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 [...]
Italy to enter third national lockdown over Easter following spike in Covid cases March 12, 2021 Italy will enter its third nationwide lockdown over the Easter weekend as the country struggles to curb a fresh spike in coronavirus cases. Non-essential shops will be shuttered across the country between 3 April and 5 April, when Italians will only be allowed to leave their homes for work, health or emergency reasons. The decree, [...]
UK’s Covid-19 death toll passes 125,000 March 11, 2021 The UK’s official Covid-19 death toll passed 125,000 today, according to data from Public Health England.
Royal Mail hikes profit forecasts as it delivers letter boost March 10, 2021 Royal Mail today lifted its profit forecasts after it delivered better-than-expected letter volumes and revenue since the start of the year. The postal company delivered a record number of parcels in the run-up to Christmas as the pandemic fuelled an online shopping boom, though letter volumes fell. But in a trading update this morning the [...]
This IWD, meet the women changing the booze industry March 8, 2021 The world of beer, wine and spirits has also been dominated during our lifetime by men, with phallocentric brands including Jack Daniels and Johnnie Walker aimed squarely at male drinkers. But it wasn’t always so – for thousands of years brewing was undertaken by women. And as we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD), there are [...]
The Week Ahead: ITV, Rolls Royce, Morrison, ECB and UK GDP data March 8, 2021 It’s Monday morning. City A.M. looks ahead at what this week has in store. China Trade for February This morning – The Chinese economy finished 2020 on a strong note, its surplus hitting a record high in December. Exports rose by 18.1 per cent, slightly down from November’s 21.1 per cent but still better than expected, [...]
Share of Brits working from the office rises to pre-lockdown level, as remote working appeal fades March 5, 2021 Share of Brits working from the office rises to pre-lockdown level
Pet or crypto price inflation – which puppy are you on? March 5, 2021 Monty Munford draws some unusual, yet obvious, comparisons between an unfortunate incident with Lady Gaga's dog walker and cryptocurrency.
Test and Trace to receive extra £15bn, bringing total funding to £37bn March 4, 2021 The Test and Trace scheme is set to receive an extra £15bn, bringing its total funding over two years to £37bn. The contact tracing scheme, which has been awarded £22bn so far, will receive a further £15bn over the next financial year. The new figures were first revealed by the Huffington Post. It also revealed [...]
Co-op Group under pressure to repay £80m of government funding March 4, 2021 The Co-op board will reportedly meet next week to discuss handing back millions in government cash it was handed during the pandemic. The move would follow in the footsteps of leading supermarkets who returned business rates relief at the end of last year and have pledged to forgo the break announced in the Budget. The [...]