FTSE falls as England starts to reopen April 12, 2021 London’s main market fell 0.4 per cent this morning despite positive sentiment about England starting to open up following the coronavirus lockdown. The FTSE 100 was down 0.4 per cent while the FTSE 250 fared slightly better, down a more moderate 0.2 per cent. For most, today marks the first day of 2021 that non-essential [...]
This week: Tesco set to report higher sales following pandemic boost April 12, 2021 Tesco is expected to post rising sales this week as its supermarkets stayed open throughout the pandemic. The UK’s biggest grocer may also reveal more muted profits in its update for investors on Wednesday, however, as they are forecast to be broadly in line with last year’s profits. Analysts have predicted that the supermarket, which [...]
Senior staff to quit Asda after Walmart’s share payout April 12, 2021 Senior staff at Asda are preparing to stage an exodus after receiving final payouts from a share scheme run by the supermarket’s owner Walmart. Industry sources said that they had been contacted by Asda executives looking to leave, according to the Times. One source said that the level of inquiries was much higher than normal [...]
Cake Box eyes 52 new stores ahead of expected record revenue April 12, 2021 Cake Box is expecting to deliver a strong performance for the year ending 31 March 2021, despite ongoing coronavirus restrictions leaving many retailers struggling. In a market update today the specialist dessert retailer revealed it was currently holding franchisee deposits for 52 sites across the country. Cake Box opened 17 new stores in the second [...]
Optimism over reopening of pubs and shops tempered by concerns over next month’s elections April 12, 2021 In a week that saw the FTSE100 close at its best levels in over a year, optimism over this week’s economic reopening of outdoor pubs, shops, gyms and hairdressers, appears to be being tempered by concerns over next month’s local and regional elections. There is particular focus on how well the SNP might do in [...]
Pub time: What Londoners and people across the UK can and cannot do from today April 12, 2021 Londoners can look forward to getting a round in for the first time in months today. Pub gardens and restaurants with outdoor dining are preparing for a surge of customers as lockdown eases, prompting Boris Johnson to urge the nation to “behave responsibly”. While the English are the only ones looking forward to a pub-pulled [...]
Johnson urges nation to ‘behave responsibly’ as lockdown eases April 12, 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged the public to “behave responsibly” as England’s lockdown measures ease today. From today pub gardens, indoor gyms, hairdressers and non-essential retail are among businesses that can now reopen in England, most for the first time in 2021. The change marks the next major step in the easing of the [...]
Brooks Brothers UK goes into administration as suits fall out of fashion April 9, 2021 The UK division of US business attire retailer Brooks Brothers had gone into administration, after suffering from a lack of demand for its products as people worked from home. Begbies Traynor were yesterday appointed the company’s administrators, website Bisnow first reported. “The reason for my appointment as administrator of the UK company is of course [...]
Frasers Group to take £200m Covid hit over third wave concerns April 9, 2021 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group, which owns Sports Direct and House of Fraser, expects to take a £200m hit due to coronavirus, and warned that further restrictions on retail are “almost certain”. Frasers Group said it anticipates a non-cash impairment of more than £200m in the value of its properties and other assets. The retailer said [...]
Fashion retail sales rebound as shoppers invest in post-lockdown outfits April 9, 2021 Fashion retail sales soared last month as the sector, which has struggled during the coronavirus pandemic, was buoyed by shoppers investing in post-lockdown outfits. Total like-for-like fashion sales jumped 57.5 per cent in March – from a base of minus 25.9 per cent in the same month last year. This marks the first positive result [...]