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British supermarkets Sainsbury’s and Asda were at the centre of a “shock” merger announced at the weekend which could result in the birth of a new industry giant. The deal would give them a 31% share of the market, overtaking the current leader Tesco.
The economic trend which has become known as the “Great Resignation” or the “Great Reshuffle” has developed further into 2022 as many employees have begun to explore new career options and move into more fulfilling roles with higher salaries or a better work-life balance. A key driver in resignations has been flexibility around remote work, and it seems that many employers are responding to this demand: according to ONS research from last year, online job adverts mentioning remote work tripled during the pandemic, increasing at a faster rate than the total number of vacancies being posted.
As Covid-19 lockdown measures are eased in the coming weeks, many industries are now being forced to evaluate how – and if – they can function in a socially-distanced society, incorporating new rules that may need to remain in place for many months.
News of high street closures hit the headlines once more this week as online fashion retailer Boohoo Group announced their takeover of Coast and Karen Millen, bring both out of administration.
As Covid-19 restrictions continue to ease, now is a good time for firms in the scrap metal industry to begin to assess the financial impact of the past year, as well as to look ahead to what the next few months may have in store. Financial intelligence providers Plimsoll have produced research on the UK’s leading scrap metal merchants; their latest findings can shed light on the financial health of both the industry as a whole and the firms operating within it.
The UK pet industry has been experiencing continued growth in recent years. With annual spending exceeding £7.5 billion in 2020, the Pet Food Manufacturing Association reports that there are now 34 million pets in the UK.
With Coca-Cola’s £3.9bn takeover of Costa Coffee and Starbucks opening in Italy, what is in store for the coffee industry in the UK and internationally?
After a difficult year for the contract catering sector worldwide, there are some signs that a return to normality could be possible in the next few months. Varying degrees of lockdown across Europe, including the closure of schools and offices as well as the cancellation or postponement of both public and corporate events no doubt had a serious effect on contract catering specialists in all areas. But as we move into the second half of 2021, now is a good time to look at the financial strengths and weaknesses of the sector as well as monitor opportunities for recovery and growth.
With recent news that high street fashion retailers Oasis and Warehouse are the latest UK chains to collapse into administration, it is clear that the current COVID-19 crisis will leave an indelible mark on the economy for months, and probably even years, to come.