Struggles continue at Asda as new owner looks to turn around supermarket giant Retail The continuing struggles at supermarket giant Asda have been revealed with both Tesco and Sainsbury’s hoovering up its market share in the UK, according to new figures. Sales at the Leeds-based grocer totalled £4.242bn in the 12 weeks to 3 November, 2024, down from the £4.490bn it reported for the same period last year, the [...]
Marks and Spencer shares up on double-digit growth as turnaround pays off Retail Marks and Spencer has reported another bumper set of results ahead of the golden quarter as its turnaround plan continues to pay off. The company’s share price rose by nearly five per cent in early trades and reached a level not seen since 2016. Profit before tax rose 17.2 per cent to £407.8m, up £348.1m [...]
Bonfire Night Wines Wine During the time of Guy Fawkes, the historical figure for whom today’s Bonfire Night was created, drinking water was often riddled with dirt and germs meaning fermented or brewed alcoholic beverages were deemed safer to drink. Ale and beer, both lower in alcohol than modern day versions, were the staple of most adults and children [...]
M&S to report £6.6bn in sales amid turnaround in fortunes November 3, 2024 Such a performance would put further weight behind comments from boss Stuart Machin in May, hailing the "beginnings of a new M and S."
Ocado announces new chair sooner than expected October 31, 2024 Ocado has announced KKR senior advisor Adam Warby will succeed Rick Haythornthwaite as its chairman in December. As well as working for KKR, Warby also serves as chair of management consultant firm Heidrick & Struggles, and previously held various positions at Microsoft and IBM. Earlier this year, Ocado said Haythornthwaite would step down to focus [...]
What to wash your Halloween haul down with October 29, 2024 Never has there been a festival so associated with sweet treats as Halloween and now is the time to stock up for trick-or-treaters. Whether clearing the leftovers or raiding your child’s haul there is a way to make the experience even better with a glass of the good stuff. Chocolate I tend to go with [...]
Wine Cocktails are Winning Gen-Z October 23, 2024 Wine is wonderful, but a certain demographic (I’m looking at you Gen Z) seem to increasingly prefer cocktails. “Customisation is key, which is why cocktails are the perfect drink of choice for Gen Z,” says Carmen O’Neal, Saturday Kitchen’s spirits expert and founder of 58 and Co distillery. “Cocktails can be tailored to their tastes [...]
A wine-lover’s guide to sober October October 15, 2024 I may be biased given it is my career and passion, but wine really is an incredible drink. Even given my love of the drink however, I can fully support and applaud (if often from a distance) those choosing to curb their intake. In the recent report by KAM it was revealed that 74% of [...]
The ‘battle for value is on’ at UK grocers as supermarkets push discounts October 8, 2024 Higher spending at supermarkets over the last month has been driven by sales of discounted goods as grocers compete to bring financially-stretched customers through their doors, according to fresh data. Grocery price inflation increased slightly to two per cent during the four weeks to 29 September, up from 1.7 per cent last month, according to [...]
Congestion charge: Ocado leads push against ‘money making’ levy October 7, 2024 More than 40 UK businesses, including Ocado, the AA, and Openreach, have urged Sadiq Khan to scrap plans to extend the £15 daily congestion charge to electric vans. The businesses argue that this hugely unpopular congestion charge if continued, would severely impact those who have invested in greener fleets. Under Transport for London (TfL)’s current [...]