Hop growers, breweries and Tesco team up for ‘fruitier’ IPA-style beers to counter US imports September 16, 2021 A Worcestershire hop grower has teamed up with a Derbyshire brewery and retailer Tesco on the first of a series of “all-British grown” IPA-style beers aimed at halting the charge of imported ingredients from America. Newland-based hop factor and merchant Charles Faram has been on a 10-year mission to modernise the flavour of British hops [...]
High street gaps filled by independent businesses as chains suffer September 16, 2021 Independent shops are filling gaps on high streets left after the shuttering of chain stores, recording their first rise in numbers in four years. Some 804 locally run convenience stores, barbers, bakers, cafes and fast-food outlets opened in the first half of 2021, according to Local Data Company (LDC) analysts. While local retailers enjoyed new [...]
Wickes instates first-ever dividend following Travis Perkins demerger September 16, 2021 Revenue at Wickes has grown steadily on pre-pandemic levels, pushing the home improvement store chain to instate its first ever interim dividend. The Watford-headquartered group posted revenue growth of 22.4 per cent on 2019 levels, and 33.1 per cent on a like for like basis, in its interim results for the six months to 26 [...]
M&S to close French high street stores after Brexit red-tape September 16, 2021 Marks & Spencer will shut 11 of its French stores because of supply issues with fresh and chilled foods after Brexit. The supermarket said it would close all franchise stores operated with partner SFH in the country by the end of the year. Nine stores at travel hubs would remain open but supply chain problems [...]
Asos outlines plans for lower carbon footprint September 16, 2021 Online fashion retailer Asos has set out plans to minimise its impact on the planet over the next few years. Under its Fashion with Integrity (“FWI”) 2030 programme, the company intends to become a verified net zero emissions business and use more sustainable and recycled materials by 2030. Consumers are increasingly concerned with fast fashion’s [...]
Superdry losses shrink despite subdued high street footfall September 16, 2021 Superdry said store and wholesale revenues were recovering well despite high streets remaining quiet. The fashion retailer reported a pre-tax loss of £37m for the year to April 24, compared with a £167m loss from a year earlier. Revenues fell 21.1 per cent to £556m for the year after a number of lockdowns across key [...]
John Lewis posts £29m pre-tax loss after restructuring costs September 16, 2021 John Lewis has reported a pre-tax loss of £29m for the year’s first half, after restructuring costs. However, the high street giant said its half year results ending July 31 marked a significant improvement on last year’s pre-tax loss of £635m. Profit before exceptional items was £69m, up £124m on the comparable period last year, [...]
Celebrity farmer Jeremy Clarkson urges govt to ‘ban the sale of avocados’ September 15, 2021 TV personality Jeremy Clarkson has called on the government to protect Britain’s food supplies just as the country is defended from attacks from foreign powers by its armed forces. Speaking at an event in Westminster hosted by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) earlier today, Clarkson urged the Government to commit to not let Britain’s self-sufficiency [...]
Primark debuts targets to slash environmental impact September 15, 2021 Fast fashion chain Primark has pledged to improve its environmental impact with changes to its products and boosting workers’ wages. The retailer said it would use more recyclable materials, make sure clothing lasted longer, and raise wages for workers, all while keeping prices the same for the consumer. This is the first time Primark has [...]
Retail recovery race: Zara sales outpace rival H&M September 15, 2021 Sales at Zara-owner Inditex are almost back to pre-crisis levels, but arch-rival H&M is seeing a slower road to recovery. Watch the full report.
