Manufacturing to boost growth in third quarter October 7, 2013 MANUFACTURERS are reporting some of the strongest growth on record, according to the most recent quarterly survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Released today, the report shows some of the strongest balances ever seen by the manufacturing sector, beating every quarter since 1989. Indexes for employment, cashflow, turnover confidence and operating at full [...]
Amazon’s German operations threatened by Christmas strikes October 6, 2013 WORKERS at Amazon.com’s German operations could strike during the Christmas holiday season in a dispute over pay that has been raging for months, a union has warned. “If I were Amazon I would not rely on being able to make all deliveries to customers on time before Christmas,” Heiner Reimann of services trade union Verdi [...]
Tesco hopes to win back sales with new items October 6, 2013 TESCO will today unveil a revamped version of its Finest range, which Britain’s biggest supermarket hopes will win over shoppers and shareholders following grim half-year results. The FTSE 100 firm, whose market share is dipping as the discount supermarkets grow, is expected to lay out 1,500 new or redesigned products ahead of the Christmas rush. [...]
Consumer firms to spark next flotation frenzy October 6, 2013 BRITISH department store House of Fraser is on the cusp of appointing advisers to explore plans for a float of the chain, amid a resurgence in consumer–focused brands looking to list in London. The chain is thought to have held a beauty parade of investment banks, laying plans for a £300m float after the Christmas [...]
Scorecards ready as D-day arrives October 3, 2013 IT’s just like waiting for Christmas, only possibly more exciting… the 2013 City A.M. awards are getting closer. Yesterday our panel of eminent judges descended on City A.M. headquarters to discuss the shortlist of winners. Fuelled by coffee and that City breakfast staple, the good ole bacon sarnie, our panel made its final decision on [...]
Feeling the cold? Get measured up October 2, 2013 The chillier months ahead demand a smart, warm suit. But where should you go for your bespoke creation THE DAYS are getting shorter, the temperatures are dropping and my inbox is heaving with emails about Christmas. Winter is around the corner, and that means it’s time to update your wardrobe. You may look dashing in [...]
The new kids on the block October 2, 2013 The tablet market is no longer divided into “Apple” and “others”. With the release of Tesco’s budget Hudl and Microsoft’s revamped Surface 2, the market is hotting up in time for the Christmas splurge Microsoft Surface 2 From £359 Microsoft desperately wants to get a slice of the tablet market, surprising some observers by launching [...]
Rosy results for Sainsbury’s with increased sales, stores and new mobile service October 2, 2013 Sainsbury's has reported strong sales which have delivered continued outperformance, with total sales for the second quarter up five per cent (4.6 per cent excluding fuel). (Release) Like-for-like sales for the same period were up 2.1 per cent (2.0 per cent excluding fuel), with total sales for the first half of 2013 coming in up [...]
Brand Index: Price-conscious shoppers are feeling festive about Aldi October 1, 2013 ALDI has been on the rise this week. The discount grocer said its pre-tax profits had more than doubled in 2012, and during the year it attracted 1m additional shoppers. The company also revealed that it is launching a new own-brand line of cut-price luxury foods in time for the Christmas season. Aldi has a [...]
Aldi’s extra 1m customers help double profits September 30, 2013 DISCOUNT supermarket chain Aldi said yesterday it more than doubled its profits in the UK last year, as it lured more than a million shoppers from more upmarket rivals and grabbed a bigger share of the market. The German group, which will open its 500th UK store next month, posted a pre-tax profit of £157.9m [...]