Supermarkets face “fake” farms complaint from farmers July 17, 2016 Supermarkets are under fire over the use of "fake" farms to promote products to customers and farmers have now lodged an official complaint with authorities over the use of the branding my supermarkets. The National Farmers Union (NFU) has filed a formal complaint with Trading Standards over the use of names such as "Woodside Farm" by Tesco, arguing they are [...]
Fixed or tracker: As Brexit prompts mortgage rates to tumble, how long should borrowers hold out for? July 12, 2016 Brexit might have thrown markets into turmoil, but if you’re thinking of taking out a mortgage, or are remortgaging, rates are about to get even more competitive. Since the referendum began in earnest, investors have clambered to buy government bonds, driving down yields and enabling mortgage lenders to offer more long-term funding. Banks have been [...]
Predictive power: Black Swan’s Jeff Headley on marketing intelligence, flu prevention and why the internet is the largest real-time focus group in the world July 11, 2016 Marketing is fundamentally about prediction: what does the consumer want, and when do they want it? From New Coke in 1985, the modernisation of the Gap logo in 2010, and BIC’s pink “for her” biros just four years ago, the history of marketing is littered with flops which better consumer testing could have avoided. Since 2011, [...]
Ofcom: Sky garners few complaints across broadband, TV, mobile and telephone, but BT, EE, Plusnet fare badly July 8, 2016 Things aren't getting much better. The total number of complaints made to Ofcom in between the last three months of 2015 and the first three months of 2016 was stable – though, to be fair, there was a slight decline in pay-monthly mobile complaints. Sky consistently got less complaints than the industry average, while Virgin [...]
These are the best value wines to buy this year July 8, 2016 If you're looking for the biggest bargains in the wine world – look no further. These are the top wines to buy if you want a great Friday night dinner, without spending too much. The best value wines in the 2016 International Wine Challenge (IWC) Great Wine Champions have been announced – make sure you grab them [...]
At the close: Markets enter reverse as Brexit strains stack up July 6, 2016 Sterling has been savaged today, the FTSE 100 has crashed and half of all assets in UK property funds have been frozen in a difficult day on the financial markets. The pound dropped down below $1.28 overnight, recovered briefly, but is now on the slide after a number of analysts published decidedly bearish forecasts. A [...]
Aldi is hungry for a 10 per cent share of the grocery market July 6, 2016 It's a tough time for supermarkets, but as the price war between the Big Four rages on, Aldi's UK chief executive says he is aiming to take a 10 per cent share in the grocery market. Speaking to City A.M., Matthew Barnes, Aldi's chief executive in UK and Ireland Matthew Barnes said: "We will have 10 per cent [...]
Supermarket sell-off: grocers’ share prices fall as HSBC analysts predict Asda will cut prices July 6, 2016 The big grocers' share prices fell today after analysts said Asda may cut its prices, trimming the industry's profits and intensifying the supermarket price war. HSBC analyst David McCarthy said: "We believe there are signs that Asda may be about to fundamentally reposition on price, bringing down sector profits. Read more: Traders betting against troubled supermarkets "Asda has been [...]
At the open: Strong FTSE 100 highlights wider Brexit fears July 6, 2016 Financial markets appear to be getting themselves into a bit of a pattern in the wake of the EU referendum. As sterling moves one way (down, inevitably), the FTSE 100 moves in the other. This morning is no different. After a small hiccup at the open, London's leading benchmark rose 0.4 per cent to 6,570, [...]
Tesco is opening a pop-up wine bar in Soho on Wardour Street this summer June 29, 2016 It might not be what you'd normally expect from a visit to Tesco, but this summer for the first time you will be able to visit the supermarket giant's first pop-up wine bar nestled in the heart of Soho. The finest* wine bar, tied into the grocer's Tesco Finest* range, will be open from 2 [...]