McDonald’s pledges to achieve net zero emissions for all UK restaurants by 2030 October 4, 2021 McDonald’s has set out its strategy to help its operations in the UK and Ireland achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040. The fast food chain has pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its global operations by 2050. The chain will aim to achieve net zero emissions for all its restaurants and offices [...]
Issa brothers’ EG Group acquires UK’s second-largest bakery business October 4, 2021 Petrol station forecourt giant EG Group has acquired the country’s second-largest bakery business, Cooplands The Issa brothers’ firm has acquired CS Food Group Holdings Limited, which operates a number of bakeries that produce and distribute fresh food to some 180 stores and cafes. The bakery business mostly operates across the north-east and Yorkshire regions and [...]
French Connection sold to consortium led by second-largest shareholder October 4, 2021 Clothing brand French Connection has been sold to a consortium including its second-largest shareholder in a deal valuing it at £29m. The firm – which operates 150 stores and concessions across the world – has accepted a 30p-per-share offer, after struggling with years of losses. It represented a 30 per cent premium to the share [...]
Pop-up City campsite: High-flying caravan spotted in the skies of St Paul’s October 4, 2021 A high-flying caravan has been spotted in the skies of London by St Paul’s Cathedral. The caravan was being carefully craned onto the roof terrace at One New Change to create a temporary pop-up campsite in the City. It was a PR stunt to highlight the boom in staycations and caravan sales during the Covid [...]
Morrisons’ chairman calls Christmas supply concerns ‘slightly overblown’ October 4, 2021 Morrisons’ chairman has downplayed concerns over the supermarket supply chain this Christmas. Andy Higginson said he was “not worried” about the challenges arising from a shortage of goods drivers and reports forecasting empty shelves this autumn, the BBC reported. The supermarket boss said problems in the supply chain were “well publicised” and “slightly overblown”. “Supply [...]
Aldi hiring for over 1,500 Christmas jobs October 4, 2021 Cut price supermarket Aldi is recruiting for more than 1,500 Christmas jobs this year. The retailer said it would keep all stores shut on Boxing Day to thank colleagues for their work during the pandemic – maintaining a decades-long tradition. Available roles will include those working on checkouts, replenishing stock and fulfilling orders made through [...]
UK hospitality crisis: 75 per cent of pubs and restaurants are hiking pay to attract new staff October 4, 2021 As a worker shortage continues to hamper the sector’s recovery, three quarters of pub and restaurant bosses say they are increasing pay to attract staff. One in six jobs currently lies vacant, and 96 per cent of business leaders were seeing staffing shortages for some roles, according to a survey of 200 senior executives from [...]
UK businesses’ research and development investments climb to record £47bn October 4, 2021 The amount spent by UK businesses on research and development has jumped 15 per cent to £47bn last year, a record high and up from £41bn the year before, according to new data shared with City A.M. this morning. says UHY Hacker Young, the national accountancy group. The figures show that UK businesses also claimed [...]
Cake Box to open 20 new stores as Uber Eats and Deliveroo orders double sales October 4, 2021 Cake Box said this morning that its sales nearly almost doubled for the past six months amid a strong recovery in customer demand. The high street cream cake retailer said it was buoyed by its continued expansion, opening 20 new franchise sites over the six months to September, to bring it to a total of [...]
Shortages saga: A third of UK mid-size firms forced to slim down offerings October 4, 2021 With the UK’s supply chains riddled with labour shortages and continued Covid-19-related hang-ups, a third of mid-size firms have been forced to reduce their offering. More than 34 per cent of businesses already trimmed their product lines and services by mid-September – before the fuel crisis had gripped the nation, according to accountancy firm BDO. [...]