McBride relies on strong German market as UK performance flags July 7, 2015 PRIVATE label product supplier McBride said yesterday continued strong growth in Germany helped to offset a weaker performance in the UK and other key continental European markets during the year to 30 June. The company said revenues for the 12 months were up by 0.3 per cent compared to last year. Operating profit for the [...]
Lionesses get a roar from big TV audience July 7, 2015 THE FIFA Women’s World Cup, which saw England face heartache against Japan (above) before they beat Germany to finish third, reached 12.6m viewers, more than double the viewers of the Euro 2013 competition. The Lionesses’ semi-final and play-off were both watched by an average of 1.6m viewers.
Watchdog will open new RSA Ireland inquiry July 7, 2015 INSURER RSA is facing an external investigation over financial irregularities in its Irish business, which were uncovered in 2013. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) announced yesterday that it has decided to investigate the conduct of certain individuals at RSA Ireland. An RSA spokesperson said: “This is not an investigation into RSA. The FRC’s remit is [...]
Eagle Eye wins Sainsbury’s vouchers deal July 7, 2015 EAGLE Eye Solutions, a retail and hospitality voucher firm backed by Sir Terry Leahy, saw shares jump 7.3 per cent yesterday after striking a deal with the ex-Tesco boss’s former supermarket rival Sainsbury’s. The company, which floated on Aim last year, will handle all of Sainsbury’s digital offers and vouchers using its so-called AIR platform, [...]
Shop prices fall as retailers woo shoppers with summer offers July 7, 2015 Shop prices fell in June for the 26th consecutive month albeit at a slower rate, as retailers continue to battle to win over shoppers. Prices fell by 1.3 per cent on the year, so said the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen, from the 1.9 per cent drop for May. Food prices fell by 0.4 [...]
Bumper box office takings for Cineworld July 7, 2015 MARVEL’S Avengers, Jurassic World and the erotic drama Fifty Shades of Grey helped boost Cineworld’s revenues by 11 per cent in the UK and Ireland for the first half of the year to 2 July. The chain expects more good news from the Star Wars and James Bond films slated for release soon.
Rebound in the confidence of London firms after General Election July 7, 2015 London business confidence has rebounded after the General Election, new survey figures show. However, large sectors of the national economy are still struggling for momentum. An improvement in economic growth over the next year is expected by 49 per cent of London business leaders, according to a survey from the London Chambers of Commerce and [...]
Economists say UK growth set to bounce back July 7, 2015 THE ECONOMY is set to grow at a quicker rate than at the start of the year, a think tank has said. The economy grew by 0.4 per cent in the first three months of the year, but the National Institute of Economic and Social Research yesterday said it expects it to quicken to 0.6 per [...]
Sepura radios in record revenues July 7, 2015 SEPURA posted record revenues for the latest financial year, in results announced yesterday. Its results for the year ended 27 March showed a 12 per cent increase in takings, up to €131.2m (£93m). The Cambridge-based firm has seen a 20 per cent rise in adjusted operating profit to €15m, despite turmoil in the foreign exchange [...]
BBC launches pocket-sized kids computer July 7, 2015 THE BBC has partnered with major firms like Barclays and ARM to release the Micro:bit. The pocket- sized computer will be given free to 11 and 12 year-olds to encourage creativity in computing from a young age, and build skills.