Marks & Spencer launches ‘innovation hub’ to expand plant-based food range November 18, 2020 Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced the launch of a “innovation hub” to develop sustainable food products. The retailer announced today that the nine-strong innovation team, which will launch in January, will seek to capitalise on emerging trends, such as veganism and environmental causes, to become “more relevant” to its customers. Research will include soya-alternative [...]
B&M sales benefit from lockdown loophole, but fails to grow customer base November 18, 2020 B&M benefits from being classed as an essential retailer due to stocking food and household goods, meaning stores have been allowed to remain open during lockdowns – an issue that has been widely discussed in the media.
Halfords doubles profit after lockdown cycling boom November 18, 2020 Retailer Halfords more than doubled its profit in the first half of the year after capitalising on the lockdown cycling boom. The FTSE 250 firm, which sells motoring and cycling products, reported pre-tax profit of £56m in the six months to 2 October, up from £25.9m in the same period last year. There has been [...]
Hospitality boss warns 660,000 jobs lost before second lockdown pushed sector into ‘intensive care’ November 17, 2020 Around 660,000 hospitality jobs were lost this year before the second coronavirus lockdown was implemented, the industry trade body told MPs today The pandemic had already wiped out 20 per cent of jobs in the sector, which was previously the third biggest employer in the country, by the end of September, UK Hospitality boss Kate [...]
Hospitality supplier Johnson Service Group axes 1,500 jobs November 17, 2020 Johnson Service Group, a provider of workwear and hotel and restaurant linens, has announced it will shrink its headcount by around 1,500 jobs this year, as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the hospitality sector sweeps through the supply chain. The Cheshire-based firm said its hotel, restaurant and catering (HRC) division had been badly [...]
Asda sales growth slows but grocer forecasts bumper online Christmas November 17, 2020 Asda’s sales growth slowed in the third quarter as lockdown restrictions lifted and hospitality businesses reopened, the supermarket announced this morning as it said customers are already stocking up for a “very different” Christmas this year. The grocer’s like-for-like sales excluding fuel were up 2.7 per cent in the three months ended 30 September, compared [...]
Tesco, M&S and Sainsbury’s face allegations of worker exploitation in India November 17, 2020 UK retailers including Marks & Spencer (M&S), Tesco and Sainsbury’s are facing calls to apologise following allegations of worker exploitation in their supply chains. Supermarket supplier workers in India reportedly said they do not get toilet breaks or sufficient breaks to drink water or eat lunch. One member of staff told the BBC they were [...]
Imperial Brands revenue rises as demand for tobacco picks up November 17, 2020 Imperial Brands reported a rise in annual sales after demand for tobacco picked back up amid the pandemic. The maker of Gauloises and JPS reported revenue for the year to 30 September rose from £31.59bn to £32.56bn. Imperial Brands made a pretax profit of £2.17bn, up from £1.69bn in the previous year, which included £90m [...]
Cineworld shares soar on Moderna coronavirus vaccine breakthrough November 16, 2020 Cineworld’s share price soared this morning following a second coronavirus vaccine breakthrough on hopes that an end to the pandemic could save the struggling entertainment firm. The cinema chain’s stock rose as much as 21 per cent after US biotechnology company Moderna announced that early data suggested that its Covid-19 vaccine is 94.5 per cent [...]
All Bar One and Toby Carvery owner Mitchells & Butlers to close 20 sites November 16, 2020 All Bar One and Toby Carvery owner Mitchells & Butlers will permanently close 20 sites due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The pub and restaurant chain, which also owns Harvester, O’Neills and Miller & Carter, said it had decided not to reopen the sites after assessing expected footfall and business layout. It opened [...]