Prezzo, Wagamama and GBK bring mobile payments to the high street March 21, 2014 RESTAURANT group Prezzo is introducing mobile payments to its 200 UK stores in a move that allows customers to pay directly from their smartphones without bringing a debit or credit card with them. The new payment technology, rolled out in partnership with PayPal, lets customer split a bill between friends and pay for their meal at [...]
Sports Direct’s chairman in line for £67m bonus March 11, 2014 SPORTS Direct announced plans yesterday to introduce a bonus scheme that could award Mike Ashley a windfall of £67m, nearly two years after shareholders rejected previous plans to reward the retailer’s founder. The sporting goods retailer has called for a shareholder meeting on 4 April to vote on whether to award Ashley 8m shares, which [...]
Bottom Line: Ashley deserves every penny of his reward March 11, 2014 ATOP HIS impressive beer gut, Mike Ashley’s face has the healthy glow of a man who enjoys a carrot. Yesterday, Sports Direct dangled a huge one in front of its chairman in the form of a £67m share bonus – subject, of course, to the company’s profitability over the next two years. On past performance, [...]
ONS warns zero hours contracts figures mislead March 10, 2014 STATISTICS showing a dramatic increase in zero-hours contracts in the UK were claimed to be misleading by the government office that published them. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) yesterday urged caution on reading its report that 583,000 UK workers were on zero-hour contracts – more than double the original 250,000 estimate from last year [...]
The Macan is poised for big things March 10, 2014 Porsche’s new luxury SUV could be the motor to finally take the crown from the Range Rover Evoque HAVE you ever visited a car factory? I thought not. I have, many times. Manufacturers are universally keen to show off to the media the millions – billions even – they invest in new car plants. I’m [...]
Power steering March 9, 2014 What happens when Bernie Ecclestone leaves Formula One? HE IS one of Britain’s best-known chief executives, and over 40 years has transformed Formula One from an amateur pastime into a billion-pound business and the world’s most-watched annual sports series. Bernie Ecclestone has become a household name through his appearances on F1’s glitzy grid, and his [...]
The week in brief March 2, 2014 Cadbury in £7.5m communication campaigns launch The confectionery company has invested £7.5m in a campaign for its new Dairy Milk Ritz and Lu products. A 30-second TV ad, created by Fallon and directed by David Wilson, premiered on British TV on Saturday. Cadbury hopes this will help position the brand in the afternoon tea break [...]
Profits at Sports Direct in shape February 19, 2014 SPORTS Direct posted a strong rise in profits over the Christmas quarter yesterday but stayed silent on talks with Debenhams after buying an option in the retailer last month that could see it eventually own a 6.6 per cent stake. The sports chain controlled by billionaire Mike Ashley said it had “no further comment” on [...]
Analyst Views: What was your reaction to Sports Direct’s interim statement? February 19, 2014 SANJAY VIDYARTHI | LIBERUMAs flagged at the interims in December, Sports Direct has reported a slowdown in third quarter sports retail sales, but this has come with strong gross margin expansion, which is key… We think this is a decent performance and we maintain our view that it is well positioned to drive long term [...]
London Report: FTSE pauses for breath as sharp rally peters out February 19, 2014 THE UK’S top shares steadied yesterday as analysts bet the strong rally that followed a slump in emerging markets has run out of steam, though Sports Direct gained on robust profits. The FTSE 100 closed up 0.28 points – flat in percentage terms – at 6,796.71 points. It hit 6,810.48, its highest since late January, [...]