Revenues up at Slug and Lettuce owner Stonegate Pub Company July 4, 2016 Slug and Lettuce and Yates owner Stonegate Pub Company toasted healthy double-digit revenue growth in its first-half results today. The figures Total revenue across Stonegate's 660 managed pubs and bars was up 12.8 per cent to £342m for the 28 weeks to 10 April, up from £303m in the first half of 2015. Like-for-like revenue increased [...]
Lord Owen and Lord Lawson: Stop dithering. We must leave the EU ASAP July 4, 2016 It is unsurprising that the people who prophesied doom and disaster if the UK voted to leave the EU are finding it so hard to instil confidence in the policy they never believed in. Whoever is the new Prime Minister must enter Downing Street ready with clear views to discuss with a new Cabinet and when agreed [...]
Lower costs and Christmas cheer up Wilko as sales swell to £1.46bn June 29, 2016 Hardware and household goods retailer Wilko has reported sales through to end of January of £1.46bn, up 1.4 per cent on the previous year. The privately-owned company recorded an operating profit of £23.6m, up from £2.9m the previous year after paying an outstanding loan of £22m six years ahead of schedule. Wilko finished the year [...]
People are buying fewer diamonds now it’s summer, according to De Beers June 28, 2016 Diamonds have lost some of their sparkle to customers as the annual sales dry spell during the summer months gets underway. De Beers announced today that sales in the fifth "cycle" of 2016 reached $560m, down from $636m during the fourth cycle. However, the diamond giant has assured this is in line with typical seasonal demand, [...]
BHS saga continues: Chappell comes under spotlight as MPs scrutinise funds he used June 23, 2016 Ever since BHS collapsed into administration, recriminations have flown about who is to blame for the parlous state of its finances, particularly with regard to the £571m pension deficit. Today, the spotlight fell again on Dominic Chappell, the former racing car driver and bankrupt whose outfit Retail Acquisitions bought BHS for £1 off from its [...]
EU referendum: There may have been a record amount of betting on Brexit vote – but is it that impressive? June 23, 2016 The EU referendum has caught the betting world by storm. After the failure of the pollsters at last year's general elections, politics watchers have been broadening their horizons to try to understand who has the edge in the campaign. Of course, the betting markets themselves move in response to opinion polls, but discussions about polling methodology, [...]
Chappell took an early “hardship” salary and treated BHS’ money as his own, says former BHS chief executive Darren Topp June 23, 2016 Former BHS chief executive Darren Topp accused Dominic Chappell of treating BHS' money as his own, taking his salary early as a "hardship payment", evidence released by MPs today shows. In a letter to MPs on 21 June, Topp lists occasions when Chappell tried to take the company's money, saying that three-time bankrupt Chappell tried to buy family holiday flights from [...]
Football League fixtures 2016/17: All the key dates for London including Brentford, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, AFC Wimbledon, Charlton, Millwall, Barnet, Leyton Orient June 22, 2016 Fulham will play host to the first game of the new football season, when relegated Newcastle United visit Craven Cottage on Friday 5 August. West London rivals Brentford will kick their season off at Huddersfield a day later before Fulham round-off the capital's opening weekend of Football League fixtures when they take on Leeds United at Loftus Road on Sunday [...]
Majestic Wine raises glass to revenue boost after Naked Wines buy, but braces for store revamps and takeover costs to hit profits June 19, 2016 Majestic Wine, the favoured mass booze retailer of the middle classes, is expected to report a leap in sales tomorrow following its takeover of rival Naked Wines last year. Revenues at the firm are forecast to have risen 41 per cent in the year ending March 2016, from £285.4m to £403.2m, according to analysts at Investec. However, [...]
MPs have called Mike Ashley to give evidence to the joint select committee on BHS June 9, 2016 It seems MPs just can't get enough of Mike Ashley; the retail tycoon is now being called to give evidence in front of the joint select committee which is looking into the sale of BHS. The boss of Sports Direct responded to the committee saying he will provide written evidence. Ashley admitted this week that [...]