TORIES TO PRIVATISE THE POSTAL SERVICE October 22, 2009 SHADOW business secretary Ken Clarke yesterday said that a Tory government would privatise the Royal Mail if it wins the next election, as the Communication Workers Union (CWU) announced a second three-day walk out next week. Clarke said that only private capital and management could give Royal Mail a new lease of life and end [...]
Green appoints chief exec to run clothing empire Arcadia October 22, 2009 RETAIL magnate Sir PhilipGreen yesterday appointed a full-time chief executive to run clothing business Arcadia. Green said he had hired Ian Grabiner, Arcadia’s chief operating officer, as chief executive, as he warned of a tough Christmas on the high street. And the tycoon – who is adamant that the shake-up will not see him take [...]
Profits up at Debenhams October 22, 2009 Department Chain Debenhams reported a better-than-expected 14 per cent full-year pre-tax profit and saying it had cash for acquisitions. Disappointing retail sales data from the Office for National Statistics cast a shadow over Debenhams’ news that it had made a profit of £125.2m, driven by a strong demand for its Designers at Debenhams range. Sales [...]
Heroes of sport that touched England’s great cricket legend October 21, 2009 MY SPORTING HEROESBY IAN BOTHAMMainstream, £18.99 WHEN AN icon such as Sir Ian Botham lists you among his sporting heroes, then you know you have a story to tell. Fresh from the success of his 2007 autobiography Head On, England’s finest all-round cricketer is back with My Sporting Heroes – a light-hearted look at the [...]
Speculation is driving the price of oil October 21, 2009 OIL’S break through to $80 per barrel earlier this week was attributed to yet another bout of dollar weakness in forex markets, or a strong gasoline inventory draw-down in the US. But looking at the truly fundamental factors – the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (Opec) spare production capacity standing at a whopping 5.5m [...]
Gap is widening between best and worst brands October 20, 2009 THINGS have picked up on the high street over the last month, but it’s not a case of a rising tide lifting all boats: the recession seems to have made the customer more discerning. Of the 25 high street retailers which BrandIndex measures daily, we’ve taken three of our top-ranked, and compared them with three [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS October 19, 2009 ALLENS BUTCHER GOES ONLINETime-poor, meat-loving Londoners will rejoice to know that they can now order their meat online from the famous Mount Street butchers. Alongside a stellar selection of beef, lamb, pork, veal, poultry, game and sauces, you can order seasonal favourites such as the Scottish beef-filled Steak Box and Christmas turkey. A new feature, [...]
BA holds frank talks with union October 19, 2009 Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways, held “open and frank” discussions with union leaders yesterday, in the latest step to avoid a ballot on strike action. Unions and the embattled airline have been locked in talks over BA’s cost-cutting measures, which involves axing up to 3,700 jobs over the next year. BA wants [...]
BRANSON PLANS SPACE-AGE PARTY AS BUTTON BRINGS HOME THE GOLD October 19, 2009 RICHARD Branson may have revealed that he’s unlikely to stump up the cash to sponsor Formula One team Brawn GP again next year after its spectacular season, but it doesn’t mean the canny entrepreneur is stepping back his involvement now that the team has won the championship. The Virgin tycoon was unable to make it [...]
Royal Mail locked in last-ditch talks October 19, 2009 ROYAL MAIL was last night in eleventh hour talks with its unions in a desperate bid to avoid nationwide walk-outs which are set to cripple the Christmas post. It is the latest move from both sides to end a dispute over modernisation at the service. Tensions are running so high that there are even fears [...]