It’s Davos, but not as you know it February 3, 2013 DESPITE being a 30-something supposed grown-up, I must confess to still suffering from the occasional nightmare. While on duty as a night editor of this newspaper, for example, my sleep can be disturbed by a recurring dream in which I’m culpable for printing over 130,000 front page headlines of “UK ECOMONY DIPS AGAIN” (yes, reread [...]
Gordon Ramsay back on form as his empire returns to profit January 27, 2013 GORDON RAMSAY has turned his restaurant empire around after a turbulent few years, including a costly feud with his father-in-law, to report a return to profitability. Kavalake — which includes restaurants such as the Savoy Grill and Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s – delivered pre-tax profits of £2m in the year to August 2012 after suffering [...]
Focus On: Blackheath January 24, 2013 NEED TO KNOW | AREA INSIGHT Named after the grassland that separates it from Greenwich and Lewisham, Blackheath is often described as one of the few remaining villages in the heart of London. Many refer to it as south east London’s answer to Hampstead because of its charming, green surroundings and bustling village. While it [...]
McDonald’s to create 2,500 UK jobs as it reveals rise in sales January 23, 2013 MCDONALD’S announced plans yesterday to create 2,500 jobs at its restaurants this year, taking its UK workforce to 93,500. The world’s biggest restaurant group said the move builds on the 3,500 jobs created in 2012, of which 70 per cent were taken by young people under the age of 21. Business secretary Vince Cable, who [...]
Record revenues for Channel Tunnel as freight delivers gains January 23, 2013 EUROTUNNEL hopes that Britons will continue to use the Channel Tunnel while the UK reassesses its relationship with the Continent, after the firm posted record revenues for 2012. “I would recommend that Great Britain remains in Europe,” said chief executive Jacques Gounon, who thinks the vast majority of his customers support Britain’s place in the [...]
Crack down on the high cost of living or growth suffers January 22, 2013 THE emergence of competitive economies in the East is a well-known phenomenon. But less understood is the challenge this poses to the West. First, the rising East will squeeze traditional markets (albeit while creating new ones). Secondly, it will turn the terms of trade for primary products against us. We are not powerless, however. Emerging [...]
Hotel Chocolat reports record full-year profit January 20, 2013 HOTEL CHOCOLAT, the upmarket chocolatier, offered some hope to Britain’s beleaguered high streets this weekend after reporting record sales and profits. The retailer and cocoa grower posted a 84 per cent leap in pre-tax profits to £5.4m on sales up six per cent to £63.8m in the year to 30 June 2012. Angus Thirlwell, co-founder [...]
Christmas cheer raises spirits at Greene King January 14, 2013 RECORD numbers of people flocked to Greene King pubs over Christmas as the company ramped up efforts to bring in festive diners. The pub owner and brewer revealed yesterday that like-for-like trading in its establishments was up 2.8 per cent in the six weeks to 6 January, while pub sales were up 6.8 per cent [...]
Greene King enjoys record Christmas trading January 14, 2013 Pub group Greene King hailed a strong festive period this morning, as it posted record sales through Christmas and the New Year. Over the past six weeks, like for like sales growth came in at 2.8 per cent, and Greene King said it enjoyed record Christmas Day sales of £2.7m, up 6.8 per cent year [...]
Shoreditch set for £75m facelift January 10, 2013 PLANS were submitted this week to regenerate a site in London’s East End that has lain derelict for more than 30 years into a new £75m commercial hub. The proposed scheme, known as Shoreditch Village, will create 150,000 square feet of commercial-led space, including a 180-bed hotel, 20,000 sq ft of offices, 42,000 sq ft [...]