City centre pubs enjoy boost from returning office workers September 23, 2021 City Pub Group has reported robust half-year sales at above 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, with returning workers driving sales at city sites this month. The group – which operates some 50 pubs in London and market towns – managed to break even by June, despite the period not covering sporting tournaments including Wimbledon [...]
DFS struggling with supply chain disruption despite swing to £100m profit September 23, 2021 Furniture seller DFS said this morning it is still struggling with disruption in its supply chain, even as it reported a 47 per cent jump in revenue and swung to a profit. Revenue hit £1.1bn in the year to the end of June, up from £725m a year earlier, and even stronger than the £996m [...]
Travelodge targeting young parents in drive to fill 750 jobs across UK September 23, 2021 Hotel giant Travelodge has launched an autumn recruitment drive as it looks to fill 750 jobs at its hotels across the UK. The jobs are a mix of full and part-time, offering flexible working hours for posts including receptionists, bar staff and managers. Travelodge said it is targeting parents wanting to return to work now [...]
Tesco warns of panic buying as ’empty shelves will get ten times worse’ September 23, 2021 A shortfall of 800 drivers has prompted Tesco to warn about panic buying in the run up to Christmas if the nationwide HGV crisis is not addressed. The UK’s largest supermarket also called on the Government to temporarily make it easier to bring in workers from abroad to ease the issue. Andrew Woolfenden, Tesco’s UK [...]
UK farmers over the moon as Biden agrees to lift 32-year old US ban on British lamb September 22, 2021 President Joe Biden’s administration is planning to lift a 32-year old ban on the import of British lamb, in a move that has delighted sheep farmers in the UK. Prime Minister Boris Johnson highlighted the move to lift the ban while speaking to reporters in Washington D.C. earlier this afternoon, as he admitted he is [...]
Brexit cancels bonfire night: Import rules reduce UK firework supply by 70 per cent September 22, 2021 The UK is receiving just 30 per cent of the fireworks stock that suppliers usually have for the year, Morning Wire has been told today. In fact, there won’t be enough fireworks for the usual Bonfire Night celebrations, and as the date approaches, low supply will increase prices for consumers, according to Doncaster-based supplier Fireworks [...]
Smoother sailing: Saga cruise bookings back to pre-Covid levels September 22, 2021 Holidays group Saga has reported smoother sailing with bookings for cruises in 2022 back to levels seen before Covid. The group – which caters to over-50s – said its current booked cruise load factors were at 70 per cent for 2021/22, following legal restrictions on capacity for early cruises. It posted tour operations bookings for [...]
PZ Cussons: Revenue ahead of pre-pandemic levels despite Covid comparatives September 22, 2021 Personal healthcare brand PZ Cussons said revenues were ahead of pre-pandemic levels despite an unprecedented demand for hygiene brands easing. The firm said it expected comparatives from the beginning of the Covid 19 outbreak to impact its year-on-year revenue comparisons in the first quarter of FY22, in a trading update published on Wednesday. Its two [...]
Ten Entertainment bowled over by most successful summer ever September 22, 2021 Family entertainment provider Ten Entertainment has marked record sales since it reopened after England’s third lockdown. The firm – which operates 46 bowling and family entertainment centres in the UK – said it had seen 22.5 per cent sales growth in the six weeks from May 17. Like-for-like sales in the 11 weeks since June [...]
Suburban takeover: Pret sets out plans for more than 200 new shops September 22, 2021 Sandwich chain Pret a Manger has announced plans to open more than 200 UK shops in the next two years, as it aims to become more than a “white collar worker’s staple”. The business hopes to double its size within five years, with a £100m net investment by JAB and Pret founder Sinclair Beecham to [...]