Marks & Spencer is in a pay row with staff and could be axing 500 jobs. Is it time to split the retailer in two? September 5, 2016 Marks & Spencer’s famous adverts (“These are not just potatoes, these are pan-shaken ready-to-roast extra-crispy King Edward potatoes…”) may have stayed ripe for mockery for over a decade, but between our guffaws lies a reluctant acceptance that the branding is absolutely spot on. M&S food halls have been a roaring success, especially among the millions of Brits [...]
Marks & Spencer set to axe 500 jobs at head office in London September 3, 2016 Marks & Spencer is set to axe around 500 jobs at its head office in London. The cull of around 15 per cent of roles is expected to be announced next Thursday. Sky News first reported that more than half of the cuts will affect contractors. Read more: M&S pay row: New offer for workers – [...]
Marks & Spencer pay row: M&S makes new offer to workers – but campaigners say it isn’t enough September 2, 2016 Could this be the end of the long-running pay row between Marks & Sparks and its workers? Evidently not: the retailer today announced it had finished consulting with staff over pay, but campaigners don't think its conclusions are enough. In a statement today M&S said after a "thorough consultation" with its national employee representative group, it was offering [...]
Supermarket chic: Sainsbury’s to launch new premium fashion brand September 2, 2016 Hobbs, LK Bennett and Whistles could be feeling nervous this weekend – as Sainsbury's prepares to launch its new range of women's clothing early next week. The supermarket group named those three high-end brands in particular as it threw down the gauntlet in the battle to win more customers with its new collection. "The quality and styling [...]
MPs and campaigners deliver petition against M&S pay changes to the retailer’s flagship store September 1, 2016 MPs and campaigners turned up at Marks and Spencer's flagship store in Marble Arch today to deliver a petition – signed by 90,000 people – voicing concerns about the company's proposed pay cuts. Under the proposed changes, staff will lose the pay premiums they receive for working on Sundays and Bank Holidays and will face reduced pension [...]
Horse racing betting: All eyes on the heavens as Angel faces her biggest test August 18, 2016 York has been bathed in sunshine for the first few days of the Ebor Festival, but the weather forecast suggests that plenty of rain is now on its way. It’s just a question of how much will hit the Knavesmire and, more importantly, when it will arrive. Some forecasters are predicting early showers, while others are [...]
You can now buy the world’s oldest port wine brand online from Marks and Spencer August 16, 2016 Move over, craft beer. For the first time in five centuries, the world's oldest brand of port wine is now going to be available to buy online at a major UK retailer. Top-tier port brand Kopke's 1996 vintage has launched on Marks & Spencer online for £30 for a single bottle and can also be [...]
What heatwave? M&S is already filming its Christmas advert August 7, 2016 It may be a sweltering weekend of sunshine and clear blue skies, but one street in London has already seen snowfall – albeit the fake kind – after one high street favourite started shooting its Christmas advert. Yep, you heard that right. It may be the height of summer, but the Marks & Spencer is getting [...]
Retail industry attention turns to high street bellwether Next July 31, 2016 The retail industry's attention will turn to Next, with the UK high street bellwether expected to report a fall in sales in the coming week. The FTSE-100 listed firm's widely-watched results are regarded as a good indicator for how its peers, such as Marks & Spencer, are faring. Read more: Retailers rocked by sales shocker Next's trading is likely to have [...]
Petition to block M&S’ pay cut plans draws over 20,000 signatures in three days July 29, 2016 Pressure is mounting on M&S' chief executive Steve Rowe to cancel a pay cut for his staff as an online petition to block the plan has received nearly 20,000 signatures in three days. The company is consulting its staff over cutting premium pay on Sundays, and cuts to pay for bank holidays and employees working at anti-social hours, which could [...]