Poundland owner to create 13,000 jobs as it eyes online retail expansion July 23, 2021 The Pepco Group, which owns Poundland, has tabled plans to create 13,000 new jobs across Europe over the next three years. The discount group’s boss Andy Bond told Reuters that it is betting on shoppers flocking to less expensive stores amid pandemic-induced inflation. Unlike most retailers over the pandemic, the discount chain group has not [...]
Ted Baker upgrades London HQ to Gorgeous Brown Building in Fitzrovia July 23, 2021 Ted Baker has traded in its Ugly Brown Building headquarters after 20 years for what will be called the Gorgeous Brown Building in Fitzrovia. The lifestyle and fashion brand had previously owned the Ugly Brown Building in King’s Cross which was sold to British Airways Pension Trustees for £78.8m last year. Shares opened higher in [...]
Bankers, lawyers and advisers set to enjoy £300m in fees from Morrisons sale July 23, 2021 Over £300m in fees stands to be gained by those involved in the £6.3bn sale of Morrisons, documents have revealed according to a report. Shareholders in Morrisons will vote on a £6.3bn takeover bid from a trio of private investment groups led by SoftBank-owned Fortress on 16 August. If the deal goes ahead, private equity [...]
Hotel Chocolat raises £40m in bid to become ‘digital-led’ chocolatier July 23, 2021 Hotel Chocolat has raised £40m in its latest share placement, in what its boss said will help it become a ‘digital-led chocolate brand’. The British chocolatier’s placing, which was led by Peel Hunt and Liberum Capital, was oversubscribed. “The £40m growth capital raised today will be invested in our fast-growing business, furthering our aim of [...]
Lorry drivers and factory workers get exemption from Test and Trace app to halt shortages July 22, 2021 Lorry drivers and factor workers in the food and drinks sectors will be exempt from the Test and Trace app and will instead be tested every day for Covid-19 as the government tries to ease shortages caused by the so-called “pingdemic”. The government announced tonight that “daily contact testing will be rolled out to critical [...]
Robinsons owner Britvic sees revenues rocket as UK restrictions ease July 22, 2021 Britvic, which owns Robinsons and Tango, has seen its revenues surge since restrictions eased as the soft drinks retailer was hit hard by hospitality closures. Revenue at the company shot up 22.8 per cent to £384.8m in its third-quarter trading, as it said revenue has grown across all its units. In total, however, the company’s [...]
Government monitoring ‘concerning’ supermarket shortages caused by ‘pingdemic’ July 22, 2021 Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has said he is “monitoring” the growing supermarket shortages caused by workers being forced to self-isolate as Covid cases surge. Pictures of empty shelves circulated across social media last night, leading supermarkets to apologise for the Test and Trace-caused shortages. More than 600,000 people have been told to self-isolate by the [...]
Food supply chains ‘on edge of failing’, meat industry warns July 21, 2021 The country’s food supply chains are “on the edge of failing” as the so-called “pingdemic” aggravates a critical shortage of labour, a sector body said tonight. The British Meat Processors’ Association (BMPA) said the shortage of skills was so critical, some plants had reported vacancies of 10 per cent to 16 per cent of permanent [...]
Not amused: Loungers chief calls govt Covid-19 messaging ‘shambolic’ July 21, 2021 The boss of bar and restaurant group Loungers has labelled the Government’s recent messaging around Covid-19 rules as “absolutely shambolic” and described Covid passports as “unworkable” for the hospitality sector. Nick Collins, chief executive of the 175-site business, said that he “can’t imagine a scenario” where Covid certification would be necessary for his customers. It [...]
Glastonbury scraps plan for one-day September festival July 21, 2021 Glastonbury has ditched plans to hold a one-day event in September, the festival’s organisers have announced. Earlier this year Mendip district council granted a licence application for a one-off show with a maximum capacity of 50,000 people – a quarter of the festival’s usual capacity. But in a post on Instagram organiser Emily Eavis said [...]
