Supermarkets begin stockpiling food in case of no-deal Brexit December 13, 2020 The UK’s largest supermarkets have begun stockpiling food and other products, after being warned about the potential of a no-deal Brexit by the government. Supermarkets and ministers are reportedly worried about the prospect of consumers panic buying before 1 January if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, while food producers are warning of [...]
Authentic Brands in talks over double swoop for Arcadia and Debenhams – report December 13, 2020 US retail giant Authentic Brands is planning an audacious double swoop for collapsed Arcadia and Debenhams in a deal that would transform the high street. The firm, which recently took over historic New York department store Barneys, is in talks with the administrators of the two companies this weekend. The Sunday Telegraph reported that the [...]
Mastercard loses £14bn class action ruling in UK Supreme Court for overcharging 46m Brits December 11, 2020 A £14bn class action against Mastercard for allegedly overcharging more than 46m people in Britain over a 15-year period has been given the go-ahead by the UK Supreme Court this morning. The ruling means the case will now head for a second hearing at the Competition Appeal Tribunal so a decision can be made on [...]
BRC: Businesses face £3bn ‘tariff bombshell’ on no-deal December 11, 2020 The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that supermarkets and their customers face a £3.1bn ‘tariff bombshell’ if the UK leaves the EU without a trade deal. The UK’s transition period will end in three weeks and with talks at an impasse, there is growing concern the UK will be left to trade on World [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group confirms interest in Topshop-owner Arcadia December 10, 2020 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has confirmed it is considering a deal to buy some of Arcadia’s brands, including Topshop, after the Sir Philip Green-owned retail empire collapsed at the end of last month. Chris Wootton, Frasers’ chief financial officer, told the BBC the group “tends to look at almost everything on the high street”, as [...]
Tui boss says no to vaccine passport as travel giant posts multi-billion pound loss December 10, 2020 Tui boss says no to vaccine passport as travel giant posts multi-billion pound loss
The Good Pub Guide names the pub of the year 2021 – so who won? December 10, 2020 It has not been a good year to be a publican, with the burden of coronavirus restrictions largely placed upon the shoulders of bars and restaurants. So if ever the sector ever needed cheering up, it’s now. The Good Pub Guide 2021 has stepped in with its yearly honours list to celebrate the finest drinking [...]
Supermarkets supplying N. Ireland to get three month grace period after transition period December 9, 2020 Supermarkets selling into Northern Ireland will have a grace period to adapt their supply systems to the post-Brexit trading reality, Michael Gove said today. When the Brexit transition period ends at the end of the year, Northern Ireland will remain aligned to the EU’s single market and goods arriving in Northern Ireland will be subject [...]
Asda to close stores on Boxing Day so staff can see family December 9, 2020 Asda will not open its stores on Boxing Day, instead choosing to give thousands of employees the chance to stay home with loved ones. The supermarket said the decision was made in recognition of employees’ efforts as key workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. All 631 of Asda’s stores will close for two days over the [...]
What it’s like to launch a restaurant in a pandemic December 9, 2020 New Indian restaurant Pali Hill’s Avinash Shashidhara tells us what it was like opening a restaurant just as the government announced a national lockdown – not once but twice. I left the River café in 2018 after 10 amazing years and I felt like I was leaving home all over again. I wanted my own [...]