Tesco’s pension deficit has more than doubled in six months October 5, 2016 The market has responded positively to Tesco's new target for operating margin to move to four per cent by 2020, but Tesco also reported this morning that its pension deficit has more than doubled in six months. The deficit has risen from £2.61bn to £5.85bn due to exceptionally low bond yields, leaving the scheme's trustees in a tight spot. [...]
Analysts applaud Dave Lewis’ efforts to turn around Tesco October 5, 2016 Tesco posted a 0.6 per cent increase in UK like-for-like sales this morning and analysts have been reacting well to chief executive Dave Lewis' efforts to revive the embattled retailer. And the market seems to agree with them, with the retailer's share price jumping nine per cent in early morning trading. Lewis has been managing [...]
Tesco’s Drastic Dave must keep delivering to revive fortunes of the supermarket giant October 5, 2016 Tesco's slogan “every little helps” was aimed at cost-conscious shoppers in the financial crisis, but the same could also be said of the grocer’s gradual recovery under CEO Dave Lewis. Two years into his tenure, the retailer can perhaps add a new catchline to its roster: buy everything here. Lewis is steering the Tesco juggernaut [...]
Nearly 18,000 people have signed a petition calling for Sadiq Khan to save the Curzon cinema in Mayfair September 21, 2016 A petition to save the Curzon cinema in Mayfair – which is under threat of closure – has been signed by almost 18,000 people. The historic cinema has been on Curzon street since 1934, but it may be shut down after property developers made a noise complaint. Developers 38 Curzon Ltd want the cinema to pay for soundproofing [...]
Supermarket sales continue to edge upwards in the months following the Brexit vote September 20, 2016 Supermarket sales continued to edge upwards this month, increasing by 0.3 per cent for the three months ending 11 September. The growth was against a backdrop of price deflation of 1.1 per cent. Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar Worldpanel, said: “While overall sales growth has been slow, consumers have been keen [...]
Curzon cinema Mayfair under threat of closure in soundproofing row September 15, 2016 The historic Curzon cinema in the West End may closure after developers have made a noise complaint. Developers want the cinema – which has been on Curzon street since 1934 – to pay for soundproofing to make it easier to sell the £2m flats being converted on the floors above. However, the cinema will not be able [...]
M&S boss Steve Rowe declines to meet MPs to discuss pay cuts for his staff September 13, 2016 M&S boss Steve Rowe has rejected an invitation to meet MPs to discuss the pay changes he is making for his staff and he has refused to accept their suggestion that he should commit to a three-year pay freeze. Some 70 MPs wrote to Rowe last week to complain about the pay changes he is making for employees, [...]
Here’s why Ocado’s share price has slumped this morning September 13, 2016 Ocado's share price fell more than 10 per cent in early trading this morning, despite the company announcing retail sales growth of over 13 per cent. The stock had dipped by almost 15 per cent before noon, in a sell-off sparked by comments from the delivery service's chief executive Tim Steiner, who said the company is facing continued margin [...]
Ocado posts strong results – but the company is worried about the ongoing supermarket price war September 13, 2016 Ocado, the food delivery service, celebrated a positive set of results today but said the supermarket price war will drag on for some time. The group's share price slumped nine per cent in early trading on the news. The figures Sales at the group were up 15.4 per cent, reaching £314m for the 12 weeks to 7 August. Ocado's retail [...]
All eyes will be on Morrisons’ interim results this week to see if the strategy of CEO David Potts has delivered September 13, 2016 WM Morrison is on a mission to be leaner and meaner. Under CEO David Potts, 'in' have come aggressive price cuts while 'out' are a series of ill-fated ventures including a minority stake in US online grocery business Fresh Direct and M-Local, a hastily assembled collection of convenience stores. Potts has turned his focus to the [...]