Arla Foods to cut jobs despite £90m investment plans February 24, 2025 Arla Foods, the dairy giant behind brands such as Lurpak and Cravendale, is to close one of its UK sites with the loss of up to 128 jobs. However, the co-operative also confirmed plans to invest almost £90m into its Lockerbie site in Scotland. The news comes after City AM reported last week that Arla [...]
Green shoots? UK retail sales beat expectations in January February 21, 2025 Brits returned to the shops in January as discount spending fueled the first monthly rise in retail sales volumes since last August. Retail sales volumes rose 1.7 per cent in January, following a fall of 0.6 per cent in December, according to the ONS. Analysts had expected growth of just 0.3 per cent. This was [...]
Discounting helps retail sales post strong rebound in January February 11, 2025 The survey suggested that price cuts managed to entice consumers to the high street, as in-store sales rose at the fastest pace in nearly two years.
Wingstop and Popeyes serve up major UK expansion plans January 27, 2025 Fast-growing chains Wingstop and Popeyes have each announced major plans to expand further across the UK and create thousands of jobs. Popeyes has outlined proposals to almost double its footprint in the UK with the opening of more than 45 restaurants. The move will increase its presence in the likes of Birmingham, Leeds and Bristol [...]
Food and drink deals spike as big firms look to strengthen positions January 23, 2025 M&A deal volumes in the food and drink sector saw a double digit rise last year, as buyers targeted undervalued companies in a bid to strengthen their positions in the market. Total deal volume rose to 151 deals in 2024, a 29.1 per cent increase from 117 deals in the previous year, while the total [...]
‘Find me unwinding in my jacuzzi’: The life of Planet Organic founder Renee Elliott January 23, 2025 Planet Organic founder Renee Elliott built a health food empire in London. She tells us how she did it and what her life's like now.
Domino’s Pizza gobbles up sales in Central Europe January 16, 2025 Increased hunger for pizza across Poland and Croatia helped sales jump at the owner of Domino’s in both European countries, according to new figures. DP Poland, which runs Domino’s Pizza stores and restaurants across Poland and Croatia, has racked up system sales of £55.4m for 2024 after being able to attract new customers. In Poland, [...]
‘We hope this is not goodbye’: Partridges to close iconic London store after 53 years January 14, 2025 Independent family-run food store Partridges is to close its iconic London location after 53 years. The company is to shutter its fine food store in Duke of York Square, Chelsea, on 2 February. Partridges confirmed that its location in Gloucester Road, Kensington, will continue to trade as usual and that a new store will open [...]
Rising wages hit British strawberry growers January 13, 2025 The British berry growing industry has warned its future is under threat despite its value rising to £2bn for the first time. According to industry body British Berry Growers, rising energy costs and wage increases will continue to create ‘challenging circumstances’ for fruit farmers in 2025. The latest warning comes after the British Berry Growers [...]
Marks and Spencer shares plunge despite bumper results January 9, 2025 Marks and Spencer shares plunged by eight per cent in early deals this morning as investors digested the company’s Christmas trading update. The food and clothing retailer told markets this morning that food sales increased 8.7 in the 13 weeks to December 28, and sales of its new Christmas products grew 14 per cent. This [...]