Incoming CMA chair warns job cuts could make it harder to take on cases that protect consumers from high prices June 28, 2022 The competition watchdog’s ability to get the best deal for British consumers could be endangered by job cuts, the government’s chosen candidate for chair of the body has warned. The government intends to slash 91,000 civil service jobs over the next three years, in an endeavour to bring headcount back to 2016 levels. Ministers’ preferred [...]
Supermarket shoppers turn to frozen and canned meats in a bid to slim cost of weekly shop June 28, 2022 Supermarket shoppers are swapping out traditional meat products for cheaper frozen and canned alternatives, in a bid to cut down on costs. According to freshly published data from NielsenIQ, volume sales across all categories at UK supermarkets dropped 5.5 per cent over the past four weeks. With household bills sky-rocketing in recent months, shoppers have [...]
UK food standards under threat after years of Brexit chaos and Covid upheaval June 28, 2022 The UK is facing “significant risks” to its food standards following two years of upheaval, according to a new report. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) released the first of what will be an annual report highlighting changes and challenges facing the UK’s food system. The two agencies said it comes [...]
Return of in-person events gives Hyve Group a faster than anticipated revenue recovery June 27, 2022 Hyve Group said today that its 2022 financial year saw a faster than anticipated revenue recovery due to strong customer demand for in-person events following the pandemic. Shares rose by 5 per cent today as a result. From April 1 to June 24, the group said it ran all nine of its scheduled in-person events, [...]
Cake Box plans to swell to 200 stores after e-commerce boost gives profits a 83 per cent jump June 27, 2022 Cream cake retailer Cake Box has outlined plans to open more stores as it reported a pre-tax profit of £7.7m for the latest financial year. This marked a 83.3 per cent jump from the previous years as it continued its post-pandemic recovery. Revenue rose by 50.7 per cent from £21.9m to £33m. Neil Sachdev, non-executive [...]
High Street footfall nosedives by staggering 25 per cent with London commuters and foreign travellers not returning June 27, 2022 High street footfall fell 25 per cent in May, from the previous month, according to RSM UK’s analysis of the latest data from Datscha, published this morning. London continues to be hit by hybrid working with less workers commuting into the city, and international and business travel is still not back at full capacity. Whereas [...]
Fast-growing spectacles boutique Kirk & Kirk eyes UK-wide launch with chain of pop-up shops June 27, 2022 Kirk & Kirk – founded by husband and wife duo Jason and Karen Kirk 30 years ago – confirmed this morning it is planning to make its first “foray into retail” this autumn. The British eyewear designer favoured by celebrities including Robert Downey Jr revealed plans to launch a chain of pop-up shops after seeing [...]
Arts and crafts giant Hobbycraft’s expansion drift undiminished with new stores and recruitment drive planned June 27, 2022 Several new stories and a recruitment drive are on the agenda of arts and crafts retail chain Hobbycraft as the company confirmed this morning it plans to continue its expansion after a lift in profits for the past year. The company said its adjusted pre-tax profit for the 2022 financial year was £15 million, which [...]
27-fold jump in number of foreign visitors flocking to Britain post-pandemic June 24, 2022 Scrapping coronavirus travel rules led to a 27-fold year-on-year increase in the number of overseas residents visiting the UK, new figures suggest. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 2.1 million inbound visits were made in April, up from 81,000 during the same month last year. Spending by overseas residents in April hit £1.7 billion, [...]
Put it on expenses: Bite-size pub lunch and training will help City workers take proper screen break June 24, 2022 Leading pub chain Greene King is offering city workers a pub lunch and a pint along with ‘bite-size’ training sessions. In wake of the pandemic’s shake-up of the working week, the ‘Expensable Lunch’ will be launching at the start of next month, to improve people’s personal and professional development – while giving them a much-needed [...]
