EasyJet agrees growth deal with Gatwick March 28, 2014 EASYJET has agreed to launch more flights at Gatwick as part of a deal on fees, forcing a reshuffle for other airlines at the airport. The budget carrier has signed a seven-year settlement that “incentivises the airline to grow at the airport”. The agreement means EasyJet will move its flights into the north terminal, in [...]
Summer season brightens sales at Thomas Cook March 28, 2014 HOLIDAY operator Thomas Cook yesterday said it had enjoyed a pick-up in summer bookings in the second quarter of the year but warned that holiday-goers opting to go on shorter breaks had caused average prices to fall. The 173-year-old travel group said that 50 per cent of summer holidays had already been sold – one [...]
Jaeger boosted by further £7.5m investment from Better Capital March 28, 2014 JAEGER, the high end fashion brand and retailer, has received an additional £7.5m investment from its private equity owners Better Capital it announced yesterday. The investment comes two years after Better Capital bought Jaeger out of administration after a difficult autumn and winter in 2011 hurt sales. “We have a clear strategic and creative vision [...]
Crossrail extends to reading March 28, 2014 LONDON’S new east-west railway will run to Reading, the Department for Transport announced yesterday, giving the Berkshire town more direct links to the capital. Crossrail, which opens fully in 2019, was originally intended to terminate at Maidenhead, but will now take in two extra stops in the west.
Laura Ashley prints are back in fashion after retailer cuts prices March 28, 2014 LAURA Ashley says customers fell back in love with its floral patterns in the second half of its year after a tough first half dragged full-year sales down 1.4 per cent to £294.5m. Finance chief Sean Anglim admitted that it may have alienated its core customers by making its clothing too expensive after fashion sales [...]
KPMG to open Mayfair office March 28, 2014 Accountancy group KPMG is poised to take office space in Mayfair, creating a base for clients that find the trip to its Canary Wharf headquarters too arduous. KPMG, which is moving its 6,700 London staff to the Docklands next year, is in exclusive talks for a client hub at 20 Grosvenor Street. The lease on [...]
Hilton delivers beefed up results March 28, 2014 Higher meat prices and currency movements working in its favour helped meat packing firm Hilton Food deliver better than expected sales last year. The company said sales increased by 9.1 per cent in the year to 29 December. A strong performance in Denmark and Holland where it launched new products helped offset weaker sales in [...]
H&M’s online focus hurts profits March 28, 2014 H&M posted lower than expected first quarter profits yesterday after the high street giant invested heavily in growing its online businesses to catch up with its rivals, and due to higher markdowns. The world’s second largest retailer said that pre-tax profits rose eight per cent to 3.5bn Swedish crowns (£325.3m) in the three months to [...]
Daily Mail shares slide as ads disappoint March 28, 2014 DAILY Mail and General Trust (DMGT) – publisher of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday – warned yesterday that its advertising revenue over the last four weeks has fallen seven per cent due to the late Easter hurting advertising. Shares tumbled 7.3 per cent to 893.5p following the announcement as investors reacted to [...]
Compass upbeat on sales despite warning of currency headwinds March 28, 2014 COMPASS, the world’s largest catering giant, has said first-half sales will be four per cent ahead of the last year thanks to contract wins in North America and a recovery at its European business. The company said yesterday it is encouraged by its pipeline of new contracts, and also forecasts an increase in its operating [...]
