Lockdown restrictions drive profit dip at Telecom Plus June 18, 2021 Telecom Plus reported an annual fall in revenue and profit this morning, as lockdown activity delayed the company’s ability to trade at pre-Covid levels. The company, which trades as Utility Warehouse and provides mobile, gas, electricity, landline and broadband services, saw revenue of £861.2m, down from £875.8m the year before. Its profit before tax for [...]
Kerry Group to sell Richmond manufacturing business to Pilgrim’s Pride for €819m June 18, 2021 Kerry Group has agreed to sell its Meats and Meals business in the UK and Ireland, which manufacturers Richmond sausages and Fridge Raiders, to American corporate Pilgrim’s Pride for €819m. The Meat and Meals side of Kerry Group’s business manufactures meat snacks, food-to-go and meat-free products. In its last financial year, the business made a [...]
Meat industry cuts production amid Brexit-driven staff shortages June 17, 2021 Labour shortages caused by post-Brexit immigration rules mean the UK meat industry has had to cut production, warning that without change it could soon be unable to fulfil orders. Production in the meat industry had fallen by around 10 per cent since Easter because of worker shortages across farming and processing, the British Poultry Council [...]
Oxford Circus to be transformed into two pedestrian-friendly piazzas June 17, 2021 Oxford Circus will be transformed into a two pedestrian-friendly piazzas in a plan that should also improve access to Oxford Circus tube station and create a greener space in Central London. Work in the area will begin later this year, and will be delivered through a phased approach, starting with two ‘car free’ piazzas on [...]
Leaked text messages: Boris Johnson called Matt Hancock ‘totally f***** hopeless’ June 17, 2021 Boris Johnson described Matt Hancock’s performance when it came to mass testing in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic as “totally f****** hopeless”, Dominic Cummings has claimed. Treasury minister Jesse Norman said today that the Prime Minister’s is “firmly behind” the health secretary after the messages emerged. “I think this is some of the [...]
Online bathroom retailer Victorian Plumbing to secure £850m value via IPO June 17, 2021 Victorian Plumbing will float on the alternative investment market (AIM) later this month, in a move expected to give the online retailer of bathroom products and accessories a value of £850m. The placing of new shares is expected to raise gross proceeds of £11.6m for the company, while the placing of sale shares is expected [...]
England commercial eviction ban extended until March 2022 June 16, 2021 The government has extended the commercial eviction ban until March 2022 in the wake of Monday’s decision to push back so-called freedom day to 19 July. The news, delivered in the House of Commons today by chief secretary of the Treasury Steve Barclay, will offer business some breathing space in light of Covid restrictions continuing [...]
House market cooled in April with prices falling £5,000 from record March June 16, 2021 House prices in the UK fell 1.9 per cent in April, as buyers and sellers renegotiated terms under the impression the stamp duty holiday saving would no longer be on the table. In April, the average house price in the UK stood at £250,772, nearly two per cent or around £5,000 lower than in March, [...]
Debenhams could return to the high street to land beauty deals for Boohoo June 16, 2021 Boohoo is reportedly in talks about opening a Debenhams store to land deals with beauty and cosmetic brands that want to operate with a physical presence. Boohoo chief executive John Lyttle told The Times that if the talks came to fruition one small Debenhams store would return to a high street just outside of London. [...]
Pandemic pressures leave would-be first-time buyers further from homeownership June 16, 2021 The impact of the pandemic, both on the property market and on personal finances, has left a gulf between struggling would-be first-time buyers and those already on the ladder. More than four-in-10 first-time buyers delayed plans to buy a home in 2020, with the majority saying raising a deposit is the biggest barrier to homeownership, [...]
