Why the UK’s startup sector is worth saving March 30, 2020 Covid-19 has already destroyed so much. Lives, livelihoods, freedom of movement. For those on the frontlines, whether in the NHS, social care or supermarkets, or in the country’s many sick beds, the battle is fierce. As the dominoes of our economy have tumbled, the government has quickly stepped in. First to safeguard business. Then to [...]
UK coronavirus: Tesco restricts online orders to 80 items each March 27, 2020 Tesco has said online customers will have their deliveries capped at 80 items, in the latest move to safeguard supplies during the coronavirus outbreak. In an email to customers the supermarket said the aim was “to increase the number of customers we can safely deliver to”. Tesco urged customers to visit stores during the nationwide [...]
Silver linings: Positive investment trends for stock market optimists March 24, 2020 Stocks investors are likely to be feeling battered and bruised at the moment. The coronavirus-induced bear market has seen share prices fall sharply — even the UK’s blue-chip FTSE 100 index is down more than 30 per cent since the start of the year. Many industries are facing hurdles due to the government’s self-isolation guidelines, [...]
Blackstone buys Clearbell Capital’s £120m logistics portfolio March 23, 2020 Private equity firm Blackstone has bought 22 logistics sites from Clearbell Capital as consumers turn to online shopping in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Clearbell Property Partners III, a fund managed by private real estate fund manager Clearbell Capital, has sold its industrials and logistics portfolio for £120m. The portfolio comprises of 22 small to [...]
Ocado sales double as demand soars amid coronavirus panic March 19, 2020 Online supermarket Ocado has reported a jump in sales as demand for home delivery soars amid the coronavirus crisis. Ocado said sales had doubled in the second quarter compared to the previous period as shoppers made bigger and more frequent orders as they stockpiled goods. The grocer was forced to close its website and app [...]
Coronavirus: Ocado closes website down as demand soars March 18, 2020 Online supermarket Ocado has closed its website for several days as it grapples with a surge in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. The delivery company said it is temporarily shut until 21 March in order to “complete essential work” to make product and delivery slot distribution as “fair and accessible” as possible. In a [...]
Amazon workers told to work overtime to meet coronavirus demand March 17, 2020 Workers at Amazon’s warehouses in the UK are being told to work overtime as the company meets the surge in demand amid the coronavirus outbreak. The GMB union said workers across at least four different sites were informed that they had to work “compulsory overtime” from Monday, according to the BBC. Amazon will also hire [...]
John Lewis cuts bonus and puts stores at risk of closure March 5, 2020 New John Lewis Partnership boss Sharon White this morning slashed workers’ bonuses and announced store closures as the struggling retailer posted a dive in profits for 2019. The figures John Lewis cut its bonus to two per cent today, down from three per cent last year, the lowest pay out to partners in 67 years. [...]
Lidl crowned UK’s fastest growing supermarket March 3, 2020 Lidl was the fastest growing supermarket in the UK over the last 12 weeks, taking the crown from online grocer Ocado. The German discounter increased sales by 11.4 per cent in the 12 weeks to 24 February, becoming Britain’s fastest growing grocer for the first time since November 2017, as it opened its 800th store [...]
Waitrose ranked best UK supermarket in annual Which survey February 22, 2020 Waitrose has been ranked as the best supermarket in the UK in an annual satisfaction survey conducted by Which. The chain, which is owned by John Lewis, hit five stars on most categories, but did come joint-last in value for money. Budget supermarkets Aldi and Lidl continue to be ranked highest in terms of value. [...]