Torrential rain in Spain means spinach shortage and blow to Popeye wannabees January 13, 2017 New Year gym-goers aiming to build up a Popeye-like physique have been dealt a major blow. Torrential rain in Spain has damaged this winter’s spinach crop, and supermarkets are struggling to feed consumer demand. Read more: Manufacturing giant Premier Foods considers price rises due to Brexit vote Waitrose supermarkets, for instance, have signs warning shoppers [...]
Britons face more price hikes with Sky next to increase costs January 13, 2017 Sky has jumped on the bandwagon of companies hiking prices, with line rental charges set to increase from 1 March. The news comes just days after free-to-air competitor Freesat pointed out that since 2010 the cost of Sky TV had risen at four times the rate of inflation and twice the pace rail fares have increased. [...]
Londis and Budgens owner Booker Group beats expectations with its sales January 12, 2017 Wholesaler Booker Group's share price rose in trading today after the company reported a rise in sales. In the four months to 30 December, Booker Group's non-tobacco like-for-like sales increased 5.1 per cent, far ahead of analysts' expectations of between zero per cent and 0.5 per cent. Total non tobacco sales increased 4.8 per cent. [...]
Amazon promises to help plug the UK’s digital skills gap with training for young people and ex-military personnel January 12, 2017 Amazon is launching a new scheme to help plug Britain's digital skills gap, offering free training to young people and ex-military personnel. Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing arm of the web giant which powers businesses such as Transport for London and Zoopla, is launching AWS re:Start to help get 1,000 more people skilled in digital [...]
Winners and losers from retail’s “Super Thursday” January 12, 2017 So many retailers decided to update the market on trading today that Shore Capital analysts published a note to complain about it. But as the morning has progressed, clear winners and losers have emerged from the data deluge. Here are our picks: Winners JD Sports put its gymwear rival Sports Direct to shame today as it scored [...]
Rising sterling pushes down FTSE on big day of results for retailers January 12, 2017 A strengthening pound pushed the FTSE 100 slightly down from its record opening level amid a slew of results from major retailers. The pound rose as high as $1.2317 against the US dollar as greenback continued its retreat from 14-year highs. Sterling was broadly flat against the euro in morning trading. The FTSE was broadly [...]
Outraged City analysts bash retailers for choosing to report on the same day January 12, 2017 Overloaded City analysts bashed UK retailers this morning for all choosing to publish financial updates on the same day. Today has been branded "Super Thursday" because so many retailers are publishing their Christmas figures. Financial reports have come from Marks and Spencer, Tesco, AO World, Debenhams, Asos and Primark-owner Associated British Foods, to name just a few. [...]
Tesco share price falls despite sales rise in third trading quarter as investors focus on weaker Christmas trading January 12, 2017 Tesco's share price fell despite the supermarket giant reporting its first quarterly market share growth since 2011, as sales grew for the eighth quarter in a row. The figures Group like-for-like sales grew 1.5 per cent in its third trading quarter, with UK like-for-like sales growing even faster, at 1.8 per cent. The supermarket said it [...]
Ditched auditor brought back to investigate Tesco Bank hack January 11, 2017 Tesco has turned to its former auditor, which it axed after more than 30 years in the wake of a profit blackhole, to investigate a cyber attack on its bank. PwC was brought in by Tesco Bank to investigate an attack in November which forced it to repay £2.5m to customers who had been targeted by [...]
Food suppliers squeezed as supermarkets play hardball in Brexit price talks January 10, 2017 Food suppliers are being squeezed as supermarkets play hardball in talks over which side should shoulder the burden for the devaluation of the pound, new figures suggest. Research from insolvency firm Begbies Traynor shows 6,000 food suppliers were showing signs of financial distress in the final quarter of 2016, an increase of 13 per cent [...]