De La Rue shares plunge as it scraps dividend and warns of ‘significant doubt’ over future November 26, 2019 De La Rue has bailed on plans for a dividend this year and warned there is “significant doubt” on its ability to continue to operate, sending shares plummeting. “We have concluded there is a material uncertainty that casts significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern,” it said today as it [...]
Meet Blenheim Forge, the blacksmiths supplying quality kitchen knives to London’s top chefs June 10, 2019 TUCKED away in a railway arch beneath Peckham train station lies a workshop. Here, the blacksmiths of Blenheim Forge toil away making kitchen knives. But these are not just any old blades. These are handcrafted Japanese-style knives – and the cheapest model starts at £160. There’s no better endorsement for a product than knowing who [...]
Vita Mojo shakes things up with a £10m series A fundraise, backed by Investec November 28, 2018 Healthy food-focused restaurant chain Vita Mojo has raised £10m in a series A fundraising round led by Investec Bank, as it heads for expansion. The firm said it is now "coming out of stealth mode" to help other businesses with its technology, having already signed up a few major customers such as Virgin Active, Chilango and Wokit. [...]
China is proving a tough market for western brands – here’s the common mistakes that companies keep making April 12, 2019 Last week, the International Monetary Fund upgraded its 2019 growth forecast for the Chinese economy to 6.3 per cent, up from 6.2 per cent. For comparison, the UK economy is only expected to grow 1.2 per cent this year. It’s worth noting these figures, because they highlight why many brands in the UK and elsewhere [...]
After Brexit, will Britain remain a land of opportunity? Apprentice star Mark Wright shares his views on startups and the economy April 9, 2019 Winning a reality TV show isn’t normally considered a recipe for success. The stars of such programmes usually end up plastered across the tabloids, followed by performing in a Christmas pantomime somewhere in rural England. But the BBC’s The Apprentice is an altogether different beast. With the backing of business mogul Lord Alan Sugar, the [...]
London gym chain Frame talks fitness, health, wellbeing, and babies April 29, 2019 Fitness is big business. There are over 7,000 gyms in the UK, and the market is worth almost £5bn, with around one in seven people paying gym membership fees. The sector has swelled thanks to the health and wellbeing trend which has grown in importance over the last decade, but also because of the huge [...]
Chipotle’s sales disappoint analysts despite a rise in revenue January 10, 2017 Chipotle Mexican Grill's preliminary fourth quarter figures show sales are up, but its results will be lower than expected. Sales revenue is anticipated to be $1.035bn (£849.7m), up from $997.5m the previous year, but below analyst estimates of $1.05bn. The US-based Mexican food chain said comparable restaurant sales, or those that have been open for at least [...]
Burrito costs are going up by 20 per cent – here’s why May 16, 2016 The cost of producing a burrito is about to rise 20 per cent after a landmark tribunal hearing between a Mexican takeaway chain Chilango and HMRC. Judge Barbara Mosedale – who has previously ruled that filling in online tax returns was a breach of religious rights in certain cases – agreed with HMRC that burritos were hot food, meaning that [...]
Burrito restaurant Chilango to raise £1m via crowdfunding platform CrowdCube October 26, 2015 Burrito restaurant Chilango has launched a new fundraising round on crowdfunding platform CrowdCube after tapping retail investors for £2m last year. The Mexican food chain said it aims raise £1m from potential investors in return for a 3.26 per cent stake in the business. Shareholders can put as little as £10 compared with last year’s mini-bond, where investors [...]
Uber is gearing up to launch UberEats in 12 more cities across Europe August 21, 2016 Uber is planning an ambitious expansion of its food delivery service UberEats across Europe just two months after it first arrived in London. The billion-dollar startup is already eyeing its second city in the UK and plans to expand beyond its existing patch of central London. Meanwhile it's planning to launch in a further 12 cities in 10 [...]