Waitrose sets out £1bn online shopping plan as it prepares for life without Ocado May 16, 2019 Waitrose has revealed a £1bn plan to bolster its online operations today as it prepares for life without Ocado. The upmarket grocer has signed a deal with Today Development Partners (TDP) in a bid to treble the size of its online business over the next three years, as its 20-year relationship with delivery giant Ocado nears its [...]
Botanical drinks startup with top City backers set for crowdfunding May 14, 2019 A botanical drinks startup which counts high-profile City veterans and celebrities among its backers is set to launch a £1m crowdfunding in its latest expansion drive. David Spencer-Percival, the serial entrepreneur who runs No.1 Rosemary Water, told City A.M. he is looking to lure in fresh capital amid a global product drive and the launch of [...]
Easter bounce for the high street while shopping centres struggle April 22, 2019 Embattled retailers received a much-needed Easter boon over the Bank holiday weekend, as sunshine and hot weather encouraged shoppers onto the high street. Read more: Eco-activists plot Heathrow shutdown on Good Friday In a clear contrast to Easter 2018, when stormy weather dashed hopes of a Spring bounce in footfall, this year high street retailers [...]
Waitrose removes ‘ugly’ Easter chocolate duckling from shelves after complaints of racism April 9, 2019 Waitrose has been forced to apologise and temporarily remove a trio of chocolate ducklings from its shelves, after customers complained about the darkest one being called “Ugly”. One customer tweeted to say it “doesn’t look good at all. Thousands of other options… why ugly?????” Read more: Telegraph hires Waitrose editor who resigned after vegan row [...]
Independent cafe chain loses £250,000 from disposable cup ban April 2, 2019 Bristol-based cafe chain Boston Tea Party (BTP) lost £250,000 in takeaway coffee sales after it banned disposable cups from its stores, the company confirmed today. The cafe made headlines last June when it banned single use coffee cups in its 21 branches in England, thought to be a first for a UK chain. Read more: The rubbish [...]
Discounter Aldi ramps up market share as Easter approaches April 2, 2019 Cut-price supermarket Aldi continued its rise up the grocery food chain in March, achieving a record market share of eight per cent as it made ground on its rivals. The German-owned chain’s sales increased by 10.6 per cent in the 12 months to 24 March compared to a year earlier, pushing its market share up [...]
John Lewis tumbles down UK top employer rankings March 26, 2019 John Lewis and Partners has lost its crown as Britain’s top employer following a tough 2018 that saw its profits drop by 45 per cent, according to a yearly survey released today. Read more: John Lewis profits plummet 45 per cent in ‘challenging’ market Wren Kitchens now tops the list of UK employers as ranked [...]
Andover fire burns revenue at Ocado March 19, 2019 Ocado’s Andover factory fire will hurt first quarter sales, the retailer warned today, adding that it will continue to impact sales in the months to come. The three-day blaze destroyed one of Ocado’s flagship robotic distribution centres and sent shares down 12 per cent in early February. Today the firm revealed revenue grew 11.2 per [...]
The real John Lewis bonus today was Waitrose March 7, 2019 Caution was in no short supply at this morning's breakfast with the bosses of John Lewis Partnership. Over coffee and croissants at its Victoria HQ, the retail giant’s directors echoed worries that the industry as a whole has been voicing for months: namely, the major structural changes on the high street and fears over a [...]
John Lewis slashes bonus as profits plummet 45 per cent in ‘challenging’ market March 7, 2019 John Lewis has cut its staff bonus after posting a 45 per cent fall in profits as the retailer battles against high street woes. Profit before tax dropped to £160m last year as the department store chain slashed prices in a bid to combat declining footfall and excess retail space. Read more: John Lewis considers cutting staff [...]