Thorntons to close all UK stores putting 600 jobs at risk March 15, 2021 Thorntons has announced it will close all of its stores, putting around 600 jobs at risk. The chocolatier said this afternoon that it will permanently shutter its 61 branches due to the restrictions on trading during the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement the Sheffield-founded brand said lockdown restrictions over the Easter and Christmas period and [...]
Brexit: UK to EU exports collapse by 40 per cent following end of transition period March 12, 2021 The value of UK exports to the European Union plummeted by £5.6bn after the Brexit transition period ended, in the sharpest drop since records began. Total exports of goods fell by £5.3bn, or 19.3 per cent, from December 2020 to January 2021. The fall was mainly driven by a 40.7 per cent drop in exports [...]
Hollywood Bowl taps investors for £30m to expand in UK March 12, 2021 Hollywood Bowl has successfully tapped investors for £30m, which it will use to invest in its chain of UK bowling alleys. The leisure firm this morning completed a share placing to raise the cash ahead of its reopening date. Hollywood Bowl will use the proceeds of the raise to invest in its new centre pipeline, [...]
John Lewis to close more stores in places ‘where people aren’t going’ after it lost £517m in 2020 March 12, 2021 John Lewis to close more stores in places 'where people aren't going' after it lost £517m in 2020
Burberry shares jump as fashion brand expects to beat profit and revenue forecasts March 12, 2021 Burberry’s share price jumped this morning after the British fashion brand announced revenue and profit are expected to beat previous forecasts. The luxury goods giant said there had been a strong rebound in trading since December and store retail sales in the fourth quarter of the financial year will be between 28 to 32 per [...]
Hammerson widens losses as pandemic wipes £2bn off portfolio value March 12, 2021 Retail landlord Hammerson this morning posted a £1.7bn loss for last year, after the coronavirus pandemic wiped £2bn off the value of its property portfolio. Hammerson, which owns Birmingham’s Bullring Shopping Centre, said losses widened from £781m in 2019 to £1.7bn last year, primarily due to falling property values. Its portfolio value at the end [...]
UK housebuilder Berkeley Group expects profits to flatline despite housing boom March 12, 2021 Berkeley Group said this morning that profits are set to flatline this year, in line with expectations. The UK housebuilder said it is on track to post a similar profit to last year’s £503m, and that forward sales are expected to be more than £1.7bn for the year. It estimated that future gross margin in [...]
Consumer business leaders to ramp up cost-cutting measures this year, survey finds March 11, 2021 The economic pain caused by the pandemic is set to continue in the consumer business sector, as most bosses said they will continue to cut costs for the foreseeable future. Research showed that 73 per cent of chief executives and chief financial officers are planning to ramp up cost reduction programmes this year due to [...]
Oxford Street: This is what the UK’s shopping destination could look like after lockdown March 11, 2021 Oxford Street – the world famous shopping destination that attracts millions of Londoners and tourists every year – is set to look drastically different when the city emerges from the latest coronavirus lockdown. An arts centre, 25 metre artificial hill and play areas in bus lanes are among the ideas that have been floated to [...]
Marston’s boss steps down after two decades at the helm of pub chain March 11, 2021 Marston’s announced this morning that chief executive Ralph Findlay will step down this year after two decades at the helm of the pub chain. Findlay will leave on 30 September, at the end of the current financial year, and Marston’s has launched a search for his replacement. Marston’s chairman William Ricker said Findlay, who was [...]
