Londoners ‘disgusted’ by fashion industry abuses but lack money to shop ethically August 19, 2021 London consumers feel strong negative emotions about fashion industry exploitation, and that they want the industry cleaned up so they can enjoy shopping without guilt. More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of Brits taking part in a new survey that was shared with City A.M. felt either ‘disgusted’ ‘sad’ or ‘angry’ about the fact that [...]
Fresh landscape: Marshalls financials climb past pre-pandemic levels August 19, 2021 The financials at landscaping products group Marshalls have begun to surpass pre-pandemic levels, after the group watched operating profits collapse amid lockdown last year. Revenue hit £298.1m in the six months to 30 June, inching past the £280.1m it recorded in 2019. The group posted a profit before tax of £38.9m as it again surpassed [...]
Brits abroad: M&S to sell Percy Pigs and other classic products to over 150 countries August 18, 2021 M&S has teamed up with export platform British Corner Shop to sell 800 of its classic food products, including Percy Pig sweets and Luxury Gold Teabags, in an effort to recover its struggling business through online sales. It comes after the British retailer reported a significant annual loss in May, as pandemic store closures weighed [...]
Home office hazards: Shoffices and pizza oven related fires jumped during lockdown August 18, 2021 Insurer Zurich has warned that outbuilding fires – in sheds, garages and conservatories – rose by 16 per cent last year when national lockdowns resulted in a surge in people turning their sheds into offices, or ‘shoffices’. New data revealed through freedom of information requests by insurer Zurich to UK fire authorities have shown that [...]
Franco Manca’s Fulham Shore eyes expansion despite sliding revenue August 17, 2021 Hospitality group Fulham Shore, which owns Franco Manca, has seen its annual revenue nearly sliced in half due to the restrictions on restaurants for most of the year. The group pulled in £40.3m in revenue in the year to 28 March, after it had plunged 41.3 per cent from the £68.6m it raked in last [...]
Godfather of Sudoku: Maki Kaji dies aged 69 after battle with cancer August 17, 2021 Sudoku creator Maki Kaji, whose life’s work was spreading the joy of puzzles, has died aged 69. He had bile duct cancer. Known as the Godfather of Sudoku, Kaji created the puzzle to be easy for children and others who did not want to think too hard. Its name is made up of the Japanese [...]
Ocado sales dip as pre-pandemic habits return, supermarket data finds August 17, 2021 The UK’s return to normality has been accompanied by a return to pre-pandemic shopping habits, with online and overall grocery sales declining. The latest grocery market share figures from Kantar for the period ending 8 August show that grocery sales fell by four per cent. The latest twelve weeks saw the lowest level of online [...]
The City will bounce back: Royal Exchange owners on the future of retail August 17, 2021 Is London over? There are plenty of doom-mongers ready to make that case after the pandemic flipped the world on its head. But for answers, it helps sometimes simply to follow the money. Two new skyscrapers approved recently for the City of London and occupancy increasing at pre-existing buildings like 22 Bishopsgate bode well. And [...]
Cinderella may be sold to an American investor August 16, 2021 Andrew Lloyd Webber has said he will have to sell his musical Cinderella to an American investor if it is not able to open. Last month the world premiere of the new show was postponed until 25 August because of Covid-19 isolation protocols. According to media reports, Lord Lloyd-Webber said the production “can’t go on [...]
Hostelworld revenue dives against restrictions but travellers begin to return August 11, 2021 Online travel agent Hostelworld has had its revenue plummet 76 per cent in the past six months, as the group was significantly bruised by Covid-19 travel restrictions. Net revenue fell from €12m in the first half of last year to just €2.9m this year. Total bookings have also sunk by 73 per cent from a [...]