Swipe right if you are single and want a home: How “Generation Tinder” got locked out of home ownership March 30, 2016 Being single has its perks: no fights over the duvet or spending your weekends with the in-laws. But when it comes to buying a home, getting a foot onto the ladder without the combined savings of a couple can be a near impossible feat. Only 15 per cent of singles aged under-35 in London own their home, compared to nearly [...]
Ikea poised to hand 7,300 staff a Living Wage pay hike this week March 30, 2016 Ikea staff are in line for a pay rise on Friday after the Swedish home furnishings giant pledged to introduce the Living Wage for all of its workers in the UK. The flat-pack furniture retailer said all 6,100 co-workers will receive a minimum of £8.25 nationally and £9.40 in London, as set by the Living [...]
McCormick reaffirms case for buying Premier Foods as shares in Mr Kipling and Ambrosia owner soar March 29, 2016 McCormick, the US food group hoping to buy Premier Foods, has reaffirmed its case for buying the company, saying the Mr Kipling and Bisto gravy owner had some “fantastic brands” that would complement its spice and flavour business and help build on its expansion in the UK. In a first quarter trading update presentation today, the company gave [...]
Foyles swings back into black as new Charing Cross flagship becomes a bestseller March 29, 2016 The late Foyle brothers would be proud. The eponymous bookshop they founded over a century ago – initially selling their old textbooks – has returned to profitability after a turbulent few years that saw the company move to a new flagship store on Charing Cross Road. Foyles, which has six book stores in Birmingham, Bristol [...]
Storm Katie keeps shoppers away from UK high street as footfall drops over Easter bank holiday March 28, 2016 Retail footfall across UK high streets, retail parks and shopping centres has dropped by as much as 10.5 per cent today as Storm Katie battered the UK and put people off venturing outside. The number of visitors to shopping centres and high streets fell by 16 per cent and 11.5 per cent respectively, according to retail analysts Springboard, [...]
Battle for Starwood Hotels & Resorts heats up after China’s Anbang outbids Marriott with $14bn offer March 28, 2016 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide said it has received a higher $14bn offer from a consortium led by China's Anbang Insurance, in a move that could scupper Marriott International's proposed merger with the hotel group. The US-listed company behind brands including W Hotels, Le Meridien and Sheraton, said that the Anbang group, which includes private equity firms JC Flowers and Primavera Capita, [...]
Revlon’s share price plunges as the make-up brand announces Colgate veteran as new chief executive March 28, 2016 Beauty products group Revlon is getting a makeover after announcing it has hired former Colgate-Palmolive executive Fabian T. Garcia as its new president and chief executive. Revlon has been on the hunt for a new boss after Lorenzo Delpani stepped down at the beginning of March, citing personal reasons. The company, which sells hair care treatments as well [...]
Cosmetics group Avon Products calls a truce with activist investor Barington Capital March 28, 2016 Avon Products, the door-to-door cosmetics giant, said it has reached a peace deal with Barington Capital, allowing the activist shareholder to appoint an independent director to the board. Under the terms of the agreement, a Barington board member will have to be selected jointly by Avon and its top shareholder Cerberus Capital Management, which bought a majority stake [...]
Rum-maker Bacardi stirs things up by moving its European headquarters to Spitalfields March 24, 2016 Bacardi, maker of the world's leading rum brand, is moving to the other side of town after announcing plans to decamp its offices in west London to a new scheme in Spitalfields. The family-owned spirits company has agreed to let the entire third floor – or 9,564 square feet – of TH Real Estate's The Steward Building near Liverpool Street on [...]
