Bloom & Wild boss confident of blossoming growth despite cost of living crunch June 24, 2022 The co-founder of Bloom & Wild chats to CityA.M. about international acquisitions, venturing into physical retail and why, despite a cost of living crunch, demand for flowers is still growing. After launching in 2013, Aron Gelbard and Ben Stanway’s letter-box florist has reaped the rewards of an acceleration towards online amid the pandemic. Last year, [...]
Shares plunge for Naked Wines after bleak sales guidance warning June 23, 2022 Naked Wines’ shares tumbled by around 40 per cent on Thursday after the online wine retailer warned its sales would take a hit this year. The London-listed retailer cautioned its shareholders that sales could plunge by as much as four per cent in the year to the end of March. Naked Wines would “not pursue [...]
Amazon tells government online sales tax would wound small retailers using its platform June 23, 2022 An Amazon manager cautioned the government that a levy on internet heavyweights would cause serious damage to the UK’s small retailers, According to a report by Sky News, John Boumphrey, Amazon’s UK country manager, urged a Treasury minister against an online sales tax (OST) at a meeting with retail chiefs on Wednesday. A one per [...]
Chef and bartender shortages threaten to cost hospitality sector £21bn in lost sales June 23, 2022 A shortage of chefs and bartenders is set to wound the hospitality trade by some £21bn in lost sales. Nearly half of pub and restaurant operators (45 per cent) said they have been forced to slash trading hours or capacity, according to an industry-wide survey. Lost sales will cost an estimated £5bn loss in tax [...]
Entrepreneurship: Fintech Clear Junction named fastest growing founder-led firm in inaugural list June 22, 2022 The founder of the UK’s fastest growing founder-led firm has said the key to success is being “really, really” confident. Global payments solutions provider Clear Junction has topped the inaugural FEBE Growth 100 list, shared with CityA.M. on Wednesday. Backed by former BBC Dragons Jenny Campbell and Sarah Willingham, the Growth 100 ranks firms by [...]
Bewildered: M&S hits out at Gove over public inquiry over iconic Oxford St flagship store redevelopment June 21, 2022 Marks and Spencer has slammed the housing minister’s decision to hold a public inquiry over a redevelopment plan of its Marble Arch store. The supermarket said it was “bewildered and disappointed” that Michael Gove had chosen to call in its plans to bulldoze the Art Deco flagship store on Oxford St. A public inquiry will [...]
Kellogg to split into three firms as cereal maker focuses on snacks June 21, 2022 Cereal maker Kellogg will split into three independent companies and make its snacks division its biggest focus. The Coco-pops maker said it would spin off its North American cereal and plant-based foods businesses. Names for the three companies are yet to be decided upon. Its snack company – which includes brands including Pringles, Cheez-It, and [...]
Boris Johnson spokesperson says ‘no plans’ to change cap on executive pay June 21, 2022 Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson has said there are “no plans” to change a cap on executive pay. On Tuesday morning, the PM’s spokesperson added: “I think the issue being investigated is how non-executive directors are paid, rather than what the CEOs or directors are paid.” Ministers were mulling changes relating to “people being able to [...]
Cost of living crunch: Shoppers exposed to extra £380 on yearly grocery bill June 21, 2022 Shoppers are now facing an additional £380 to their annual grocery bill as grocery price inflation has hit its highest level in 13 years. According to freshly published data from insight firm Kantar, grocery price inflation hit 8.3 per cent over the past four weeks, the highest level since April 2009. It comes as all [...]
Retail chiefs to meet with Treasury amid fears of fading interest in online sales tax June 20, 2022 Top retail bosses will meet with a Treasury minister later this week with the hopes of reigniting government interest in launching an online sales tax and reforming the current rates system. According to a report by Sky News, executives from retail powerhouses including Amazon, Asda, ASOS, Currys and JustEat Takeaway, are to meet with the [...]