Shortage fears: Wine and spirit bosses warn of Christmas delays thanks to lack of drivers November 24, 2021 Brits face disappointment as deliveries of their favourite alcoholic drinks are being delayed due to the shortage of HGV drivers, a coalition of 49 wine and spirits companies has said. Bosses from household names such as Campari and Bibendum Wines have today written to secretary of state for transport, Grant Shapps, calling for further action [...]
Topps Tiles lays foundations for ‘sustainable growth’ as sales up 21 per cent in Christmas rush January 12, 2022 Topps Tiles announced a confident outlook in this morning’s trading update for the 13-week period ended 1 January, with like-for-like sales on a two-year basis up 21 per cent.
Premier Inn owner Whitbread gets serious Omicron beating over Christmas as new investments are postponed January 12, 2022 Premier Inn owner Whitbread has revealed a knock to demand over the festive season from the spread of the Omicron variant and cautioned over rising costs. The group saw total UK sales drop 4.4 per cent year-on-year in the six weeks to January 6, dragged lower by a 17.2 per cent slump in food and [...]
A very merry Christmas: Sainsbury’s upgrades full year profits to £720m thanks to retail boom January 12, 2022 Sainsbury’s has reported a very merry Christmas this morning, upgrading its pre-tax profits for the full year to £720m.
Small businesses won’t survive 2022 without Christmas bumper, research shows November 24, 2021 Almost one fifth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will not survive 2022 without a Christmas bumper period, as around 36 per cent of businesses make 20 per cent of their annual revenue during the festive period. Research from business insurance provider Simply Business has highlighted how two thirds of business owners believe a good [...]
Boris Johnson admits UK shortages are here to stay until Christmas October 3, 2021 Boris Johnson has admitted the UK’s goods shortages will likely last until Christmas, while adding that “we need to see” a “period of adjustment” post-Brexit. The Prime Minister said today that he would not “pull the lever” of more immigration in the short-term to stop the lorry driver shortages. Petrol shortages are still being seen [...]
Supply chain woes: Virgin Wines stocks up for Christmas year in advance October 28, 2021 Virgin Wines revenue has jumped around a third to £73.6m in the past year, buoyed by strong levels of customer demand. In comparison with pre-pandemic figures, revenue has soared 73 per cent in the year to 30 June. Meanwhile, profit before tax and exceptional items has surged 86 per cent to £5.2m. The retailer has [...]
A very merry Christmas: Pubs hope for a boost from late-notice office parties November 19, 2021 Pubs are readying for a wave of late bookings as office workers look for an excuse to put their Christmas party hats on. Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny told CityA.M. that his pubs had seen a “real surge” in bookings and enquiries over the last two to three weeks, mainly from the City and West [...]
German disease control head warns of ‘terrible Christmas’ as hospitals reach breaking point November 18, 2021 The head of Germany’s disease control agency has warned the country faces a “really terrible Christmas” amid news that overrun hospitals are sending patients abroad. German politicians are debating measures that would replace the nationwide epidemic rules, which will expire at the end of the month. It comes as the country’s hospitals face an overwhelming [...]
Turkey farmers blame Brexit for labour shortage that would ruin Christmas September 26, 2021 Brits face the threat of no turkey this Christmas as a result of Brexit and subsequent lack of labour, the Traditional Farm Fresh Turkey Association (TFTA) has warned. While small local farms are unlikely to be impacted, the UK’s supermarkets could see a ‘national shortage’ of turkeys in the run-up to the festive season due [...]