Aldi to open 80 stores and create 5,000 jobs in the UK this year February 15, 2016 Disruptive German supermarket Aldi will open 80 new stores in the UK this year, creating 5,000 jobs in the UK, it said this morning. The plans will take the supermarket's estate to 700 outlets in the UK, it said in a statement this morning. A spokesman for the retailer said the stores will be "right across the [...]
LFW Autumn-Winter ’16: Who are the London Fashion Week brands to bank on? How share prices for Marks & Spencer, Burberry and Mulberry are shaping up ahead of the the shows February 14, 2016 In a little over four days time, London will be buzzing with trendsetters as Fashion Week arrives in the capital. But, apart from rerouting your commute so it doesn't head through Soho, what does this mean for the average City A.M. reader? Here's a run down of the business news you need to know for some [...]
City Moves for 12 February 2016 | Who’s switching jobs February 12, 2016 JOHNS&CO High-end estate agents JOHNS&CO has appointed two new directors. Clynton Nel and Chris Boswell both join from Hamptons International. Clynton, who has joined the team as residential director, will be based in the firm’s new Marsh Wall office in Canary Wharf. He has over 13 years’ experience in the property industry, specialising in renewals [...]
Great Portland Estates hails strong lettings demand despite fears over Brexit February 10, 2016 Great Portland Estates said strong demand for its offices helped it to strike another 15 lettings in the third quarter despite increasing uncertainty ahead of the EU referendum. The West End-focused developer has had a busy three months after signing Italian fashion giant Benetton to its flagship store at 73-89 Oxford Street and leasing the last two remaining floors at 240 Blackfriars [...]
Dunelm’s share price jumps as homeware chain declares special dividend February 10, 2016 Shares Dunelm have surged by as much as 10 per cent after the homeware chain posted a better-than-expected jump in first half profits and declared a £63.9m special dividend. The retailer, which has 151 stores across the UK selling everything from curtains to bed and sofas, said pre-tax profits grew by 10.7 per cent to £75.5m for the six months to 2 January [...]
Ascential floats on the London market at 200p per share, giving welcome relief to Guardian Media Group February 9, 2016 Ascential, the magazine and events business that runs the Cannes Lions advertising festival and publishes Retail Week, has floated on the London market at 200p a share. The valuation gives the company, which is owned by Guardian Media Group a and private equity group Apax, a market cap of around £800m. They remain the largest [...]
London house prices: Single Chinese investor buys entire £15m Waterloo scheme February 9, 2016 Proof, if proof were needed, that London is still hugely attractive for overseas investors – but increasingly unaffordable to the people who actually live in the capital: a single Chinese investor has bought out an entire development in Waterloo for £15m. Dover House, which recently completed construction, is made up of nine luxury apartments and retail space. [...]
Nearly five per cent of Britain’s shops have been empty for more than three years February 9, 2016 Nearly five per cent of Britain’s town and city centre shops have remained empty for more than three years, new research shows, in a stark reminder of the challenges still facing the high street. The number of empty shops dropped to its lowest level in six years in January, down 12.5 per cent year-on-year, according [...]
A day with Zac Goldsmith: Just one of the prizes up for grabs at the Conservatives’ Black & White ball February 8, 2016 Guests at the Tories' Black & White Ball just can't get enough of hanging out with Conservative MPs it seems. Despite having to fork out at least £5,000 for a standard table for ten, and up to £15,000 for a premium table, one of the guests at the lavish event, held last night at the Brewery in [...]
Another mammoth tower for London: Developer Aroland Holdings has just submitted plans for 1 Undershaft, the City’s tallest skyscraper February 8, 2016 No sooner has the Cheesegrater completed, but Singaporean developer Aroland Holdings submitted plans for 1 Undershaft – which, at 72 storeys, will be the City's tallest building once it's completed. The building, which will stand between the Cheesegrater and the Gherkin, will include office and retail space, as well as the now-compulsory viewing gallery over the [...]