Marks & Spencer posts Christmas sales hike as clothing division shows increase for first time in two years January 12, 2017 Marks & Spencer has revealed a long-awaited improvement in its clothing arm during the 13 weeks to 31 December, although a change in its reporting period played a significant part in the alteration. The figures The retailer reported a 5.9 per cent increase in sales over the Christmas period. The clothing and home arm showed a [...]
Tesco share price falls despite sales rise in third trading quarter as investors focus on weaker Christmas trading January 12, 2017 Tesco's share price fell despite the supermarket giant reporting its first quarterly market share growth since 2011, as sales grew for the eighth quarter in a row. The figures Group like-for-like sales grew 1.5 per cent in its third trading quarter, with UK like-for-like sales growing even faster, at 1.8 per cent. The supermarket said it [...]
Consumers wasted a whopping £13bn of edible food in 2015 January 10, 2017 Consumers threw out £13bn – 7.3m tonnes – worth of perfectly edible food in 2015. That generated 19m tonnes of carbon emissions, equivalent to those generated by one in four cars on UK roads, according to food waste reduction charity Wrap. However, 60 per cent of us believe we waste either no food or hardly any. Wrap has built off its work with [...]
Marks and Spencer chairman rejects demand for reversal of company’s benefit cuts January 9, 2017 The chairman of high street stalwart Marks and Spencer has defended the company's decision to cut some of the benefits it offers to employees. Last year M&S staff were asked to sign new contracts ending benefits such as double pay for employees working on Sundays. MPs asked to meet M&S chief executive Steve Rowe to discuss the changes, [...]
All eyes on M&S clothing – and its chief executive Steve Rowe – as the retailer unveils its latest results collection later this week January 8, 2017 Marks & Spencer's beleaguered clothing division could finally be on the up, with sales growth expected by some analysts when the high street behemoth reveals its third quarter results this week. On 12 January, M&S will reveal its third quarter to 31 December. Analysts are on average forecasting like-for-like sales growth in its clothing and home [...]
Christmas spending splurge fails to push high street sales into positive territory January 6, 2017 High street shops ended a disappointing year with a dismal performance during the festive season, failing to land positive sales despite bumper spending in the week before Christmas. Christmas fell on a Sunday this year, meaning shoppers had an extra day to spend, but like-for-like sales growth on the high street still came in at [...]
Here are five of the best alcohol-free and low alcohol beers to drink during Dry January January 5, 2017 Although you might have imagined yourself spending Dry January at the gym, cooking up healthy meals in your kitchen or proudly mastering the art of the homemade mocktail, chances are you'll find yourself in a pub at some point. Before you give in and order your standard pint, try one of the many surprisingly flavourful low or zero or [...]
B&M side-steps clouds gathering over retail stocks January 4, 2017 B&M has side-stepped the overall gloom surrounding retail stocks this morning, rising over seven per cent in morning trading after a strong trading update. Other retail stocks – including Marks and Spencer's, Debenhams' and Associated British Foods' – have taken a hit today after Next tumbled 11 per cent at the open. Read more: Next [...]
Retailers’ share prices dragged down as Next sinks January 4, 2017 The retail sector is getting a hammering today after Next posted a sales slide for the Christmas season. Next's share price has tumbled 11 per cent in morning trading, and following it downwards are Marks and Spencer, which has fallen five per cent, and Primark-owner Associated British Foods, which is down 3.84 per cent. Read more: Retailers [...]
BP pumps up Australian business with £1.1bn petrol deal to partner with Woolworths December 28, 2016 BP's share price rose today after the oil and gas giant announced it has paid $1.3bn (£1.1bn) to form a partnership with Australian supermarket chain Woolworths for its petrol business. The group has acquired 527 Woolworths fuel stations as part of the agreement, as well as a further 16 sites under construction. BP already owns [...]