Kroger understands that its customers are hurting. “We know that fuel over $4 has an impact on consumer spend,” CEO Gregory Foran said during the chain’s second-quarter earnings call. The new CEO understands that while his company can’t be the cheapest, it can still offer value. “Our goal remains simple. We are building America’s favorite

Illustration by Tracy Worrall 8 min read10 min Campaigning in Makerfield, Andy Burnham threatened Thames Water with public ownership – but has not so far followed through. Ben Gartside reports on a decision that will define his approach to privately owned suppliers of public goods. What, exactly, does the word ‘control’ mean when

Restaurants have a pricing problem. In late 2025, more than 80% of Americans believed that restaurant prices had climbed over the previous 12 months, according to a YouGov report. However, only 28% of diners believed that those prices were fair for the quality of the meal. This perceived “value gap” affects how diners are spending.

Ed Miliband (Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer) 14 min read1 hr Ed Miliband has landed a Great Office of State – not as Chancellor but as the new Foreign Secretary. He talks to Sienna Rodgers about why Keir Starmer had to go, how Andy Burnham is resetting the culture in government and

Wineries have struggled financially since the COVID pandemic, which has led several wineries to close facilities and, in some cases, file for bankruptcy protection. A major economic issue the wine sector faced was a 21% decline in industry revenue from 2020 through 2025, according to Silicon Valley Bank’s State of the U.S. Wine Industry Report.

5 min read21 September Andy Burnham should appoint a homelessness tsar to help with his pledge to end rough sleeping, according to the head of a leading homelessness charity. Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, told PoliticsHome that the Prime Minister needs someone who “knocks heads together” across Whitehall and improves coordination inside and outside government when

Starbucks has made it routine for people to pay more than $6 for a medium espresso-based drink. My daily go-to: a grande iced horchata shaken espresso costs $6.45. I actually live closer to a 7-Eleven where coffee drinks cost roughly half as much. A large (30-ounce) flavored latte from the convenience store chain costs $2.29.

Andrea Egan addressing an anti-racism rally in March 2023. Then president of Unison, she has since become general secretary (Mark Kerrison/Alamy Live News) 3 min read3 hr Exclusive: Unison general secretary Andrea Egan has accused Shabana Mahmood of putting up a “wall of silence” by refusing to meet with the union

Dick’s Sporting Goods has been one of the big success stories in the brick-and-mortar retail space. At a time when many rivals have been shrinking their physical store count, the sporting goods giant has leaned into stores creating new experiential experiences, and rethinking the retail experience. The chain has selectively built House of Sport locations,

5 min read4 hr Anna Sabine’s emergency surgery led to the loss of her voice. The Frome and East Somerset MP tells Ben Gartside how she is returning to Parliament more determined than ever to be heard When Anna Sabine finished a routine media appearance on Politics Live in the spring, she returned