High street gaps filled by independent businesses as chains suffer September 16, 2021 Independent shops are filling gaps on high streets left after the shuttering of chain stores, recording their first rise in numbers in four years. Some 804 locally run convenience stores, barbers, bakers, cafes and fast-food outlets opened in the first half of 2021, according to Local Data Company (LDC) analysts. While local retailers enjoyed new [...]
M&S to close French high street stores after Brexit red-tape September 16, 2021 Marks & Spencer will shut 11 of its French stores because of supply issues with fresh and chilled foods after Brexit. The supermarket said it would close all franchise stores operated with partner SFH in the country by the end of the year. Nine stores at travel hubs would remain open but supply chain problems [...]
Asos outlines plans for lower carbon footprint September 16, 2021 Online fashion retailer Asos has set out plans to minimise its impact on the planet over the next few years. Under its Fashion with Integrity (“FWI”) 2030 programme, the company intends to become a verified net zero emissions business and use more sustainable and recycled materials by 2030. Consumers are increasingly concerned with fast fashion’s [...]
Superdry losses shrink despite subdued high street footfall September 16, 2021 Superdry said store and wholesale revenues were recovering well despite high streets remaining quiet. The fashion retailer reported a pre-tax loss of £37m for the year to April 24, compared with a £167m loss from a year earlier. Revenues fell 21.1 per cent to £556m for the year after a number of lockdowns across key [...]
John Lewis posts £29m pre-tax loss after restructuring costs September 16, 2021 John Lewis has reported a pre-tax loss of £29m for the year’s first half, after restructuring costs. However, the high street giant said its half year results ending July 31 marked a significant improvement on last year’s pre-tax loss of £635m. Profit before exceptional items was £69m, up £124m on the comparable period last year, [...]
Primark debuts targets to slash environmental impact September 15, 2021 Fast fashion chain Primark has pledged to improve its environmental impact with changes to its products and boosting workers’ wages. The retailer said it would use more recyclable materials, make sure clothing lasted longer, and raise wages for workers, all while keeping prices the same for the consumer. This is the first time Primark has [...]
JD Wetherspoon to hike meal prices 50p ahead of VAT increase September 15, 2021 Pub giant JD Wetherspoon has said it will have to increase prices of meals by 50p later this month because of a VAT increase. Prices of meals at the pub group will go up on Wednesday September 29, ahead of VAT rising to 12.5 per cent on Friday October 1. The group will slash the [...]
London house prices increase 2.2 per cent September 15, 2021 London has marked the lowest annual house prices growth across the UK while UK average prices returned to levels seen earlier this year. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that average prices in the capital increased by 2.2 per cent over the year to July 2021, down from 5.1 per cent in June. [...]
Leaseholder victory: Countryside to remove ground rent doubling terms after CMA action September 15, 2021 Developer Countryside Properties has struck out terms meaning ground rents double every 10 to 15 years, after a watchdog’s instruction Leaseholders’ ground rents will stay at the amount charged when they first bought their home, following action by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The Big Four developer has voluntarily given formal commitment to removing [...]
John Lewis to recruit 7,000 Christmas jobs September 15, 2021 John Lewis is recruiting more than 7,000 temporary roles across the UK in the run up to Christmas. The retailer is looking to hire 2,000 more workers than last year to meet increased demand. The hiring spree comes as retail bosses have expressed concern about the long-term impact of ongoing supply chain disruption including labour [...]
