Lidl heads for Hampstead: Discounter eyes London sites in major expansion plan June 24, 2021 Lidl is plotting an expansion into well-heeled districts including Hampstead and Knightsbridge as part of a plan to increase store numbers in the capital. The German discount retailer plans to have 1,000 stores in its portfolio by the end of 2023, with the supermarket eyeing areas in town centres, edge of town centre locations, retail [...]
Poundland owner Pepco increases earnings as store openings outpace pandemic June 24, 2021 Pepco Group, owner of discount retailer Poundland, has reported a 16.8 per cent increase in core earnings in the six months to 31 March, as revenue growth from new store openings offset the impact of pandemic restrictions. The group, which is listed in Poland and also owns the PEPCO and Dealz brands in Europe, trades from more than [...]
Junk food ads to be banned before the watershed in obesity crackdown June 24, 2021 Junk food adverts will not be allowed to be shown on TV before 9pm, as part of a campaign to tackle obesity. Foods including sausage rolls, fish fingers and pasties will be caught in the crackdown, the Sun reported. Ministers will unveil the plans today, according to reports, leaving businesses facing a medley of restrictions [...]
Travelodge appoints first female chief operating officer June 23, 2021 Budget hotel chain Travelodge has made Claire Good its new chief operating officer, making her the first woman to hold the role. Good has been serving as interim COO of Travelodge on an since January 2021. Her appointment makes her the fourth female on the group’s current operating board. Having joined Travelodge in 2016 as [...]
City centre hotels hammered by Covid restrictions on travel June 23, 2021 Hotels located in city centres are “really struggling” as Brits pick resorts over cities and travel restrictions curb tourism. Most hotels in British resorts like Cornwall are full, but city centre hotels are only between 30 and 40 per cent booked, according to data from hotel technology provider Avvio. London has seen a 32 per [...]
‘Are you crazy?’: London restaurateur on opening two eateries during the pandemic June 23, 2021 When the pandemic hit, London-based restauranteur Sanjay Anand, owner of catering and restaurant business Madhu’s, found himself feeling restless, with more time on his hands than he had had in decades. Pre-pandemic Madhu’s, which specialises in luxury Indian food, was predominantly a catering business, and when Covid restrictions were put in place last March around [...]
Festivals face ‘survival threat’ without insurance scheme, MPs warn June 23, 2021 Music festivals face a serious threat to their survival unless the government underwrites an insurance scheme covering the risk of cancellation, MPs have warned. In a report published today the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) warned that festivals were making “difficult decisions” about whether to risk their survival by going ahead this summer. The MPs added [...]
Labour says government should intervene in private equity takeover of Morrisons June 23, 2021 Labour has called on the government to confirm it will intervene in any private equity takeover of Morrisons to secure binding commitments about the buyer’s business plan, on jobs and on pensions. Morrisons revealed this weekend it had rejected a £5.5bn takeover bid from private equity firm Clayton, Dubiliter & Rice (CD&R), saying it believed [...]
Joules beats market expectations as recently acquired garden retailer provides boost June 23, 2021 Profit and revenue at Joules for the last financial year beat expectations, with its recently acquired garden and outdoor product store performing particularly well. In a pre-close trading update this morning, the fashion retailer said revenue had increased four per cent to £199m, up around £8m from the previous year. Profit before tax for the [...]
Fishy business: US lab fails to find tuna DNA in Subway tuna sandwiches June 22, 2021 A US lab could not find tuna DNA in 60 inches of Subway sandwiches supposedly serving the fish. The lab performed PCR tests, commissioned by the New York Times, to find if samples of the sandwich filling contained one of five common tuna species. “No amplifiable tuna DNA was present in the sample and so [...]