A British icon is now Thai: Weston family pockets £4bn after completing sale of Selfridges December 24, 2021 The sale of luxury retail group Selfridges to Thai family-owned retail and hospitality Central Group and European real estate group Signa has been completed by the Weston family. A statement released early this morning by Central Group said the acquisition would “create one of the world’s leading omni-channel luxury department store groups”. The sale was [...]
Former Vogue editor Grace Mirabella dies aged 91 December 24, 2021 Grace Mirabella, the former editor-in-chief of American Vogue for 17 years, has passed away at the age of 91. Mirabella joined Vogue in 1951 as a merchandising assistant and joined its editorial team three years later. Born to parents of Italian descent, she once said her nothing about her upbringing prepared her for her long-standing [...]
Stella McCartney pay rose to £2.7m while firm took furlough cash December 24, 2021 Designer Stella McCartney enjoyed a pay rise to £2.7m last year, while her business claimed £850,000 in government support during the pandemic, according to reports. The news comes amid reports that meanwhile cosmetics company Charlotte Tilbury has returned furlough payments of £3.2m it took during the pandemic to the government, after its makeup sales withstood the [...]
Champagnes bubble up in price amid trickling supply and upbeat demand December 24, 2021 Champagnes have bubbled up in price amid a trickling supply and higher demand over the course of the year. The cost of vintage champagnes such as Dom Pérignon 2008 and Krug 2000 have ballooned in price this year, outperforming global stocks, the Financial Times reported, as investors spy returns in previously overlooked assets. In general, [...]
As fat from Christmas turkeys could fill 3,000 bathtubs, Brits urged not to pour it down the sink December 24, 2021 South West Water is urging customers this morning to avoid a foul festive season by not pouring oils and grease down the sink. The fat from Christmas turkeys could fill nearly 3,000 bathtubs, according to the water company. A medium-sized turkey produces up to three-quarters of a pint of fat which, if put down pipes, [...]
Reckitt Benckiser rakes in £200m for skincare brand E45 as it shifts from ‘a brand-led to a category-led growth strategy’ December 24, 2021 Skincare brand E45 is sold for £200m, its owner, consumer giant Reckitt Benckiser, said this morning. The Slough-based company, which also owns brand including Dettol and Durex, told investors on Friday morning that it is set to sell the business to Swedish group Karo Pharma. In the financial year to December 2020, the E45 brand [...]
Charlotte Tilbury returns £3.2m furlough cash after pandemic boost to makeup sales December 24, 2021 Cosmetics company Charlotte Tilbury has returned furlough payments it took during the pandemic, to the government after its makeup sales withstood the pandemic and lockdown restrictions, according to reports. Founded by celebrity makeup artist of the same name in 2013, last year sales at Charlotte Tilbury Beauty grew 11.3 per cent to £258.8m and the [...]
Thousands of Brits receive mysterious scam delivery text messages December 23, 2021 With many people ordering online this Christmas, huge numbers of parcels are being expected by households in the coming days. Last-minute Christmas shoppers are therefore being warned that scam delivery text messages are on the increase, as thousands of Brits received mysterious messages on the phones. UK Finance, a trade association representing banks and other [...]
Major infrastructure changes needed to prevent future supply chain crises, says ex Tesco boss December 23, 2021 Major infrastructure changes are needed to relieve the UK’s supply chain struggles and prevent similar crises in the future, the government’s logistics tsar has reportedly cautioned. Former Tesco boss Sir Dave Lewis said that the “seismic move in consumer shopping habits… Together with a global shipping challenge, has shown the pressure on our existing supply [...]
Tencent dishes out over $16bn to shareholders in JD.com windfall December 23, 2021 Chinese tech giant Tencent is set to dish out $16.4bn to its shareholders in the form of the majority of its stake in JD.com. The move will see the gaming and social media group cut its holding from 17 per cent to just 2.3 per cent. It means Tencent will step down from the helm [...]
