Three things to look out for from Tesco’s results tomorrow – other than the numbers October 22, 2014 When Tesco publishes its first-half results tomorrow, including an update on its investigation into an expected £250m profit black hole, all eyes will be on the numbers. Initially, investors will look for the specifics of exactly how much profits were "overestimated" by, and what effect it has on the supermarket's previously reported profits and future [...]
Tesco suffers worst decline in grocery sector October 21, 2014 TESCO emerged as the biggest loser in the grocery sector over the past three months, despite sales showing signs of recovery, as the supermarket price war and fierce competition continued to take its toll on the troubled retailer. The company, which stunned the City last month with revelations of a £250m black hole in its [...]
Supermarket woes deepen over price wars October 21, 2014 THE UK food industry’s troubles were laid bare today after a report revealed the sector had suffered the sharpest rise in financial distress compared with other UK industries. According to Begbies Traynor’s latest Red Flag update, which monitors the health of UK companies, levels of “significant” financial distress among UK food retailers rose by 11 [...]
Tesco share price rises as declines in its market share slows, while Waitrose reaches record high October 21, 2014 Tesco shares rose 2.2 percent in mid-morning trading after new figures showed while it has lost yet more market share, its rate of decline is slowing. while Waitrose has climbed to a record high, doing just enough to keep it ahead of German challengers Aldi and Lidl. The figures, by Kantar Worldpanel, also showed [...]
Moody’s thinks Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons’ profit margins will continue shrinking October 17, 2014 Profit margins at the so-called “big four” supermarkets will shrink even further than they have already as they fight a losing battle against discounters, according to rating agency Moody's. "Further price cuts could be particularly credit negative for Tesco and Morrison as their cost-cutting and efficiency measures are unlikely to fully offset the negative impact [...]
Police cordon off road around London’s iconic Blue Fin Building over “loose facade” October 15, 2014 It's home to Time Inc UK and a host of other companies, but today London's iconic Blue Fin Building became a health and safety hazard. According to people working in the Southwark-based Blue Fin – so called because of 2,000 blue aluminium fins that cover the facade and shade the interior – the authorities [...]
Elliott Advisors exec in £38m pay bonanza October 12, 2014 ONE OF the top directors at Elliott Advisors took home £38m last year, one of the highest single pay packets for an executive during the period. Elliott, a US hedge fund with a substantial operation in the UK around St James’s, disclosed the windfall in an annual accounts filing at Companies House during the past [...]
Tesco suspends Kevin Grace: Fifth executive leaves over £250m profit miss October 7, 2014 Tesco has suspended a fifth director over a shock discovery last month of an error in its accounts which meant first half profits were overstated by £250m. Kevin Grace, Tesco’s group commercial director, was asked on Monday to step aside as Deloitte and Freshfields carry out their investigation into what went wrong in Tesco’s accounts. [...]
Store wars: Lidl attacks Morrisons with combative ad campaign October 4, 2014 Lidl have launched a new ad campaign, ridiculing Morrisons's attempts to match their prices. This may sound like dry advertising rivalry, but the gauntlet has been well and truly thrown down. Great advertisement from @LidlUK – very clever response to @Morrisons price pledge. pic.twitter.com/zUwrEKms6c — Steve Myall (@stevemyalleats) October 4, 2014 The advert lists the steps [...]
UK supermarkets vs German discounters: Morrisons gets tough as Buffett attacks Tesco October 2, 2014 Britain’s embattled supermarkets have finally begun their fight back against German discounters Aldi and Lidl who have been eating their lunch in recent months with double-digit growth in the sector. Morrison, the UK’s fourth biggest supermarket, will launch its first customer loyalty card today, along with a price-matching scheme that its chief executive has labelled [...]