Supermarkets grow ahead of shopping malls December 8, 2013 THE AMOUNT of space being added by UK supermarkets has overtaken that being added by shopping centres for the first time, despite some retailers calling an end to the space race as consumers shift to shopping online. The pipeline of grocery developments has grown by 67 per cent, or 19.24m square feet (sq ft) since [...]
Online frenzy drives growth at John Lewis ahead of Christmas December 8, 2013 JOHN Lewis posted a 1.8 per cent rise in sales to £144.5m in the week to 7 December, boosted by another record performance by its online business. Johnlewis.com sales rose 22 per cent compared to the same week last year – a second consecutive week in which the site has taken over a third of [...]
Bottom Line: Despite the convenience boom, UK grocers are still thinking big December 8, 2013 IF YOU need reminding of the grocery sector’s continuing ambition, all you have to do is step outside your office to the nearest supermarket convenience store. These compact ventures have sprung up across city centres, going from 2,000 branches in 1998 to 14,000 and climbing today, a rate of increase that may seem to put [...]
Sir Stuart Rose hits out at UK work culture December 8, 2013 OCADO chair Sir Stuart Rose yesterday hit out at people who complain immigrants are taking too many UK jobs, saying they should stop complaining and accept any work on offer. “I believe that if I was out of work tomorrow morning that I could find a job by tomorrow afternoon and it is up to [...]
Investors set to bankroll firms’ recovery plans December 8, 2013 BRITAIN’S recovery will prompt a surge in firms asking investors for more money to fund growth, Capita Asset Services predicted today. Since the crisis companies have increased the amount of cash they return to investors on the basis that this was a better use of the funds than investing them in a low-growth period. From [...]
Government pledges support on debut small business Saturday December 8, 2013 MINISTERS pledged to support small businesses during small business Saturday this weekend. In the first event of its kind in the UK, David Cameron visited local shops in Buckinghamshire and business secretary Vince Cable unveiled a package of measures to help small businesses thrive as the economy begins to recover. The commitments include a broadband [...]
Governments and regulators divided over EU mobile reforms December 8, 2013 NEGOTIATIONS between European governments and regulators over how to compensate mobile operators for caps on roaming charges are yet to be resolved, City A.M. has learnt. New EU regulations will give consumers the option to change mobile operators when they travel to another country within the region by July 2014, so they can choose the [...]
British business still too weak to fund pensions December 8, 2013 BRITAIN’S biggest businesses are struggling to support their defined benefit (DB) pension schemes despite rising stock markets and renewed confidence in the economy, a study out today reveals. The ability of FTSE 350 companies to fund their DB schemes – a type of pension plan tied to final salary – has failed to rally alongside [...]
UK division of Leica sees slower sales despite new camera launch December 8, 2013 THE UK division of Leica Cameras, the iconic camera brand used by celebrated photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, reported a slowdown in sales last year despite rolling out a new flagship camera. Leica Camera, which is owned by German parent company Leica AG and distributes cameras in the UK, reported a 12 per cent dip in turnover [...]
H&T weighs bid to salvage shops from troubled Albemarle & Bond December 8, 2013 PAWNBROKER H&T has entered the race to take over its troubled rival Albemarle & Bond (A&B) after entering into early stage talks with the company. H&T, which is the biggest pawnbroker on the high street, is mulling plans to buy the stricken business or takeover a number of its outlets. The pawnbroker faces stiff competition [...]
