Northern Powerhouse: George Osborne confirms plans to lead new partnership on flagship policy September 16, 2016 George Osborne has confirmed plans to lead a new Northern Powerhouse Partnership and has said he will stay in the Commons to "fight for things I care about". At an event in Manchester this morning the former chancellor pledged to preserve and build on the work towards his flagship policy he started while at Number 11. The [...]
Samsung Galaxy Note 7: US authorities launch formal recall of fire-catching and exploding smartphones September 16, 2016 US safety authorities have launched a formal recall of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones after reports that faulty batteries led to fires and explosions in the devices. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said it was recalling the phones "because this product presents such a serious fire hazard" and urged consumers to take advantage of the [...]
Drinks industry body and local companies file lawsuit in bid to halt Philadelphia sugar tax on soft drinks September 15, 2016 A US drinks industry body and small businesses have launched a lawsuit to try to block a soft drinks tax in the US city of Philadelphia. The city council voted in favour of the tax in June, which will introduce a levy of 1.5 cents per ounce to sugar-sweetened soft beverages in January. Proceeds from [...]
Investment bank Nomura has been crowned Britain’s healthiest workplace September 15, 2016 The results of the UK's healthiest workplace award are in – and the sector that the UK's most limbered up company is from might be a surprise to some. Japanese investment bank Nomura has clearly trained well to overcome the sector's reputation for punishing hours and a poor work-life balance, as it has been crowned [...]
Car repair and Ovenclean owner Franchise Brands polishes off double-digit revenues after August IPO September 15, 2016 Recently-listed international group Franchise Brands posted double-digit turnover in its maiden results today. The figures Franchise's two main brands, DIY disrupters Ovenclean and minor car repair service ChipsAway, traded well in the six months to 30 June, with group revenue rising 10 per cent to £2.5m. Profit before tax nudged up 18.3 per cent for [...]
Megabrew: Influential shareholder adviser group Glass Lewis backs £79bn AB InBev takeover of SABMiller September 15, 2016 Global investor advisory group Glass Lewis has backed Anhesuer-Busch InBev's (AB InBev) £79bn takeover of British drinks giant SABMiller. Glass Lewis has urged SABMiller shareholders to vote in favour of the takeover at the company's vote on the deal on 28 September. The group said the cash offer, which has been dismissed by other shareholders [...]
McDonald’s gets final bids for super-size sell-off of restaurants to franchise partners in China and Hong Kong September 15, 2016 McDonald's has received final offers from at least three bidders for more than 2,000 of its restaurants in China and Hong Kong that have been put up for sale to franchise partners in a super-sized sell-off. Private equity outfit Carlyle Group has served up an offer with Chinese state group CITIC, while TPG Capital is working with local [...]
These are the surprisingly unhealthy high street breakfasts from Pret a Manger, Costa Coffee, Starbucks and Eat September 15, 2016 If you didn't have time to eat breakfast at home this morning, chances are you nipped into a Pret a Manger or Starbucks in the way to work for a last-minute snack. But the illusion that high street coffee and food outlets are healthy has been knocked upside the head by new research from health [...]
Big brewer “beerhemoth” companies such as AB InBev and SABMiller are putting the craft beer revival under threat September 15, 2016 In a blow to hipsters and ale aficianados, big brewers' ability to provide significantly cheaper beer is at risk of undercutting Britain's thriving community of local, independent beer producers, the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) has warned. More than 200 new breweries opened in the past year alone, with 1,540 now operating in Britain. However, the [...]
Sharing economy stalwart Zipcar zooms into Belgium with its first free-floating car share service September 14, 2016 US car-sharing network Zipcar zoomed into its seventh European market today and launched its first free-floating service. The free-floating system allows Zipcar members to pick up and drop off one of the company's hired vehicles at any location within a set geographical area, rather than in a specified spot. Its new service is being launched in [...]
