Flutter shares jump 14 per cent on £11bn merger with Stars Group to create one of the world’s largest gambling firms October 2, 2019 Flutter Entertainment and Nasdaq- and Toronto-listed Stars Group said today they were merging in a deal that will create one of the world’s largest gambling businesses. Shareholders in Flutter, formerly known as Paddy Power Betfair, will own approximately 54.6 per cent of the new company with Stars shareholders owning approximately 45.3 per cent of the [...]
Asos to appoint Ocado boss to board as it plots leadership shake-up October 1, 2019 Asos is set to announce a raft of new boardroom appointments as it looks to rebuild investor confidence after a series of profit warnings. The online retailer will tomorrow announce several new non-executive directors, including Luke Jensen, the chief executive of Ocado’s tech solutions arm, Sky News reported. Read more: Asos profit warning: Three factors [...]
John Lewis to axe a third of senior managers to save £100m October 1, 2019 The John Lewis Partnership is slashing its senior management layer by one third in a shock £100m bid to cut costs at the struggling retailer. Around 75 senior managers will get the axe from the current total of 225 in head office, John Lewis said. As part of the shake-up, the embattled chain also revealed [...]
Sales growth slows at Greggs as it warns of increased Brexit costs October 1, 2019 Sales growth at bakery chain Greggs slowed in the third quarter as it warned of tough comparatives and increased input costs because of Brexit. Greggs today posted a sales increase of 12.4 per cent for the 13 weeks to 28 September. Read more: Greggs upgrades outlook as sales rise on vegan sausage roll success Like-for-like [...]
Sainsbury’s heir to the throne quits to join media powerhouse WPP October 1, 2019 Sainsbury’s has confirmed the CEO of Argos is quitting the retail space to join advertising giant WPP as its new chief financial officer, sparking speculation that boss Mike Coupe is in for the long haul. John Rogers, widely tipped as Coupe’s long-term successor, will leave the retailer on 31 October after almost 15 years at [...]
FRC watchdog probes EY audit of Thomas Cook accounts October 1, 2019 The UK’s financial watchdog has launched an investigation into EY’s audit of Thomas Cook’s last set of financial results. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has started its probe into EY’s audit of the collapsed tour operator’s financial year ending 30 September 2018. Read more: DEBATE: Is Thomas Cook’s boss right to defend his high pay? [...]
How business rates reform can thwart the retail apocalypse October 1, 2019 When businesses like Thomas Cook fail to adapt, they are smited by new technologies with leaner business models and more efficient practices. This is Joseph Schumpeter’s creative destruction in action. Yet there is something profoundly bleak about boarded-up shops or “clearance sales” posters in the windows of once thriving businesses – particularly as the demise of [...]
Gousto to create 700 jobs as recipe box firm turns to tech October 1, 2019 Recipe box specialist Gousto has revealed plans to create more than 700 jobs in the UK as it doubles down on its technology offering. Read more: Recipe box startup Gousto secures £30m funding The London-headquartered firm said most of the hires will be based in its tech team, with new positions created in data science, [...]
Mobile shopping platform Rezolve secures bumper deal with Samsung September 30, 2019 Mobile shopping platform Rezolve has secured a deal with Samsung to make its technology available on the South Korean firm’s smartphones. The London-based tech startup said its product will be embedded directly into Samsung’s Bixby Vision software and will be available in the US later this year. Read more: Samsung prepares to release new foldable [...]
Jamie Oliver bags £5.2m payday despite restaurant chain collapse September 30, 2019 Jamie Oliver took home £5.2m last year as his business empire suffered a slump in profit following the collapse of his restaurant chain. The chef’s food and media business increased sales to £43.5m in the year to December 2018, but pre-tax profit almost halved to £7.8m. Read more: SSP buys three Jamie Oliver restaurants saving [...]