Magic touch: Greene King appoints Merlin exec as new boss January 15, 2019 Brewer Greene King said today that Nick Mackenzie would join as new chief executive in May from Madame Tussauds-owner Merlin Entertainments. Mackenzie will replace Rooney Anand in the top job and join Greene King’s board on 1 May. At Merlin he is a member of the executive committee and is responsible for the Midway portfolio [...]
Netflix shares rise as subscribers face an 18 per cent price hike January 15, 2019 Netflix has said it will be raising the prices of its streaming services for US subscribers by as much as 18 per cent, as the tech giant seeks to cover the costs of ploughing heavy investment into its original content. Prices for its most popular standard viewing plan, which allows users to stream content on [...]
UK betting stocks hit after US Justice Department makes online gambling U-turn January 15, 2019 UK betting stocks have fallen sharply after the US justice department performed a U-turn on its opinion of online gambling laws. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has reversed its December 2011 opinion that the 1961 Wire Act, banning certain forms of betting across state borders, only applied to online sports betting. UK firms which have [...]
Christmas sales grow at St Pancras International despite retail gloom January 15, 2019 Commuters choosing to do their Christmas shopping at St Pancras International station grew 6.3 per cent in 2018 compared to the year before, according to figures released by the station's operator today. The rise was driven by growing passenger numbers and strong growth in non-food sales, the company said. St Pancras has welcomed a number of [...]
M&S reveals next 17 stores in firing line for closure as hundreds of jobs face the chop January 15, 2019 Marks & Spencer revealed the identity of the latest stores that are earmarked for closure today, as a swathe of sites face the firing line amid a downturn for the beleaguered retailer. As many as 1,000 people could face losing their jobs as part of the latest stage in the company's turnaround plan that will [...]
Shell’s kitchen: Jamie Oliver launches deli range at petrol stations across the UK January 15, 2019 TV chef Jamie Oliver has defended his partnership with Shell as he prepares to launch a new deli range across the oil giant’s service stations. The restaurateur and UN environmental champion said the deal will help him bring healthier food-to-go to more people, despite criticism from groups such as Greenpeace. Read more: Restaurant profits plummet [...]
Gym Group shares down on increased debt predictions after year of site openings January 15, 2019 Gym Group shares were down five per cent this morning as it announced increased net debt in a trading update, despite growing profits and revenues. The listed fitness chain said it expected year-end debt to be £46m, up 22.6 per cent year-on-year from £37.5m, after the £20.6m acquisition of Easy Gym and investment in 17 [...]
Big Yellow quarterly revenue grows amid ‘aggressive’ expansion plan January 15, 2019 Big Yellow saw its revenues rise in the third quarter as it ploughs ahead with its plan to open a raft of new sites. The self-storage company said revenue for the three months to the end of December was up 7.1 per cent on the same period last year to £31.5m. Its closing occupancy was [...]
Dignity rises as profits beat expectations despite tough year January 15, 2019 Dignity’s problems are not terminal it seems as the company beat market expectations to rake in a £79m profit. The group rose 2.1 per cent as the markets opened this morning, bringing it to 735p, but well below its 1,880p price on this day last year. Read more: Dignity shares slide after regulator proposes funeral competition [...]
Games Workshop enjoys record year as business remains ‘in great shape’ January 15, 2019 Miniature wargaming manufacturer Games Workshop struck a positive tone this morning after posting record sales, despite a slowdown in growth during the half-year to December. The figures Sales in the six months to 2 December 2018 hit £125m, rising from £110m during the same period in the previous year. Meanwhile, operating and pre-tax profits rose from £38.1m [...]