How to throw the perfect Eurovision 2023 Party: your food, drinks and outfits sorted May 12, 2023 Can the UK beat last year’s runner-up placing to land the title? Probably not – but it’s time for Eurovision 2023, so let’s party anyway Nil pois? If last year’s runnerup placing is anything to go by, the UK may have finally relegated to history our abysmal showing at the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It [...]
The Notebook: Victoria Scholar on inflation, Ocado’s woes, and why Ted Lasso is a blessed relief March 28, 2023 The Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has warned firms against rising prices to offset inflation. He told the BBC, “please understand if we get inflation embedded, interest rates will have to go up further and higher inflation really benefits nobody.” The latest UK inflation rate for February surprised economists by picking up again to [...]
Sharp increase in retail sales amid ‘subdued’ outlook due to inflation – but is there a ‘chink of light’ with Easter holidays? March 24, 2023 British retail sales grew sharply last month compared to pre-pandemic levels, but price increases continue to deliver a “subdued” longer-term outlook. Sales volumes are thought to have increased by 1.2 per cent in February after a rise of 0.9 per cent in January, suggesting the industry is recovering from the pandemic well. Industry figures are [...]
The imperfect tonic: Fever-Tree to raise prices amid soaring cost inflation March 22, 2023 Up market tonic maker Fever-Tree has revealed plans to hike its prices, as it continues to navigate a surge in production costs. The company said made a loss in earnings for the year with revenues down 0.2 per cent to £116.2m from £118.3m the prior year. The London-listed adult drinks company said it felt the financial [...]
Fever-Tree names new chair to head tonic water titan December 12, 2022 Fever-Tree has appointed Domenic De Lorenzo to chair the tonic water giant. De Lorenzo, will step into the role after the London-listed beverage maker’s annual general meeting in May 2023. He is set to take up the reins from Bill Ronald, who was appointed as chair in 2013 and oversaw the company’s stock market listing [...]
Fever Tree profit margins impacted by shipping and inflationary pressures September 13, 2022 Fever Tree has said price increases on its soft drinks only partially helped to off-set cost pressures caused by heightened shipping costs. The tonic-water seller said its gross margins had been hit by “inflationary cost pressures and continued exposure to elevated Trans-Atlantic freight costs,” in interim results published on Tuesday. A gross margin of 37.4 [...]
London cocktail bars for summer, from rooftops to new terraces August 2, 2022 London cocktail bars are proudly dingy places. They’re described as “subterranean,” or “dimly-lit” or “dens.” That makes sense in the winter when we want to escape the bitterness with a biting smack of tequila on the tongue. But what about in summer, when we’re still after fine cocktails but with some more air to breathe, [...]
Fever-Tree boss snaps up £1m worth of shares as tonic maker slashes profit guidance July 17, 2022 The boss behind tonic-maker Fever-Tree has coughed up more than £1m on shares after the firm suffered a huge blow last week. A concerning profit warning meant the London-listed company’s stock crashed by some 26 per cent late last week. Now, chief executive Tim Warrillow has bought 115,000 shares at 870.8p each while Fever-Tree’s chairman [...]
Veteran Fevertree chairman announces retirement May 3, 2022 Longstanding Fevertree Drinks chairman Bill Ronald has announced he will be retiring in May next year. Ronald joined the premium tonics and drink mixer maker in June 2013 ahead of Fevertree’s debut on the London Stock Exchange the following year. He has given a year’s notice to allow the company to start looking for a [...]
Drinks focus: Makar Original Dry Gin is the best of Glasgow April 21, 2022 Makar Original Dry Gin is the first commercial gin to ever be made in Glasgow. Located within spitting distance of the Braehead Shopping Centre and a stone’s throw from Ibrox Stadium, the Glasgow Distillery makes a range of single malts, a blended malt whisky, a spiced rum, and botanical vodkas. But its largest range is [...]