Up to 3,000 jobs at risk as Tesco cuts down opening hours at 69 stores April 5, 2017 Thousands of jobs are at risk in Tesco as the supermarket cuts down opening hours. Up to 3,000 employees in 69 stores across the UK will be affected by the changes, announced today by the FTSE-listed supermarket. Restocking hours will be moved from night to day in the stores affected, with 24-hour opening ending at [...]
Revealed: Notes coffee shop nets £600,000 loan from challenger bank OakNorth to open two new London branches, despite Brexit uncertainty March 13, 2017 Notes has struck a deal for a £600,000 loan to open two further branches in London, including its largest site to date, City A.M. has learnt. The coffee shop and wine bar chain, which already has six sites dotted around the capital, hopes to push ahead with aggressive growth plans in the near future and the [...]
Aldi is harnessing the ’90s revival with a retro new logo March 13, 2017 Aldi has launched a retro new logo as it goes for a ‘90s update to the German supermarket’s blue, red and orange badge. Aldi Sued, the owner of the discount supermarket, rejected the flat design of its current logo, plumping instead for the gradient sheen beloved of companies when computers first became capable of giving [...]
Now you can use Apple Pay in Ireland – just swipe your iPhone March 7, 2017 iPhone owners in Ireland rejoice – you can now get on board with Apple Pay and just swipe your phone (or Apple Watch) to make a purchase. The tech giant has launched the payment service in its sixth market in Europe, supporting Irish banking customers with Ulster Bank and KBC as well as Boon, an app [...]
Turnaround plan looks set to pay off for Morrisons March 5, 2017 The turnaround at Morrisons supermarkets headed by CEO David Potts looks set to gather speed this week as the company reports its best annual results in six years. The chain is likely to report a 54 per cent rise in pre-tax earnings to £335m on Thursday, according to predictions by banking firm Jefferies. The firm [...]
Ultimate Products’ London IPO has been priced at £105m ahead of it joining the main market next week March 1, 2017 Ultimate Products' offer price has been set at 128p, which will equate to a market capitalisation of approximately £105.2m. The offer comprises 41,084,800 shares, representing 50 per cent of the company’s issued share capital on admission. Shore Capital is acting as sponsor, global co-ordinator and bookrunner to the Company, and Cenkos is acting as joint bookrunner. [...]
Consumer goods group Ultimate Products heads for a £100m-plus IPO in the next few days March 1, 2017 Ultimate Products, the innovative consumer goods group, is set for a £100m-plus IPO in London within days. It will list on the main market under the name of UP Global Sourcing Holdings. The IPO’s pricing could take place as early as today. The placing is understood to be substantially oversubscribed with investors taking part believed [...]
High street stalwart Debenhams shakes off payment scandal February 22, 2017 Last week, Debenhams was named by the government as one of the worst companies for underpaying staff. YouGov Brand Index data shows how the news has altered perception of the brand. Over the last year, I have discussed how adverse stories about pay have damaged companies including Sports Direct and Harrods, but also how positive [...]
Waitrose has been crowned the UK’s best supermarket February 16, 2017 Aldi and Lidl might be snatching market share from their rivals – but one middle class stalwart is still at the top of the nation's affections, according to a new survey. The report, by Which?, has crowned Waitrose the UK's best supermarket, above rivals Marks & Spencer, Aldi and Lidl. Meanwhile, Asda came bottom of the [...]
End of days: Waitrose is closing six of its stores February 9, 2017 Is this the end of the middle classes as we know them? Waitrose is planning to close six stores, putting 500 jobs at risks, it has been reported. The supermarket, beloved of the chattering classes, has begun consulting with staff at six locations in Hertford, Staines, Leek, Huntingdon, Cardiff and Palmers Green (although the latter [...]