Panic over: Brits made 117m fewer trips to the supermarket this March March 30, 2021 Brits made 117m fewer trips to supermarkets this month than in March 2020, which was a month that saw supermarket shelves stripped bare as consumers started panic buying ahead of the UK’s first national lockdown. Grocery sales fell three per cent in the four weeks to 21 March 2021, while during the same period last [...]
Asda faces ‘multimillion pound’ hit if supermarket loses equal pay claim March 25, 2021 Asda could be forced to make a “multimillion pound” payout if it loses an appeal on equal pay at the UK’s top court tomorrow. The supermarket is waiting for the Supreme Court’s judgement after it appealed against a ruling that workers in Asda stores – who are mainly female – could compare their pay with [...]
McColl’s fails to return to to profit despite bumper convenience store sales during pandemic March 23, 2021 McColl’s reported a jump in revenue last year as the convenience store chain benefitted from a surge in demand for local stores during the pandemic, but failed to return to profit. Total revenue for the year was up 3.2 per cent to £1.26bn, with its store closure programme partly offsetting the surge in sales. Like-for-like [...]
DEBATE: Can you truly nurture talent in a virtual office set up? March 19, 2021 Tom Harvey, Managing Director of Spoke says No While our team have done a brilliant job at home, won new clients and delivered great projects, home-working is no substitute for being together in person. As a creative agency that delivers film, animation, design, illustration and photography, all of our work requires collaboration and a range [...]
Hostelworld revenues plummet as bookings collapse March 17, 2021 Hostelworld saw its revenues collapse last year as the coronavirus pandemic put paid to booking volumes at the budget holiday firm. The company said that net bookings had fallen nearly four-fifths during the year, sinking its revenue from €80.7m to €15.4m. The fall meant the firm swung to an earnings loss of €17.3m, down from [...]
John Lewis to close more stores in places ‘where people aren’t going’ after it lost £517m in 2020 March 12, 2021 John Lewis to close more stores in places 'where people aren't going' after it lost £517m in 2020
FTSE closes higher and Wall St bounds ahead on $1.9 trillion US stimulus package March 11, 2021 The FTSE 100 pushed slightly higher today as final confirmation of a bumper $1.9 trillion US stimulus package cheered investors. The blue-chip index was up 0.17 per cent at 6,736 points by market close, while the domestically-focused FTSE 250 pushed 0.59 per cent higher. Mining stocks such as Rio Tinto, Anglo American and BHP Group, [...]
Marston’s boss steps down after two decades at the helm of pub chain March 11, 2021 Marston’s announced this morning that chief executive Ralph Findlay will step down this year after two decades at the helm of the pub chain. Findlay will leave on 30 September, at the end of the current financial year, and Marston’s has launched a search for his replacement. Marston’s chairman William Ricker said Findlay, who was [...]
Rolls-Royce plunges to huge loss as Covid turbulence sets in March 11, 2021 Rolls-Royce swung to a £4bn loss in 2020, as the cost of Covid turbulence became clear. The aerospace giant plunged to a loss of £4bn compared to a £306m profit in 2019 as the pandemic stopped airlines flying. The firm’s underlying revenue also sunk to £11.7bn from £15.5bn the previous year. Rolls-Royce’s model of charging [...]
Savills to pay dividend as UK residential unit makes ‘extraordinary’ recovery March 11, 2021 Savills has reinstated its dividend this morning as it reported that its UK residential agency division performed strongly last year, despite an overall drop in profit. The estate agent chain, which last year suspended its dividend due to the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, said shareholders will pocket a 17p per share payout. Profit [...]