Chinese consumers set a new record yesterday, spending more than US$1bn at Alibaba.com in just the first five minutes of Singles’ Day. Within the first
Shepherd Neame reports strong Christmas trading across managed and tenanted pubs. The pub operator said trading remained resilient in the first half, with a strong Christmas period and solid like-for-like growth across both managed and tenanted pubs. The group continues to trade in line with board expectations despite cost pressures.
SSP makes strong start to FY26 as like-for-like sales rise. SSP Group reported a strong start to the year, with like-for-like sales up 5% in Q1. UK & Ireland sales rose 8%, supported by airports and M&S Simply Food sites, while North America grew 4%. Full-year guidance remains unchanged.
Daisy Green returns to profit as Clapham opening beats expectations. The Australian café group has returned to profit, with its new Clapham site trading well ahead of expectations. It has also secured new London park café sites and completed a £5.5m refinancing to support further UK expansion.
C&C Group flags softer trading and narrows profit guidance. The drinks group said trading has been weaker than expected and now guides to adjusted operating profit of €70m–€73m. Christmas trading was in line with expectations, while core brands such as Tennent’s and Bulmers continued to perform well.
McCormick refreshes board with senior FMCG appointments. The group has appointed former Molson Coors CEO Gavin Hattersley and Church & Dwight chief Rick Dierker to its board, while long-serving directors Tony Vernon and Maritza Montiel will retire ahead of the 2026 AGM.
Chaiiwala appoints James Kang to lead Canada expansion. The Indian street food chain has named James as CEO of its Canadian business, with plans to scale the market to 100 sites by 2030. The group has 23 cafés in Canada and more than 130 locations globally.
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