Home affairs: All five British Isles teams can still reach Euro 2020 and lend tournament a distinctly British flavour September 5, 2019 For a tournament that is supposed to be pan-continental there is already a distinctly British flavour to next summer’s European Championship. Of 51 matches, 10 will be staged in London or Glasgow, with Wembley hosting both semi-finals and the final. But the Britishness could yet go up several notches, with all five British Isles teams [...]
Ashley hits out at politicians and landlords ahead of committee hearing November 22, 2018 Mike Ashley today lashed out at politicians for failing Britain’s beleaguered high streets, as he demanded an audience with MPs in Westminster next month. The retail billionaire and Newcastle United owner, who has recently acquired House of Fraser and Evans Cycles, called on both politicians and landlords to do more to help struggling retail outlets. [...]
Ocado bags sales jump amid decline in supermarket sector July 23, 2019 Ocado has posted a double-digit rise in sales over the last quarter as it defied an overall decline in the supermarket sector. The online retailer boosted its sales by 11.9 per cent in the 12 weeks to 14 July, stealing a larger chunk of the competitive grocery market. Read more: Sainsbury’s sales slip in ‘tough’ [...]
Retail magnate Mike Ashley prepares to give evidence about high street struggles to MPs November 26, 2018 Retail tycoon Mike Ashley is to give evidence about the woes facing the high street in front of a parliamentary committee next week after demanding an audience with MPs. Sports Direct confirmed today that the billionaire businessman is to face Westminster’s Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee for an hour-long session next Monday. The announcement [...]
US private equity giant Carlyle reshuffles its top team in Europe April 3, 2019 US private equity firm Carlyle has shaken up its executive team in Europe. One of its most senior female executives Zeina Bain left the private equity player on Friday and is joining UK fund manager ICG, the Financial Times reported. Read more: Carlyle Group to buy insurance service Sedgwick for £5.1bn Bain was at Carlyle [...]
Bondholders back Debenhams for £200m restructuring loan in blow to Mike Ashley bid March 28, 2019 Debenhams moved one step closer to carrying out its major restructuring plan this morning after revealing that it has secured the support of bondholders. In what could be a major blow for retail tycoon Mike Ashley, who is currently mulling his own bid to buy the company and prevent his 30 per cent stake from [...]
Sainsbury’s cuts market share decline as Aldi and Lidl soar June 25, 2019 Sainsbury’s has cut short the decline in its market share as discount rivals Aldi and Lidl continue to boost sales. Customer spend at Sainsbury’s dipped 0.6 per cent in the three months to 16 June, an improvement on the 1.2 per cent decline in the previous period following its failed merger with Asda. Read more: [...]
House of Fraser boss Yuan Yafei says UK businesses need a “signal” on Brexit January 30, 2018 House of Fraser boss Yuan Yafei, who also chairs Sanpower Group, has said business needs a “signal” on the kind of Brexit the UK is pursuing. Yafei, who took control of House of Fraser four years ago, told the BBC that leaving the EU would “not be too bad” for the economy, but that the [...]
Game Digital shares boosted by positive Christmas trading in Spain while UK sales fall January 17, 2019 Video game retailer Game Digital’s shares shot up this morning as it announced a two per cent sales boost over the Christmas period, despite a drop in the UK market. The company said despite a “challenging retail climate” causing group sales to dip 0.5 per cent over the festive weeks from Black Friday to 5 [...]
Property giant Intu promotes finance boss to become new chief executive April 4, 2019 Shopping centre-owner Intu Properties has promoted its finance boss to run the company, it announced today. Intu confirmed that Matthew Roberts was taking over as chief executive with effect from 29 April. Roberts has been chief financial officer at Intu since 2010 and was also previously chief financial officer at gambling firm Gala Coral and [...]