Alibaba has a “great” quarter as more mobile users and cloud computing customers see revenues shoot up November 2, 2016 China-based e-commerce company Alibaba announced strong results for the third quarter today as positive growth of its mobile users and cloud computing ventures saw revenue up 55 per cent since last year. Shares rose more than three per cent before the stock markets opened in New York on Wednesday. The company is gearing up for more record-breaking [...]
Asda vows to clean up its act after probe finds poor home delivery hygiene standards November 2, 2016 Supermarket Asda has taken “immediate action” to improve the standards of its home delivery service after an investigation exposed unhygienic conditions. Six in 10 deliveries were found to be “dirty or worse” by an undercover BBC Watchdog team, which launched the probe after a whistleblower raised concerns. Read more: Take that, Aldi: Tesco just gained [...]
Harrods posts a profit despite tough trading conditions November 2, 2016 Upmarket department store Harrods posted a robust profit last year, despite the difficulties faced by the retail sector. Harrods reported in its accounts for the year that profit was up 16.9 per cent to £129.7m, compared to £110.9m the year before. Group turnover for the period ending 30 January 2016 came to £788.9m, up from £769m [...]
Wetherspoon’s Tim Martin thinks that the falling pound will impact Eurozone businesses more than British companies November 2, 2016 Many of Britain's businesses may be feeling the pinch from sterling's recent malaise but the boss of one of Britain's largest pub chains doesn't think it will cause him too much pain. "The pound has gone up and down over the years and I haven’t noticed over the years a big effect on bar sales [...]
West End retailers are expecting a £2.34bn boost from Christmas this year November 2, 2016 The West End is expecting some healthy takings at the till this Christmas – the most important time of year for retailers. The New West End Company has forecast that till receipts will rise 1.6 per cent year-on-year this Christmas, hitting £2.34bn. Average takings are expected to come to £51.1m per day during the peak period for [...]
This brewer just launched a beer made from cloud water November 2, 2016 An Edinburgh-based brewer has just launched its new beer – made using water harvested from clouds. A team of four from Innis & Gunn flew an airbourne device over Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland to collect cloud water, which was used to make 500 pints of its new India pale ale. Read more: Kim Jong-un slashes beer [...]
Grocery prices were flat in October as Brexit-related price inflation was beaten by the supermarket price war November 2, 2016 Grocery prices were flat in October despite inflationary pressures from the fall in sterling, according to new figures. Analysis by website MySupermarket found that a basket of 35 key groceries cost £83.40, compared to £83.19 the month before. Read more: So Moneysupermarket? Comparison site is on track for a "record year" Annually, the price of the full [...]
Coconut flour, cactus water and charred food: Waitrose unveils 2016’s top food trends November 2, 2016 Were cactus water, wonky vegetables and coconut flour on the list for your latest weekly shop? No? Well, get with the times, apparently they were among the top food trends of the past year. So says Waitrose's 2016 Food and Drink Report, as consumers are becoming ever more focused on eating "lighter and fresher", while [...]
Tim Martin says European leaders are determined to put Britain’s consumption of German beer, French champagne and Swedish cider under threat November 2, 2016 The founder of pub giant Wetherspoon this morning slammed the "unelected" EU chief as well as the supporting leaders of Germany and France. Staunch Brexiter Tim Martin, who is chairman of the pub chain, hit out at EU leaders saying that they were determined to hurt the UK. Martin was active campaigning for Britain to leave the EU and signed [...]
Analysts have not gone easy on Next’s “miserable” results November 2, 2016 Analysts have not pulled their punches this morning in reaction to Next's announcement that sales fell 3.5 per cent in its third quarter. Retail Economics' chief executive Richard Lim described Next's sales growth as "miserable", and said that the "conditions on the high street remain desperate". Next's share price has been climbing this morning, however, [...]