Strong appetite for takeaway and delivery as sales soar past pre-Covid levels October 22, 2021 Restaurant groups- including Pizza Express and Honest Burgers -more than doubled their delivery and takeaway sales from pre-Covid levels last month. Combined sales were 130 per cent higher than in September 2019, the CGA & Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker revealed. Sales are also 35 per cent higher than in September 2020, with signs that [...]
Holiday Inn owner reports trade improvement as travel returns October 22, 2021 Crowne Plaza owner InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has said it has achieved an average daily rate in line with pre-pandemic levels. In a third quarter trading update, it said it had achieved occupancy of around 60 per cent. It reported revenue per available room (RevPAR) was down 21 per cent on 2019. It was up [...]
ProCook confirms intention to proceed with IPO October 22, 2021 Kitchenware brand ProCook has confirmed its intention to proceed with an initial public offering. The business confirmed it would make its debut on the London Stock Exchange and list on the premium listing segment of the official list of the FCA. The offer will comprise an offer of existing shares to be sold by existing [...]
Retail sales drop for fifth month in a row October 22, 2021 UK retail sales dropped in September for the fifth consecutive month but have bounced back from the pandemic, It marked the longest continuous stretch since records began in 1996, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said retail sales volumes dropped by 0.2 per cent last month, following a 0.6 per cent [...]
JD Sports acquires Cosmos and moves into the Greek market October 22, 2021 JD Sports has acquired 80 per cent of Greek sport retailer Cosmos to expand its presence in Europe with a foothold in the Greek market. “This is another exciting acquisition for JD that further expands our presence in Europe,” said JD Sports’ executive chairman Peter Cowgill. “We welcome the highly experienced and knowledgeable Tsiknakis Family [...]
Half term: Brits to inject £4.5bn into economy with Halloween staycations October 21, 2021 Families will inject £4.5bn into the economy with half-term staycations this month. Just under half of UK families will take a short break this half-term, according to the Travelodge Holiday Index. The hotel chain found London topped the list as most popular city and Halloween-themed destination. Those looking to enjoy Halloween on a staycation can [...]
Women plan boycott of clubs after police investigate reports of spiking via injection October 21, 2021 London women have said they will boycott nightclubs following reports of spiking via injections while venues called on the Home Office to open an inquiry. Nottinghamshire police received a dozen reports of spiking via an injection, rather than contaminated drinks, since September. Police forces are also investigating reports in Glasgow, Exeter, West Yorkshire and the [...]
Gymshark director buys majority share in HERA October 21, 2021 Gymshark director and former chairman Paul Richardson has purchased the majority share in streetwear brand HERA London. Richardson has taken the position of executive chairman at the fashion firm, which aims to grow into a £100m label over the next three to five years. In his new position, Richardson will oversee company strategy, create significant [...]
‘Headaches’ for Innocent as fruit for smoothies held up at ports October 21, 2021 Innocent’s CEO Douglas Lamont has warned decisions on hiking prices of the brand’s smoothies are “imminent,” as retailers face mounting cost pressures. Speaking to CityAM, Lamont said there were “huge challenges out there,” with cost pressures and limited driver availability. “We’ve all been quite battle-hardened [after the pandemic], in terms of keeping service levels. We’re [...]
Blackstone deal bags Spanx a spanking new $1.2bn valuation October 21, 2021 Shapewear brand Spanx has bagged a $1.2bn valuation after inking a deal with investment heavyweight Blackstone. The deal will see Blackstone snap up a majority stake in the brand, though how much the private equity firm forked out for the shapewear brand is not yet known. After founding the company in 2000 with $5,000 in [...]
