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 [...]
Why next year will be critical for London’s army of M&A dealmakers October 18, 2009 WHEN Tim Jones, the London managing partner of global law giant Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, walks into a room, one is immediately struck by the fact that he still looks every inch the Wales B rugby prop forward he used be. However, as he settles down in one of his firm’s sixth-floor, oak-panelled meeting room, he [...]
MILLIONAIRE LEAVES THE LAP OF LUXURY TO GET BY ON 64 A WEEK October 14, 2009 CHANNEL 4-gazers might have been surprised last night by the sight of a familiar face popping up on the box: Pimlico Plumbers boss Charlie Mullins. Mullins, himself the subject of a classic rags-to-riches tale as a self-made business tycoon, was taking part in the channel’s popular “Secret Millionaire” show, for which he travelled to a [...]
Booker cuts debt pile as sales jump October 13, 2009 BOOKER, the UK’s largest cash and carry business yesterday said its first-half profits had climbed by 12 per cent. The group, which runs over 170 branches supplying corner shops, grocers, and restaurants, said it made a pre-tax profit of £29.7m in the 24 weeks to 11 September, up from £26.5m the year before. Booker said [...]
M&S clothing slips into third place October 8, 2009 Marks & Spencer has fallen into third place among Britain’s fashion retailers in terms of volume of clothes sold, trailing behind George at Asda and Primark, according toTNSFashion Trak. M&S fashion sales have suffered as consumers switched to cheaper rivals during the recession.
Bond says no to M&S role October 1, 2009 ASDA chief executive Andy Bond yesterday ruled himself out of the running for the top job at high street retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S). Bond said: “I am not interested. I am not going to M&S. End of story.” M&S has said it will appoint a new chief executive next year, with Sir Stuart Rose [...]
M&S thanks its Wise Buys for a revival September 30, 2009 MARKS & Spencer, the high street bellwether, yesterday unveiled better-than-expected results which the City took as encouraging signs the worst may be over after 18 tough months for the retailer. M&S said group sales had lifted by 2.7 per cent in the 13 weeks to 26 September, and while like-for-like sales dipped 0.5 per cent, [...]
FTSE100 ends its best ever quarter with profit taking September 30, 2009 THE top share index closed lower yesterday with energy stocks, banks and miners among the biggest laggards on the last session of a record quarter. The FTSE 100 closed down 25.82 points, or 0.5 per cent, at 5,133.90 as investors locked in profits after the index put in its best quarterly performance since it was [...]
Waitrose draws up plans to open 300 small stores September 24, 2009 UPMARKET grocer Waitrose yesterday unveiled plans to take a bigger share of the convenience store market, saying it could open up to 300 smaller format stores, stepping up its challenge to top end rival Marks & Spencer . Waitrose, part of the employee-owned John Lewis Partnership, also said it would open more stores in motorway [...]
Rip Van Winkle to see off Delegator in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes duel September 24, 2009 GODOLPHIN and Ballydoyle go head-to-head again in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, tomorrow’s Ascot feature, and I fancy Aidan O’Brien’s RIP VAN WINKLE to win his battle with Delegator. The pair of them stand head and shoulders above their opposition in what really is an old fashioned duel. However, at a best priced 10/11 with [...]