Cineworld secures $200m loan boost as it gears up for bumper film slate July 30, 2021 Cineworld today said it had secured $200m (£143m) in incremental loans to help shore up its finances as the chain prepared for a bumper schedule of film releases later this year. The loan facility, which matures in May 2024, was secured from a group of Cineworld’s existing lenders. The company said it did not have [...]
Dairy giant Arla struggles with trickling supply of lorry drivers July 30, 2021 Dairy giant Arla has been hit by the lorry driver shortage which has forced it to cut back on its deliveries to the shelves of most UK supermarkets. The milk producer typically supplies some 2,400 stores daily but has struggled with a trickling supply of drivers since April, its UK managing director Ash Amirahmadi said. [...]
Two-tiered recovery? High Streets struggle as one-in-seven shops sit vacant July 30, 2021 A wave of administrations, closures and downsizing has decimated the UK high street, with new figures out this morning showing one in seven shops are sitting empty – and the problem is getting worse. In the second quarter of 2021, the overall vacancy rate increased to 14.5 per cent across the UK, from 14.1 per [...]
All Bar One owner going through ‘volatile’ time post-lockdown July 29, 2021 All Bar One and Toby Carvery owner Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) said it has seen “volatile” sales since reopening its all of its venues in May. Shares drifted lower in early trading after the hospitality group said it saw a slowdown in sales after an initially strong period following the easing of restrictions on 17 [...]
Open waters: International cruises to welcome passengers again July 29, 2021 International cruises will be allowed to restart next Monday after an extended break due to the coronavirus crisis. Months after domestic cruises restarted, international cruise lines operating in EU, UK, and US waters are finally allowed to welcome passengers onboard at 4am on 2 August but many companies say this won’t be possible until later [...]
Pret A Manger mulls expanding into coffee vending machines in move to diversify July 29, 2021 Pret A Manger is set to expand into coffee vending machines. The sandwich chain is joining the trend, according to the Financial Times, to widen its product offering through automated dispensers as the sector suffers from the drop in commuters and staff shortages. Earlier this month, the company’s application to trademark the name “Pret Express” [...]
Exclusive: HMV’s new owner on where he wants to take his High Street stores July 29, 2021 Music and entertainment retailer HMV confirmed last week plans to open 10 new stores, including a flagship London site. Following its decline into administration two years ago its Oxford Street store – along with many others – were closed. However, new owner Doug Putman, a Canadian music retail executive, bought the struggling business and believes [...]
Pets at Home keeps lockdown puppy boom momentum and hoists revenue July 29, 2021 Pets at Home has kept up its pandemic sales momentum in its first-quarter following last year’s lockdown puppy boom, with revenue up 25.7 per cent. The pet retailer group’s total revenue lifted to £377m in the weeks to 15 July, with 29.4 per cent growth on the same period the year before Covid-19. The group [...]
Guinness owner Diageo sales jump as it toasts reopening July 29, 2021 Spirits group Diageo has beaten expectations for full-year sales as it gears up the reopening of bars and nightclubs across Europe. The booze business, which owns brands such as Guinness, Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff, reported net sales of £12.7bn in the year to the end of June, up 8.3 per cent on the previous year. [...]
Lookers shares drive higher as car dealer upgrades profit guidance July 29, 2021 Shares in car dealership chain Lookers jumped eight per cent this morning after the company told investors it was expecting a higher full year profit. Lookers said in a first half trading update that underlying profit before tax in six months to 30 June is now expected to be approximately £50m, compared to a £36.1m [...]