Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin slashes prices in tax battle with supermarkets September 4, 2023 Tim Martin has warned that the biggest threat to the hospitality industry is the “vast disparity” in tax treatment
Manufacturing downturn ‘deepens’ as production drop among fastest on record September 1, 2023 UK manufacturing hit a steep slump this month, figures revealed, as production dropped by a rate “one of the fastest in survey history”. According to the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) the UK manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) recorded 43.0 in August, down from 45.3 in July. This marked its lowest level since [...]
The Works: Discounter fails to benefit from cost of living crisis as profit slides August 30, 2023 The retailer The Works, which speciailses in knockdown prices, has failed to turn the cost of living crisis to its advantage
Trust in supermarkets at 10-year low like ‘dark days of horsemeat scandal’ August 29, 2023 Trust in supermarkets has plunged to its lowest level in nearly a decade as consumers continue to worry about high prices, despite food inflation showing signs of easing. In August the grocery sector received a trust score of +30 -on a scale of -100 to +100 -from British shoppers, a new study by Which? revealed [...]
Consumer confidence shows ‘renewed optimism’ against falling core inflation August 25, 2023 Consumer confidence is showing “renewed optimism” against a backdrop of falling core inflation, figures suggest. GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index improved five points in August, with all measures reversing the drop seen in July, although it remains firmly in negative territory at minus 25. Confidence in the general economic situation for the next 12 months [...]
Bermondsey craft beer maker Brew By Numbers saved from collapse August 24, 2023 Bermondsey based brewery, Brew by Numbers (BBNo) has been rescued from collapse by investment firm Breal Capital. The craft beer maker fell into administration at the start of the summer but the business which operates out of two sites in Greenwich and Bermondsey continued to operate whilst a sale process took place. The London business [...]
PureGym: “If we build it, they will come” says gym chain riding out cost hikes August 24, 2023 Value fitness club PureGym appears to have muscled its way through the start of the cost of living crisis with revenues spiking almost a fifth. During the quarter it steamed ahead with its expansion plans to open one new site per week, amounting to 20 new sites in the UK. The business, which offers competitive [...]
Cost of living crisis: 63 per cent of Brits now shop at discount grocery stores August 22, 2023 More than half of shoppers now shop at discount grocery stores as Brits continue to seek out bargains amid the cost of living crisis. According to new data released by NIQ, in the last four weeks some 63 per cent of the public shopped at value chains such as Aldi, B&M and Poundland, with over [...]
Wilko: On-the-brink retailer missed out on £40m in sale of flagship depot August 20, 2023 Wilko’s sale of its flagship depot has returned to the spotlight as the deal appears to show how the business allegedly missed out on £40m amid a period when it was desperately trying to shore up cash. Last November, the troubled high street store offloaded its 1.1m sq ft warehouse in Nottinghamshire for £48m to [...]
Rishi Sunak says we’ll feel better off next year – but is the PM right? August 18, 2023 Rishi Sunak has pledged Brits will all feel better off next year, as he said he “passionately believes” he can bring down inflation and ease the cost of living crisis. Speaking to the Times, the prime minister vowed to be disciplined on public spending and tax rates in a bid to revive the UK’s economic [...]