AB Foods set to hike prices as costs surge January 20, 2011 AB Foods warned yesterday that the spiralling price of wheat, cotton, and other commodities means that shoppers could face price hikes on basic shopping basket goods. The firm, which has brands including twinings Tea, Kingsmill bread and Silver Spoon sugar, said customers had already seen some rises and more were looming. Cost increases have also [...]
Growth to slip after record winter freeze January 23, 2011 THE coldest winter in 100 years may have contributed to a slowdown in economic growth in the three months to December, economists said ahead of official GDP figures released tomorrow. Experts have forecast an average 0.4 per cent GDP growth for the quarter, down from 0.7 per cent in the previous quarter. Heavy winter snow [...]
House prices drop in January January 27, 2011 House prices in England and Wales fell for a seventh month in a row in January, dropping 2.2 per cent from a year earlier, property data firm Hometrack said. The monthly survey of more than 5,000 estate agents and surveyors showed prices slipped 0.5 per cent on the month, slightly more than December’s 0.4 per [...]
OUT OF OFFICE December 6, 2010 SAVILE ROW SUIT UP FOR GRABS Fans of fine tailoring can get their hands on an exclusive bespoke suit made by Savile Row legends Norton & Sons in an online auction being held by industry body the Campaign for Wool. The suit will be made from wool woven by cloth merchants Taylor & Lodge from [...]
Credit fears for HMV send shares lower January 19, 2011 SHARES in HMV Group plunged yesterday after the music and book retailer confirmed some of its suppliers have had levels of credit insurance cut. A shadow has been cast over HMV since it issued a profit warning earlier this month with store closures ordered in an attempt to cut costs. The share price sank by [...]
Festive drams December 15, 2010 A FINE bottle of Scotch whisky makes a terrific Christmas present for anyone who appreciates a dram of the good stuff. But finding the best bottlings isn’t easy, and there are thousands to choose from. So we asked Neil Ridley, whiskey expert and the brains behind the CaskStrength.net blog, to select the whiskies that he’d [...]
Game Group profits to be hit by discounts December 8, 2010 Computer games retailer Game Group said profit margins would fall by more than expected this financial year as it cut prices to retain share in a market being targeted by grocers and other retailers. Game, which trades from over 1,300 outlets in nine European countries and Australia, said on sales trends had improved in recent [...]
Game Group profits to be hit by discounts December 8, 2010 Computer games retailer Game Group said profit margins would fall by more than expected this financial year as it cut prices to retain share in a market being targeted by grocers and other retailers. Game, which trades from over 1,300 outlets in nine European countries and Australia, said on sales trends had improved in recent [...]
OUT OF OFFICE December 1, 2010 ROMEO & JULIET AT THE ROUNDHOUSE After its highly acclaimed 2008 season, the RSC is returning to Camden’s Roundhouse with a ten-week season of eight productions. Kicking things off is Romeo &?Juliet (right, 30 Nov-01 Jan), directed by the prolific and brilliant Rupert Goold. Other productions to come include The Winter’s Tale, Julius Caesar, Antony [...]
West End shops go traffic-free this weekend November 23, 2010 REGENT Street and Oxford Street will be vehicle-free between 10am and 6pm this Saturday, allowing millions of Londoners to indulge in Christmas shopping on foot. Stores are offering up to 50 per cent off and opening as early as 8am, as they compete for the attention of an anticipated two million shoppers. By VIP Day [...]