
Pepco CEO to step down this year due to health reasons January 5, 2022 Poundland owner Pepco has announced its chief executive officer Andy Bond will step down later this year due to health reasons. Pepco Group, which owns discount retailer brands including PEPCO, Poundland and Dealz, said Bond will step down at the end of March. He is expected to stay on the board as an advisor until [...]
Boost for Global Britain as UK exporters enjoy £620m surge in post-Brexit trade with South Korea January 5, 2022 A “huge” demand for British products and services in South Korea is boosting UK companies exports to the east Asian country, according to the government. International trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said that British firms saw a £620m surge in exports to South Korea last year, a jump of nine per cent. Trade between the UK [...]
Shoppers opted for premium products this Christmas as grocery inflation hit 3.5 per cent January 5, 2022 Grocery sales hit £11.7bn over the Christmas period, as shoppers were keen to make the most of the festive period after Covid restrictions hampered celebrations last year. Shoppers spent record amounts on supermarkets’ premium own brand products, with £627m spent on pricier items over the four weeks to 26 December. This was an increase of [...]
Desperate travel sector demands all international Covid testing requirements are scrapped immediately January 5, 2022 All testing requirements for international travellers should be abolished immediately, the travel industry said this morning. Manchester Airports Group (MAG) and Airlines UK said research they commissioned into travel restrictions found domestic, not international, restrictions would be the only way to reduce the spread of Omicron. Pre-departure and day two PCR testing were reintroduced in [...]
Four in five Brits see cost of living such as grocery and energy bills rise with many having to dip into savings January 5, 2022 More than four in five (82 per cent) people have seen their living costs such as grocery or energy bills and day-to-day essentials increase in the past few months, a survey has found. As a result, nearly a quarter (23 per cent) have dipped into savings, a fifth (19 per cent) said they have changed [...]