Flower Power: Laura Ashley plots expansion in India and China September 9, 2015 Laura Ashley is plotting its first foray into India and mainland China, where it believes its floral prints and home accessories will be a hit with shoppers. The retailer is in talks with a number of potential partners in both countries with the view of having its first stores up and running within two years, [...]
BHS to leave Oxford Street flagship store September 9, 2015 It could soon be the end of an era for BHS as the ailing department chain's new owners move closer to a deal that could see it leave its Oxford Street flagship altogether. Retail Acquisitions, a consortium comprising an eclectic mix of investors including former racing driver Dominic Chappell, is in talks to sell the [...]
The cost of luxury homes in Nine Elms are being slashed to bargain prices September 9, 2015 Nine Elms may be one of London's most ambitious residential development projects in decades – but it seems the luxury homes being built in the area aren't as popular as anticipated, after figures showed half of the homes under construction or just completed the area were reduced in price before they were sold The research, [...]
Brewer Greene King raises glass to solid sales September 9, 2015 PUB OPERATOR and brewer Greene King said yesterday that it recorded solid sales growth in the first 18 weeks of the year. Like-for-like sales in Greene King Retail grew by 1.3 per cent with growth of 1.9 per cent in the last 10 weeks. The company said when excluding the continued impact of stricter drink-driving [...]
EU data boost FTSE amid hope for China upturn – London Report September 9, 2015 The UK’S top share index rallied yesterday, extending its gains from the previous session with a boost from better-than-expected Eurozone second quarter GDP data and hope for further market stimulus on Chinese markets. The FTSE 100 was up 1.2 per cent at 6,146.10 points at the close, lagging blue-chip German stocks. The European Union’s statistics [...]
Aldi and Lidl market share: The only way is up for discount supermarkets September 9, 2015 No-frills retailers such as Aldi and Lidl are set for decent growth in the UK, with experts predicting that an overall rise in spending will offset any substitution towards pricier retailers as the economy recovers. “With consumer confidence at its highest point in many countries since the global recession and economic growth expected to continue… [...]
John Lewis shakes up management team promoting Andrew Murphy to group productivity director September 8, 2015 John Lewis has reshuffled some of its management team after promoting its retail director Andrew Murphy to a new role focused on coming up with new ideas for boosting the performance of the department store chain. The retailer said Murphy’s new position as group productivity director will see him work closely with the board to [...]
Bargain Booze parent Conviviality Retail’s share price soars as confirms its buy out of Matthew Clark from Punch Taverns and Hertford Cellars for £200m September 8, 2015 Bargain Booze parent company Conviviality Retail's share price leaped this morning after confirming it is buying out wholesaler Matthew Clark for £200m. The deal, a reverse takeover that will be subject to shareholder approval, is being struck via Conviviality's subsidiary Conviviality Brands, and will create a major player in the industry with a combined annual turnover [...]
Retailers blame late bank hols for drop in sales September 8, 2015 BRITISH retailers suffered a sharp drop in sales last month after the later timing of the August Bank Holiday distorted trading figures, according to figures out today. Retail sales fell by one per cent on a like-for-like basis from August 2014, when they had increased 1.3 per cent on the preceding year. On a total [...]
“Drastic Dave” Lewis is delivering at Tesco with £4.2bn sale of South Korean arm Homeplus to MBK September 7, 2015 Ever since Dave Lewis was appointed chief executive of Tesco last year, he has made strengthening the balance sheet a priority for the troubled retailer. Although Homeplus in South Korea was a profitable business, the focus has been on protecting Tesco’s UK market share in light of increasing competition from lower priced discounters, such as [...]