Over half of businesses confident turnover will rise in the next year despite current stagnant sales April 4, 2023 Most firms have seen no boost to sales this quarter despite rising levels of confidence, a key economic report has revealed, as inflation remains the key concern for business. The British Chamber of Commerce’s (BCC) quarterly economic survey (QES) found in spite of rising optimism, only a third of firms saw sales increase in the [...]
The Body Shop owners sell ‘avant-garde’ skincare brand Aesop to L’Oréal for £2.5bn April 4, 2023 L’Oreal has agreed to buy Australian skin care brand Aesop for $2.5bn (£2bn). The French cosmetics giant snapped up the brand from Natura &Co – owners of British retailer The Body Shop. Since its formation over 30 years ago, Aesop has grown greatly in popularity and is most known for its hand soaps and body [...]
Every little helps: Loyalty cards determining over half of Brits’ shopping choices amid cost of living crisis April 4, 2023 Some 54 per cent of Brits said that price discounts via loyalty cards were most likely to encourage them to buy a product as the cost of living crisis spurs shoppers to hunt for the best bargains. According to data by NIQ, a further 35 per cent of consumers said that a ‘special price discount’ [...]
Lord Sugar enjoys payout after selling stake in The Apprentice star’s business April 3, 2023 Lord Alan Sugar has enjoyed a multi-million pound pay-out after selling his stake in a skincare business run by a former contestant on The Apprentice. The business magnate and TV personality cashed in after a £200,000 investment in 2011 in Tropic Skincare, founded by entrepreneur Susie Ma. He also acquired a 50% share in the [...]
How Aldi boss intends to see off supermarket rivals and bring discount store within reach of all UK shoppers April 3, 2023 Aldi will not stop the “relentless” roll out of its value supermarkets across the UK, despite attempts by rival supermarkets to scupper its growth, its chief executive has said. Giles Hurley, the head of UK and Ireland operations for the German discounter, told The Telegraph that they are going to bring stores within easy reach [...]
Banks, inflation, recession, gold AND Ocado: Five lessons the markets taught us this week March 31, 2023 It’s spring. The days are longer, the sun is shining, and fears about the imminent implosion of the global financial system are fading, for now anyway. Markets appeared to calm down after several weeks of banking-related aftershocks and both the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 were on course to end the week on a positive [...]
Moonpig shrugs off Royal Mail strikes to hold on to post pandemic loyalty March 30, 2023 Moonpig has reported its largest ever week of sales in the UK thanks to consumers scrambling for Mother’s Day cards. The listed retailer, which allows shoppers to personalise cards and gifts, said it now expects annual revenue for the year ending 30 April to remain at £320m, despite previously warning that Royal Mail strikes had [...]
In from the cold: H&M posts rising sales despite retailer putting its spring collection on hold March 30, 2023 H&M sales soared in the first quarter of the year, despite the roll out of its spring collection having been delayed in many markets due to a spell of cold weather. The Swedish fashion brand, which has 194 stores across the UK, said that sales increased 12 per cent to SEK 54,872m (£4.82bn) during the three [...]
What next for Waitrose? Supermarket quits Planet Organic talks after John Lewis fiasco March 29, 2023 Waitrose has pulled out of secret talks to acquire a stake in rival health supermarket Planet Organic. The high-end supermarket, which is part of the John Lewis Partnership, ceased discussions late last week about a possible agreement, according to reports first published in Sky News, Sources told the outlet that the deal would have meant [...]
Grain and a grape: Chapel Down sparkling wine sales fizz as Kent company sloes down gin and vodka focus March 29, 2023 Winemaker Chapel Down has reported a jump in sales and profits with drinkers snaffling up record numbers of it sparkling wine. The Kent-based company said sales of traditional-method sparkling wine – which includes its brut and sparkling bacchus – surged by more than 50 per cent over 2022, as the business took steps to become [...]