Lockdown DIY: B&Q owner Kingfisher nails sturdy sales May 20, 2021 Kingfisher, which owns B&Q and Screwfix, has reported sturdy sales of £3.4bn this morning as lockdown measures pushed people to get creative with DIY and home renovations. Total sales soared 61.9 per cent in the group’s first-quarter results to 30 April today, which reflected the DIY fever that caught many during the last lockdown. Shares [...]
Oprah’s Oatly milks lofty $10bn valuation ahead of US trading May 20, 2021 Oat-milk maker Oatly has secured a valuation of an eyewatering $10bn today, securing a lofty share price amid rocky stock market trading. The Swedish brand’s initial public offering (IPO) raised $1.43bn, with shares pricing in at $17 this morning, towards the high end of expectations, according to the Wall Street Journal. Oatly had its [...]
Mixer company Fever-Tree enjoys sales bump as lockdown drinks continue May 20, 2021 Beverage company Fever-Tree has seen a 10.1 per cent year-on-year sales bump as people continue to indulge in more alcoholic drinks throughout lockdown measures. Fever-Tree, which sells carbonated mixers, enjoyed a sales boost in the first four months of the year ending 18 April, thanks to strong levels of ‘at-home consumption’, the group said. Demand [...]
Vodafone: Pandemic-induced remote working hit women hardest May 20, 2021 Nearly half of all women who leave the workplace for over a year suffer from a loss of confidence, according to a new report today, which urged employers to further support employees as they flock to offices once again. As Covid restrictions are being eased, the study published today by Vodafone, found that women can [...]
Criminal investigation into Trump Organisation launched by New York state May 19, 2021 The New York attorney general’s office has opened a criminal investigation into Donald Trump’s company, it confirmed today. Attorney general Letitia James has been investigating whether the Trump Organisation has obscured property values to bag loans and tax breaks. It signals an escalation of the legal threat the former Republican president faces, just four months [...]
City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile this week? May 19, 2021 City A.M.‘s Millie Turner provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. Ex Co-op CEO joins Boomin’s board Property site Boomin has bagged itself a retail veteran this week, who is set to join the board as a non-executive director at its next [...]
London houses now average £500,000, as UK-wide prices rise at fastest rate in 14 years May 19, 2021 London houses now average £500,000, as UK-wide prices rise at fastest rate in 14 years
Dunelm sales better than expected thanks to lockdown living space upgrades May 19, 2021 Homeware’s retailer Dunelm enjoyed a better-than-expected sales lift over the tail end of the UK’s third national lockdown, the group said today, despite only being able to trade for five weeks after the 12 April easing of restrictions. Customers were able to flock to stores in mid-April after a winter lockdown, despite the reduced trading [...]
Future’s revenue surges 89 per cent with eCommerce and media lockdown boost May 19, 2021 Specialist media platform Future saw its revenue surge 89 per cent in the six months to 31 March, following growth in its eCommerce and media divisions amid global lockdowns. The group, which bought Marie Claire US earlier this month and the UK edition last year, saw its revenue lift to £272.6m from 144.3m in the [...]
$1.1bn EU pre-owned private jet market rebounded in the UK in 2020 May 18, 2021 The UK’s wealthiest bought 14 pre-owned private jets last year, worth $118.2m in total, nearly triple the number in 2019 due to pandemic travel restrictions, according to private jet broker Colibri Aircraft. The UK’s rebounding figure was because the pandemic grounded flights across the world, a spokesperson told City A.M. “There’s one client who said [...]
