Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
Dragons’ Den star returns to lead crafting company as part of insolvency
A crafting company founded by Sara Davies, the entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den panellist, is set to appoint administrators as part of a pre-pack insolvency of the business.
Crafter’s Companion, which Davies, 40, turned from a start-up in her university bedroom into an international seller of paper craft, art and sewing products, is preparing to appoint administrators at Interpath as part of a fast-track process.
A notice of intention to appoint administrators was filed at the High Court in recent days by Growth Partner, the business’s majority shareholder.
Sara Davies will be in Aberdeen on January 13 to headline the Chamber's first sold-out Business Breakfast of 2025.
Aldi celebrates its best ever Christmas sales in UK
Aldi has joined its rival German discounter Lidl in celebrating its best ever Christmas sales performance in the UK, driven by strong demand for its premium own-label products.
Sales at Britain’s fourth-largest grocer rose 3.4% year-on-year between November 26 and December 24 as turnover surpassed £1.6billion for the first time.
Shoppers turned to the value-led chain during the festive season, but Aldi said households also traded up to its premium own-label products to treat themselves after a difficult financial year, as sales of its “specially selected” range jumped by 12% compared with the same period in 2023.
Britain becomes Europe’s biggest electric car market for first time
Britain has become Europe’s largest electric car market for the first time ever as tough net zero sales targets prompt manufacturers to offer steep discounts.
The UK outsold Germany last year and surged ahead of France after a rise in electric vehicles (EV) registrations at the end of 2024.
It came as the Government confirmed plans to bring forward Britain’s petrol and diesel ban from 2035 to 2030. Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, said the plans, which will exempt some hybrid vehicles until 2035, would “give confidence to consumers considering making the switch”.
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