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Toys R Us is reopening in the UK four years after it went bust

90s kids are in for a blast from the past…

Published

4 hours ago

October 28, 2021

Flickr / Public Domain

Four years after permanently closing down, the beloved toy store Toys R Us is set to make a UK comeback.

Toys R Us went bust back in 2018 after struggling to keep up with the new age of online shopping and, as a result, was forced to close all of its UK and US stores, much to the dismay of those who grew up with the retailer throughout the 2000s.

But in very unexpected news yesterday, the parent firm of both Toys R Us and Babies R Us announced that it had signed a long-term exclusive licence agreement to relaunch the stores across the UK from 2022 onwards.

@AleWi / Wikimedia Commons

Because as it turns out, the Toys R Us stores in Canada and Australia have been going from strength-to-strength these last few years, with bosses seeing them as proof that there is still hope for stores – both physical and online – here in the UK.

Chairman and CEO of parent company WHP Global and Toys R Us, Yehuda Shmidman, said in a statement: "We selected Toys R Us ANZ as our partner to expand into the United Kingdom because of their proven success in launching with us in Australia under the leadership of their CEO, Dr Louis Mittoni.

"Toys R Us today is a vibrant business with over 900 stores and e-commerce sites across 25 plus countries generating over $2billion a year in sales and growing, especially with the new launches underway for both the US and UK markets."

Mike Mozart / Flickr

Head of Toys R Us ANZ, Louis Mittoni, added: "Since Toys R Us' return to Australia in June 2019, we have scaled quickly as customers returned to the much-loved brand and our e-commerce model has proven its success.

"My team and I are looking forward to developing technical and commercial relationships with UK-based vendors and partners and to engage with the many loyal Toys R Us former customers and fans in the UK."

Over 100 Toys R Us stores closed across the UK 2018, with close to a quarter shut due to a company voluntary arrangement that was agreed. The rest were impacted after the business entered administration after an unsuccessful attempt to sell the toy retailer giant as a going concern.

News

Price of cigarettes rises to more than £14 a pack after Chancellor hikes tobacco tax

A pack of twenty cigarettes usually costing £12.73 now costs £13.60

Published

5 hours ago

October 28, 2021

Pixabay & @iriser / Unsplash

Smoking is now more expensive than ever after the Chancellor hiked tobacco tax as part of his Autumn budget, rising the cost of cigarettes to their highest ever prices.

As of 6pm last night, duty rates on tobacco products increased by the rate of RPI inflation plus 2%. The rate on hand-rolling tobacco also increased by RPI inflation plus 6%.

This means a pack of twenty cigarettes that currently cost £12.73 will go up to £13.60, or a pack costing £13.50 spotted by The Mirror will rise by 93p to £14.43, while the cost of a 30g bag of tobacco will jump by 89p from £8.14 to £9.02.

Pixabay

However, while the move has been applauded by many who advocate against the toxic habit – which has been proven to be the primary cause of a range of illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes – others have slammed the price rise, saying it is discriminatory against those from poorer backgrounds.

Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said as per The Mirror: "Smokers are sick and tired of being targeted every year with above inflation increases in tobacco duty.

"The majority of smokers come from poorer backgrounds.

"Many have suffered financially as a result of the pandemic and should not have to face yet another increase in the cost of tobacco at a time when they can least afford it."

@pawel_czerwinski / Unsplash

The Chancellor's tax hike comes shortly after campaigners proposed for 'smoking kills' to be printed on individual cigarettes.

Last week, MPs submitted an amendment to the health and care bill going through parliament which would allow the health secretary to make graphic health warnings mandatory.

Mary Kelly Foy, the Labour MP behind the move, said, as per The Guardian: "We know that cigarettes are cancer sticks and kill half the people who use them. So I hope that health warnings on cigarettes would deter people from being tempted to smoke in the first place, especially young people.

"I hope it would encourage some smokers to give up because if they are putting that in their mouth and seeing that message on cigarettes every time they smoke, I hope it would have the desired effect."

News

Andy Burnham calls on men to 'change their behaviour' at drink spiking protest in Manchester

'This one is on us: men, lads, boys'

Published

6 hours ago

October 28, 2021

@manc_wanderer / Instagram

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham urged men to 'change their behaviour' and 'call out mates' at the End Spiking Now protest in Manchester's city centre last night.

Hundreds of people descended upon St. Peter's Square as part of a boycott of nightclubs, demanding that drink spiking be taken seriously amid a rise in incidents across not only Manchester, but the whole country.

The mayor was also in attendance at the protest, where he stressed that the issue is on 'men, lads and boys', according to The Guardian's Helen Pidd.

Spoke to @AndyBurnhamGM at the End Spiking Now protest in Manchester tonight: "This one is on us: men, lads, boys. That might mean calling out mates for their behaviour or it might mean changing our own behaviour." #GirlsNightIn
— Helen Pidd (@helenpidd) October 27, 2021

Pidd tweeted: "Spoke to @AndyBurnhamGM at the End Spiking Now protest in Manchester tonight: 'This one is on us: men, lads, boys. That might mean calling out mates for their behaviour or it might mean changing our own behaviour.' #GirlsNightIn."

Greater Manchester Police are currently investigating a number of cases across Fallowfield and city centre venues following reports of drink spiking.

The force said in a statement: "Detectives are investigating several reports of drinks being spiked in the Fallowfield area of Manchester and people can expect to see extra patrols in the area this weekend visiting pubs and bars.

"GMP is aware of five incidents of drinks being spiked in Fallowfield on three dates – September 5, 28/29 and 29/30. The victims are all females and all displayed the same symptoms including vomiting. All the victims are being supported by specialist GMP officers."

Detective Inspector John Robb of GMP's City of Manchester south division stressed that all reports of drink spiking are taken seriously and that all while people on nights out should 'still be having fun', they need to 'remain alert'.

He said: "We encourage everyone on a night out to have fun, but remain alert and if anyone sees anything suspicious to report it to us right away.

"Whilst we will do all we can to tackle this, we recommend taking preventative measures too, such as not leaving your drink unattended and never accepting a drink that you haven't seen being prepared."