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New government should ensure stable economic growth, says John Lewis chief

Nish Kankiwala felt the political and economic turbulence of recent years has damaged consumer confidence, and the new government should provide stability

New government should ensure stable economic growth, says John Lewis chief

John Lewis Partnership chief executive Nish Kankiwala wants the next government in the UK to provide a stable environment for economic growth and restore consumers confidence.

Kankiwala felt the political and economic turbulence of recent years has damaged consumer confidence and families have been struggling with rising inflation.


He said the only stability will ensure that people feel confident to purchase big-ticket items.

The comments by a top official from Britain's prominent brand reflect a broadly held sentiment in business that the election offers a chance to reset the economy, Sky News reports.

In recent years, the UK economy has faced volatility and uncertainty, and the worst phase was during the brief tenure of Liz Truss.

John Lewis Partnership reported its first full-year profit since the pandemic on Thursday (14), and Kankiwala claimed it was driven by an additional one million customers across the two brands, John Lewis stores and Waitrose supermarkets.

He said this growth happened despite a bleak environment.

Though there will be no bonus for the 76,000 staff, Kankiwala assured they would receive the company's largest-ever pay rise, with nearly two-thirds of employees getting a salary hike of over 10 per cent.

Reacting to reports that John Lewis may axe 11,000 jobs in the coming years, he conceded that there would be redundancies but insisted that no formal target has been set.

Kankiwala said they have a clear growth plan, both in terms of sale volume and margins, and there is a sharp focus on retail.

He said John Lewis has dropped the current chair Dame Sharon White's goal to diversify to non-retail businesses.

Dame Sharon's five-year tenure is expected to end this year.

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The group earned five stars for customer service and accuracy of descriptions.

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Pub hotel group beat luxury chains in UK guest satisfaction survey

Highlights

  • Coaching Inn Group scores 81 per cent customer satisfaction, beating Marriott and Hilton.
  • Wetherspoon Hotels named best value at £70 per night.
  • Britannia Hotels ranks bottom for 12th consecutive year with 44 per cent score.
A traditional pub hotel group has outperformed luxury international chains in the UK's largest guest satisfaction survey, while one major operator continues its decade-long streak at the bottom of the rankings.
The Coaching Inn Group, comprising 36 relaxed inn-style hotels in historic buildings across beauty spots and market towns, achieved the highest customer score of 81per cent among large chains in Which?'s annual hotel survey. The group earned five stars for customer service and accuracy of descriptions, with guests praising its "lovely locations and excellent food and service.
"The survey, conducted amongst 4,631 guests, asked respondents to rate their stays across eight categories including cleanliness, customer service, breakfast quality, bed comfort and value for money. At an average £128 per night, Coaching Inn demonstrated that mid-range pricing with consistent quality appeals to British travellers.
J D Wetherspoon Hotels claimed both the Which? Recommended Provider status (WRPs) and Great Value badge for the first time, offering rooms at just £70 per night while maintaining four-star ratings across most categories. Guests described their stays as "clean, comfortable and good value.
"Among boutique chains, Hotel Indigo scored 79 per cent with its neighbourhood-inspired design, while InterContinental achieved 80per cent despite charging over £300 per night, and the chain missed WRP status for this reason.

Budget brands decline

However, Premier Inn, long considered Britain's reliable budget choice, lost its recommended status this year. Despite maintaining comfortable beds, guests reported "standards were slipping" and prices "no longer budget levels" at an average £94 per night.

The survey's biggest disappointment remains Britannia Hotels, scoring just 44 per cent and one star for bedroom and bathroom quality. This marks twelve consecutive years at the bottom, with guests at properties like Folkestone's Grand Burstin calling it a total dive.

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