Angela Spindler named as the new chief executive at N Brown January 31, 2013 CATALOGUE and online fashion retailer N Brown has hired Original Factory Shop chief executive Angela Spindler to succeed its outgoing boss Alan White. The company, which targets older and larger shoppers with brands such as Simply Be and Jacamo, said Spindler will join the firm before July to ensure a smooth succession. White will retire [...]
Snow hits Enterprise Inns and M&B January 31, 2013 PUB chains Mitchells & Butlers and Enterprise Inns both blamed the heavy snow during January for poor trading over the past few weeks. The companies, which own around 7,600 establishments between them, said that despite strong Christmas sales, a dismal January meant performances over recent weeks have been down year-on-year.
Cranswick signs £30m Asda deal January 31, 2013 Sausage-maker Cranswick said yesterday it has signed a deal to become Asda’s main fresh pork supplier thought to be worth around £30m. The news came as it posted a seven per cent rise in underlying third quarter revenue despite record pig prices in the UK. It said input costs rose during the quarter to 31 [...]
Great Portland sees value jump January 31, 2013 Great Portland Estates, the West End focused property developer, said the value of its portfolio rose 1.4 per cent excluding acquisitions and disposals in the third quarter as it saw an increased level of demand for its retail assets. Net asset value per share for the period was 430p at 31 December 2012, up 11.4 [...]
LondonMetric makes first buy January 31, 2013 LondonMetric Property has snapped up six retail warehouses for £92.4m, its first acquisition since the company was created through the merger of London & Stamford Property and Metric Property Investments this month. The retail parks, all near London, are 98 per cent let to tenants including B&Q and Halfords, it said yesterday.
Small cap stars celebrate with the dinosaurs January 31, 2013 WEDNESDAY night’s ninth annual Quoted Company Awards, this year held at the Natural History Museum, was a considerably more cheerful affair than in recent years, thanks to celebrity impressionist Rory Bremner. Winners included Lupus Capital’s Martin Towers for non-executive director of the year, Snoozebox Holdings for IPO of the year, Entertainment One’s purchase of Alliance [...]
Sail away: Floating interactive artwork lights up Canary Wharf January 31, 2013 OFFICE workers with a window seat in Canary Wharf can amuse themselves, until 15 February, with interactive art installation The Voyage. The 300 illuminated boats that comprise the piece can be seen floating in the Wharf’s Middle Dock; and any bored bankers can change the colours and patterns of the lights from their mobile phones. [...]
Lonmin output bounces back after hard year January 31, 2013 SHARES in platinum miner Lonmin soared yesterday as it showed signs of shrugging off its troubles at Marikana last year. The world’s third-largest platinum miner said yesterday that production in the first quarter had “substantially exceeded” the planned ramp-up to full platinum output. Lonmin said it mined 2.7m tonnes over the year from the Marikana [...]
Demand for air travel to lose altitude January 31, 2013 DEMAND for global air travel will slow again this year, but freight markets will recover from a decline in 2012, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said yesterday. Passenger traffic grew 5.3 per cent last year, IATA said in its annual update.
Lamprell advances debt talks January 31, 2013 Rig maker Lamprell has made good progress in discussions with its lenders over the refinancing of its debt, it said yesterday. The Middle East-focused firm also reiterated its previous loss guidance and said the working capital situation “continues to be healthy”.