Upper Crust owner SSP warns over coronavirus profit hit February 26, 2020 Upper Crust owner SSP Group has warned it expects to take a £5m profit hit in February as sales in the Asia Pacific region halved this month due to the impact of coronavirus. SSP, which operates across travel hubs, said falling passenger numbers across the region – which counts for eight per cent of total [...]
The Restaurant Group scraps dividend and eyes 90 site closures February 26, 2020 The Restaurant Group has suspended its dividend as it announced plans to ramp up Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito site closures to focus on its Asian-fusion chain Wagamama. The figures Restaurant Group’s shares dipped 3.1 per cent in early trading as it announced it will scrap its dividend to focus on a new strategic plan. [...]
House prices return to pre-financial crisis levels February 26, 2020 House prices across English cities have risen above pre-Financial Crisis peaks for the first time since 2007, the latest research has found. Property in Central London recovered to pre-crisis levels in just 2.3 years, the fastest of all UK cities, as overseas buyers entered the market attracted by a weaker pound. Oxford and Cambridge followed [...]
Derwent hikes dividend as election boosts London office sector February 25, 2020 Property investment firm Derwent London hiked its dividend this morning as it said it has a “more confident outlook” for the capital’s office sector following the General Election result. The figures Derwent reported a total return of 6.6 per cent in the year ended 31 December. Net rental income increased 10.5 per cent to £178m, [...]
More than 1,800 jobs at risk as Tesco restructures in-store bakeries February 25, 2020 More than 1,800 jobs are at risk after Tesco announced it will restructure its in-store bakery operations. The supermarket giant this afternoon said it will reduce the amount of baking “from scratch” across its stores, meaning some employees will be made redundant. From May, 58 branches will stop baking products on-site and will instead sell [...]
February retail sales dampen hopes of post-election bounce February 25, 2020 Retail sales were broadly flat in February, according to the latest research, dampening hopes that the decisive General Election result has sparked a surge in consumer spending. The CBI’s monthly distributive trades survey showed that a net balance of one per cent of retailers reported a jump in sales volume in the year to February, [...]
Tesco exits China with £275m stake sale February 25, 2020 Tesco has sold its 20 per cent share in its China joint venture for £275m as it nears a potential deal for its Thailand and Malaysia businesses. The supermarket giant announced this morning that it has offloaded its stake in Gain Land – which was established in 2014 – to a subsidiary of its joint [...]
Frankie & Benny’s owner The Restaurant Group to outline site closure plans February 24, 2020 The Restaurant Group – which owns Chiquito, Frankie & Benny’s and Wagamama – is set to announce site closures as it publishes its full-year results this week. Chief executive Andy Hornby – who joined the casual dining company in August – is expected to announce which underperforming sites will be closed. Out-of-town retail park locations, [...]
Driver arrested after car hits carnival parade in Germany February 24, 2020 Around 30 people were injured after a driver ploughed his car into a carnival parade in Germany. German media outlets said police believe the driver – who has been arrested and identified as a 29-year-old German citizen – acted deliberately although a motive is not yet known. The driver is in custody and being questioned. [...]
Burberry shares fall as spread of coronavirus spooks investors February 24, 2020 Shares in luxury goods giant Burberry have fallen a further six per cent this morning as the spread of coronavirus in Europe spooked investors. The British brand has seen its share price drop in recent weeks as the virus took hold in China, one of Burberry’s major markets. Earlier this month Burberry was forced to close [...]
