Labour’s ‘growth’ agenda already looks like a bad joke November 7, 2024 Well, that didn’t take long to unravel: the first Labour Budget for nearly 15 years, and the first ever by a female chancellor, saw the parallels with Kwasi Kwarteng’s infamous 2022 mini-Budget emerging within hours. The comparison was misguided, although the jittery reaction of financial investors and rise in government funding costs told its own [...]
Hospitality bosses warn government tax hikes will hit investment November 5, 2024 According to reports, business leaders have warned the government that the tax rises announced in Labour’s Autumn budget will lead to a huge increase in costs and a fall in investment. The bosses of large retail and hospitality firms like Fuller’s, Greene King and Morrisons have warned business secretary Jonathan Reynolds that last week’s budget [...]
Asda flies in Morrisons and M&S execs as turnaround plan gathers pace October 22, 2024 Asda has added two new members to its leadership team as it looks to bolster the firm amid a significant turnaround plan. Laura Lepley will join in December from Morrisons as vice president of central operations, while Mark Henry will join in January from M&S as vice president of retail in the south of England. [...]
Hostelworld: Bookings at travel agency buoyed by budget trips October 15, 2024 Online travel agency Hostelworld Group has reported a strong performance in the year-to-date, driven by an increase in demand from budget and solo travellers. The Irish company, which is listed in London, reported record bookings in Asia and Central America in the six months to June 30. While bookings rose by seven per cent year on [...]
Stoute’s Anna set to deliver Fillies’ Mile Swan song October 8, 2024 SIR Michael Stoute’s career has been littered with remarkable training performances, but managing to win a Group One with one of his final top-level runners would be some feat. The master of Freemason Lodge is set to retire at the end of the season and is due to run the unbeaten ANNA SWAN in Friday’s [...]
The ‘battle for value is on’ at UK grocers as supermarkets push discounts October 8, 2024 Higher spending at supermarkets over the last month has been driven by sales of discounted goods as grocers compete to bring financially-stretched customers through their doors, according to fresh data. Grocery price inflation increased slightly to two per cent during the four weeks to 29 September, up from 1.7 per cent last month, according to [...]
Pound sterling set for worst week all year as markets reassess path for interest rates October 4, 2024 The decrease has knocked sterling from its remarkably strong start to the year, which has seen it outperform all other major currencies.
Tesco ups guidance after first-half performance ‘exceeds expectations’ October 3, 2024 Supermarket giant Tesco has upped its profit guidance following another strong period of trading for the UK’s biggest grocer. Tesco increased its retail adjusted operating profit guidance to £2.9bn, from £2.8bn, after it “delivered volume growth ahead of expectations”. Continuing sales at the grocer grew 3.5 per cent in the 26 weeks ended 24 August [...]
How private equity swallowed up the UK – and why it’s unsettling regulators September 30, 2024 Private equity has been buying more and more of the UK over the past decade, with thousands of listed or private businesses now snapped up by buyout funds and venture capital investors. Iconic British businesses like Morrisons, Pret A Manger and Asda have been swallowed up by private capital, with deals like the takeover of [...]
Morrisons strikes £331 million property deal amid significant debts September 26, 2024 Supermarket group Morrisons has agreed a £331 million property deal as part of efforts to slash its significant debt pile. The private equity-owned retailer said on Thursday that it expects to complete the “ground rent financing” deal around October 2. It said Morrisons will sell 76 properties to an undisclosed business, before these are then [...]