Let’s go: AO World’s chief executive departs with founder returning to the role January 31, 2019 Electrical retailer AO World said today that its chief executive Steve Caunce is stepping down as chief executive and from the board with immediate effect. He is being replaced by the company’s founder John Roberts who was chief executive until February 2017 when he was replaced by Caunce. The company said that Caunce had “decided to [...]
Alibaba revenue growth slows to weakest pace in three years January 30, 2019 Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba's revenue grew at its slowest pace in three years last quarter, as the ongoing US-China trade spat and a general slowdown in the region weighed heavily on its busiest period. Asia's second most valuable public company published revenue of 117.28bn yuan (£13.4bn) for the three months to 31 December, compared to 83bn yuan a [...]
Amazon’s UK boss Doug Gurr appointed a trustee at the National Gallery January 30, 2019 Prime Minister Theresa May has made the UK country manager of Amazon a trustee of the National Gallery. Doug Gurr, who was also formerly president of Amazon in China, first joined the e-commerce site in 2011. A statement from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said Gurr had previously worked for the UK government, and [...]
Men’s wellness startup Hims lands in the City for its UK launch January 30, 2019 Men’s health startup Hims is making its first international leap across the pond, settling on London’s Liverpool Street for its UK launch. The startup, which specialises in subscription services for wellness products targeted towards men, has partnered with a unnamed national high street pharmacy chain to also support the dispatch of prescription medication. Read more: [...]
The Beatles’ last message from Savile Row is being echoed by today’s bespoke tailors January 30, 2019 Exactly 50 years ago today the Beatles sang together for the final time. On the rooftop of the Apple offices at 3 Savile Row, they set up a surprise live concert that lasted 42 minutes before the police intervened. After one last rendition of “Get Back”, the band called it a day, bowing out of [...]
Heineken completes £2.2m redevelopment of The Gun in Spitalfields January 30, 2019 Heineken has completed the £2.2m redevelopment of historic East End pub The Gun, the company said today. The Gun, which was first opened in 1929, has undergone a radical transformation since closing its doors four years ago. Read more: Fuller's calls time on brewing business as Asahi agrees £250m deal The makeover, carried out with the [...]
Investors demand environment action from KFC, McDonald’s and Domino’s January 29, 2019 A group of investors representing over $6.5 trillion (£4.9bn) in assets has today demanded more transparency and commitments to tackling emissions from fast food chains Domino’s and McDonald’s. An open letter from investors including BMO Global and Aviva has called on the restaurants to publish plans to tackle the environmental risks from their suppliers by [...]
Domino’s Pizza sells one pizza every 12 seconds, but ‘growing pains’ take a slice out of profits January 29, 2019 Domino's Pizza emerged as an unlikely competitor to the traditional turkey, stuffing and pigs in blankets over the festive period, with the chain selling a pizza every 12 seconds in the run-up to Christmas. But despite this, the fast food giant's shares were down nine per cent this morning as it admitted European growing pains [...]
Oddbins owner appoints administrators with hundreds of jobs at risk January 28, 2019 The owner of wine retailer Oddbins is preparing to appoint administrators for the second time in less than a decade. European Food Brokers, which owns subsidiaries Wine Cellar Trading and Whittalls Wine Merchants, said it has filed a notice of intent to appoint Duff & Phelps as administrators to fix an insolvency, Sky News reported tonight. EFB, [...]
A tie-up with Ocado could signal a long overdue step into food delivery for M&S January 28, 2019 If 2018 was the year of profit warnings for retailers, 2019 looks set to be the year of closures. Last week it was the turn of Paperchase to be reportedly mulling a possible sale and store closures, joining the likes of HMV and French Connection in search for a rescue bidder. It is within such [...]