Scottish vaccine passport scheme will not be extended to cinemas and theatres November 23, 2021 Cinema and theatre operators have breathed a sigh of relief after it was confirmed Scotland’s vaccine passport will not be extended to more venues. First minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Covid pass scheme would come to include negative lateral flow test results, as well as the option to show proof of two jabs, from next [...]
Marks & Spencer buys stake in Nobody’s Child as it seeks to broaden clothing appeal November 23, 2021 Marks & Spencer has acquired a 25 per cent stake in affordable fashion brand Nobody’s Child, as it hopes to revive its clothing division. The investment is part of the retailer’s brands strategy which uses different models including wholesale agreements, exclusive collaborations, equity investments, and strategic acquisitions, including a purchase of Jaeger earlier this year. [...]
Catering giant Compass restarts dividend payouts as easing restrictions give profits a lift November 23, 2021 Catering giant Compass said this morning that, despite labour shortages and rising costs, it has restarted shareholder dividend payouts as annual profits jumped higher thanks to easing pandemic restrictions. The world’s biggest caterer saw pre-tax profits more than double to £464m in the year to September 30 from £210m the previous year. Results were bolstered [...]
London recovery: West End busier than week before as shoppers get into Christmas spirit November 22, 2021 Central London was busier last week than the previous week, as shoppers got into the festive spirit. Shopping destinations including Oxford Street and Regent Street saw an 8.3 per cent boost to footfall, in the week beginning 14 November. In a further endorsement for the City’s rebound, London’s office hubs were also busier than the [...]
TUI eyes glorious summer ahead as holiday bookings mount November 22, 2021 Travel giant TUI has announced above-average booking growth driven by a flurry of holiday bookings for next summer.
Retailers are using experiences, not goods, to keep high street fashion on trend November 22, 2021 A short stroll along Oxford Street these days doesn’t necessarilly fill retail fans with confidence. A phalanx of American candy stores, souvenir shops of questionable quality and ‘to let’ signs have blossomed after the pandemic, and House of Fraser last week became the latest bricks and mortar flagship to announce it would be closing its [...]
City rumour mill grinds around possible mega private equity offer for Marks & Spencer November 22, 2021 As shoppers prepare for a black Friday spree, the bargain hunt for good value UK companies continues for private equity firms. The rumour mills are now grinding around a possible bid by Apollo Global Management for UK high street staple Marks & Spencer, sending shares 3 per cent higher in early trade. The New York-based private equity giant [...]
New York-based Apollo Global Management mulls buyout of Marks & Spencer November 22, 2021 Private equity giant Apollo Global Management is reportedly mulling a buyout of UK high street staple Marks & Spencer.
Travelodge to open four ‘budget chic’ hotels this month, including in London’s Elephant and Castle and Manor House November 22, 2021 Travelodge has announced four new hotels will be open in time for Christmas as bosses hope to cash in on families looking to travel during the festive season, with most of them to be offering ‘budget chic’ rooms. Two new sites have already opened in London, in Elephant and Castle and Manor House, with a [...]
Shortages hit ASOS as Christmas gets closer November 21, 2021 Shortages are reportedly hitting fashion retailer ASOS, forcing the giant to defer orders from suppliers, a few weeks before Christmas. While some suppliers attribute this to labour shortages in the company warehouses, the firm says it is due to the global supply chain crisis, the Sunday Times reported. “We have a robust, professionally organised global [...]
