Pubs shut and supermarkets closed: Pingdemic rips through recovery July 19, 2021 Supermarkets and pubs shut their doors today as the so-called “pingdemic” results in staff shortages across the country. Iceland boss Richard Walker said some of their 1,000 UK stores had been forced to close by the NHS app ‘pinging’ staff with orders to self-isolate. And the CEO of pub chain Greene King, Nick Mackenzie, has [...]
Morrisons push ahead with plans to open automated grocery store as ‘pingdemic’ continues to hit supermarkets July 19, 2021 Morrisons are said to be close to unveiling an unmanned pilot store to the public “within months”, as they look to follow Amazon’s lead in modernising the approach to grocery shopping. The store will rely on shoppers to scan their smartphones upon entry before having digital cameras follow their every step in store to check [...]
Scotch Malt Whisky Society owners enjoy sales growth despite Brexit export issues July 19, 2021 The Artisanal Spirits Company, the owner of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, has enjoyed a 28 per cent lift to online sales in the UK despite minor membership growth. Despite last year’s lockdown spurring on drinking habits, the spirits company pulled in £1.7m in the six months to 30 June, in comparison to £1.3m during [...]
UK retail lobby: Self-isolation policy will lead to ‘critical impact’ due to ‘pingdemic’ July 18, 2021 The UK’s retail sector lobby has warned that England’s current self-isolation policy will lead to serious disruption to businesses, with millions of people set to be told to self-isolate in the coming weeks. British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said “something’s got to give” or “we will see some more critical impacts over the [...]
Burberry stock drops as CEO departure spooks investors July 16, 2021 Shares sank 5.5 per cent in luxury fashion brand Burberry today, dragging its total share price to 1,955 as investors seemed uncertain about the company’s direction following its CEO’s exit. The brand pulled in £479m in revenue over the past three months despite over ten per cent of its stores remaining closed due to Covid [...]
Entire Scottish whisky distillery ships to China July 16, 2021 A Scottish whisky distillery, in its entirety, is being shipped out to China today. More than 35 tonnes of equipment, including flooring, control valves and pipework, is leaving Buckie in Moray for the port of Tianjin, according to a BBC report. It will be Inner Mongolia’s first whisky distillery when it opens towards the end [...]
Small shops face £1.7bn debt, says report by ex-boss of Iceland July 16, 2021 Small shops are struggling under £1.7bn debt, the former retail chief of Iceland, has warned. Independent businesses’ borrowing increased fourfold during the pandemic, according to the report. While the money borrowed has allowed small shops to survive, the task of paying back the loans still looms over them, said Bill Grimsey, the author of the [...]
eve Sleep sees sales up, bolstered by online shopping July 16, 2021 Mattress maker eve Sleep today reported overall revenue growth of 13 per cent in the first half of 2021, reaffirming full-year expectations. Despite increased sales, shares in the London-based company were down over 15 per cent early morning. eve Sleep said sales growth was primarily online due to coronavirus restrictions, but suggested the trend to [...]
Just Eat acquires Slovakian food delivery as global expansion continues July 16, 2021 Just Eat Takeaway has announced it will acquire Bistro.sk, a food delivery company in Slovakia, as it expands its global footprint. The deal, approximately valued at €50m, is expected to close later in the year. The Slovakian business operates in a similar format to Just Eat. Its 400,000 customers choose food, from the 2,000 or [...]
Ultimate Products to take over Salter and Heston Blumenthal partnership July 15, 2021 Britain’s oldest houseware brand Salter is set to be snapped up by London-listed Ultimate Products as consumers fell back in love with home cooking over lockdown. The deal is expected to be completed by 19 July and will cost Ultimate Products (UP) some £32m in cash. UP, which turned over £115.7m last year, will take [...]