Pharmaceutical firm blames inflation as profits fall
John Campbell BBC News NI Economics & Business Editor Pacemaker Norbrook, the Newry-based pharmaceutical firm, says inflationary pressure saw profits fall by 21% to £21.3m last year. Chief executive Liam Nagle said costs of chemicals were up by 10% to 15% with packaging and shipping prices also rising. The business was less exposed to energy […]
Food warehouses ‘almost full’ ahead of Brexit
Jack Taylor Companies looking for somewhere to store extra supplies of fresh food in the run-up to Brexit in March may be too late, the chief executive of the food and drink federation has told MPs. Ian Wright said that warehouses around the UK for frozen and chilled food are “for all practical purposes booked […]
Is it the end of the 9 to 5 working day?
Katie Hope Business reporter, BBC News Anna Whitehouse Traditional workplace hours of 9am to 5pm are now only the norm for a minority of workers, research suggests. Just 6% of people in the UK now work such hours, a YouGov survey found. Almost half of people worked flexibly with arrangements such as job sharing or […]
New guidance for weddings in England
EPA A couple in Madrid getting married in early June The government has published new guidance on weddings in England, allowing ceremonies of up to 30 people but advising against receptions. From 4 July, wedding and civil partnerships can go ahead but with only 30 people including the couple, staff such as a photographer and […]
Jersey anti-bird flu measures to begin on Wednesday
BBC All bird keepers in Jersey must house their flocks from Wednesday 7 September Birdkeepers in Jersey must keep their birds housed from Wednesday to try to halt further outbreaks of avian flu. Enclosures must be covered with a “solid or impermeable roof” to prevent wild bird faeces from entering. Deputy Jonathan Renouf said poultry […]
Just Eat Takeaway to buy Grubhub in £5.75bn deal
Getty Images European food delivery app Just Eat Takeaway has agreed to buy US rival Grubhub in a $7.3bn (£5.75bn) deal. If the takeover is completed it will create the world’s biggest food delivery company outside China. The combined firm will have more than 70 million active customers who place close to 600 million orders […]
‘One size fits all’ Welsh rural policy warning
Sarah Dickins BBC Wales economics correspondent BBC A “one size fits all” policy for the Welsh rural economy after Brexit will not work, according to a new report. It said rural west and north Wales are the most vulnerable to economic decline as the UK leaves the European Union. The Welsh Government welcomed the report […]
Chef and TV presenter dies aged 59
BBC Rhodes opened his first restaurant in 1997 Gary Rhodes, the celebrity chef known for his spiky hair and passion for British cuisine, has died aged 59. According to a family statement, he died on Tuesday “with his beloved wife Jennie by his side”. “The Rhodes family are deeply saddened to announce the passing of […]
Green body gives verdict on Boris Johnson carbon-cutting policies
Roger Harrabin BBC environment analyst Getty Images The prime minister’s bold promises to protect the climate are not yet backed by policies and cash, says an end-of-year report by a think tank, Green Alliance. It says there’s a “significant gap” between Boris Johnson’s world-leading plans and what’s needed to meet the UK’s carbon-cutting targets. The […]
Jeremy Corbyn at Durham Miner’s Gala attracts thousands
AFP/Getty Images Jeremy Corbyn called the Durham Miners’ Gala Europe’s largest demonstration of working class culture Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has led speeches at the 133rd Durham Miners’ Gala. More than 200,000 people are estimated to have attended the Durham City event, the most since the 1960s. There was an increased police presence including armed […]