Early bloom for Chelsea Flower Show as dress of delphiniums, hyacinths and roses hits London May 11, 2015 The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is always a big event for the City, with ex-Marks and Spencer boss Stuart Rose, new Credit Suisse chief exec Tidjane Thiam and Lord Browne just a few of the business heavyweights who have attended in the past. The 1930s-inspired dress features over 1,200 delphiniums, hyacinths and spray roses [...]
Tory MPs demand end to banker bashing: Bank levy debate hots up after historic Conservative election victory May 11, 2015 Conservative MPs and senior City figures want the new government to rein back punitive taxes aimed at banks and avoid weakening one of the UK’s most competitive industries. Shares in banks jumped on last week’s unexpected election result. Defeated Labour leader Ed Miliband had threatened major hikes to the bank levy, more bonus taxes and [...]
Cannock Chase can see off Huxley rivals May 6, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS DAY TWO OF CHESTER’S MAY MEETING SIR MICHAEL Stoute hasn’t quite scaled the heights that we have come to expect over the past few seasons, but four winners at Royal Ascot last June secured him the top trainer award at the meeting and he has a powerful squad for this campaign. He [...]
Andy Harrison’s Whitbread exit dents shares April 28, 2015 SHARES in Whitbread slipped 2.5 per cent last night after Andy Harrison announced plans to step down following five years as chief executive in which pre-tax profits have surged by more than 220 per cent. The Costa Coffee and Premier Inn owner has seen its market value grow fourfold to almost £10bn since Harrison joined [...]
Marks & Spencer’s share price jumps as retailer finally breaks 14-quarter decline in general merchandise April 2, 2015 The numbers Marks and Spencer has recorded its first growth in general merchandise – the division heavily focused on clothing – in 14 quarters. The like for like growth of 0.7 per cent for the three months to March 28 brings to a close a two-and-a-half-year downwards spiral that has plagued chief executive Marc Bolland's tenure. [...]
Marks & Spencer patches up sales at clothing arm March 29, 2015 Marks and Spencer is expected to report an improvement in sales at its general merchandise arm as the retailer recovers from its recent warehousing debacle and thanks to fewer clothes being left on the shelves. Citi, joint broker to M&S, expects the high street chain to report a 0.1 per cent decline in underlying sales [...]
BHS brand is losing its homeliness to high street rivals – Brand Index March 24, 2015 BHS is one of Britain’s most recognisable retailers, but has experienced troubles in recent years, prompting Sir Philip Green to sell the company for £1 to Retail Acquisitions. The new owner is already looking into the possible closures of a third of the chain’s 171 stores. YouGov BrandIndex underlines the difficulty BHS has had competing [...]
John Lewis is named the retailer with the strongest reputation March 19, 2015 Middle-class shoppers’ favourite John Lewis was yesterday declared the retailer with the best reputation in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), a survey found. The survey, by the Reputation Institute, also showed that among the firms whose reputation had improved the most between 2013 and 2014 were WH Smith and H&M. However, there was bad [...]
Marks & Spencer’s chairman Robert Swannell joins remuneration committee as SABMiller chairman Jan du Plessis steps down March 4, 2015 Marks & Spencer chairman Robert Swannell is joining the high street giant's remuneration committee after a shake up of the non-executive board. The move has been prompted by the departure of SABMiller chairman Jan du Plessis, who is stepping down from the Marks & Spencer board today (March 4). Du Plessis, who has [...]
Marks and Spencer Asia head quits ahead of store shake-up March 2, 2015 MARKS & Spencer said yesterday that its regional director for Asia was quitting after less than two years in the role as it announced a review of plans for China including the closure of five Shanghai stores. Bruce Findlay, a former retail director for Calvin Klein who is leaving to join Diesel, took on the [...]