Panic over: Brits made 117m fewer trips to the supermarket this March March 30, 2021 Brits made 117m fewer trips to supermarkets this month than in March 2020, which was a month that saw supermarket shelves stripped bare as consumers started panic buying ahead of the UK’s first national lockdown. Grocery sales fell three per cent in the four weeks to 21 March 2021, while during the same period last [...]
Profit and revenue turn flat at Irn Bru owner AG Barr following rollercoaster year March 30, 2021 AG Barr saw profits and revenue fell in 2020 relative to the previous year, following a volatile and unpredictable year. Revenue at the firm, which owns brands Irn Bru and Rubicon, stood at £227m for its 2021 financial year, down 11 per cent from 2020, where revenue stood at £255.7m. The firm’s profit before [...]
Wetherspoon to invest £145m in new pubs and upgrades March 30, 2021 Wetherspoon is set to invest £145 million opening new pubs and upgrading existing ones, creating 2,000 new jobs, the pub chain announced this morning. The ambitious plans will start within weeks of its pubs reopening fully as the lockdown eases. A total of 18 new pubs will open and “significant extensions and upgrades” will be [...]
Picnic in style with our top restaurant-in-a-box delivery kits March 29, 2021 As the weather turns and outdoor meet-ups for two groups of up to six people are finally allowed, there’s a bit of optimism in the air. What better way to celebrate than with a Covid-friendly, appropriately-distanced, outdoor feast? Our Life&Style editor Steve Dinneen continues to eat his way through as many home delivery boxes as [...]
Central London pubs and restaurants prepare to welcome back punters with new al fresco options March 29, 2021 Pubs and restaurants are gearing up to welcome workers and visitors back to Central London next month, with preparations underway to create more outdoor seating areas. The City of London’s Leadenhall Market today revealed plans for some of its tenants to reopen from 12 April, with others following in May. Meanwhile, in the West End, [...]
Retail footfall jumps ahead of lockdown easing as Brits prepare to socialise March 29, 2021 Retail footfall jumped last week as shoppers prepared to meet friends and family outdoors ahead of the lifting of some lockdown restrictions today. The number of visitors to UK retail destinations was up 6.6 per cent last week compared to the week before, as Brits looked forward to the relaxation of Covid rules, which allows [...]
Domino’s sells Icelandic business for £14m to focus on UK and Ireland March 29, 2021 Domino’s has agreed the sale of its Iceland business in a deal worth £14m as the pizza chain continues to exit its directly-operated overseas operations to focus on its core UK and Ireland business. The fast food firm today announced it has sold the Icelandic division to a consortium of investors including Eyja Fjarfestingafelag, Kristinn [...]
More than 41,000 UK hospitality venues have outdoor space for 12 April reopening March 29, 2021 More than 41,000 pubs, bars and restaurants have some kind of outdoor space which could allow them to reopen on 12 April, according to new figures published this morning. The latest monthly Market Recovery Monitor by CGA and AlixPartners has revealed that just over 38 per cent of licensed premises in the UK say they [...]
Online play drives Ladbrokes owner Entain to profit March 29, 2021 Online gaming was the driving factor behind a profit at gambling company Entain, which owns Ladbrokes, Foxy Bingo and Party Poker. The business saw an operating profit of £530m in 2020, up two per cent on £521m, with some 89 per cent of EBITDA coming from its online presence. EMBITA grew 11 per cent [...]
Sales at Ten Entertainment plummet but leisure business remains resilient March 29, 2021 Sales at Ten Entertainment plummeted in 2020, as coronavirus restrictions left the business only able to operate as normal for a fraction of the year. The leisure company’s total sales for the year ending 27 December 2020 stood at £36.3m, down a considerable 60 per cent from £84.1m in 2019. The group made a loss [...]