Brute farce: Under Armour scolded by watchdog over shirt strength claim August 19, 2020 Under Armour has been given a ticking off by the advertising watchdog over claims one of its shirts made people stronger. In a promotion for the long-sleeved baselayer shirt, which retails at £55, the sportswear brand said its product had been “tested and proven to improve strength and endurance”. “The way it works is that [...]
Pizza Express to cut up to 1,100 jobs after enforced store closures August 18, 2020 Pizza Express has unveiled plans to close 73 of its restaurants in a move that places 1,100 jobs at risk. The dining chain confirmed on Tuesday that it had finalised a proposal to reduce its restaurant and rental costs via a company voluntary arrangement (CVA). The company, which has around 470 sites throughout the UK, [...]
Angling Direct reels in strong online sales during lockdown August 18, 2020 Angling Direct has capitalised on pent-up demand as it reeled in strong sales as stores reopened, while maintaining a strong online presence during lockdown. The coronavirus restrictions did little to dent demand as sales jumped to £32.1m in the six months to the end of July. The figures Angling Direct reported a 21 per cent [...]
Eat Out to Help Out scheme serves up 35m meals in first two weeks August 18, 2020 More than 35m meals have already been claimed on the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, according to the Treasury. Restaurants, pubs and cafes have so far submitted more than 35m claims to the government for meals that have been discounted under the programme. The scheme gives diners 50 per cent off up to £10 [...]
Purplebricks fined £260,000 for breach of money-laundering rules August 18, 2020 Online estate agency Purplebricks has been fined more than £260,000 by HM Revenue & Customs for violating money-laundering rules. Under UK regulations implemented in 2017, estate agencies are required to ensure customers are not using their business to launder money. The legislation says estate agencies are responsible for carrying out financial checks on their clients [...]
Marks & Spencer to axe 7,000 jobs within three months amid pandemic August 18, 2020 Marks & Spencer is set to slash 7,000 jobs by December in a huge restructuring brought about by the pandemic, it said today. The high street giant, which was struggling prior to coronavirus, will focus the cuts in its central support centre, regional management and UK stores. It comes on top of 950 job cuts [...]
Supermarket visits fall on coronavirus face mask rules August 18, 2020 British shoppers paid fewer visits to supermarkets in the wake of new rules making face masks mandatory, new data has revealed. The number of visits to UK supermarkets was 2m lower than expected in the week after the rule was adopted, according to Kantar. Charlotte Scott, Kantar’s consumer insight director, said the decline showed people [...]
Diageo to acquire Ryan Reynolds’ gin brand through Davos Brands deal August 17, 2020 The world’s largest spirits maker Diageo has announced it will buy Ryan Reynolds’ gin brand Aviation American Gin. The company will buy Aviation American Gin, which is co-owned by the Hollywood star, through the acquisition of Aviation Gin and Davos Brands for up to $610m. It will be funded through existing cash and is expected [...]
Coronavirus: Cineworld in legal battle over unpaid lockdown rent August 17, 2020 Cineworld is said to be facing a legal challenge from one of its landlords after the cinema chain failed to pay rent during the coronavirus lockdown. The London-listed cinema group is understood to be withholding rent from property giant AEW after it was hit by closures due to the Covid-19 crisis. AEW has now filed [...]
Tesco introduces free delivery as it prepares to confront Amazon August 16, 2020 Tesco will introduce free delivery in its latest bid to head off Amazon’s attempt to muscle in on the British grocery market. Tesco boss Dave Lewis today told the Sunday Telegraph that the supermarket will add free delivery to its Clubcard Plus loyalty scheme. It comes after the technology giant announced last month it would [...]