The Notebook: Victoria Scholar on inflation, Ocado’s woes, and why Ted Lasso is a blessed relief March 28, 2023 The Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has warned firms against rising prices to offset inflation. He told the BBC, “please understand if we get inflation embedded, interest rates will have to go up further and higher inflation really benefits nobody.” The latest UK inflation rate for February surprised economists by picking up again to [...]
Asian food-focused delivery startup HungryPanda raises $130m December 17, 2021 London-headquartered HungryPanda, a food delivery startup that caters for Asian restaurants and populations overseas, has today announced it’s closed a $130m Series D funding round – just over a year after its $70m Series C. Its latest round was led by the family-backed private equity and growth investor Perwyn, alongside investors Kinnevik, Felix Capital, 83North, [...]
Produce workers ‘nabbed from farms by hospitality recruiters’ October 5, 2021 Hospitality recruiters have attempted to recruit seasonal pickers from farms in a bid to stem labour shortages, a trade body has claimed. Jack Ward, chief executive of the British Growers Association, told CityA.M., that recruiters were attempting to recruit people to work in bars “wherever they could find them.” “Particularly in the summer, competition for [...]
Sales overflow for drink giants Diageo and AB InBev as consumers still opt for pricey tipples July 28, 2022 Global drinks titans Diageo and AB InBev have reported overflowing sales after the easing of Covid lockdowns has driven punters back into bars. Johnnie Walker maker Diageo posted net sales of £15.5bn, an increase of 21.4 per cent, which it accredited to the pub and bar sector recovering from the side effects of Covid 19 [...]
Beyonce Dubai gig at Atlantis The Royal: Inside the world’s most lavish launch January 24, 2023 “There are two types of people in the world. The people that are in Dubai right now. And us.” So went the meme, shared tens of millions of times across the world this weekend. The occasion – as if you haven’t already heard – was the launch of a self-described “icon”, the Atlantis The Royal [...]
Inside The Fox at Oddington, the latest venture from Daylesford Organic Farm November 14, 2022 THE WEEKEND: In the heart of the Cotswolds, close to the picturesque town of Stow-on-theWold, Daylesford Organic Farm is perhaps the country’s poshest farm shop. Owner Carole Bamford, founder of the Bamford wellness brand and Daylesford, has now launched The Fox at Oddington, a ‘pub with rooms’ in a renovated 16th-century pub. It’s made up [...]
The Notebook: Andy Silvester on the Tory Mayoral race, a new must-read and a tremendous lunch spot June 15, 2023 The Tories appear to have done a real botch-job of selecting their candidate for next year’s mayoral election. Most who were paying attention expected the final three or four to be a combination of Paul Scully, the minister for London and Sutton MP, social media star and former adviser Samuel Kasumu, techie and diplomat Daniel [...]
Jacob Rees-Mogg: Civil servants must ‘rapidly return’ to offices April 19, 2022 Ministers are reportedly being told to send a “clear message” to civil servants for a “rapid return” to offices. Up to three quarters of staff are still working from home, according to The Telegraph, as Whitehall sources accuse a “silent majority” of officials of not “pulling their weight. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the minister for government efficiency, [...]
The Square Mile and Me: David Postings on Barclays, the Jampot and watching Wolves January 19, 2023 This week David Postings, UK Finance CEO, tells us why he's pining for southern Spain, Sweetings remains a top spot and the City should be optimistic
Battle of the City skyscrapers heats up as shiny new 22 Bishopsgate lures law firm McDermott away from Heron Tower January 20, 2022 City law firm McDemott Will & Emery is moving out of the Salesforce Tower, commonly known by its former name as the Heron Tower, to move to the 46th floor of the brand new 22 Bishopsgate skyscraper. The Salesforce Tower, minutes from Liverpool Street, housed the Chicago-based law firm for more than a decade. However, [...]