More than 64m meals claimed under Eat Out to Help Out scheme August 25, 2020 More than 64m discounted meals have been claimed under the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme to encourage diners to visit cafes, pubs and restaurants following the coronavirus lockdown. The jump continues the upward trend, which saw 10.5m meals claimed in the first week that the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme was launched, [...]
Carnival-owned Cunard suspends all cruises until March next year August 25, 2020 Carnival-owned cruise operator Cunard has cancelled all of its sailings until March 2021 at the earliest due to continuing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, the luxury cruise ship line said that it was extending its suspension of all sailings from November this year until the spring, a year after first suspending its [...]
Debenhams launches rates battle to decide future of company August 25, 2020 Beleaguered department store Debenhams has launched a fight against business rates hikes, warning it could be forced to shutter more stores and lay off thousands of workers if it is unsuccessful. The retailer has appealed to a tribunal about a 12 per cent jump in business rates to £1.1m at its Swansea store. Debenhams, which [...]
Retail employment falls at sharpest rate in more than a decade August 25, 2020 Retail employment fell at the fastest rate in more than a decade in the year to August as high street firms cut jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic. Employment in the retail sector fell 45 per cent in August – the sharpest drop since February 2009 – compared to a drop of 20 per cent in [...]
KFC drops Finger Lickin’ Good slogan amid coronavirus pandemic August 25, 2020 Fast food giant KFC has scrapped its “Finger Lickin’ Good” slogan during the coronavirus pandemic. The fried chicken chain will temporarily remove the 64-year-old slogan from its advertising, saying it “doesn’t feel quite right” during the Covid-19 era of hand washing and social distancing. The move comes after KFC pulled a series of adverts featuring customers [...]
Lockdown wishlists and pent-up demand boost furniture retailer DFS August 25, 2020 Months under lockdown had many Brits dreaming up furniture wishlists and room makeovers, and that's now pushing orders higher at sofa retailer DFS.
UK retail sector enjoys ‘significant’ jump in footfall as economy recovers August 24, 2020 The number of visits to UK retail destinations jumped last week as the economy’s recovery picked up steam, new data has shown, with London a particular bright spot. Footfall was up 4.1 per cent in the 16 to 22 August period compared to the previous week, data firm Springboard said today. The rise was “a [...]
Tesco creates 16,000 new permanent roles after online shopping boom August 24, 2020 Tesco will create 16,000 new permanent roles as it grows its online business to keep up with the surge in demand for home deliveries. The supermarket said this morning that most of the roles will be filled by temporary workers taken on during the coronavirus lockdown. The roles will include 10,000 pickers to assemble customer [...]
Travel industry ‘desperately’ calls for help as jobs crisis looms August 24, 2020 The UK travel industry “desperately” needs more government help, with 39,000 jobs already lost or at risk due to the coronavirus pandemic, trade body ABTA has warned. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said that without “tailored support” 83 per cent of firms will be at “critical or serious” risk. Travel has been one [...]
Bouncers to enforce mask-wearing in nightclubs under sector’s reopening proposals August 24, 2020 Bouncers could patrol nightclub dance floors to ensure punters are wearing masks under new proposals drawn up by the industry as it desperately seeks to reopen. The sector has called on the government to provide a date for reopening to prevent the permanent closure of venues and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs. [...]