Bovis Homes, Direct Line and Pandora change guard at the top August 28, 2014 THERE was a changing of the guard yesterday as three high profile City figures made their move at Pandora Bovis Homes and Direct Line. The Danish jewellery designer announced that Allan Leighton would be stepping down as chief executive after a year at the helm. Anders Colding Friis, the chief of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, will [...]
Lidl by Lidl, the discounters are still on the rise – Bottom Line August 27, 2014 Fresh data, but no fresh hope for the mid-market grocers. Tesco dropped its market share to 28.8 per cent in the 12 weeks to 17 August, down from 30.2 per cent last year. Sainsbury’s also edged down. By contrast, premium player Waitrose grew its market share to 4.9 per cent – and its take at [...]
Tesco loses market share as more than half of Brits now shop at Aldi and Lidl August 27, 2014 Tesco's rival Asda has eaten away at its market share, while more than half of Brits now shop at budget grocers Aldi and Lidl, according to Kantar Worldpanel figures. The data released this morning shows over the 12 weeks to 17 August, grocery price inflation has fallen for the 11th consecutive period and is [...]
Fuel price decline lifts spending power for embattled consumers August 25, 2014 The drop in fuel prices and lower inflation on other essential items is helping to prop up discretionary incomes in the UK, according to figures released this morning. Fuel prices fell by 2.9 per cent in the year to July, according to research conducted by Asda, while food prices also dipped by 0.4 per cent. [...]
Fashion wars… a Lidl bit of what you fancy August 20, 2014 The invasion of supermarkets into the fashion sector is hotting up after hard discounter Lidl announced yesterday it was entering the fray. The German retailer is to launch a new fashion range for women next Monday, including ankle boots for £9.99 and even a faux leather jacket for £15. Lidl already sells basic clothing such [...]
Lidl clothing range: Discount retailer challenges British supermarkets on fashion front August 20, 2014 Not content with challenging big British supermarkets on food prices, discount favourite Lidl is taking the stores on in the fashion stakes. The German retailer is about to launch a fashion range for women that includes jeans, shoes and even leather jackets, with a men's range to follow later this year. From August 25th shoppers [...]
Supermarkets spark Bank Holiday petrol price war by slashing costs August 18, 2014 Britain’s leading supermarkets have fired the latest salvo in a fuel price war after slashing prices at their pumps today in a bid to win over customers ahead of the Bank Holiday. Asda was the first to take action, announcing that it would cut the cost of petrol by up to two pence per litre [...]
Asda sales ahead despite profit warning from owner Wal-mart August 14, 2014 ASDA is outperforming its leading supermarket rivals in the battle for customers’ loyalty after reporting a 0.5 per cent increase in like-for-like sales in the second quarter. The US-owned chain was the first of the big four to take action against the discounters by cutting its prices when it pledged in November to invest £1bn [...]
Asda steals market share as like-for-likes edge up August 14, 2014 Like-for-like sales at Asda edged up 0.5 per cent for the 10 weeks to June 30, with the supermarket building market share by 0.14 per cent year-on-year. The Walmart-owned grocer – which is currently going through a major restructure involving 1,360 job cuts – said growth demonstrated it was “continuing to deliver on its [...]
Tesco’s credit rating downgraded by S&P amid profit fears August 8, 2014 Tesco suffered a fresh blow yesterday after Standard and Poor’s (S&P) downgraded the troubled supermarket’s credit rating over concerns of rising competition in its home market and its recent profit warning. S&P said it had cut its long-term rating on Tesco to “BBB” from “BBB+”, but reiterated its “A-2” short-term corporate credit rating on the [...]