AO World shares crash amid worries over electrics retailer’s financial strength after insurer cuts cover July 4, 2022 Shares of online electricals retailer AO World are diving today amid worries over its financial strength after it was reported that a credit insurer has cut cover for the firm’s suppliers. The group saw shares fall by more than 18 per cent at one stage in morning trading today following the Sunday Times report revealing [...]
Shoppers offered shares: WeShop races towards IPO as British tech star launches world’s first community-owned e-com platform July 4, 2022 The world’s first community-owned social ecommerce platform has gone live, offering shoppers shares in the group every time they make a purchase. The new platform, launched by British tech star WeShop is launching itself, plans to give away up to 90 per cent of its business to shoppers, and aims to list on the Nasdaq [...]
Pret a Manger back in black after pandemic massacre as sandwich giant eyes overseas expansion July 4, 2022 Sandwich and coffee chain Pret a Manger has said it returned to profitability in March after suffering another year of hefty losses in 2021 amid lockdowns and Covid restrictions. The group revealed it remained in the red with operating losses of £225.9m last year, in new filings on Companies House. This was an improvement on [...]
Sainsbury’s and M&S walk into shareholder storm over minimum living wage versus bumper bonuses July 4, 2022 As activists mobilise in the first shareholder resolution of its kind, supermarket giant Sainsbury’s will be put under pressure this week to pay all staff and contracted workers the national living wage. Responsible investment campaign group ShareAction is driving the experimental motion at the supermarket giant’s annual general meeting on Thursday 7 July. Legal & [...]
Tesco kicks off £150m share buyback programme July 4, 2022 Tesco announced today it will kick off a £150m share buyback programme as bosses look to put excess cash back in shareholders' pockets.
Hospitality crisis: Fewer pubs in England and Wales than ever before with less than 40,000 for first time on record July 4, 2022 Fresh analysis that sheds light on the ruinous impact of the pandemic and soaring business costs shows this a.m. that there are fewer pubs in England and Wales than ever before. The total number of pubs dropped below 40,000 during the first half of 2022, a fall of more than 7,000 since a decade ago. [...]
Confirmed: Thousands of post Office collection and cash delivery workers to strike on 14 July July 1, 2022 Post Office collection and cash delivery workers are to stage a one-day strike later this month in a dispute over pay. Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) employed in supply chain and admin jobs will walk out on 14 July. The workers deliver cash, valuables and essential supplies to thousands of sub-post offices, process [...]
Complaints from EU push Amazon to allow two-click cancellation for Prime July 1, 2022 Amazon have made it easier for users to cancel their Prime subscriptions in just two clicks after consumer groups took their grievances about the e-commerce giant to the EU last year. The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), the Norwegian Consumer Council and the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue criticised Amazon for pushing users to go through a number [...]
UK food prices now over seven per cent higher than 2021 with perishable goods leading the way July 1, 2022 Food and consumer goods prices across Europe are now 6.9 per cent higher than they were a year ago, rising to 7.5 per cent in the UK. According to new data released by NielsenIQ today, more than eight FMCG categories out of 10 showed increasing inflation rates during the 12 week period ending April 24 [...]
British staycations under threat as hotels ‘turning away guests’ due to staff shortages, BCC boss warns June 30, 2022 The British staycation is under threat as hospitality firms struggle with staff shortages this summer, the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) warned yesterday. Shevaun Haviland said the country was “already seeing a drag on economic growth due to the lack of people in our labour market.” Hotels had been “turning guests [...]