The risk that Tesco will be severely hit by strike action in the crucial pre-Christmas period has escalated dramatically, after the number of distribution centres facing staff walkouts more than tripled to 13 – more than half the total (The Guardian).
Tesco faces the threat of strike action by thousands of distribution staff at more than half its depots in the busiest week of the year (The Financial Times £).
Workers at a further nine Tesco warehouses have voted to strike the week before Christmas, raising the risk of stock shortages and significant disruption at the busiest time of year for the supermarket (The Times £).
Hundreds of Spar stores have been forced to close following a cyber attack, the convenience store chain said (The Telegraph).
The attack hit the company’s computer systems, causing a “total IT outage” that has prevented staff from taking card payments and locked them out of emails (The Guardian).
The attack on Sunday targeted James Hall & Company in Preston, Lancashire, which operates Spar’s tills and IT systems (BBC News).
Sainsbury’s has asked workers to postpone their Christmas parties until the new year following the emergence of the Omicron Covid variant (BBC News).
Simon Roberts said he had asked all of Sainsbury’s teams to postpone celebrations until the new year on the grounds of “doing everything we can to protect Christmas for our colleagues and customers and keep everyone safe” (The Times £).
Irn-Bru maker AG Barr has taken a step into plant-based drinks by purchasing a 60% stake in oat milk producer Moma Foods (The Mail).
The Lex column in The Financial Times (£) cast an eye on the deal, noting the deal would not move the needle for the drinks group this year or next, but the 15-year-old porridge maker is growing fast.
The Mail asks, “Will Boots fall prey to private equity – again?”
A business editorial in The Telegraph says “Boots must be rescued from a decade of mismanagement”.
Brussels attack on gig economy sent shares in Deliveroo and Just Eat tumbling yesterday, with the takeaway firms hit as the EU prepares to hand employment rights to millions (The Telegraph).
Concern over new draft labour rules set to be outlined by the European Commission tomorrow sent shares of Deliveroo down 23p, or 9.5%, to 218.5p, but they later recovered to close down 7.5p, or 3.1%, at 234p, valuing the company at about £4.2bn (The Times £).
UK consumers splashed the cash in November as Black Friday boosted sales of clothing, toys and jewellery and spending on bars and restaurants rose (The Financial Times £).
The Bank of England’s monetary policy chief has said inflation is likely to soar “comfortably” above 5% next spring when the energy regulator Ofgem raises a price cap affecting millions of households (The Guardian).
The owner of the Real Greek and Franco Manca restaurant chains has said that business is booming and is ahead of pre-pandemic levels as office workers and theatregoers return to city centres (The Guardian).
Restaurant operator Fulham Shore returned to profit in the first half of the financial year after seeing revenues double (The Mail).
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