Aldi launches first click and collect trial September 14, 2020 Aldi has launched its first click and collect trial as the budget supermarket seeks to attract new customers amid rising demand for online shopping. The German discounter is running the trial for Aldi employees from a store in the Midlands and is planning to extend the service to customers in the coming weeks. If the [...]
Retail footfall suffers first decline since April as schools reopen September 14, 2020 Retail footfall suffered the first decline since April last week as schools reopened and families returned from their UK holidays, with the drop exacerbated as people continued to work from home. Footfall across retail destinations fell 6.3 per cent compared to the previous week as schools across the UK reopened and staycations tailed off. The [...]
JD Wetherspoon reveals 66 staff test positive for coronavirus after pubs reopen September 14, 2020 JD Wetherspoon has revealed that 66 employees have tested positive for coronavirus since it reopened its pubs in July but insisted that its venues are safe. The pub chain said many of the cases were mild or asymptomatic, and that 28 members of staff have returned to work after self-isolating. The company, which employs 41,564 [...]
Amazon continues jobs spree with 100,000 additional roles September 14, 2020 Amazon has said it is intending to recruit another 100,000 new jobs in North America this year, marking its fourth hiring effort in 2020 alone. The e-commerce giant has announced plans to hire a total of 208,000 new employees this year, after revealing 33,000 jobs for headquarters roles earlier this month and 175,000 new operations [...]
New Look to warn landlords it could collapse without further rent cuts September 12, 2020 New Look will warn landlords next week that it could go bust if it isn’t granted further rent cuts. The high street brand has almost 500 stores across the UK and employs more than 12,000 people. It is set to propose its second company voluntary arrangement (CVA) within two years after its sales suffered as [...]
Post Office in talks over sale of telecoms division September 11, 2020 The Post Office is said to be in discussions over a sale of its telecoms arm and is mulling a sale of its insurance business as part of a shake-up under its new chief executive. The scandal-hit company has appointed bankers to oversee an auction of its telecoms division, which has half a million customers [...]
Chicken feed: Deliveroo signs restaurant deal with Nando’s September 11, 2020 Chicken lovers will now be able to order Nando’s to their door after the restaurant chain signed a partnership with Deliveroo. The food platform today said it will roll out delivery for Nando’s meals nationwide, with 360 restaurants now taking orders. The peri-peri favourite previously offered its own delivery service, though this was only available [...]
We are on the precipice of a price war, and the losers will be workers September 11, 2020 James Reed argues that nobody stands to gain from a price war in the long run – least of all Britain’s workers. Over 100m meals were claimed on the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme last month, but the end of the measure on 31 August has left businesses in the hospitality sector split [...]
Coppa Club owner Various Eateries circles struggling competitors September 10, 2020 Various Eateries, the owner of restaurant chains Strada and Coppa Club, is planning to raise £25m through an AIM listing as it seeks to buy competitors that have fallen victim to the coronavirus crisis. The firm, which was founded by Hugh Osmond, who led the rapid expansion of Pizza Express, is aiming to expand by [...]
Pure Gym secures £100m cash injection to provide buffer against second lockdown September 10, 2020 Pure Gym has secured a £100m cash injection from shareholders to help it recover from the coronavirus crisis and provide a buffer in the event of a second lockdown. Alongside the equity injection from shareholders Leonard Green Partners, the budget gym operator has also boosted its Revolving Credit Facility by £50m, increasing total liquidity to [...]