Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons: Behind the culinary icon Life&Style During my first visit to Le Manoir I could neither speak nor talk. This is not hyperbole about dumbfounded luxury – I was just a baby. But my parents still tell the story of how Raymond Blanc, in full chef’s whites, came to ask them if I had enjoyed the fresh pasta and butter the [...]
Gousto ‘never better’ after cutting losses by over £50m Business Gousto has said it’s never been in better shape after cutting its losses by more than £50m in 2024. The recipe kit provider has reported a pre-tax loss of £20.3m for its latest financial year, having chalked up a loss of £75.6m in 2023. That figure came after Gousto lost £157.5m in 2022 and almost [...]
Morrisons boosts sales amid looming ‘trolley wars’ Retail Supermarket giant Morrisons has posted an increase in sales as it works to offload debt and compete in an ever-tougher sector. Like-for-like sales rose 3.9 per cent in the second quarter of the year, while total sales grew 4.2 per cent to £3.9bn. Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 7.2 per [...]
Flora and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter maker issues huge pay day June 17, 2025 The company behind Flora and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter has issued a huge dividend to the tune of £90m – the first since it was taken over by private equity giant KKR. The US-headquartered group, which acquired Flora Food Group – then called Upfield – from Unilever for more than $8bn in 2017. [...]
Whoppers on choppers: Deliveroo launches first drone-delivery service June 5, 2025 Deliveroo has announced the rollout of a drone-delivery service for takeaways, with early test flights to be carried out in Ireland. Launching in Blanchardstown, Dublin, initial flights will be used to see how effective the drones are in delivering food, with the ultimate aim to expand the service across the UK and Ireland. “We have [...]
Yo! Sushi loses over £20m as costs rise June 2, 2025 Yo! Sushi lost more than £20m in the year its owner was acquired for almost £500m, it has been revealed. The sushi eatery chain has reported a pre-tax loss of £22.6m for the 70 weeks to 31 March, 2024, according to delayed accounts filed with Companies House. The results, which had been due to be [...]
Asda ‘making good progress’ despite sales continuing to fall May 29, 2025 The chairman of Asda has said the supermarket giant is “making good progress” despite its sales continuing to fall. The Leeds-headquartered chain has reported a revenue – excluding fuel – of £5bn for the three months to 31 March, 2025, the first quarter of its financial year. The total is a 5.9 per cent decrease [...]
KFC to create over 7,000 UK jobs and open 500 restaurants in £1.5bn move May 27, 2025 KFC has revealed a £1.5bn plan to create more than 7,000 jobs in the UK and Ireland over the next five years and open a further 500 restaurants by 2035. The fast-food giant said £466m will go towards opening new locations focusing on building flagship sites and drive-thrus in “key locations” such as Ireland and [...]
Seabrook: Crisps brand issues warning over Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes May 22, 2025 The company behind crisps brand Seabrook has warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget tax hikes will have an impact on its bottom line this year. The Cheshire-based UK arm of Japanese giant Calbee pointed to the increase in the National Living Wage and employers’ National Insurance contributions, which came into affect in April, as key [...]
How Steven Bartlett’s first Dragons’ Den investment collapsed May 14, 2025 The full story of how the first company that Steven Bartlett invested in when he joined hit BBC One show Dragons’ Den collapsed and was rescued has been revealed for the first time. City AM reported in March that artisan cheese retailer Cheesegeek had been acquired by Scotland-based Albex Group for what was then described [...]