Travis Perkins profits jump as tradesmen pick up their tools July 30, 2014 BUILDERS’ Merchant Travis Perkins posted a jump in first half profits on the back of improving market conditions and increasing customer confidence. The owner of Wickes, City Plumbing and Tile Giant said pre-tax profits rose by 19.4 per cent in the six months 30 June to £162.5m and increased its interim dividend by 22.5 per [...]
Home hunters drive record traffic for property website Rightmove as UK recovery takes hold July 30, 2014 RIGHTMOVE said a record number of home hunters visiting its website helping to lift profits in the first half by 32 per cent to £58.8m. The number of enquiries from would-be homeowners jumped by 27 per cent to a record 22.3m in the six months to 30 June as the recovery in the property market [...]
Aldi closes in on Waitrose as the discounters scent blood July 29, 2014 The challenges facing Britain’s big four grocers was further laid bare yesterday after new data revealed that Aldi was poised to overtake Waitrose to become the country’s sixth biggest supermarket. Kantar Worlpanel data released yesterday showed Aldi’s sales jumped 32 per cent year-on-year in the 12 weeks to 20 July, bringing its market share within [...]
Next profits to speed ahead of M&S yet again July 29, 2014 CLOTHING chain Next yesterday hiked its full-year profit forecasts for the second time in three months after another strong quarter, placing it further in the lead against rival Marks & Spencer. The retailer, which has 700 stores in the UK and overseas, raised its pre-tax profit guidance for this year by £25m to between £775m [...]
Shapland is named Poundland chair in retail merry-go-round July 29, 2014 Poundland yesterday named Darren Shapland as its new chairman after losing its current boss to the troubled supermarket Morrisons in the latest round of retail musical chairs. Shapland joined the bargain chain’s board as a senior independent director ahead of its £750m float in March after a brief stint as chief executive of the flooring [...]
City’s Gherkin skyscraper to be sold off with £640m starting price tag July 28, 2014 The City’s iconic Gherkin has been put up for sale on the open market after it collapsed into receivership earlier this year, with a price tag of around £640m. Receivers at Deloitte have appointed their real estate arm and Savills to sell 30 St Mary’s Axe, which will be advertised to buyers across the [...]
Reckitt to float pharmaceutials arm in London July 28, 2014 Reckitt Benckiser, the owner of Nurofen painkillers and Dettol cleaning products, is to spin-off its pharmaceuticals business as it focuses on growing its core consumer brands. The FTSE 100 company said yesterday that a demerger of its RBP unit would take place over the next 12 months with a separate listing on the London Stock [...]
B&M Retail hails strong maiden results after IPO delivers windfall payout July 28, 2014 B&M Retail, the discount shopping chain, yesterday reported a strong start to the year in its first trading update since its stock market debut in May. The fast-growing chain, which sells everything from bedding to barbecues, said group sales jumped by 31.9 per cent to £367m in the first quarter to 28 June. UK sales [...]
Danone in talks to sell medical arm to Hospira July 27, 2014 French dairy group Danone is reported to be in talks to sell its medical nutrition arm to US group Hospira in a deal valuing the business at about $5bn (£2.95bn). Danone has been exploring a sale of the business, which makes food and drinks for people with special nutritional needs, since earlier this year as [...]
Ex-Asda bosses Archie Norman and Allan Leighton linked to Morrisons chairman role July 27, 2014 Former Asda bosses Archie Norman and Allan Leighton are said to be in the running to become the new chairman of troubled supermarket chain Morrisons. Norman and Leighton were credited with reversing Asda’s fortunes in the 1990s and are both seen as plausible candidates to help revive the chain, which has been losing market share [...]
