Pastry prices: Watchdog warns Cérélia‘s purchase of Jus-Rol could leave UK shoppers at risk November 4, 2022 Puff pastry giant Cérélia‘s purchase of Jus-Rol could leave UK shoppers at risk of forking out higher prices, the competition watchdog has provisionally found. After an initial investigation, the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) found that a merger of the two retailers raises concerns about the impact on prices and product quality. Ready-to-bake items [...]
Hashtag Ad: Competition watchdog asks brands to be more transparent over influencer adverts November 4, 2022 The competition watchdog has published fresh guidance for Instagram influencers and big tech firms to help users identify a paid for endorsement. Regulators want to see social media publishers commit to being more open and transparent about when posts are paid for adverts. Under the new guidance, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has asked [...]
DFS sees “more positive” order trend after gloomy sales warnings earlier this year November 4, 2022 Sofa seller DFS said it hopes to buck a trend of furniture firms struggling amid the economic crunch, after having a more optimistic September. Since early September, the London-listed company said it had observed “a more positive trend”, in comparison to prior warnings about a softening of demand for homeware. It said group order volumes [...]
Bleak Friday? Retailers hit by spending slowdown as shoppers shun high street November 4, 2022 High street bosses are nervously awaiting Black Friday as retail sales volumes dropped dramatically last month. Sales volumes have dropped significantly, although this has been masked by historically high levels of inflation, data from accountancy firm BDO revealed today. In-store like-for-like sales saw the lowest growth since lockdown in February 2021, with growth of just [...]
EU sets eyes on Airbnb in latest data regulation push November 3, 2022 After taking on Big Tech in a swathe of new laws, European regulators are now setting their sights on the short-term home rental industry.
Time for celebrations? Mars trials Bounty ban for Christmas November 3, 2022 With Christmas rapidly approaching, Mars Wrigley has removed the controversial coconut Bounty from celebrations boxes. The popular assortment of chocolates will be without the blue-wrappered treat after research showed 40 per cent of Brits want it barred permanently. No Bounty Celebrations will be available at 40 Tesco Christmas Market locations s from 8 November until [...]
Simpson’s Tavern: Crowdfunder to save City favourite passes £30K as local efforts stepped up November 3, 2022 A crowdfunding campaign to save the historic Simpson’s Tavern has passed £30,000 in just two days. Simpson’s, which has sat off Cornhill since 1757 and become a City institution, has been served a winding up petition as a result of rent arrears accrued during the pandemic, announced on Tuesday. On Thursday, the fundraiser reached £20,000 [...]
West End Christmas intake to be squeezed by pandemic and cost of living at £1.55bn November 3, 2022 West End Christmas intake is set to be a quarter up from last year but still almost 30 per cent down on pre-Covid levels. Around £1.55bn is set to be splashed out in the heart of London’s shopping district, as the capital bounces back from the pandemic in a restriction-free Christmas. The cost of living [...]
Working from home sees London karaoke bars enjoy rise in Sunday Fundays November 3, 2022 Londoners are staving off the Sunday Blues with karaoke nights – taking advantage of an extra lie-in on work-from-home Monday mornings. Charlie Elek, the managing director of Lucky Voice, a capital-focussed karaoke chain, told CityA.M. that a rise in hybrid working had “worked in our favour”. The number of punters through the door at his [...]
Sainsbury’s profits dip as supermarket giant battles to keep prices low November 3, 2022 Sainsbury’s has posted subdued half-year profits, after taking a hit to keep prices competitive for customers and boost pay for staff. The supermarket giant, which also owns Argos, said underlying pre-tax profit dipped eight per cent to £340m over the half-year to 17 September , compared with the same period last year. It had previously [...]
