London ice rinks map: Where is the best place to go skating this Christmas? From Somerset House to Canary Wharf November 18, 2014 Some people might want to get their toes as close to the chestnut-roasting fire as they can, if you can slurp down a couple of glasses of mulled wine and get your skates on, why not? London has more than a few rinks to tempt you with – here's our round up of [...]
Supermarket price war fails to save sector as it enters negative sales territory for first time on record November 18, 2014 The supermarket "price war" has failed to help kick-start sales, with the sector falling into negative territory for the first time since records began in 1994. Sales were down 0.2 per cent for the 12 weeks to November 9, according to Kantar Worldpanel. The average basket price of everyday goods such as milk, bread [...]
The four horsemen of the chocolate apocalypse: Here’s why there’s a chocolate shortage November 18, 2014 Say it ain't so. Leading confectioners have warned the world could be about to run out of chocolate. In its annual results published earlier this month, Barry Callebaut, the world's largest chocolate manufacturer, said it had sold 1.72m tonnes of the brown stuff in the year to the end of August, an 11.8 per cent [...]
UK inflation: Consumer price index rises to 1.3 pc November 18, 2014 The rate of UK inflation rose to 1.3 per cent in the year to October 2014, recovering slightly from a suprise fall to 1.2 per cent the previous month. Smaller declines in transport costs – such as motor fuels and and air fares – drove the increase. Oil prices have plummeted recently, but they have [...]
HardlyEverWornIt.com party at Cafe Royal Hotel to feature live penguins and a McLaren F1 simulator November 17, 2014 As Christmas party season approaches, you’ll all be familiar with the following conundrum: How the bejeezus will they fit the McLaren F1 simulator into the Cafe Royal Hotel?! No? Well, poor old HardlyEverWornIt.com, the online fashion site, has been grappling with this for a while. The team at the fashion firm was on tenterhooks until [...]
Argentinian Malbec is top tipple as Majestic toasts craft beer and fine wine sales November 17, 2014 Majestic chief executive Steve Lewis said yesterday that the group’s push into craft beers and spirits was helping to fend off competition from supermarkets after sales of brands, including top seller Curious Brew, soared in the first half. The wine specialist is stacking its shelves with a new range of 40 artisanal spirits such as [...]
Winter running essentials: The best gear for cold weather runs from trainers and gloves to iPhone armbands November 17, 2014 Running in the colder months is great fun, just pick up the right gear. KHOMO iPHONE 6 ARMBAND Nobody runs without listening to a playlist on their iPhone these days. This one from Khomo is iPhone 6 and 6 Plus ready, and features a touch-responsive plastic sheath so your precious phone won’t croak when you’re [...]
Bird flu in the UK: Could the disease lead to a shortage of Christmas turkeys? November 17, 2014 The re-emergence of bird flu in the UK is unlikely to pose a major threat to human health – but it could have a serious impact on your Christmas turkey. Although the East Yorkshire farm in which the case of avian flu has been confirmed breeds ducks, the local area has several turkey farms [...]
Sainsbury’s Christmas advert 2014: Storm surrounding marketing seen by turn as epic or disrespectful November 16, 2014 The film had its world premier on Wednesday. Some 8m people have already tuned in to see it and it has split critics down the middle, being described as “a masterpiece”, “grim”, “epic”, and “disrespectful”. It’s not the latest blockbuster movie, but Sainsbury’s two-minute Christmas ad. There was a time, not so very long [...]
Thinking bigger: My Voucher Codes founder Mark Pearson talks Fern Britton and young tech entrepreneurs November 16, 2014 While we’re talking, it suddenly dawns on Mark Pearson that it’s his company’s eighth birthday. “It’s definitely around now,” he laughs, raising his empty plastic water cup in the air. In June of this year, Pearson sold My Voucher Codes, as part of his parent company Markco Media, to global mobile money technology provider [...]