Shop price inflation highest in a decade as Brits feel cost of living squeeze February 2, 2022 Retail inflation has soared in the past month, with Brits eyeing discount retailers for cheaper prices as the country faces a cost of living squeeze. Shop price annual inflation surged to 1.5 per cent in January, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen IQ shop price index. This was up from 0.8 per [...]
Westminster Council: West End to receive millions in recovery support fund February 1, 2022 Westminster Council is to inject millions of pounds into reviving the borough’s hospitality industry. Within a £190m investment to support the area, the council has announced a dedicated £1m to recruit waiters, baristas and bar staff, it said yesterday. Some £150m is to be used to redesign the Oxford Street district and make Strand Aldwych [...]
UK reaches new agreement with CO2 industry to ensure continued supplies February 1, 2022 The carbon dioxide industry has reached an agreement to ensure UK businesses have continued access to sustainable supplies.
Pret sandwich sales in the Square Mile surge as City workers return to desks February 1, 2022 Two in three City workers were back at their desks last week, as Pret A Manger coffee and sandwich sales edge closer to pre-pandemic levels. According to the latest data from Bloomberg’s Pret Index, the coffee chain’s sales transactions hit 68 per cent of pre-Covid levels in the City and Canary Wharf. This marks the [...]
Mobile operator Three UK hikes staff wages considerably as it continues recruitment drive February 1, 2022 Mobile phone operator Three UK is planning to hike staff wages up to 12.6 per cent, as the country faces soaring prices for utilities and groceries. Some 2,500 retail staff will receive new minimum hourly rates set at £10.13 nationwide and £11.40 in London, excluding bonuses, the internet service provider said The pay hikes exceed [...]
Tesco to axe 1,600 jobs in fresh restructuring plans as union enters consultation talks February 1, 2022 Around 1,600 roles could be axed by Tesco as the supermarket has announced further cuts. The supermarket is planning to restructure its night stock replenishing operations, as well as the closure of some in-store counter services and the Jack’s store format. Tesco said it was moving overnight re-stocking to the daytime in 36 large stores [...]
Households face extra £180 a year on average grocery bill February 1, 2022 Households are facing an extra £180 to their annual grocery bill after inflation has seen prices surge in recent months. The latest four-week grocery price inflation stands at 3.8 per cent, a 0.3 percentage point rise from December, according to the latest market data from Kantar. Take-home supermarket sales dropped 3.8 per cent over the [...]
Builders warn of ‘wasted opportunity’ with government brownfield funding January 31, 2022 Builders have warned that government plans to fund brownfield projects run the risk of being “more grandstanding and another wasted opportunity”. Under the government’s Levelling Up agenda, derelict sites in towns and city centres are to be used for new homes. Some 20 areas, including Wolverhampton and Sheffield, will be prioritised within a new £1.5bn [...]
Lucozade targets tired office workers as new Alert energy drink hits the shelves January 31, 2022 Lucozade is focusing on products that will perk up tired workers, the beverage maker’s COO for Great Britain and Ireland told CityA.M. While the brand’s flagship Lucozade products have long been staples for sport fans and gym goers, a new product Lucozade alert is targeting those in need of a mental boost. During the pandemic, [...]
Workspace giant IWG expands global presence as hybrid working momentum continues January 31, 2022 Flexible workspace provider IWG more than doubled the number of new franchise location commitments around the world in 2021. IWG made a total of 150 new centre commitments, compared to 67 commitments in the previous year. It comes as there has been a trend towards hybrid working models, with workers looking for different spaces to [...]