English winemaker and crowdfunding veteran Chapel Down fizzes on US launch September 20, 2016 Leading English winemaker Chapel Down has uncorked a new partnership to send its sparkling wine to the US for the first time. The Kent-based producer has struck an agreement with luxury wine and spirit company ABCK Corp to distribute its wines to US bars, restaurants and retailers. Shipments totalling 10,000 bottles are planned between now [...]
Supermarket sales continue to edge upwards in the months following the Brexit vote September 20, 2016 Supermarket sales continued to edge upwards this month, increasing by 0.3 per cent for the three months ending 11 September. The growth was against a backdrop of price deflation of 1.1 per cent. Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar Worldpanel, said: “While overall sales growth has been slow, consumers have been keen [...]
No Brexit storm for Kingfisher as it retains DIY crown with higher sales and profits September 20, 2016 B&Q owner Kingfisher has posted a strong set of results for the first six months of its financial year and said there is "no evidence" the EU referendum result dented its performance, sending its shares up two per cent at the open. The figures The DIY giant, which also owns Screwfix, said underlying pre-tax profits [...]
Evolve or die: The high street is not dead but it must shape up fast to lure shoppers September 20, 2016 Reports on the impending death of the high street may be greatly exaggerated. According to the new Omnico Retail Gap barometer, browsing and paying in-store is still the nation's favourite way to shop, with 43 per cent of consumers choosing this method. This was followed by 17 per cent of people who said they liked [...]
More property funds suspended after Brexit are being reopened September 19, 2016 Henderson Global Investors has announced it will reopen the UK property fund it suspended in the aftermath of the EU referendum. Henderson was among several asset managers to suspend trading on funds during the summer. Read more: Brexodus: Retail investors took £3.5bn out of funds in referendum month Aberdeen Asset Management, Columbia Threadneedle and Canada [...]
Finsbury Food Group cooks up tasty 40 per cent profit growth with the help of artisan breads and Disney cakes September 19, 2016 Profits were up a tasty 40 per cent last year at cake and bread supplier Finsbury Food Group, as demand for premium breads and Disney celebration cakes pushed up growth. The figures Group revenue rose 25 per cent to £319.7m in the year ended 2 July, while adjusted operating profit grew 38 per cent to £17.1m. Finsbury [...]
Moody’s says UK banks don’t need EU passporting rights September 19, 2016 Leaving the EU Single Market and losing passporting rights would be far from a disaster for the City of London, leading analysts at Moody's have found. The new research comes amid ongoing wrangling between the UK and Europe, between government ministers and across different industries all competing to put their views about what deal Theresa May should [...]
Kingsfisher is looking for a new London headquarters September 19, 2016 Kingfisher is looking for a new London headquarters, it has emerged, which is set to boost the commercial property market after the difficulties facing the sector following the Brexit vote. According to the Telegraph, the retailer behind B&Q and Screwfix is looking for a HQ of 300,000 square feet, and has appointed Cushman & Wakefield to find the [...]
House prices rebounded in September after the Brexit vote lull September 19, 2016 UK house prices are rebounding from the lull that immediately followed the Brexit vote, according to data from Rightmove. Asking prices have increased 0.7 per cent month-on-month, Rightmove said. In the weeks after the Brexit vote, Rightmove found that prices fell by 0.9 per cent. But first-time buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to get on [...]
Magazine Country Life gets a boost from the BBC September 18, 2016 A BBC television series has boosted the circulation of magazine Country Life. The show, Land of Hope and Glory – British Country Life, was broadcast in March and chronicled the publication’s 199-year history of documenting rural life in Britain. The latest industry data showed the readership of the magazine has increased by 29 per cent [...]