En+ sales fall as pandemic prompts drop in aluminium demand February 8, 2021 The global leaders in aluminum production saw sales of the metal fall 7.1 per cent in the fourth quarter, signaling a 6 per cent yearly drop. En+ Group says the coronavirus pandemic and the collapse of the global economy played a significant role in the fall in demand. Vladimir Kiriukhin, CEO of En+ Group, said: [...]
The Week Ahead: Look out for GDP data, Ocado, AstraZ, Twitter and Ted Baker February 8, 2021 Start your week informed: here are the announcements and results to look out for this week. UK GDP: A double dip recession is looming After a fairly decent third quarter, and an expansion of 16 per cent, the UK economy has had a much more troubled fourth quarter, with the likelihood that we may well [...]
UK supermarket chiefs call for online sales tax on firms like Amazon February 8, 2021 Some of the UK’s largest retailers, including Tesco and Asda, have called for Rishi Sunak to “rebalance the tax base” between online and bricks and mortar retail in an apparent push for a new digital sales levy on firms like Amazon. In a letter to Sunak, 18 chief executives and union bosses said “online retailers [...]
Labour calls for UK tax cut extensions before 3 March Budget February 7, 2021 Labour is calling for an extension to tax cuts for some of the UK sectors worst affected by the Covid pandemic. Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds today urged Rishi Sunak to extend the current VAT cut, from 20 per cent to five per cent, for retail and hospitality for another six months past March or or [...]
Pandemic profiteers face tax hike on Covid winnings February 7, 2021 Companies that have cashed in a result of the coronavirus pandemic, including the likes of Amazon, will face a double tax raid under plans being draw up by the government. The government has summoned companies to discuss how an online sales tax would work, while plans are also being drawn up for a one-off “excessive profits tax,” the [...]
Corona Impact Series: How an EV charging company in Shoreditch was powered up by a policy change mid-pandemic February 5, 2021 In this series, City A.M. looks at the financial and economic impact of the ongoing pandemic on a range of small and medium-sized businesses across London. This week: How an electric vehicle charging startup in East London was made future-proof by government policies that were introduced at the height of the pandemic. “When the first [...]
Covid restrictions drive online food shopping to record high as customers eat in to help out February 2, 2021 Online grocery shopping hit a record 14 per cent share of the UK grocery market in January, as customers bought more food to enjoy from home. The growth was boosted by a 229 per cent year-on-year rise in online spending by retired households. Supermarkets saw sales growth accelerate to 12.2 per cent in the last [...]
No-and-low alcohol spirits are here to stay, so do it in style January 29, 2021 Dry January has always been a challenge, but 2021 has made going sans alcohol even harder. If you have stuck with it this far – through Zoom meetings, home-schooling, and an inescapable sense of existential dread – then you deserve a treat in this final weekend of the month. We’re already well-versed in low- or [...]
Barilla buys British fresh pasta maker Pasta Evangelists January 14, 2021 Barilla said on Thursday it had bought a majority stake in Britain’s Pasta Evangelists, re-entering the fresh pasta market and boosting its digital offering at time when the pandemic is driving demand for home deliveries of food and drinks. The companies did not disclose the financial details of the deal, but two sources close to the [...]
Grocery delivery app Weezy raises $20m for London expansion January 14, 2021 Grocery delivery platform Weezy has raised $20m (£14.6m) to fund its expansion in London and across the UK as it cashes in on bumper demand during the pandemic. Weezy, which offers local grocery deliveries in 15 minutes, said it will use the funding to add 50 employees to its London-based team over the next four [...]