Pizza Boosts Greggs Sales

Greggs, the UK's bakery powerhouse, is experiencing a notable sales boost, and while the legendary sausage roll still holds its crown, pizza is proving to be a significant driver of growth. The company's strategic expansion into hot food offerings, particularly pizza slices and boxes, has successfully captured a new segment of the market, especially during evening hours. This diversification strategy reflects Greggs' agility in responding to evolving consumer preferences. Notably, Greggs has surpassed £2 billion in annual sales, with a significant contribution from its expanded hot food offerings. Further more Greggs has seen a 13.8% increase in sales for the first half of 2024. Evening trade remained the brand's fastest growing daypart, accounting for 9% of company-managed shop sales in 2024. Beyond the enduring popularity of its classic pastries, the pizza range has demonstrated the company's ability to innovate and expand its appeal. The positive impact on sales underscores Greggs' effective approach to broadening its menu, solidifying its position as a go-to destination for affordable and convenient food, though the sausage roll's iconic status remains unchallenged

Greggs Sales

Boots Takeover

Boots, a cornerstone of the UK's retail landscape, is poised for a significant transformation as Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) is being acquired by US private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a deal valued at roughly $10 billion. This privatisation move comes as WBA grapples with evolving consumer behaviors, notably the surge in online retail, and increasing competitive pressures. The acquisition, with Sycamore Partners paying $11.45 per share, raises questions about the future of Boots' nearly 2,000 UK stores. Notably, WBA has faced a significant decline in market value, and this deal comes after previous restructuring efforts, including store closures. While Sycamore Partners has expressed commitment to WBA's brands, the potential for Boots to be spun off or sold separately remains a possibility, adding a layer of uncertainty to its future. The deal reflects the ongoing challenges in the retail pharmacy sector and the strategic shifts companies are making to adapt.

Boots Takeover

Mixue Bubble Floats on Stock Market

 

The global beverage landscape is witnessing a significant shift, as the bubble tea chain Mixue has made a remarkable debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This company, boasting a staggering number of outlets, over 45,000 globally, surpassing even Starbucks, saw its shares surge.  Mixue raised $444 million in its IPO, by offering 17 million shares, and the shares then jumped significantly on the first trading day. This highlights the immense popularity of its affordable ice cream and bubble tea offerings. Mixue's success is attributed to its strategic franchising model and focus on providing budget-friendly treats, resonating particularly well in markets facing economic challenges. With its vast network of stores across China and other Asian countries, Mixue's expansion reflects the growing global appetite for accessible and trendy beverages. This successful IPO signals strong investor confidence in Mixue's business model and its potential for further international growth, potentially disrupting the established order of the global fast-food and beverage industry.

Mixue Success

Aston Martin Cuts Workforce

Aston Martin has cut 170 jobs after losses widened by a fifth last year and fewer cars were sold in 2023 following a string of supply chain issues and production delays. The luxury auto manufacturer, which has its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, said it planned to axe 5% of the workforce as part of cost-cutting measures to return to profit. All of the company's departments have been hit, including manufacturing, office jobs and management. In a statement on Wednesday, the company said the aim was to make sure the company was "appropriately resourced for its future plans", and called the cuts a "difficult but necessary action". Aston Martin - famous for making fictional spy James Bond's cars - said it was targeting yearly savings of £25m and expected to hit about half of that total this year. Adrian Hallmark was appointed the company's new chief executive in September amid a ramping up of sales of its new Vantage and DBX707 models, which it said helped boost production volumes. The company also launched its flagship Vanquish model in September. Aston Martin said the launches helped boost sales later in the year as it started delivering more of the new models to customers, with wholesale volumes picking up 10% year on year in the second half compared with 2023. But the company's wholesale volumes for the whole year were still down 9% at 6,030 cars, pushing its pre-tax losses to gape by a further 21% to £289 million. It also saw its debt pile rise by 43% to £1.16bn during the year, while shares were down about 33% over the last year.

Aston Martin

Maple Water

While drinking tree sap does not immediately sound appealing, Canadian producers are hoping that it will be the next must-try soft drink around the world. We have all heard of maple syrup, which is made by boiling down the sap of maple trees to produce a thick, sweet, golden-to-brown coloured syrup that is typically poured over pancakes. What is far less well known is that you can drink the sap itself, which is called maple water. Clear in colour, it contains just 2% natural sugars, so it is only slightly sweet. A small but growing number of producers in Canada are now selling this maple water in bottles or cartons, after first giving it a filter and pasteurisation to kill off any microbes. Advocates point to the fact it is a natural drink, and makers hope that it can steal some sales from the existing similar product – coconut water. The latter is made from water that naturally forms inside coconuts. As Canada is far and away the world's largest producer of maple syrup – accounting for more than 80% of production – it is understandable that the nascent maple water sector is also Canadian. For the maple water industry as a whole, one recent report predicts big growth. It estimated that global sales in 2024 totalled $506m (£409m).

Maple Water

, externalwith that expected to jump to $2.6bn by 2033. By comparison, worldwide sales of coconut water reached $7.7bn in 2023,

, externawith that expected to grow to $22.9bn by 2029. So maple water has a long way to catc

Birkenstock Sandals Not Art

Birkenstocks may be cool enough for Barbie but the sandals do not qualify as works of art, a German court has ruled. The company had claimed its footwear could be classified as art and so was protected by copyright laws in a case it put forward to stop rivals selling copycat versions of the cork-soled sandals. But a judge dismissed the claim, saying the shoes were practical design items - a decision Birkenstock called a "missed opportunity for the protection of intellectual property". Birkenstocks' popularity means rivals often sell knock-off versions, prompting the firm to make the claim to protect what it called its "iconic design". In this case, Birkenstock took three manufacturers and retailers to court, seeking to protect four of its sandal designs. German law distinguishes between design and art when it comes to a product. Design serves a practical purpose, whereas works of art need to show a certain amount of individual creativity. Art is covered by copyright protection, which lasts for 70 years after the creator's death, whereas design protection lasts for 25 years from when the filing was made. Shoemaker Karl Birkenstock, born in the 1930s, is still alive. Since some of his sandals no longer enjoy design protection, the firm attempted to gain copyright protection by seeking to classify its footwear as art.

Birkenstocks