London Bridge staff are having hot coffee thrown on them and being spat at by angry commuters as travel chaos continues March 10, 2015 Union bosses at RMT have written an open letter to train operators Southern, Southeastern and Thameslink, along with Network Rail, claiming rail staff are being abused by angry commuters over the travel chaos. The union claims that staff have been threatened, had hot coffee thrown over them and been spat at by passengers who [...]
Pizza Express takes a slice out of home market March 9, 2015 Pizza Express yesterday reported strong half-year trading with like-for-like sales ahead by 6.8 per cent in the 28 week period to 11 January 2015. Chief executive Richard Hodgson said the restaurant chain’s strong performance is down to new openings, continuous innovation and a record Christmas trading period, which saw like-forlike growth of 11.2 per cent [...]
Retails sales increase in UK after fall in 2014 March 9, 2015 UK retail sales increased by 0.2 per cent on a like-for-like basis compared with February 2014) – when they had decreased one per cent on the previous year – according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Overall, sales were up 1.7 per cent against a 0.7 per cent rise in February 2014. “After the bustle [...]
Glens Melody likely to chase Annie home in Mares’ Hurdle March 9, 2015 CHELTENHAM without Quevega will seem a little strange this year as Willie Mullins’ wonder mare is not around to record a seventh straight win in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (4.00pm). However, the all-conquering Mullins yard have nominated an able substitute in the extraordinarily talented Annie Power, whose only ever defeat came in last year’s World [...]
The Job Is Right can keep Irish eyes smiling in the four-miler March 9, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE REMAINDER OF DAY ONE THE TOBY Balding National Hunt Chase (4.40pm) is run over four miles and only amateur riders can take part. I always keep a close eye out for the jockeys in this contest, as the better ones will have been offered loads of rides. Without doubt the leading [...]
Urban Outfitters sales have risen at last, with earnings per share ahead of expectations March 9, 2015 Better late than never – Urban Outfitters sales increased in the fourth quarter after a series of quarterly declines. The figures During the three months to 31 January, Urban Outfitters comparable sales went up by six per cent – the first increase in 2014. The US fashion company, whose brands include Urban Outfitters, Free [...]
Exclusive: Prudential to hire ex FCA regulator Clive Adamson March 9, 2015 Clive Adamson, who quit the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as director of supervision ahead of a critical report into its conduct before Christmas, is joining the Prudential, two sources have told City A.M. Adamson is understood to be joining Prudential’s UK business, possibly in a non-executive capacity. Although Adamson’s departure from the FCA was widely [...]
John Lewis Partnership poised to reduce bonus payout to staff March 9, 2015 THE JOHN Lewis Partnership will this week seek to cut its bonus pot for staff for a second year in a row after the supermarket price war took its toll on sales at its upmarket grocery chain Waitrose. Waitrose has grown sales and market share faster than its traditional supermarket rivals in recent years, thanks [...]
Britons splash out on holidays in February after confidence boost March 9, 2015 Consumer spending power hit a seven-month high in February as higher wage growth, falling inflation and lower petrol costs helped boost confidence. Britons spent 4.1 per cent more last month than at the same time a year earlier thanks to people spending more on travel and leisure activities around the February half-term, according to figures [...]
Alastair Campbell on winners: Are there any left in the Labour party? March 5, 2015 When the political satire In The Loop came out in 2009, the Culture Show did a segment in which the critic Mark Kermode watched the film with Alastair Campbell. Afterwards, a sourfaced Campbell delivered his verdict: “I didn’t find it terribly funny.” Kermode said he had sympathy with any representation of politics as venal and [...]