Britannia Hotels tops list of worst UK hotel chains for seventh year October 28, 2019 Britannia Hotels has been named the worst hotel chain in the UK for the seventh year in a row as guests slammed it for poor cleanliness and value for money. Customers gave the hotel chain, which has 61 venues across the UK, one star ratings in almost every category. Read more: Profit dips at Whitbread [...]
Orla Kiely collapse ‘sparked by US expansion’ October 28, 2019 The collapse of fashion brand Orla Kiely was sparked by the retailer’s attempt to expand in the US, according to the latest administrators report. Kiely Rowan, the parent company of the clothes and homeware designer, collapsed into liquidation in September last year. Read more: Orla Kiely shuts up shop A progress update by administrators Quantama [...]
Walgreens Boots Alliance profit hit by cost-cutting charges October 28, 2019 Walgreens Boots Alliance reported plunging profit in the fourth quarter as the owner of UK high street giant Boots took a hit from cost-cutting charges. Profit in the fourth-quarter plunged 55 per cent to $677m, compared to the same quarter in the previous year as the group closed stores. Read more: Big boots to fill: [...]
Retail stockpiling soars on Brexit uncertainty October 28, 2019 Retail stock levels in relation to expected sales soared to record levels this month as high street stores prepared for the crucial Christmas trading period and potential Brexit related disruption. The spike in stock adequacy, which reached the highest level since records began in 1983, came as retail sales declined for the six consecutive month. [...]
LVMH confirms Tiffany approach in largest bid in company’s history October 28, 2019 The French multinational behind brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Moët & Chandon today confirmed it had approached Tiffany & Co about a possible takeover of the U.S. jeweller. In a statement, LVMH, which is the world’s largest luxury goods group, said: “In light of recent market rumours, LVMH Group confirms it has held [...]
Online retail acquisitions rise with high streets in decline October 28, 2019 The number of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) among online retailers rose markedly in 2019, new analysis has shown, as companies faced shareholder pressure to boost their web-based sales. Read more: Major UK retailers suffer plunging profit margins The number of M&A deals among UK online retailers rose to 12 in the year to June, City-based [...]
Wealthy UK cities showing resilience to retail downturn October 28, 2019 A group of wealthy cities such as London and Cambridge are faring relatively well during the UK retail sector’s downturn while shops in poorer and more rural areas suffer, a new report has said. Read more: Retailers brace for tough Christmas as confidence slumps Shopping parks have also shown resilience as the bricks-and-mortar retail sector [...]
Mike Ashley urges MPs to look into Debenhams collapse October 27, 2019 Mike Ashley has redoubled his efforts to have the collapse of Debenhams investigated and lambasted MPs for not being more interested in the failure of the high-street department store. Read more: Mike Ashley kicks off £4m takeover for Goals Soccer Centres In a letter to business select committee chair MP Rachel Reeves, seen by the [...]
Just Eat gatecrasher vows to take on Deliveroo with major cash boost October 27, 2019 The South African firm hoping to derail Just Eat’s merger with rival Takeaway.com is planning to invest hundreds of millions of pounds into the delivery firm in a bid to take on Deliveroo. Prosus, the Dutch division of tech conglomerate Naspers, last week tabled an audacious £4.9bn takeover bid for Just Eat, sparking a furious [...]
Asda rejects request to remove sack threat for thousands over compulsory contracts October 26, 2019 Asda has rejected a last-minute request from trade unions to remove the threat of dismal for thousands of staff if they fail to sign a compulsory contract by the end of next week. The GMB union has predicted that up to 12,000 of the more than 100,000 employee affected could lose their jobs because they [...]