Netflix tuned into customers but still needs to expand – Brand Index April 21, 2015 THE STREAMING service Netflix recently announced that it had passed the 60m subscriber mark worldwide. Roughly 40m of those are in the US, which helps to explain why the company is planning an ambitious expansion plan, particularly in Europe, Australia and Japan. Shares in Netflix have also risen by around 40 per cent since the [...]
Utility consultancy gobbles up £10m firm after revenues rise April 21, 2015 UTILITIES broker Utilitywise, which counts Krispy Kreme, Dolce & Gabbana and Boots as clients, yesterday unveiled a £10m acquisition as it reported a 42 per cent rise in half year revenue. The Tyneside-based company, which works with businesses to cut their gas and water bills, has bought UK firm T-Mac Technologies, a tech company offering [...]
Verizon suprise on the upside as profits fall April 21, 2015 FIRST quarter results at Verizon Communications beat analyst expectations yesterday despite seeing a fall in pre-tax profits. Despite the drop in profits, total revenues for the company rose to $32bn (£21.4bn) from $30.82bn during the first quarter compared to the same period last year. This was partly driven by the American communications company adding a [...]
Harley-Davidson starts to stall in 2015 April 21, 2015 A STRONG US dollar allowed Harley-Davidson foreign rivals to aggressively undercut its prices in the first quarter, the iconic motorcycle maker said yesterday, hurting sales and prompting it to lower 2015 forecasts.The news that it had lost five percentage points of market share sent its shares down more than 9.8 per cent.
Well-groomed pooches boost Pets at Home April 21, 2015 PETS AT Home sales jumped 9.6 per cent last year, driven by a burgeoning demand for its VIP club for pampered pets and strong sales of its advanced nutrition products. The company, which provides pet food, accessories and veterinary services across 400 outlets, reported total sales of £729.1m in its first full year of trading [...]
Shoezone warns on profit after shoppers give retailer the boot April 21, 2015 SHARES in Shoe Zone plunged yesterday after the discount shoe retailer issued a profit warning less than a year after its market debut, blaming last Autumn’s warm weather for weak first half sales. The family-run chain, which floated on Aim last year, said it sold more shoes than it did in the first half of [...]
Cambridge Satchel sales buckle April 21, 2015 THE CAMBRIDGE Satchel Company posted a drop in sales and profit last year after investing in a new flagship store and revamping its website. The leather satchel-maker said turnarover fell 21.7 per cent to £10.1m in the year to 30 June 2014, blaming tough comparatives on the previous year when it starred in a Google [...]
House of Fraser plots first three stores in China April 21, 2015 HOUSE of Fraser is poised to make its first foray into China, the department store chain said yesterday as it posted record full-year underlying sales. The retailer was snapped up last year by Chinese conglomerate Sanpower through its Nanjing Cenbest subsidiary in a £480m deal. The company said that it will open its first three [...]
Pork Farms and Kerry Foods’ merger cleared April 21, 2015 THE COMPETITION watchdog said yesterday it has provisionally cleared Pork Farms’ acquisition of rival Kerry Foods’ chilled savoury pastry business after threatening to carry out an in-depth probe over competition fears. Pork Farms, maker of scotch eggs and sausage rolls for supermarkets like Marks & Spencer, bought Kerry Foods’ chilled savoury pastry business last summer, [...]
Quintain hires Westfield exec Matthew Slade April 21, 2015 QUINTAIN has gone shopping at rival Westfield after hiring Matthew Slade to run its 85-acre Wembley Park scheme in north west London. Slade, who helped oversee the development of Westfield Stratford City and acted as general manager of the shopping centre during the London Olympics, has joined as managing director with immediate effect, Quintain said [...]
