Quiz losses deepen after pandemic store closures September 29, 2021 Fashion retailer Quiz has posted deepening losses after the pandemic deterred consumers from buying occasion wear and forced shops to shut for months. Group revenue dropped 66 per cent for the year ended 31 March 2021 , which the retailer said was down to the impact of the pandemic on trading conditions. The retailer posted [...]
Amazon offers ‘options’ to truck marshals facing pay cuts September 29, 2021 Online giant Amazon has said it is offering “a number of options” to truck marshalls who face a pay cut of almost a quarter at its delivery stations. The role involves people managing hundreds of trucks and drivers at the online retailer’s delivery stations and warehouses. Two marshals told Business Insider they were told this [...]
Return of commuters gives Upper Crust owner SSP much-needed sales boost September 29, 2021 Upper Crust owner SSP has seen a boost in sales at its travel stores but is still far below pre-pandemic levels, the company said this morning. Bosses said there was a significant improvement in the past three months as lockdown restrictions ease, but they remain around just 47 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. The company [...]
Time running out for Morrisons sale as suitors have until Saturday to submit final bids September 29, 2021 Suitors for Morrisons have until Saturday to make final bids for the supermarket as the stock market’s Takeover Panel announced the launch of an auction process this morning. Private equity houses Fortress and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), who have both made non-binding bids, will now take part in an auction which launches on October [...]
Next hikes full-year outlook again after sales surge and profits swell to £347m September 29, 2021 Fashion giant Next has hiked its full-year outlook once more after surging sales, but warned over rising prices and staff shortages in the run-up to Christmas. It said supply chain woes had seen higher freight costs push up prices by about 2 per cent in the first half and cautioned this would continue into next [...]
Brexit-backing Next boss calls for speedy government intervention in staff crisis September 29, 2021 Next, headed by Brexit-backing boss Lord Wolfson, has called on the government to relax immigration rules to ensure its operations run smoothly this Christmas. “It’s a question of availability, we need a system that’s geared up to give more visas,” Wolfson told CityAM. Wolfson hit back at critics who said the country had got what [...]
Hospitality operators pessimistic of any staff shortage resolution September 29, 2021 Restaurant bosses have complained that ministers are actively choosing not to intervene in staff shortage issues with immigration changes and instead are focusing on longer-term training plans. Sector leaders – including Nando’s boss Colin Hill and UK Hospitality CEO Kate Nicholls – will form a new hospitality council, business minister Paul Scully announced today. The [...]
Judge rules in favour of Morrisons workers in £100m fight for equal pay September 28, 2021 Thousands of Morrisons retail staff are making progress with their £100m fight for equal pay following a new ruling at an employment tribunal. The ruling, by judge Davies at Leeds Employment Tribunal, confirmed that Morrisons’ shop floor workers can compare their pay with the supermarket giant’s distribution centre workers. The mostly female staff, both current [...]
London’s Trocadero wins High Court battle against Cineworld over millions in unpaid rent September 28, 2021 London’s Trocadero Centre in Piccadilly Circus has won a high court battle against cinema chains Cineworld and Picturehouse Cinemas over millions of pounds in unpaid rent. The owners of London’s Trocadero Centre brought legal action against the two chains and the original tenant, Gallery Cinemas, over outstanding bills since June 2020. The three firms, which [...]
£222m takeover of Hawthorn pubs by Admiral Taverns faces competition probe September 28, 2021 The UK competition regulator said this afternoon it is leaning towards launching a probe into Admiral Taverns’ £222m takeover of the Hawthorn pub business. Admiral sealed a deal to buy the pub estate, which covers 674 venues across the UK, from the retail property investor NewRiver, in July. The move will strengthen Admiral’s position as [...]