Hawksmoor: Sales and profits sizzle as steak chain hunts for a buyer October 29, 2024 Sales and profit both surged at Hawksmoor during its latest financial year ahead of a potential sale which could value the steakhouse chain at £100m. The London-headquartered business has reported a turnover of £89.7m for 2023, up from the £73.9m it achieved in 2022. Newly-filed accounts with Companies House have also revealed that the firm’s [...]
House prices rising slowly but 2024 still a ‘bumper year’ October 28, 2024 2024 is set to be a “bumper year” for house sales thanks to rising real incomes and lower mortgage rates, according to Zoopla’s latest house price index. The level of new sales has increased to its highest level since late 2020, the survey showed. There are 306,000 homes currently working through the buying process, 26 [...]
Mcdonald’s UK profit slashed by over £100m October 28, 2024 Profit at Mcdonald’s UK restaurants was slashed by more than £100m in 2023 despite its turnover taking a big stride towards the £2bn mark. The US fast food giant has reported a pre-tax profit of £66.3m for its UK operations, down from the £170.8m it achieved in 2022. Mcdonald’s operating profit was cut from £165.4m [...]
Lookers in the red after £504m take-private deal October 28, 2024 Car dealership giant Lookers slumped into the red in the year it was taken private in a deal worth more than £500m. The Cheshire-headquartered business has reported a pre-tax loss of £5m for 2023, having posted a pre-tax profit of £73.9m in 2022. The loss comes as newly-filed accounts with Companies House show Lookers’ revenue [...]
Profit triples at Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister owner October 28, 2024 Profit tripled at the business behind Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister in the UK during its latest financial year as its sales passed the £200m mark. The London-headquartered division has reported a pre-tax profit of £9.8m for the 12 months to 3 February, 2024, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. The total comes after [...]
Restructured Shoosmiths see surges in complex deals with eyes set on 2030 October 28, 2024 Law firm Shoosmiths has sharpened its structure over the last couple of years, resulting in the firm being one of Europe’s busiest corporate law firm
Fatface counts the cost of takeover by Next as fashion retailer enters the red October 28, 2024 Fatface slumped into the red in the aftermath of its takeover by FTSE 100 giant Next last year, it has been revealed. The Hampshire-headquartered business was acquired by the Leicester-based giant for £115.2m in October 2023. Newly-filed accounts with Companies House show that Fatface fell to a pre-tax loss of £3.2m in the 35 weeks [...]
Are we entering the ABBA Voyage era at work? October 28, 2024 AI avatars are about to replace you in meetings. The possibilities are tantalising – and unsettling, writes Paul Armstrong AI avatars are joining our Zoom calls, often before we do. Meeting note-takers, digital clones, even interviewers are now infiltrating the office landscape—often uninvited. This isn’t some distant sci-fi concept; it’s happening now. Is this progress, [...]
Chancellor to cut back Right to Buy discounts in Budget October 26, 2024 The Chancellor will cut back Right to Buy discounts as part of next week’s Budget to boost council housing supply. Rachel Reeves will announce plans to consult on a new five-year social housing rent settlement and to reduce Right to Buy, which allows tenants renting local authority-owned homes to buy them at a discounted rate, [...]
Can the government tax its way to a building boom? October 26, 2024 Labour have big plans for house building and infrastructure so what can we expect on property taxes in the Budget? Tim Sarson has the answers Cut through the post-election chatter about black holes and freebies and there is one theme that keeps coming up as a top political priority. Building things. I can’t remember a [...]