Labour U-turn on criticism of Tesco and Next August 12, 2013 LABOUR’S immigration spokesman Chris Bryant yesterday endured a day from hell as he attempted to defuse a row with two retail giants while launching a new immigration policy. Bryant had planned to attack Tesco and Next for allegedly preferring cheap employees from eastern Europe at the expense of British workers. But after the firms complained [...]
Don’t blame immigration policy for the problems in our labour market August 12, 2013 TWO years ago, as the recovery stalled, a number of commentators suggested that the main problem with the UK economy was too much “red tape” preventing employers creating jobs. In response, the government commissioned a report from Adrian Beecroft on labour market regulation. It was deservedly mocked for ignoring the evidence – and, in particular, [...]
Labour’s immigration speech overshadowed by Tesco/Next row August 12, 2013 Labour’s shadow immigration minister Chris Bryant was forced to defend his criticisms of Tesco and Next made in a speech on Labour’s immigration policy earlier today (today's speech in full). In the leaked version of the speech, Bryant criticised “unscrupulous employers” who choose to use cheaper foreign workers over British candidates in an attempt to [...]
Retail bosses fight back after Labour attack August 11, 2013 HIGH street giants Tesco and Next have lashed out at Labour after the party branded them “unscrupulous employers” and claimed they preferred cheap Eastern European staff over British workers. Shadow immigration minister Chris Bryant will today call out hiring procedures at the two firms as part of a wide-ranging attack on businesses that use [...]
John Lewis is set to create a new restaurant August 11, 2013 JOHN Lewis is poised to launch a new restaurant concept in a move to diversify its catering range and attract more customers into its department stores. Chief executive Andy Street said while John Lewis’ restaurants and cafeterias were profitable and provided good quality, “middle of the road” food, they were not “cutting edge” brands. [...]
Bottom Line: Head this way for destination retail August 11, 2013 TESCO unveiled its revamped hypermarket in Watford last week to much fanfare. The 80,000 square foot store is a crucial test-bed for the “retail destination” concept Tesco is creating to tackle declining footfall as the digital revolution bites. Tony Hoggett, Tesco Extra head, said the store – with its community room, Euphorium bakery, Giraffe [...]
Tesco pulls out of independent Chinese operations amid growing regional competition August 9, 2013 Tesco has announced it will be ending its independent operations in China to embark on a joint venture with China Resources Enterprise (release). Tesco will merge 131 of its stores with 2.986 of CRE’s, taking advantage of the Chinese company’s “deep understanding of local customers, established nationwide infrastructure and proven track record as a partner [...]
Tesco linked to China merger August 8, 2013 Tesco is expected to announce today an agreement to merge its operations in China with a division of state-run retailer China Resources Enterprise. Citing people close to the talks, Sky said that the supermarket group, is set to sign an agreement to merge its store estate in China with that of Vanguard, which is a [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 6 August 2013 August 5, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES UK weighs legal action over Gibraltar Britain is looking at whether it can take Spain to the European courts over its treatment of British nationals at the border with Gibraltar. UK officials are taking advice on whether checks on cars as they try to cross from Spain into Gibraltar violate EU rules on [...]
Former First Direct boss to front £1bn offer for 316 RBS branches August 4, 2013 A CONSORTIUM led by the former head of online bank First Direct is preparing a £1bn bid for 316 branches being sold by Royal Bank of Scotland. Alan Hughes is working with a group comprised of private equity firms Blackstone and Anacap, which plans to make an offer for the branches as an unofficial deadline [...]