Ted Baker sales and profits driven up by strong performance in Europe and the US March 19, 2015 Ted Baker grew in its established markets last year, and expanded to new areas. The figures During the 53 weeks to 31 January, Ted Baker's retail sales rose 18.4 per cent to £306.9m, while pre-tax profits jumped to £49.5m – 20.4 per cent higher than in 2013. This exceeded the British fashion brand's expected profit [...]
Online retailers post sluggish February sales March 16, 2015 ONLINE retailers posted sluggish growth in February as the Christmas shopping spree continued to weigh on consumers, according to the latest monthly figures from industry analysts IMRG and Capgemini. Sales slumped by 12 per cent in February compared with the previous month, which in turn was down seven per cent on December, the IMRG Capgemini [...]
George Osborne likes to think the unthinkable: Now he should abolish the Budget March 16, 2015 It’s a well-known saying that “turkeys don’t vote for Christmas”. So calling for George Osborne to take to the despatch box tomorrow and announce that he’s abolishing future Budgets – in turn, greatly diminishing the Treasury’s power – might seem a fanciful plea. In truth, it’s about as likely as Ed Miliband offering journalists the [...]
Revolution Bars prices initial public offering at 200 pence per share March 13, 2015 Revolution Bars has priced its initial public offering (IPO) at the lower end of expectations, or 200p per share, valuing the company at £100m. The group's private equity backer, Caspian Bidco, will raise £86m from the float, with no proceeds going to the company. The group, which owns 58 bars in towns and cities across the country, [...]
John Lewis Partnership slashes bonus as Waitrose profits fall March 12, 2015 The John Lewis Partnership, known for its generous staff incentives, has slashed the bonus payout to its partners after a hit on profits at its upmarket grocery chain Waitrose. Staff will receive a bonus of 11 per cent of their annual salary, down from last year's 15 per cent – the third annual decline in a row. [...]
Apache Stronghold can land JLT under masterful Carberry March 11, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE JLT, PERTEMPS FINAL AND KIM MUIR STILL a relatively new race at the Cheltenham Festival, the JLT Novices’ Chase (1.30pm) is for those horses who need further than the two miles of the Arkle and less than the three and a bit miles of the RSA Chase. No horse fits that [...]
Jeremy Clarkson fracas: One chart showing the decline of Top Gear’s UK television audience in the last five years March 11, 2015 To his fans, he's a hero; to his detractors, he's everything wrong with television today. But fracas or no fracas, suspending Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson can't have been an easy choice for the BBC. He does, after all, preside over the world's most-watched factual TV programme, according to the Guinness Book of Records. More than [...]
Don Poli has the class and stamina to win RSA Chase March 10, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE RSA CHASE & NEPTUNE HURDLE EVEN the briefest glance at the roll of honour for the RSA Chase (2.05pm) proves that this race has long been a stepping stone for horses with the potential to go on and triumph in a Gold Cup. In fact, three of the last eight winners [...]
Gigginstown duo catch the eye in the Coral Cup March 10, 2015 FINDING the right selection in the 26-runner Coral Cup (2.40pm) is no easy task, as one winner at a single figure price in the last decade would indicate. The Paul Nicholls-trained Aux Ptits Soins makes his British debut this afternoon, and has reportedly been catching pigeons at home. At 16/1 a few weeks ago I [...]
Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson suspended by the BBC after “fracas” March 10, 2015 Controversial Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended from the BBC after a "fracas" with a producer. In a statement today, the BBC said Clarkson had been suspended "pending investigation", and that "no one else has been suspended". It added that Top Gear would not be broadcast this Sunday. Top Gear is one of the BBC's most [...]