High street redundancies: Which retailers have cut jobs in the pandemic so far? February 13, 2021 Thousands of high street jobs have evaporated during the coronavirus pandemic, as retail chains have fallen under the pressure of lockdown restrictions on trading. The UK high street, which was already struggling before the pandemic, is set to look very different when shoppers return after lockdown following high profile collapses that have cost many retail [...]
The Week Ahead: Look out for GDP data, Ocado, AstraZ, Twitter and Ted Baker February 8, 2021 Start your week informed: here are the announcements and results to look out for this week. UK GDP: A double dip recession is looming After a fairly decent third quarter, and an expansion of 16 per cent, the UK economy has had a much more troubled fourth quarter, with the likelihood that we may well [...]
UK supermarket chiefs call for online sales tax on firms like Amazon February 8, 2021 Some of the UK’s largest retailers, including Tesco and Asda, have called for Rishi Sunak to “rebalance the tax base” between online and bricks and mortar retail in an apparent push for a new digital sales levy on firms like Amazon. In a letter to Sunak, 18 chief executives and union bosses said “online retailers [...]
Covid restrictions drive online food shopping to record high as customers eat in to help out February 2, 2021 Online grocery shopping hit a record 14 per cent share of the UK grocery market in January, as customers bought more food to enjoy from home. The growth was boosted by a 229 per cent year-on-year rise in online spending by retired households. Supermarkets saw sales growth accelerate to 12.2 per cent in the last [...]
Government should rethink rates holiday as economy kicks back into life February 1, 2021 John Webber is Head of Business Rates at Colliers International News that John Lewis is under pressure to hand back millions of pounds in business rates relief received in this year’s retail rates holiday shows that the Government must re-think the way it uses the rates system to hand out support to businesses.. Last year [...]
Tate & Lyle appoints new finance chief following CFO’s departure for Tesco January 21, 2021 Tate & Lyle announced this morning the appointment of a new chief financial officer. Vivid Sehgal will take up the role in May but he plans to join the board of directors in March to work alongside the current chief financial officer Imran Nawaz. Current CFO Nawaz announced his departure in October as he moves [...]
Online sales soar as Dixons Carphone covers wounds of festive store closures January 20, 2021 British retailer Dixons Carphone has seen sales rocket during Christmas as online growth of 121 per cent balanced out store closures. Like-for-like electrical sales increased 11 per cent over the festive period as shares rose by 2.8 per cent, the group announced on Wednesday. Dixons Carphone, who trade as Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse [...]
Experian reports ‘better-than-expected’ quarter as revenue grows January 19, 2021 Credit scoring giant Experian (EXPN) reported a better-than-expected third quarter after a strong performance by its North America division. Total revenue at constant exchange rates grew 10 per cent in the three months to the end of December. Experian’s North America and Latin America divisions grew 11 and 16 per cent respectively, but the UK [...]
British Land appoints new chief financial officer from Tesco January 19, 2021 London-based retail landlord British Land has made Bhavesh Mistry its new chief financial officer. Mistry is expected to join British Land no later than 1 August 2021. Until he joins David Walker will continue in his role as interim CFO. The incoming CFO is currently deputy chief financial officer at Tesco, a position has had [...]
Primark expects £1bn sales hit due to lockdown store closures January 14, 2021 Associated British Foods (ABF), the owner of Primark, said the closure of the budget fashion chain’s stores had cost the company £540m in lost sales so far, warning the total could reach £1bn due to ongoing restrictions. ABF said the loss of sales due to temporary store closures will cost the firm £1.05bn if they [...]