Business

G erman exports to the UK plunged by almost a third in the first month under post-Brexit trading arrangements, new figures have revealed. The end of the Brexit transition period was blamed by Germany’s official statistics body for a 30pc year-on-year plunge in exports to the UK in January but economists predicted the trade slump will ease. New customs rules for exporters exacerbated a tumble in trade already triggered by the Covid crisis amid complaints of post-Brexit arrangements causing higher costs and delays for businesses. January’s drop compares to a 15.5pc fall in imports from Germany over 2020 but the latest slump in trade was still not as severe as the worst months of the first lockdown. The tumble in German imports at the start of the UK’s life outside the EU was also worsened by many businesses stockpiling in December as Brexit talks went down to the wire. “We expected very weak eurozone exports to the UK for January, in part due to teething problems at the … [Read more...] about German exports to UK fell 30pc in January

Amazon has opened its first contactless grocery store in the UK today where shoppers can pick up their goods and leave without having to visit a till. The Amazon Fresh store in Ealing, west London , is only available to those signed up to Amazon’s Prime subscription service, and customers must scan in a code on their phone to gain entry. Once inside, shoppers can pick up the goods they want without scanning them or visiting a till as motion sensors, cameras and other technology monitor the goods chosen. The bill is automatically charged to shoppers’ Prime account when they leave the store. While customers won’t need to interact with a member of staff, Amazon says workers will be on site to handle queries, restock shelves and prepare food. The store will stock about 10,000 grocery products from well-known brands, its own By Amazon grocery range, as well as items from its retail partners Morrisons and Booths. The 2,500 sq ft store will also be a place to pick up or return … [Read more...] about Amazon Fresh opens first ’till-less’ grocery store in UK

PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle are embroiled in a legal dispute with a small Filipino business owner over his Archewell deodorant name, which he says he's willing to “fight to the death” for, The Sun can report. The royals, who set up their foundation -- named after their young son Archie -- after relocating to LA from Britain last year, are disputing the use of the term 'Archewell Harvatera' with a man named Victor Martin Soriano. Cobblestone Lane LLC, which represents Harry and Meghan and is based in Beverly Hills, is pursuing legal action over the name of his brand of natural deodorants, first reported by World Trademark Review . Soriano filed in July 2020 in the Philippines, months after the royals launched their foundation in April, and has since shared his company's official theme song and choreography online. The Sun has reached out to Archewell for comment, but has not receive a response. Victor Soriano told The Sun exclusively: "If the Queen asks me to … [Read more...] about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in copyright battle against small Filipino business owner over Archewell deodorant name

Wetherspoons will open patios, beer gardens and rooftop gardens at 394 of its pubs in England from 12 April as COVID-19 restrictions ease, the pub chain has announced. Under the government's roadmap out of lockdown, that will be the date when restaurants and bars will be allowed to serve people sitting outside, under social distancing rules. They will be allowed to open indoors from 17 May. Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world Revolution Bars, another chain, said it would reopen 20 venues from April as its boss said "the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter". Advertisement Wetherspoons chairman and founder and chairman Tim Martin has previously argued that the hospitality sector should be allowed to reopen earlier, at the same time as non-essential shops. Its plan for next month will see outside areas open from 9am to 9pm from Sunday to Thursday, and until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays - subject to … [Read more...] about COVID-19: ‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ as pubs and bars announce outdoor area reopening plans

The Co-op Group, Britain's biggest mutual, is to hold a crunch board meeting next week amid pressure to follow rival supermarkets' example and repay £80m of state funding handed to it during the pandemic. Sky News has learnt that directors of the groceries-to-funeralcare provider - headed by chairman Allan Leighton - will meet next Tuesday to debate whether to repay the funding it received in the form of business rates relief and furlough payments. People close to the situation said the Co-op's boardroom had seen "robust dialogue" over the issue, with some directors keen to repay the funding in full. Although the board is not yet technically split on the question of handing the money back because a vote has yet to take place, sources said "deep divisions" were expected to be exposed next week. The decision is expected to be made public in the group's annual results announcement early next month. Advertisement The issue has become an acute one for the … [Read more...] about Co-op Group faces crunch board meeting over £80m state funding repayment