Author: Scott Dylan

Nigel Blow, a former director at Harrods, has decided not to assume the role of CEO at Fenwick.His decision follows allegations against Harrods’ former owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, for sexual misconduct.The accusations were detailed in a BBC documentary featuring over 20 women’s accounts.The Justice For Harrods Survivors campaign now represents more than 70 alleged victims.Blow’s future with his current employer, Morleys, remains uncertain.Nigel Blow, formerly a director with Harrods, has opted to withdraw from becoming Fenwick’s chief executive officer as originally planned. This decision has emerged in the wake of grave allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed, the previous owner of…

M&S is initiating a substantial recruitment drive for the festive season, aiming to hire over 11,000 customer assistants.This move marks an increase from the previous year, with an addition of more than 1,000 new roles.The recruitment window will open on 9 October, with new hires starting in mid-November.M&S plans to integrate these new employees into their food, clothing, and home divisions.The roles are designed to enhance the customer experience and support the delivery of festive services.Marks & Spencer (M&S) has launched an extensive recruitment campaign, aiming to onboard over 11,000 customer assistants in preparation for the busy Christmas season. This…

Booths has successfully reduced its annual losses amid a record revenue surge.The grocery retailer saw its losses decrease from £4m to £1.5m.Revenues for the year hit an unprecedented £318.7m, surpassing the £300m mark.Key factors driving success include increased footfall, higher basket spend, and record Christmas sales.Despite economic challenges, Booths remains optimistic about sustainable growth.Booths, the high-end grocery retailer, has reported a significant reduction in its annual financial losses. For the year ending in March, the company managed to decrease its losses from £4 million to £1.5 million, marking a notable improvement in its financial performance. This was a substantial recovery…

Yorkshire Cricket Club has made headlines with a substantial five-year kit deal.The new agreement signals a significant financial uplift for the county.This marks the first major commercial venture since February’s leadership change.Despite previous challenges, Yorkshire County remains attractive to big brands.The deal sheds light on Yorkshire’s ongoing financial and strategic efforts.Yorkshire Cricket Club has drawn attention by securing a five-year kit sponsorship with Castore, a British sportswear company. This substantial deal, as reported by City AM, is expected to provide a financial boost to the cash-strapped county. The agreement marks Yorkshire’s first major commercial engagement since the club’s leadership restructuring…

John Lewis is revamping its Chelsea, London store, Peter Jones, into a flagship of global significance.The transformation aims to redefine the perception of department stores with innovative changes.Executive Director Peter Ruis emphasises aligning the store’s offering with local customer preferences.Plans include optimising unused space in the Grade II listed building, such as the roof terrace.The initiative is part of a broader strategy involving over 650 store improvements across John Lewis’s estate.John Lewis has unveiled its ambitious plans to transform the Peter Jones store in Chelsea, London, into a ‘flagship for the world.’ This initiative, led by Executive Director Peter Ruis,…

Mondelez has strategically invested in Urban Legend, marking its entry into the fresh bakery sector.Urban Legend specialises in creating doughnuts with significantly reduced fat, salt, and sugar content.The partnership aims to support Urban Legend’s transformative plans in the bakery industry.SnackFutures, Mondelez’s venture arm, will provide technical support and potential collaboration opportunities.England footballer Harry Kane has previously shown support for Urban Legend’s healthy treat initiatives.Mondelez, through its corporate venture arm SnackFutures, has acquired a minority stake in Urban Legend, a pioneering brand known for its non-HFSS doughnuts. This strategic investment signals Mondelez’s initial foray into the fresh bakery sector, a move…

Lidl has heightened its climate goals to further its sustainability efforts, reflecting a broader commitment to environmental responsibility.The company now targets a 70% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, using a 2019 baseline, having already achieved a 52% reduction.Aiming for a 35% cut in Scope 3 emissions by 2034, Lidl focuses on areas where over 90% of its emissions occur.Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land use are to be reduced by 42.4% in the same period.Collaboration with suppliers is key, as Lidl aligns strategic partners with the Science Based Targets Initiative by 2026.Lidl has…

Iceland is set to expand its innovative ‘mystery bag’ scheme to combat food waste in partnership with Olio.The scheme started with a pilot in four Iceland stores and one Food Warehouse, now expanding to five more locations.Each £2 mystery bag contains approximately £10 worth of groceries nearing their ‘use-by’ date.Shopfloor staff pack the bags, which are reserved via the Olio app, making surplus food accessible to consumers.This initiative coincides with calls from major brands for the government to enforce mandatory food waste reporting.Iceland, in collaboration with food redistributor Olio, is extending its ‘mystery bag’ initiative aimed at reducing food waste.…

UK banks collaborate with Meta under a new intelligence-sharing initiative.The Fraud Intelligence Reciprocal Exchange (FIRE) programme is extended after a successful pilot.20,000 scam accounts, including ticket scams, were shut down during the pilot.NatWest and Metro Bank are the first to join, with more banks expected to participate.Law enforcement and tech industry collaboration is key in preventing online fraud.UK banks have entered into a significant partnership with Meta, aimed at tackling the growing issue of financial scams. This partnership, known as the Fraud Intelligence Reciprocal Exchange (FIRE), allows banks to share critical fraud intelligence with Meta. Leveraging this intelligence, Meta actively…

JD Sports Fashion announced a remarkable financial performance for the 26 weeks ending 3 August 2024.Revenue reached £5bn, marking a 5.2% increase from the previous year.Profit before tax and adjustments was reported at £405.6 million.The company opened 83 new stores, with a target of 200 openings in the year.Acquisition of US retailer Hibbett marked a significant step in international growth.In the latest financial report, JD Sports Fashion revealed a significant rise in revenue, hitting £5 billion for the 26-week period ending 3 August 2024. This figure represents a 5.2% increase compared to the same period the previous year, underscoring the…