Work up a sweat and prepare for a challenge in this Egyptian paradise October 28, 2012 REMEMBER that week back in August, the one just after the Olympics when it wasn’t dark by 5pm? The Eurozone crisis had gone on its summer holidays and the whole of London — starry eyed with Team GB’s success — was convinced that being an Olympian was the best job ever. I do. Partly because [...]
Summer of love for Symphony sends portfolio values soaring October 24, 2012 INVESTMENT firm Symphony International, which owns firms that sell lifestyle goods to people in Asia, yesterday reported a jump in fund value on the back of a stellar summer for its business investments. The London listed company, which backs a host of companies owning beach resorts, fast food restaurants and television stations, said the net [...]
Break up Whitbread and let Costa star in its own show October 23, 2012 IN a day peppered with corporate disappointments, Whitbread and its shareholders will have been more than happy to have seen their first-half results described as “outstanding” on more than one occasion. The FTSE 100 leisure firm used the term itself in its results presentation, and analysts were also keen to heap praise on a close-to 30 [...]
Costa energises first-half profit for Whitbread October 23, 2012 WHITBREAD yesterday warned that growth in the second half of the year would be more subdued after the Olympics and a wet summer helped drive up first-half profits by 11 per cent. The owner of Premier Inn and the Costa coffee chain said a strong performance across both brands had helped push revenues up by [...]
Hard-to-beat meat at Beard To Tail October 22, 2012 RESTAURANT BEARD TO TAIL 77 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3BS Tel: 020 7729 2966 FOOD ***** SERVICE **** ATMOSPHERE *** Cost for two people with wine: £100 I’m ONE of of those awful meat eaters that should really be a vegetarian but in actual fact, loves poor-quality canned meat and a post-pub kebab too much [...]
Prepared food need not give you nightmares October 22, 2012 Head chef, Paternoster Chop House Thinking what to have for dinner tonight? How about some corned beef, pickled herring or brawn (jellied pig’s head) with fermented vegetables in salt? I’m sure these aren’t top of your wish list – they may even bring back nightmares of bad school dinners – but it could be worth [...]
Booker posts profit jump and awaits clearance on Makro deal October 18, 2012 SHARES in Booker rose more than six per cent yesterday after the food wholesaler shrugged off the poor summer weather and reported better-than-expected profits. The group,which runs over 170 branches supplying caterers, convenience stores, grocers, restaurants and pubs, said pre-tax profit rose to £51m in the 24 weeks to 14 September, up from £45m a [...]
London launch boom rolls on October 18, 2012 Autumn’s boom of London launches continues apace, with Barbarella set to open on the Fulham Road this week. Formerly one of the go-to spots for London’s luminaries, Groucho Club maestro Jack Freud has enlisted clubland’s foremost names and undertaken a £2m refurbishment to restore Barbarella to its former glory, with dinner, drinks and dancing featuring [...]
City A.M. Awards 2012 Winners October 17, 2012 City A.M.'s third annual awards celebrating the best and brightest of London's business, financial and investment communities. Over 500 guests from 116 different firms attended the celebration, held at the Grange Hotel in St Paul's. PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR Lord CoeLocog chairman Former Olympic middle distance runner and politician Lord Coe was a clear stand-out [...]
US corporate results round-up October 16, 2012 Coca-Cola’s revenue misses Wall Street forecasts COCA-COLA reported quarterly revenue that came in short of Wall Street expectations yesterday, hurt by declines in Europe and Asia where it sold more lower-priced drinks. Third-quarter net income for Coca-Cola was $2.31bn (£1.43bn), up from $2.22bn a year earlier. Revenue rose one per cent to $12.34bn, while analysts [...]