Luxury furniture firm Smallbone of Devizes teeters on brink of collapse November 26, 2018 High-end furniture manufacturer Canburg, which owns brands such as up-market designer Smallbone of Devizes, is on the edge of bankruptcy as it faces administration. The firm has filed a notice to appoint accountancy firm Grant Thornton as administrator this week, Sky News first reported. Hundreds of jobs could be at risk if proceedings go ahead. [...]
UK pub employment on the rise despite spate of closures November 26, 2018 The number of people employed by pubs in the UK has increased over the last decade, despite a shrinking number of watering holes, new figures have revealed. Research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that while the number of pubs has shrunk from roughly 50,000 in 2008 to 39,000 in 2018, the number of employees [...]
Retail magnate Mike Ashley prepares to give evidence about high street struggles to MPs November 26, 2018 Retail tycoon Mike Ashley is to give evidence about the woes facing the high street in front of a parliamentary committee next week after demanding an audience with MPs. Sports Direct confirmed today that the billionaire businessman is to face Westminster’s Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee for an hour-long session next Monday. The announcement [...]
Piece of cake: Revenue and profits grow after Cake Box’s Aim IPO November 26, 2018 Cake Box boosted revenue by 44 per cent in its first half-year results following its £43m initial public offering (IPO), the company revealed today. The cream cake specialist listed on Aim in June and has since opened 15 new franchise stores, bringing the total to 101, with franchisee turnover up 29 per cent to £14.1m. [...]
Investors on the look-out for sales and dividend ahead of Greene King results November 25, 2018 The City will be looking to see whether Greene King can maintain its dividend this week, with interim results set to reveal whether the pub and brewing giant has been able to carry its bumper summer spell of higher sales into the autumn trading period. Analysts have forecasted that full-year sales will reach £2.17bn in [...]
Investors show mixed appetite for Wagamama takeover as vote draws near November 25, 2018 A shareholder showdown looms over The Restaurant Group’s £559m planned takeover of Wagamama this week, with a number of major investors gearing up to oppose the deal. The Frankie and Benny’s owner could suffer a shareholder rebellion on Wednesday after several top investors signalled their intentions to vote against the proposed acquisition. Columbia Threadneedle Investments – [...]
Black Friday fatigue hinders much-needed boost for Britain’s retailers as year-on-year footfall drops November 25, 2018 Black Friday footfall dipped this year while e-commerce sales soared, in a stark reminder of the perils facing high street retailers under threat from online rivals as the Christmas season approaches. Retailers continued to roll out discounts to the public over the course of the weekend but the latest figures show that footfall this afternoon [...]
Giggling Squid founder Andy Laurillard on provincial dining and the secrets of his chain’s success November 25, 2018 It’s a laugh a minute for Giggling Squid. The Surrey-based restaurant chain is cropping up in more and more affluent market towns and sleepy suburbs across the south of England, looking to entice customers with its unique offering of accessible Thai cuisine in a relaxed environment. Co-founders Andy Laurillard and his wife Pranee opened their [...]
Giggling Squid founder used ‘Range Rover count’ to choose locations for Thai restaurants November 25, 2018 The founder of Thai restaurant chain Giggling Squid counted the number of Range Rovers in suburban towns to decide whether they would be suitable locations for his restaurant. Andy Laurillard told City A.M. he counted how many Range Rovers passed a potential restaurant site during morning rush hour as part of his research into a town’s [...]
Jingle sells: Ice rinks and golden baubles on the wishlist as Christmas decorators report best year yet November 25, 2018 Live reindeer, ice rinks and 22 carat-gold Christmas tree baubles – these are the extravagances on offer as wealthy homeowners increasingly turn to interior designers to decorate their houses this festive season. For a growing number of the rich and famous, gone are the days of struggling to put up the tree with the children. [...]