Latest news with #HollyWilliams
South Wales Argus
01-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Sainsbury's buoyed by M&S cyber disruption and sunny weather
The UK's second largest supermarket said the hack at M&S, which left some of its shelves empty at the height of the crisis, helped drive customers into Sainsbury's stores. Chief executive Simon Roberts said: 'If a particular store is lower on stock, in the moment, a customer will go somewhere nearby.' 'Everybody has benefited a little bit as a result (of the attack),' he added. Marks & Spencer suffered some stock issues at the height of the cyber woes (Holly Williams/PA) The group saw customers turn to Sainsbury's for lunchtime food and sandwiches in the early days of the M&S disruption, which forced the group to suspend all online orders and impacted some stock availability. M&S has since resolved the stock issues and has reopened its website for orders with aims for its online operations to be fully restored within four weeks. Sainsbury's said sunny weather also helped total sales jump in its first quarter, up 4.9% in the 16 weeks to June 21. The group said it had achieved its highest market share since 2016, having grown share for three years in a row. Its latest update showed grocery sales lifted by 5% in the quarter, with growth of 4.2% for general merchandise and clothing, while the Argos business saw sales rebound by 4.4%. On a like-for-like basis, excluding fuel and VAT, group sales rose by 4.7% in the best performance for at least a year. Warm weather boosted demand for Taste the Difference fresh food, which saw sales surge 20% as customers snapped up picnic and deli ranges. Tu Clothing sales jumped 8%, driven by a 13% leap for womenswear, which the group put down to better design and strong availability. Its Argos business also enjoyed a sales bounce back, with growth increasing to 4.4% from 1.9% in the previous three months – the second quarter in a row of rising sales. It said Argos trading was helped by 'warm and dry weather against a weak comparative'. The group said it was making progress on efforts to revamp the Argos division, focusing on driving more shopping visits and higher basket sizes. But the figures come amid further signs of mounting food price inflation, with the latest BRC (British Retail Consortium)-NIQ Shop Price Index figures on Tuesday showing food prices were 3.7% higher in June, up from 2.8% in May. Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury's, said: 'We know how important it is that we provide consistently great value and we have built further on our strong competitive position, improving our prices against all key competitors year-on-year. 'We're now offering even more opportunities for customers to save on the items they buy most often through the biggest Aldi price match commitment in the market, covering around 800 everyday essentials.' Sainsbury's confirmed it was on track with guidance for the full-year, which is set to see underlying operating profits remain flat at about £1 billion as stronger sales volumes are expected to be offset by weaker profitability amid investment in price cuts. 'Profit delivery will be supported by continued growth in Nectar profit contribution and industry-leading, cost-saving delivery and will be weighted more towards the second half versus last year,' according to the group.
Western Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Sainsbury's buoyed by M&S cyber disruption and sunny weather
The UK's second largest supermarket said the hack at M&S, which left some of its shelves empty at the height of the crisis, helped drive customers into Sainsbury's stores. Chief executive Simon Roberts said: 'If a particular store is lower on stock, in the moment, a customer will go somewhere nearby.' 'Everybody has benefited a little bit as a result (of the attack),' he added. Marks & Spencer suffered some stock issues at the height of the cyber woes (Holly Williams/PA) The group saw customers turn to Sainsbury's for lunchtime food and sandwiches in the early days of the M&S disruption, which forced the group to suspend all online orders and impacted some stock availability. M&S has since resolved the stock issues and has reopened its website for orders with aims for its online operations to be fully restored within four weeks. Sainsbury's said sunny weather also helped total sales jump in its first quarter, up 4.9% in the 16 weeks to June 21. The group said it had achieved its highest market share since 2016, having grown share for three years in a row. Its latest update showed grocery sales lifted by 5% in the quarter, with growth of 4.2% for general merchandise and clothing, while the Argos business saw sales rebound by 4.4%. On a like-for-like basis, excluding fuel and VAT, group sales rose by 4.7% in the best performance for at least a year. Warm weather boosted demand for Taste the Difference fresh food, which saw sales surge 20% as customers snapped up picnic and deli ranges. Tu Clothing sales jumped 8%, driven by a 13% leap for womenswear, which the group put down to better design and strong availability. Its Argos business also enjoyed a sales bounce back, with growth increasing to 4.4% from 1.9% in the previous three months – the second quarter in a row of rising sales. It said Argos trading was helped by 'warm and dry weather against a weak comparative'. The group said it was making progress on efforts to revamp the Argos division, focusing on driving more shopping visits and higher basket sizes. But the figures come amid further signs of mounting food price inflation, with the latest BRC (British Retail Consortium)-NIQ Shop Price Index figures on Tuesday showing food prices were 3.7% higher in June, up from 2.8% in May. Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury's, said: 'We know how important it is that we provide consistently great value and we have built further on our strong competitive position, improving our prices against all key competitors year-on-year. 'We're now offering even more opportunities for customers to save on the items they buy most often through the biggest Aldi price match commitment in the market, covering around 800 everyday essentials.' Sainsbury's confirmed it was on track with guidance for the full-year, which is set to see underlying operating profits remain flat at about £1 billion as stronger sales volumes are expected to be offset by weaker profitability amid investment in price cuts. 'Profit delivery will be supported by continued growth in Nectar profit contribution and industry-leading, cost-saving delivery and will be weighted more towards the second half versus last year,' according to the group.
Glasgow Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Sainsbury's buoyed by M&S cyber disruption and sunny weather
The UK's second largest supermarket said the hack at M&S, which left some of its shelves empty at the height of the crisis, helped drive customers into Sainsbury's stores. Chief executive Simon Roberts said: 'If a particular store is lower on stock, in the moment, a customer will go somewhere nearby.' 'Everybody has benefited a little bit as a result (of the attack),' he added. Marks & Spencer suffered some stock issues at the height of the cyber woes (Holly Williams/PA) The group saw customers turn to Sainsbury's for lunchtime food and sandwiches in the early days of the M&S disruption, which forced the group to suspend all online orders and impacted some stock availability. M&S has since resolved the stock issues and has reopened its website for orders with aims for its online operations to be fully restored within four weeks. Sainsbury's said sunny weather also helped total sales jump in its first quarter, up 4.9% in the 16 weeks to June 21. The group said it had achieved its highest market share since 2016, having grown share for three years in a row. Its latest update showed grocery sales lifted by 5% in the quarter, with growth of 4.2% for general merchandise and clothing, while the Argos business saw sales rebound by 4.4%. On a like-for-like basis, excluding fuel and VAT, group sales rose by 4.7% in the best performance for at least a year. Warm weather boosted demand for Taste the Difference fresh food, which saw sales surge 20% as customers snapped up picnic and deli ranges. Tu Clothing sales jumped 8%, driven by a 13% leap for womenswear, which the group put down to better design and strong availability. Its Argos business also enjoyed a sales bounce back, with growth increasing to 4.4% from 1.9% in the previous three months – the second quarter in a row of rising sales. It said Argos trading was helped by 'warm and dry weather against a weak comparative'. The group said it was making progress on efforts to revamp the Argos division, focusing on driving more shopping visits and higher basket sizes. But the figures come amid further signs of mounting food price inflation, with the latest BRC (British Retail Consortium)-NIQ Shop Price Index figures on Tuesday showing food prices were 3.7% higher in June, up from 2.8% in May. Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury's, said: 'We know how important it is that we provide consistently great value and we have built further on our strong competitive position, improving our prices against all key competitors year-on-year. 'We're now offering even more opportunities for customers to save on the items they buy most often through the biggest Aldi price match commitment in the market, covering around 800 everyday essentials.' Sainsbury's confirmed it was on track with guidance for the full-year, which is set to see underlying operating profits remain flat at about £1 billion as stronger sales volumes are expected to be offset by weaker profitability amid investment in price cuts. 'Profit delivery will be supported by continued growth in Nectar profit contribution and industry-leading, cost-saving delivery and will be weighted more towards the second half versus last year,' according to the group.
Rhyl Journal
22-04-2025
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Spotter witnesses bottlenose dolphin attack
Spotting enthusiast Holly Williams from Wrexham was one of 12 passengers who witnessed a common dolphin juvenile being killed by four bottlenose dolphins while out on an organised trip from New Quay. The incident which took place last week (April 17) left the group in shock, with experts describing it as a rare encounter. Matthew Westfield from the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) explained that climate change encourages more of the species to be out, while a bottlenose may hunt them as a form of "play." Holly, 38, said: "I'm a huge dolphin spotting enthusiastic for chirk Wrexham, and visit new quay cardigan bay with my partner Adam jones (36) and our children. "Between 6-7 times a year, we enjoy all the wildlife there but particularly the bottlenose dolphins who are residents at new quay cardigan bay. We use the company Dolphin Spotting Boat trip, which we see as our extended family. An image capturing the attack (Image: Skye Williams) "While this time taking my extended family on a private boat trip on what began as a normal boat trip along the coast, we spotted one of new quays favourite bottlenose dolphins "Ghost" she was traveling with another dolphin at a good speed and in the distance we could see another 4 dolphins which looked like they were playing breeching out of the water but on closer inspection we seen them fling something out of the water. "We first thought they had a salmon, then thought this is a porpoise (known as porcicide). The attack was all over in about 5 mins, and the dolphins immediately just swam away. My son saw something in the water, unfortunately a dead infant common dolphin. (Image: Holly Williams) "This is extremely rare to witness, although we are aware this does happen, and porcicide has been witnessed before, but it's never seen witnessed with a common dolphin. "Although this was upsetting to witness, there was nothing we or the crew on board could have done to save the calf. Nature can be so cruel sometimes, but as a family, we are aware that these beautiful animals aren't always as friendly as they seem. "We had the most amazing crew on board who contacted their boss, the Seawatch Foundation, and the CSIP, where the decision was made to retrieve the body so it can be studied. "A huge credit must go to Sarah (wildlife guide) and the skipper on board who were both compassionate and respect to us as passengers and to the calf they recovered and nothing was done without our consent. "This will be something that will stay with me forever and something we will probably never witness again in our lifetime. "Whilst on realisation of what was happening, it can be deemed cruel, it was amazing to see such a rare spectacle, as I'm sure many sea life enthusiasts who have spent years watching these fantastic animals have never seen something like this."
North Wales Chronicle
22-04-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Spotter witnesses bottlenose dolphin attack
Spotting enthusiast Holly Williams from Wrexham was one of 12 passengers who witnessed a common dolphin juvenile being killed by four bottlenose dolphins while out on an organised trip from New Quay. The incident which took place last week (April 17) left the group in shock, with experts describing it as a rare encounter. Matthew Westfield from the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) explained that climate change encourages more of the species to be out, while a bottlenose may hunt them as a form of "play." Holly, 38, said: "I'm a huge dolphin spotting enthusiastic for chirk Wrexham, and visit new quay cardigan bay with my partner Adam jones (36) and our children. "Between 6-7 times a year, we enjoy all the wildlife there but particularly the bottlenose dolphins who are residents at new quay cardigan bay. We use the company Dolphin Spotting Boat trip, which we see as our extended family. An image capturing the attack (Image: Skye Williams) "While this time taking my extended family on a private boat trip on what began as a normal boat trip along the coast, we spotted one of new quays favourite bottlenose dolphins "Ghost" she was traveling with another dolphin at a good speed and in the distance we could see another 4 dolphins which looked like they were playing breeching out of the water but on closer inspection we seen them fling something out of the water. "We first thought they had a salmon, then thought this is a porpoise (known as porcicide). The attack was all over in about 5 mins, and the dolphins immediately just swam away. My son saw something in the water, unfortunately a dead infant common dolphin. (Image: Holly Williams) "This is extremely rare to witness, although we are aware this does happen, and porcicide has been witnessed before, but it's never seen witnessed with a common dolphin. "Although this was upsetting to witness, there was nothing we or the crew on board could have done to save the calf. Nature can be so cruel sometimes, but as a family, we are aware that these beautiful animals aren't always as friendly as they seem. "We had the most amazing crew on board who contacted their boss, the Seawatch Foundation, and the CSIP, where the decision was made to retrieve the body so it can be studied. "A huge credit must go to Sarah (wildlife guide) and the skipper on board who were both compassionate and respect to us as passengers and to the calf they recovered and nothing was done without our consent. "This will be something that will stay with me forever and something we will probably never witness again in our lifetime. "Whilst on realisation of what was happening, it can be deemed cruel, it was amazing to see such a rare spectacle, as I'm sure many sea life enthusiasts who have spent years watching these fantastic animals have never seen something like this."
