Latest news with #Derbyshire
The Sun
an hour ago
- Business
- The Sun
Supermarket chain with 300 stores launching closing down sale ahead of shutting popular site this weekend
Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, A POPULAR supermarket chain is launching a huge closing-down sale this weekend, as it shuts one of its 300 high street stores. The budget foodstore has been providing shoppers with bargains in the busy shopping precinct for over two decades. 2 2 Farmfoods, in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, is closing its doors for the final time this Sunday, June 22, with the remaining stock being sold off at a reduced price. Shoppers have been left devastated by the news, which marks another blow for the high street. Posting in the Ilkeston Life Facebook group, one person said of the Scottish store, which was founded in 1954. "A blow for savvy Ilkeston shoppers - Farmfoods in the precinct is closing. "It will be missed by many people, and the pleasant, helpful staff will be out of a job. "Shops like this are a lifeline to many folk." The post was flooded with comments from locals, sharing their sadness at the loss. A second person said: "It will be a sad day to see another shop closing. "It always seems to be busy though so it makes no sense." NatWest to close 53 bank branches in fresh blow to UK high street – see if your local is affected A third person added: "Oh what a shame, it will be sorely missed." This follows the news that Poundland has confirmed plans to shut 68 stores, with up to 150 at risk of closure. The struggling discount chain was sold for just £1 last week and it was expected a major shake-up would be needed to rescue it. Poundland has now announced a huge series of changes aimed at keeping itself afloat - although these will need to be approved by the High Court in August. Why are retailers closing stores? RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going. However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024. End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker. It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date. This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023. It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns. The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker. Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations. Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes. Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." They include ditching its frozen food items, getting rid of its loyalty scheme app and no longer selling products online. The Original Factory Shop has also recently launched another closing-down sale as the brand pulls the shutters on another store. The discount department store has slashed the prices on everything, from clothing to gardening tools to toys. Clothing rails have been tagged with percentage-off signs as high as 30 per cent off. And a major DIY retailer has launched a huge closing-down sale as it prepares to close one of its branches in weeks. The Hobbycraft store in Imperial Park, Bristol, has confirmed that it will close its doors for good on June 21.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Alana Armstrong death: Man acquitted of murder after mum knocked off e-bike
A man has been found not guilty of murdering a mother of one who died when she was knocked off an electric bike in Armstrong, 25, was a passenger on the bike driven by her boyfriend Jordan Newton-Kay on Batley Lane, Pleasley, on 26 November when it was hit by a Land Rover Discovery.A jury found Keaton Muldoon, 23, of Tuckers Lane, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, not guilty of murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to kill in relation to Mr Newton-Kay, who had his right leg who previously admitted death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, was remanded in custody and a sentencing date will be arranged next month.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Peaty has 'unfinished business', says coach Main
Three-time Olympic swimming champion Adam Peaty was lured back to the pool by "unfinished business", says new coach Jamie 30-year-old had previously admitted that he was not convinced he would carry on after an emotionally and physically draining silver-medal finish in the 100m breaststroke at the Paris Games last had dealt with mental health issues in the years leading up to the 2024 Olympics, where he aimed to claim a third consecutive gold medal in the event despite catching Covid-19 in the week leading up to the race, but was just 0.02 seconds short of glory. "When we had the conversation at the back end of last year about him potentially coming in to Repton, he felt like there was some unfinished business," Main told BBC Radio Derby."But he actually loves the sport and I think that has come though in a lot of what he has said since he announced that he was getting back in the pool."In April, Peaty said he wanted to set an example for his children "to not give up" after the disappointment in the French capital. The Paris Olympics was the last major event he worked with long-time coach Mel Marshall, who moved to Australia to further her Marshall leaving Loughborough Performance Centre, where she was Aquatic GB's lead coach, Peaty decided to relocate to his former training base at Repton School in was there that he previously worked with Marshall leading up to the 2016 Olympics in Rio where he claimed his first Olympic has now returned to the rural Derbyshire village to work with Main, who left his role as Aquatics GB national coach at the Bath Performance Centre to become Repton's director of move coincided with his omission from the group of 57 elite British swimmers that will be supported by Aquatics GB throughout the multiple world champion and world record holder at the school has given its highly-regarded programme - which was represented by swimmers at the Olympic and Paralympic Games last year - a significant boost."With Adam Peaty coming in, that is attracting interest from other senior swimmers, which the school is keen to support because it helps other swimmers, the young talent we have in the programme who rub shoulders with those experienced heads," Main said.
Auto Express
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch is on the way to the UK
Toyota is lining up its rally-bred GR Corolla for UK launch in the next 18 months, with the four-wheel drive hot hatch expected to join the much-lauded GR Yaris on UK roads. The Japanese brand has previously confirmed that the 296bhp Corolla will enter production at Toyota's UK plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire next year to help address lengthy global waiting lists, but is yet to say that the car, currently built only at a single factory in Japan, will be sold in Europe. Advertisement - Article continues below But talking exclusively to Auto Express, Toyota's European COO Matt Harrison dropped thinly veiled hints that British hot hatch fans won't be disappointed. 'We have a philosophy that you build where you sell, so to build in Europe and not sell in Europe would be counter to that,' he said. 'The gap between supply and demand is now, so it's about how quickly we can get it. We need to act fast.' The Burnaston site was chosen because, as well as its factory capacity, the UK has motorsport expertise that aligns with the specialist nature of the low-volume performance hatchback. 'The GR Corolla is bespoke, it doesn't go through the normal processes', Harrison told us. The GR Corolla was originally launched in 2022 in selected markets outside Europe, and it uses the same 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, four-wheel drive and torque vectoring system that has made the GR Yaris one of the hottest performance properties of recent years. Subject to the expected green light, prices for the GR Corolla are likely to kick off from over £40,000, although we'll have to wait until 2026 for full pricing and specification. Fancy a Corolla of your own? Take a look at our latest Toyota Corolla deals ... Find a car with the experts New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it's for China only Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too Audi's not taking any risks with its all-new Q3; watch it sell like crazy
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Unite opposes DS Smith's Derbyshire packaging factory closure
UK's trade union Unite is opposing the proposed closure of DS Smith's packaging factory in Derbyshire as consultations commence. The factory in question is the Clay Cross site, which has nearly 140 jobs at risk. DS Smith, a supplier of retail packaging in the UK, was recently subject to a £5.8bn takeover by Memphis-based International Paper. The new management is reportedly planning to restructure UK operations, potentially closing five sites by the end of 2025. The planned closures could affect around 300 roles, raising concerns among workers and their families. Unite represents the engineers at the Clay Cross site, which has been a significant employer in the local community for generations. Despite International Paper's assurances during the acquisition process that they would not close UK plants, these proposed closures have emerged. Earlier in 2025, the company reported increased sales and earnings, largely attributed to the DS Smith acquisition. The Clay Cross site has been recognised for its operational success and health and safety, making it one of DS Smith's highest performing locations in the UK. The decision to consider this site for closure is reportedly linked to required infrastructure investments, particularly a new roof. This recommendation for a roof replacement stemmed from a visual inspection conducted in 2021. However, the site team has been managing the roof for several years and is not currently requesting its replacement. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Workers who were given assurances that their jobs would be safe now face paying the price for a profitable company's greed. It is an utter disgrace that International Paper is playing fast and loose with workers' livelihoods. "Unite is prepared to fight every step of the way to protect our hardworking members' jobs at Clay Cross." "Unite opposes DS Smith's Derbyshire packaging factory closure" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
