JD Wetherspoon expects sales to fall once Eat Out to Help Out scheme ends August 24, 2020 Pub chain JD Wetherspoon today said it expects its sales to fall once the government subsidised Eat Out to Help Out scheme finishes. The scheme gives diners 50 per cent off up to £10 a head on meals bought at participating outlets on every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday throughout August. The business owners must then [...]
Exclusive: Consumer goods firm Ultimate Products to repay furlough scheme wages August 24, 2020 Consumer goods firm Ultimate Products will repay all the money that it has claimed through the government’s job retention furlough scheme after outperforming expectations despite the coronavirus pandemic. City A.M. can reveal that the London-listed firm is set to give back the £465,237 it was given to keep staff on over the lockdown period, and [...]
Retailer AO to create 650 new jobs due to ‘sustained’ surge in online shopping August 21, 2020 Online electricals store AO will create 650 new UK jobs as it ramps up growth plans following a sustained surge in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. The firm said it is preparing for “significant growth” after it saw an influx of customers shopping online during the Covid-19 crisis. The new roles will bolster AO’s [...]
Retail bosses square up in £6.5bn bidding war for Asda August 21, 2020 Two veteran UK retail bosses are set to go head-to-head in a dramatic £6.5bn private equity bidding war for supermarket chain Asda. Former Debenhams chief executive Rob Templeman is said to be working with Apollo Global Management, while Paul Mason, who served as Asda boss 20 years ago, has teamed up with Lone Star Funds. [...]
UK retail sales climb above pre-pandemic levels in July August 21, 2020 UK retail sales climbed 3.6 per cent higher in July compared to June, to beat their pre-pandemic levels, official data showed today. The climb came despite a seven per cent fall in online shopping after digital retail comprised a record 33.3 per cent of all retail sales in May. A sharp 11.9 per cent jump [...]
Inside Missguided: Welcome to a world of celebrities, swearing, and knock-off fast fashion August 21, 2020 What is it about Manchester for producing creativity? The Hollies, The Bee Gees, Simply Red, The Verve – I could fill a whole page with the successful bands that have come out of Manchester. Then there’s Manchester-based brands and retailers: the Co-op, Kellogg’s, Warburtons, Betfred, AO.com. And then of course, there’s fashion. The Very Group, [...]
Estee Lauder to cut 2,000 jobs due to coronavirus pandemic August 20, 2020 Beauty brand Estee Lauder is preparing to cut up to 2,000 jobs due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on demand. The firm said it will slash between 1,500 to 2,000 jobs, or about three per cent of its workforce globally. It also said it is planning to close between 10 per cent to [...]
Mothercare finalises franchise agreement to sell products in Boots stores August 20, 2020 Mothercare has finalised a franchise agreement with Boots to allow it to sell products in the high street pharmacy chain’s stores. The retailer, which shuttered all of its UK stores after collapsing into administration last year, will sell Mothercare branded clothing, home and travel products in Boots stores from the Autumn. The franchise agreement, which [...]
UK economy: Footfall at highest level since March but job postings fall August 20, 2020 The number of Britons venturing out to shops and restaurants rose to its highest level since March, with footfall running at two-thirds of the level seen a year ago, new figures have shown. However, the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) said one in ten UK businesses reported they were at “moderate” risk of insolvency, indicating [...]
AO World revenue surges as customers continue online shopping post-lockdown August 20, 2020 Online electrical retailer AO World said today its revenue surged in the months during and after the easing of coronavirus lockdowns as demand for its products and services was sustained even after its rivals reopened stores in July. The company said year-on-year revenue in the UK jumped 58.9 per cent to £401.3m and 91.5 per [...]