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 [...]
Tesco makes London superstore a flagship for F&F clothing brand August 4, 2013 TESCO confirmed yesterday that it plans to launch a London flagship store for its F&F clothing brand this Autumn. The UK’s largest supermarket group said it will open a 5,000 square feet concession on the mezzanine floor of its Kensington superstore around October. Tesco already has F&F concessions within stores in Woolwich in south east [...]
The voice of business should burst the Westminster bubble August 1, 2013 IT IS great news to see that more senior business figures will be joining the House of Lords, including Sir Anthony Bamford, chairman of JCB and Dame Lucy Neville-Rolfe, former executive director of Tesco’s corporate and legal affairs department. At the same time, it’s not nearly enough – at least, that’s the judgement of some [...]
The new peers are in the House August 1, 2013 THE CAPITALIST noticed a few familiar City faces among the list of 30 new peers who were welcomed to the House of Lords yesterday. Former executive director of corporate and legal affairs at Tesco Lucy Neville-Rolfe made the list, as did Charles Allen, the ex-boss of ITV, who was also appointed chairman of the executive board [...]
The former City men and women among today’s peerage lineup August 1, 2013 There are a few former City types among the 30 new peers welcomed to the House of Lords today. Howard Leigh (Conservative): Senior partner at Cavendish. Leigh is a qualified charterd accountant who set up Deloitte’s M&A group in early 1986 and Cavendish Corporate Finance in 1988. He’s also chaired the Conservative party’s The Leader's [...]