Ocado sales surge on new M&S deal amid online shopping shift October 13, 2020 Ocado added thousands of new customers following the launch of its partnership with Marks & Spencer amid a sustained rise in the number of consumers choosing to shop online. In the 12 weeks to 4 October, Ocado increased sales by 41.9 per cent as the ecommerce retailer was buoyed by its new deal with M&S [...]
Leicester factory scandal: Boohoo supplier involved in ‘multi-million-pound’ fraud scheme October 13, 2020 Leicester clothing factories with links to Boohoo and Select Fashion have been involved in a “multi-million pound” money laundering and VAT fraud scandal, an investigation has found. Firms based in the city’s garment manufacturing district, some of which were suppliers to the fast fashion retailers, were revealed to have been involved in fraudulent activity relating [...]
Christmas isn’t cancelled — Santa is accepting buy now, pay later October 13, 2020 One thing’s for sure: we’re going to be tempted to spend more than ever this Christmas, because 2020 has not been a joyful year. Let’s face it, if 2020 were a wine, it would be reduced to being a bin-end, and a pretty poor one at that. But as furlough unwinds, and with a no-deal [...]
Hospitality firms face ‘worst of both worlds’ without more support October 12, 2020 Hospitality firms have warned that pubs and bars in “tier one and two areas” will have “the worst of all worlds” as they will have to keep trading without the financial support available to those businesses forced to close. Today Merseyside was placed under “tier-three” restrictions, which will see pubs and bars shuttered unless they [...]
Consumers satisfied with pub and restaurant safety, sector insists ahead of new restrictions October 12, 2020 Most consumers have been satisfied with safety measures in pubs, bars and restaurants since lockdown lifted, the hospitality sector insisted ahead of new restrictions expected to be announced this evening. A survey of more than 200,000 customers found that 86 per cent were satisfied with precautions put in place and 88 per cent were pleased [...]
Coronavirus: Central London footfall picks up despite threat of tighter restrictions October 12, 2020 Coronavirus: Central London footfall picks up despite threat of tighter restrictions
London retail landlords struggle to collect rent from tenants October 12, 2020 London commercial property landlords are struggling to collect rent from beleaguered retail tenants amid a slump in footfall during the coronavirus pandemic. Great Portland Estates announced this morning that it collected just 21 per cent of the retail, hospitality and leisure rent it was owed in the quarter ended 30 September. However total rent paid [...]
Retail body accuses government on inaction on garment worker abuse October 11, 2020 The trade body for the UK retail sector has said that the government has carried out no “significant action” to protect textile workers from exploitaiton. In a letter to home secretary Priti Patel, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said: “Despite numerous reports in the media, and a previous letter to the home secretary signed by [...]
Marston’s and Carlsberg get green light for £780m brewing JV October 9, 2020 Brewers Marston’s and Carlsberg have been given the go-ahead to complete a £780m joint venture after a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation. Shares in London-listed Marston’s rose 16.7 per cent as markets cheered the decision. The UK’s competition watchdog said that as the two firms had different areas of focus, competition between the two [...]
DEBATE: Should the social distancing restrictions on weddings be dropped? October 9, 2020 Should the social distancing restrictions on weddings be dropped? Mark Henriques, managing director of Cripps & Co and petitioner seeking an injunction against the government measures, says YES. In March, lockdown shattered the plans of the thousands of people set to marry this year. I have watched with dismay as a temporary upset, caused by [...]