Premier League winter break: How does it work and what is every team doing? February 4, 2020 This week marks a Premier League first, with the advent of its inaugural winter break. Each team has been allocated a 13-day rest between top-flight fixtures, but fear not: there is no television blackout. Since the interval is staggered across two weekends, 12 teams have this weekend off while the other eight get to rest [...]
Ocado retains crown as Britain’s fastest-growing supermarket February 4, 2020 Ocado has retained its position as Britain’s fastest growing supermarket, with the online grocer achieving its quickest growth in the North of England. Ocado’s overall sales grew 11.2 per cent year-on-year during the quarter, with its market share rising 0.2 percentage points, according to data from Kantar. While over half of the grocer’s sales come [...]
Retail CEO turnover spikes in challenging year for sector February 3, 2020 Retail chief executive turnover reached a seven-year high in 2019 as the sector faced one of the toughest 12 months on record. The rate of chief executive churn increased 25 per cent on the previous year as the retail industry struggled with low consumer confidence, Brexit uncertainty, changing shopping habits and rising overheads. The latest [...]
Fresh 737 Max delays hurt Ryanair’s passenger growth target February 3, 2020 Ryanair today warned Boeing 737 Max delivery delays will hurt growth plans as it swung back into profit in its third quarter. Ryanair was expecting its first delivery of the airplane to arrive in spring 2019. But it admitted that will now not happen until September or October 2020. The fresh Boeing 737 Max delivery [...]
Sales of e-scooters leap up over Christmas period despite UK ban February 3, 2020 Sales of battery-powered e-scooters jumped over the festive period last year, despite there being a ban on using the vehicles on public roads. Data collated by Swedish e-scooter startup Voi showed that sales of both e-bikes and e-scooters rose 96 per cent year on year in the three months to the start of January 2020. [...]
Business groups react as Heathrow expansion in doubt again February 2, 2020 Business groups warned that the failure to expand Heathrow would see the UK “fall behind the rest of the world” as the new runway’s future was again plunged into doubt this weekend. It emerged that Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial was reportedly considering selling its 25 per cent stake in the airport if it could not [...]
Ferrovial adds to Heathrow uncertainty amid warnings over returns February 2, 2020 Heathrow owner Ferrovial has added to the uncertainty over the airport’s long-awaited third runway by saying it might consider selling the asset if it could not get an “adequate return” on its investment. The Spanish infrastructure firm, which owns UK outsourcer Amey, currently owns a 25 per cent stake in Europe’s busiest airport. However, chief [...]
General election result calms consumer confidence ‘jitters’ January 31, 2020 UK consumer confidence jumped this month, signalling the end of a “jittery mood” as sentiment strengthens following the general election result. Research published this morning showed that sentiment improved by two points to minus nine in January, driven by increased confidence in both individual finances and the general economic situation over the next year. January [...]
Non-alcoholic beers protect Fuller’s from Dry January slump January 30, 2020 Pub chain Fuller, Smith and Turner said an increased range of non-alcoholic drinks protected it from the usual January slump in sales, despite an uptick in the number of people going tee-total for the month. Fuller’s today announced that like-for-like sales in managed pubs and hotels were up 4.3 per cent in the six weeks [...]
City will be caught up in the Brexit fish fight January 30, 2020 Last night, the European Parliament ratified the UK’s withdrawal agreement. After years of torturous wrangling following the Brexit referendum, MEPs delivered the final moment of theatre — complete with a rather touching rendition of Auld Lang Syne. Though the general message was one of friendship and enduring bonds, nobody should be in any doubt that a [...]