French Connection sold to consortium led by second-largest shareholder October 4, 2021 Clothing brand French Connection has been sold to a consortium including its second-largest shareholder in a deal valuing it at £29m. The firm – which operates 150 stores and concessions across the world – has accepted a 30p-per-share offer, after struggling with years of losses. It represented a 30 per cent premium to the share [...]
Morrisons’ chairman calls Christmas supply concerns ‘slightly overblown’ October 4, 2021 Morrisons’ chairman has downplayed concerns over the supermarket supply chain this Christmas. Andy Higginson said he was “not worried” about the challenges arising from a shortage of goods drivers and reports forecasting empty shelves this autumn, the BBC reported. The supermarket boss said problems in the supply chain were “well publicised” and “slightly overblown”. “Supply [...]
Aldi hiring for over 1,500 Christmas jobs October 4, 2021 Cut price supermarket Aldi is recruiting for more than 1,500 Christmas jobs this year. The retailer said it would keep all stores shut on Boxing Day to thank colleagues for their work during the pandemic – maintaining a decades-long tradition. Available roles will include those working on checkouts, replenishing stock and fulfilling orders made through [...]
Buyers seek second homes in London to avoid countryside commutes October 4, 2021 Commuters facing the reality of daily journeys into the city are hunting for London homes with a renewed zest. Home buyers are eager to have their cake and eat it too, with some people having settled in the countryside now looking for second homes in the city. The number of new prospective buyers registering with [...]
Hospitality staff shortages: One in six jobs currently vacant October 4, 2021 One in six hospitality jobs are currently vacant while the government doubles down on not relaxing immigration rules to ease labour shortages. The Prime Minister said on Sunday that he would not “pull the lever” of more immigration in the short-term to stop lorry driver shortages while ministers have ruled out extra visas for restaurants. [...]
Supermarkets bleed sales thanks to food shortages October 3, 2021 The country’s largest supermarkets have lost out on more than £2bn sales this year so far thanks to food shortages. Leading retailers – Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons – lost out on sales during the first nine months of the year, according to data shared with trade magazine The Grocer. The sector has been hit [...]
Prime Minister refuses to back public inquiry into Sarah Everard murder October 3, 2021 The Prime Minister has refused to commit to a public inquiry into the Met police’s failings on the Sarah Everard murder. Johnson told BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show the “first thing that needs to happen” was for the Independent Office of Police Complaints to look into what happened. He dodged calls from women’s campaigners [...]
Government examining green levy lifeline for struggling energy firms October 3, 2021 Energy firms may be permitted to use green surcharges on household bills this winter, against a backdrop of surging gas prices. Ministers are reportedly looking at deferring payments due to regulator Ofgem for Renewable Obligations Certificates, according to The Telegraph. Energy consumers fund the renewable energy initiative through surcharges totalling around £6bn per year. Policymakers [...]
Tesco gears up to announce interim results amid sector’s driver chaos October 3, 2021 Supermarket behemoth Tesco is expected to reveal a big share buyback programme this week, alongside setting out plans to overcome supply chain disruption. Tesco’s buyback scheme will run in parallel to its normal dividend, The Sunday Times reported, with no expected plans for a special dividend. The grocer will post its interim results on Wednesday, [...]
Ministers to crack down on ‘incredibly dangerous’ motorway protests October 3, 2021 Ministers have pledged tougher action on demonstrators who block motorways. Home secretary Priti Patel is expected to outline plans for longer sentences and fresh powers for police to seize demonstrators’ equipment, at the Conservative party conference this week. It comes as the climate group Insulate Britain has blocked the M1, M4 and M25 in protests [...]
