M&S set to buck retail trend and see a bumper golden quarter November 6, 2024 After reporting a set of results far ahead of analysts’ expectations for the third quarter, Marks and Spencer is set for a bumper Christmas period as its turnaround continues to bear fruit. Its food division is particularly well-placed to deliver, with sales already up more than seven per cent in the third quarter. M&S’ food [...]
Retailers prepare for ‘exceptionally tough’ golden quarter after Budget November 4, 2024 The golden quarter is off to a slow start and things are only set to get tougher for retailers over Christmas, according to fresh data. In-store sales grew by 1.7 per cent year on year in October, while total sales – both in-store and online – grew 4.1 per cent, according to BDO. Whilst the [...]
London steak fantasies: Carnivorous desires are sated at Fazenda Bishopsgate November 2, 2024 We dine at London steak restaurant Fazenda Bishopsgate FAZENDA IS ALL ABOUT… Meat! As far as the eye can see. But not how you’d normally order it. Disembodied limbs from (insert any legally edible animal) are unceremoniously carted around the restaurant on skewers and taken to tables, where if you have a certain sign facing [...]
This amazing London restaurant is celebrating 60 years of history November 2, 2024 We review Grumbles, a London restaurant that’s more like an institution The capital is overrun with restaurants that look the same. They have emerald green and pink coloured furniture and there is probably a palm tree in the corner. Horrifically, some of these plants are plastic. Stats show that half of these restaurants close within [...]
How American Express UK is looking to crack Gen Z October 24, 2024 American Express’s UK boss, Hannah Lewis, sits down with City AM to talk breaking into a younger markets and shaking up its image. “Do you take Amex?” It’s a question that has slipped so far into the cultural lexicon there are even memes about it. Scroll through a dedicated Reddit page on American Express and [...]
The Debate: Should we look to legalise assisted dying? October 24, 2024 As the second reading of a new bill proposing legalisation of assisted dying approaches, our contestants lay out the arguments around this sensitive and complex moral choice. Yes: A new law would facilitate a kinder way to die For the vast majority of the public – three-quarters of us across Britain – the introduction of [...]
Does the NHS have a communications crisis? October 23, 2024 The NHS has a backlog crisis a staff vacancy crisis and a mental health crisis. Public satisfaction is at an all-time low, and Lord Darzi’s landmark report of the state of the health found that it was in “serious trouble”. But does it boil down to a comms crisis? Jacob Haddad, CEO and co-founder of [...]
Libby’s Naked Diary – The 50th Wedding Anniversary Party October 22, 2024 I am at the age where the first wave of marital splits is hitting my peer group, my own separation included. These are not all sad affairs; in fact, I went to my first ever Divorce Party this summer and it was an unexpected hoot to drink “Gin & He’s Toxic” as we cracked up over [...]
Fans will grow weary if player burnout continues in sport October 21, 2024 With demands on players like nothing seen previously, is potential player burnout also going to have an impact on fans too? It’s a surprising thing that during a cost-of-living crisis, with households struggling and economies straining, I find myself sympathising with Rodrigo Hernández Cascante. The £200,000-a-week Manchester City midfielder, better known as Rodri, last month [...]
A lack of loyalty eats into Deliveroo and Just Eat’s market share October 17, 2024 This morning’s Deliveroo results position it for long term growth reflecting the evolving demand for takeaways amid shifting consumer behaviour. A six per cent increase in Gross Transaction Value (GTV) in its Q3 update comes as competition and changing market conditions continue to create challenges across the industry, with rivals such as Just Eat Takeaway [...]