New job: Ocado Retail appoints Hannah Gibson as CEO September 7, 2022 Ocado’s online grocery business has appointed Hannah Gibson as new CEO, as the company hopes to retain consumers amid the cost of living crunch. Gibson will take up her position on 20 September, stepping into the shoes of Melanie Smith, who left in July, Ocado Retail announced on Wednesday morning. She has spent more than [...]
Heineken takes full ownership of London’s Beavertown Brewery September 7, 2022 Heineken has purchased all remaining shares of Beavertown, meaning it now has full ownership of the London brewery. The Dutch brewer snapped up a minority share in the North London craft brewer in 2018. The two firms did not reveal the purchase amount for the remaining shares on Wednesday. Within the latest deal, Beavertown founder [...]
Halfords warns cost pressures could lead to road safety risks September 7, 2022 Halfords share price boomed more than 10 per cent on Wednesday morning, following a trading update. Halfords saw like for like sales dip 1.9 per cent compared to the year before, for the 20-week period to 19 August 2022. Sales last year benefitted from the end of the Covid lockdown in the UK. The motoring [...]
WH Smith high street sales lower than pre-Covid levels after Funky Pigeon hack September 7, 2022 WH Smith has said its high street arm has been impacted by a cyber security issue with its greetings cards business, denting sales. The stationery seller said its high street business was performing in line with expectations. Sales stood at 80 per cent of 2019 revenue for the 26 weeks to 27 August 2022, following [...]
Supermarket shelves could be bare of certain food and drink items during ‘really difficult winter’ September 6, 2022 Supermarket shelves could be left lacking certain food and drink items this winter if smaller companies go bust amid high energy bills, a food industry leader has warned MPs. It will be a “really difficult winter,” Karen Betts, chief executive, Food and Drink Federation (FDF) told MPs at the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee [...]
Gaucho restaurant boss claims steaks would have to cost £100+ to cover rising energy bills September 6, 2022 The hospitality chief behind the Gaucho steak restaurants has said his venues would have had to charge beyond £100 for steaks in order to cover energy costs if they were not fixed. Restaurant bosses have urged the new Prime Minister Liz Truss to issue emergency support for the sector as some venues grapple with bill [...]
Headlam ‘set fair’ for when current headwinds ease up as revenue falls slightly September 6, 2022 Floor coverings distributor Headlam has said it is “set fair” for when current headwinds let up, after posting a slightly subdued revenue in interim results. The London-listed firm posted total revenue of £323.8m, versus £329.9m the previous year, in results for the six months ended 30 June 2022. It recorded a 2.9 per cent decline [...]
Go-Ahead hit by cyber security incident but says rail services ‘operating normally’ September 6, 2022 Go-Ahead has been hit by a cyber security incident after unauthorised activity was detected on its network yesterday, the bus operator revealed. The public transport operator stated there was “no impact on UK or international rail services which are operating normally.” Go-Ahead said it “immediately engaged external forensic specialists” after the hack was discovered and [...]
Deliveroo gears up for Supreme Court challenge over workers’ rights September 5, 2022 A gig economy union is readying to take Deliveroo to the Supreme Court, following its partnership deal with another union. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) said it is set to challenge Deliveroo in the Supreme Court, alleging a denial of collective bargaining rights. In May, the union received criticism from workers after announcing [...]
Asos shares slip after fashion marketplace reminded analysts of lower profit guidance September 5, 2022 Asos saw its share price tumble on Monday, alongside several retailers including Joules and THG. The share slide followed reports that the online fashion marketplace had privately reminded City analysts on subdued guidance for the year ahead, as is a standard pre-close practice. Asos shares were subdued by almost six per cent on Monday afternoon, [...]
