AmazonFresh opens up to new London postcodes June 30, 2016 US online retailer Amazon has expanded its recently launched fresh food delivery service, Amazon Fresh, across London. Its footprint has grown from 69 to 128 London postcodes less than a month after it began the service in London. Amazon Fresh’s arrival sent shockwaves through the grocery industry. Online supermarket Ocado’s shares fell to a three-year [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 climbs out of the Brexit bloodbath after major losses in recent sessions June 28, 2016 The FTSE 100 bounced back today, as investors bought back into a market that had been heavily sold off in previous sessions. Just nine stocks finished in negative territory, pushing the blue-chip index up by 2.6 per cent to 6,140.39 points. Falls of over five per cent in the last two sessions had wiped nearly £100bn in value of from company market capitalisations. Insurers [...]
Here’s how the supermarkets were doing just before the Brexit vote June 28, 2016 In the immediate run-up to the EU referendum, supermarket sales were strong, according to data released today, but in the three month period before the vote, sales slipped. The figures from Nielsen show that in the four weeks ending 18 June, UK supermarkets had their first increase in year-on-year takings since July 2015. Sales were up 0.4 [...]
Amazon who? Ocado shares jump as it delivers 14 per cent sales rise June 28, 2016 Everyone and their mum may be trying to get into the food delivery business at the moment (Amazon and Uber have both just launched offerings…) – but Ocado has suggested with experience comes wisdom, after it posted a juicy rise in sales. The figures Retail sales rose 13.9 per cent to £582.9m in the 24 weeks to the end of May, [...]
Week ahead: Markets set to feel the Brexit burn as uncertainty reigns June 27, 2016 The spotlight will this week continue to be firmly on the implications of the UK’s shock decision to quit the European Union. Markets are expected to be on post-Brexit watch, with twitchy traders nervous over potential volatility. After the vote on Thursday the FTSE 100 dived more than eight per cent at the open on Friday [...]
As Amazon Fresh launches in London, does it pose a real threat to UK supermarkets? June 10, 2016 Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar Worldpanel, says Yes. The last thing that the traditional British supermarkets want is another challenge to their model – they’re still busy fending off the shock of Aldi and Lidl’s sharp pricing model. Online grocery sales are growing well ahead of the overall market, so it’s [...]
Amazon rolls out fresh food service for paying, east London members June 9, 2016 US online retailer Amazon has today launched its fresh food delivery service in central and east London. The service is further restricted to Amazon’s Prime members, who pay a £79 per year fee for various TV and music streaming services and free delivery on certain items. Amazon, after taking significant market share from many of [...]
Following the BHS collapse and Austin Reed’s closure, it’s clear retailers’ online offerings are not ready to save the British high street June 3, 2016 Another day and yet another high street retailer announcing its financial struggles – this week it is Austin Reed and BHS. The menswear retailer is closing 120 stores, after the announcement it was entering into administration in April. BHS has also announced that thousands of jobs are going to be lost as a result of closing 163 stores. [...]
Pinkster gin the tipple of choice for crowdfunders at Growthdeck May 20, 2016 Premium gin brand Pinkster has ridden high on the "gin-aissance" sweeping the UK and smashed through an equity fundraising target of £600,000 in six weeks. Pinkster, a fast-growing, Cambridge-based gin produced with fresh raspberries, raised £758,000 in 47 days since it placed its listing on the relatively new crowdfundraising platform Growthdeck on 31 March. Unlike most crowdfunding platforms, Growthdeck does [...]
Incredible shrinking toilet paper: The six products you’re getting less of, but are not getting cheaper April 20, 2016 When you're spending a penny, you're being short changed, it turns out. One brands' toilet rolls have been quietly shortened, but you're still paying the same price, and it's just one of several products where you're now getting less bang for your buck – and may even pay more for less – according to research from consumer [...]