High street stalwart Debenhams shakes off payment scandal February 22, 2017 Last week, Debenhams was named by the government as one of the worst companies for underpaying staff. YouGov Brand Index data shows how the news has altered perception of the brand. Over the last year, I have discussed how adverse stories about pay have damaged companies including Sports Direct and Harrods, but also how positive [...]
Scottish craft brewer Innis & Gunn is now distributing in China and other Asian markets February 21, 2017 The UK's second-largest craft brewer Innis & Gunn today announced its beers will soon be available in Asia – the world's largest beer market. The Scottish brewer today announced a deal with Dxcel International to distribute its beer to the on and off-trade markets in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The deal focuses on the brewer's flagship [...]
Clarks looks to revamp its property portfolio February 21, 2017 Clarks is looking to revamp its presence on the high street with a review of its property portfolio, conducted by consultancy Harper Dennis Hobbs. As part of the review, Harper Dennis Hobbs will be examining Clarks' 550 outlets to see if the company is in the right locations, and has the right type of stores. [...]
InterContinental to return $400m to investors as it unveils special divi and 11 per cent rise in its total dividend February 21, 2017 InterContinental Hotels Group is approaching 2017 with confidence after dishing up a chunky pay-out for investors in its yearly results. The firm, which runs hotels under brands including Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and InterContinental, reported a slightly better-than-expected yearly profit rise and said it will be returning $400m (£322m) to investors via a special dividend and [...]
Unilever share price drops after deal talks with Kraft Heinz fall apart February 20, 2017 Shares in Unilever finished more than seven per cent lower today after talks around a potential deal with Kraft Heinz were called off over the weekend. The proposed takeover was revealed on Friday, sending FTSE 100-listed Unilever's share price up 15 per cent, and Kraft's up by 4.3 per cent in pre-market trading in New York. [...]
LIMA’s Kelvyn Gardner (007): A license to… reap the benefits of infintiely reproducable intellectual property February 20, 2017 In 1973 George Lucas approached Fox executives with an offer they couldn’t refuse: he would forfeit a 300 per cent salary increase in return for merchandising rights to Star Wars, and rights to any sequels. Rubbing their mitts behind muffled laughter, they graciously accepted what seemed like a naive offer from the young director. Of course [...]
Reiss snaps up retail boss tipped for M&S clothing job February 20, 2017 Reiss has appointed Christos Angelides as its new chief executive. Angelides, who has spent 28 years at rival retailer Next, had been tipped to become Marks and Spencer's clothing and homeware boss. But he said today that he has "long admired the strength of the Reiss brand" and looks forward to working with founder and [...]
Check out: 1,800 hotel firms could go bust in the next three years February 20, 2017 Nearly 2,000 UK hotel companies could go bust over the next three years as a result of the Brexit vote, according to new research from accountancy firm Moore Stephens. The accountancy firm predicts 1,800 UK hotel companies have at least a 30 per cent chance of going insolvent within the next three years as food and beverage [...]
Amazon creates thousands of new jobs in another win for post-Brexit UK and Expedia expands London office February 20, 2017 Amazon is the latest US tech giant to commit to the UK after the vote for Brexit, promising to create thousands of new jobs by the end of the year. Some 5,000 full-time jobs will be created across Amazon's business in the UK, bringing total headcount to 24,000 by the end of 2017. The plans include jobs [...]
Kraft Heinz has “amicably agreed” to withdraw its $140bn mega-bid for Unilever February 20, 2017 US food giant Kraft Heinz shocked the financial world last night, scrapping its $140bn (£113bn) takeover bid for Unilever just two days after news of the offer was leaked. Kraft said it had "amicably agreed" to abandon the proposed merger, which would have been the second largest in corporate history, and the largest ever acquisition of [...]