Restaurants toast strong festive sales January 15, 2015 PUB AND restaurant groups had a reason to cheer this Christmas after like-for-like sales surged 2.8 per cent in the six weeks to 3 January compared with last year. London led the charge, with underlying sales up 4.4 per cent, according to the Coffer Peach Business Tracker out yesterday.
World Economic Forum: Digging deeper with the Davos delegates 2015 January 15, 2015 As the value of the Swiss franc shot straight through the snow capped roofs yesterday, many people were holding their heads in their hands – namely, those Davos delegates yet to exchange their pounds ahead of next week’s conference. The think-by-day-party-by-night extravaganza has never been known for its value for money but the huge spike [...]
PwC’s Falafel City man celebrates his chain’s first year this Saturday January 15, 2015 Tomorrow is a most auspicious of occasions for one former PwC bean counter. Having spent five years working in the professional services giant, Mitan Sachdev left to start his own restaurant, Falafel City, with his wife, opening on 17 January 2013. So a year on, how does he feel? “There’s still a long way to [...]
Argos owner warns of Black Friday blues January 15, 2015 THE CHIEF executive of Home Retail Group warned yesterday against the risk of chasing sales over Black Friday week at the expense of profit after the Argos owner reported weaker-than-expected results for the festive period. John Walden said it had decided to take a much more cautious approach to discounting in the run-up to Christmas [...]
Rush to avoid higher stamp duty lifts estate agent Savills’ profits January 15, 2015 ESTATE agent Savills has hiked its profit guidance for 2014 after changes to stamp duty came into effect at the end of last year, sending shares surging 7.3 per cent. Revenue and profit exceeded forecasts in December after a sales boost from the rise in stamp duty for properties priced over £937,000 introduced in chancellor [...]
Great Portland lettings surge after Cartier-owner moves in January 15, 2015 GREAT PORTLAND Estates (GPE) said yesterday it enjoyed a strong spate of lettings in the final three months of the year as offices in the West End continued to be in hot demand. The FTSE 250 property developer signed 20 new lettings totalling 116,300 square feet in the final quarter to 31 December, with a [...]
It’s a tale of two Christmasses for Primark owner Associated January 15, 2015 CHRISTMAS was sweet and sour for Primark owner Associated British Foods, with the discount clothing chain reporting a 15 per cent jump in sales over the festive period. However, ABF forecast a slight decline in full-year profits after reporting a three per cent rise in group revenues for the last quarter at constant currency rates. [...]
More tourists spending more cash in Britain January 15, 2015 THE NUMBER of visitors coming to Britain rose in the third quarter of last year, official figures have showed – and they spent more money than at the same time a year earlier. The number of tourists increased four per cent on the year to 10.2m over the three-month period. Britain’s earnings from the visitors increased 2.5 [...]
H&M dresses up warm as strong winter collection boosts its sales January 15, 2015 Hennes & Mauritz, the world’s second-biggest fashion retailer, yesterday reported higher-than-expected sales growth in December, helped by strong collections and colder weather after an unusually mild autumn in Europe. For Sweden-based H&M, it was the ninth consecutive month that the company, which is also benefiting from a recovering North American economy, achieved sales clearly or [...]
Rexam invests in beverage can maker in Central America January 15, 2015 BRITISH multinational packaging firm Rexam yesterday announced it had, alongside partner firm Envases Universales de Mexico (EUM), completed an investment in Envases Del Istmo (Endelis), a single line beverage can plant in the Panamanian city of Colon. The pair have agreed long-term supply agreements with SAB Miller and Florida Ice & Farm Company, whose affiliates [...]
