Champagne toasts record year thanks to post-pandemic buzz and US sparkle February 14, 2022 Champagne sales reached an all-time high last year, thanks to the post-pandemic boom and a United States surge. While French producers already said last year they expected a sales record, they now confirmed 2021 sales hit $5.7bn (£4.2bn), 14 per cent above the pre-pandemic high. Exports reached 180 million 0.75 litre bottles, up 37 per [...]
City Lights: Interactive light and sound installations light up Square Mile February 14, 2022 This week Canada’s historic streets and iconic buildings can be seen in a dramatic new light through a Square Mile-wide series of innovative and interactive sound and light installations, City PM was told today. City Lights, a new instalment in the Mayor of London’s ‘Let’s Do London’ programme, offers visitors a free [...]
Central London footfall growth behind other regional cities February 14, 2022 Central London footfall has lagged behind the recovery of other regional cities last week. According to the latest data from Springboard, footfall rose in all types of town centres in the UK last week. However, while regional cities outside of London saw the largest boost, up 7.1 per cent, Central London growth was only 3.3 [...]
Studio Retail Group preparing to call in administrators in blow for largest shareholder Mike Ashley’s Fraser Group February 14, 2022 Online value retailer Studio Retail Group, whose largest shareholder is Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group, is posed to call in administrators. The Accrington-based firm said it had not been able to reach agreement with its UK lenders for additional funding it needed. Studio Retail had requested a short-term loan of £25m to fund surplus stockholding which [...]
Financial watchdog pushes through changes to “unfair and unclear” buy-now pay-later contracts February 14, 2022 The Financial Conduct Authority has pushed through changes to potentially “unfair and unclear” terms in the contracts major buy-now pay-later (BNPL) as the government prepares for a regulatory clampdown on the sector this year.
Blackstone takes £4.7bn bet on troubled Australian gambling group February 14, 2022 Blackstone has taken a £4.7bn bet on troubled Australian gambling group Crown Resorts. The resort group has faced regulatory scrutiny after official investigated revealed it had knowingly dealt with criminal organisations and then misled authorities about it. The US private equity giant already owned 10 per cent of the company, but has now snapped up [...]
Hormone-treated beef from Canada to flood UK food chain under CPTPP deal, British farmers warn February 14, 2022 Canada is pushing for hormone-treated beef to be made available across the UK once Britain joins the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). According to the National Farmers Union, the deal would “severely undermine British farmers” and lower the quality of meet sold across the UK. CPTPP – a trade deal among a [...]
Farming boss warns Russia Ukraine tensions threaten UK food supplies February 14, 2022 Farmers have warned the UK’s food supply could be affected by tensions in Russia and Ukraine, with soaring costs hitting firms. Speaking to The Independent, Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), warned that the two countries supply just under one third of global wheat exports. Farmers have faced spiralling costs after a [...]
JD Sports and Footasylum hit with £5m fine following covert car park rendezvous February 14, 2022 city watchdog has slapped sports retailers JD Sports and Footasylum with a £5m fine after the firms’ bosses conducted covert meetings to discuss a blocked takeover, it has revealed.
Burger King UK’s owners court investors ahead of £600m float February 14, 2022 Burger King UK’s private equity owners have begun a charm offensive with investors as they look to build support to float the firm’s UK division in the first half of this year.
