Canon remains in the red despite capturing near-£100m sales boost October 3, 2024 The UK arm of camera and printer giant Canon failed to return to the black during its latest financial year despite sales rising by almost £100m. The Uxbridge-headquartered division reduced its pre-tax loss from £7.3m to £5.1m in 2023, newly-filed accounts with Companies House have revealed. The last time Canon UK reported a pre-tax profit [...]
Tesco ups guidance after first-half performance ‘exceeds expectations’ October 3, 2024 Supermarket giant Tesco has upped its profit guidance following another strong period of trading for the UK’s biggest grocer. Tesco increased its retail adjusted operating profit guidance to £2.9bn, from £2.8bn, after it “delivered volume growth ahead of expectations”. Continuing sales at the grocer grew 3.5 per cent in the 26 weeks ended 24 August [...]
Big Tech is muscling broadcasters out of live sports streaming October 2, 2024 Traditional broadcasters might be starting to sweat. Live sports streaming has always been a cash cow, but the game is changing, and there are new players on the field. For years, Sky and BT ruled the arena of sports media rights but, over the past decade, Big Tech has been muscling its way into the [...]
The Works: Arts and crafts retailer’s profit slumped as demand stayed soft October 1, 2024 High street arts and craft retailer The Works has reported weaker sales in 2024, leading to a slump in profit. Adjusted earning before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation fell by 30 per cent to £6m, from £9m last year, while adjusted profit before tax fell 39 per cent to £3.2m, from £5.3m in 2023. The [...]
When viral fame fades: From Binley Mega Chippy to the Spudman October 1, 2024 In March 2022, I visited fish and chip takeaway Binley Mega Chippy in my hometown of Coventry 10 minutes after it had opened for dinner, joining a growing queue of people snaking out across a tarmac car park on the side of a busy A road. A line of cars waiting for a parking spot [...]
Just leave me to my basic b***h pumpkin spice latte, ok? September 30, 2024 We are well into Starbucks pumpkin spice latte season and I for one will be openly celebrating this seasonal joy, says Lauren Potts Nothing seems to irk certain corners of the internet more than the humble pumpkin spice latte (PSL). The sneering usually comes from a certain type of person – mostly coffee snobs and boomers [...]
House prices rise at fastest pace in two years September 30, 2024 House prices have risen at their fastest pace in two years as easing mortgage rates shift the UK’s property market back into gear, new figures reveal. House prices across Britain rose by 3.2 per cent year on year in September and 0.7 per cent month on month, according to Nationwide’s house price index. “Mortgage rates [...]
To ski or not to ski: How to plan a trip when snow is uncertain September 27, 2024 You are about to spend a small fortune on a ski trip. The reports from the Alps are of muddy, brown slopes. A huge warm weather zone depositing nothing but rain has decimated the snow coverage between Christmas and into January. What to do? Cancel, shift resort in the hope of finding better snow? Press [...]
‘Turbulent few months’ ahead for retailers as low consumer confidence lingers September 26, 2024 One of the UK’s largest retail bodies has warned that retailers could suffer in the next few months during the run-up to Christmas, due to a lack of consumer confidence in the economy. Confidence slumped in September, with an increasing number of Brits saying they expected the UK economy to get worse over the next [...]
Card Factory shares plummet despite first interim dividend in five years and ‘resilient’ results September 24, 2024 Shares in personalised gift and party supply business Card Factory have slumped despite the return of its interim dividend after a revenue boost. The company announced the recommencement of an interim dividend of 1.2p, “demonstrating commitment to delivering progressive returns to shareholders”. However, its share price fell by nearly 20 per cent in early trades. The [...]