What’s gone wrong at Sainsbury’s? Three problems the supermarket must address July 3, 2019 It has been several months now since the Mike Coupe’s dreams of a merger with Asda were dealt a lethal blow from Britain’s competition watchdog, but how much has changed? Directors at the supermarket chain have been setting out a plan to cut costs, slash debt and refurbish 400 stores. Yet investors will likely have [...]
Sainsbury’s cuts market share decline as Aldi and Lidl soar June 25, 2019 Sainsbury’s has cut short the decline in its market share as discount rivals Aldi and Lidl continue to boost sales. Customer spend at Sainsbury’s dipped 0.6 per cent in the three months to 16 June, an improvement on the 1.2 per cent decline in the previous period following its failed merger with Asda. Read more: [...]
Is honesty the best policy? Why brands should be open about their weaknesses June 24, 2019 Marketing can be complex, with so many sophisticated models, fancy processes, long words, plus various funnels, pyramids, and flow diagrams to help make people look clever. And the growing importance of data has added complexity to the way in which we plan the strategies behind advertising campaigns. But as the legendary ad man Bill Bernbach [...]
Dunelm raises profit forecast after weather helps boost sales June 20, 2019 Furniture firm Dunelm has raised expectations for the year after strong sales growth in recent months driven by poor weather. The company said unseasonably favourable weather had boosted like-for-like growth in May and June as it continued to defy the UK’s gloomy retail sector. Shares in Dunelm climbed more than five per cent as the [...]
Tesco shares: Reasons to be cheerful June 18, 2019 Early selling following this Q1 update attracted bargain hunters. Our head of markets explains why. Tesco (LSE:TSCO) recovery from the dark days of having taken its eye off the ball in the UK continues apace. The radical overhaul which the business has undergone has seen Tesco’s shares rise by 50% over the last three years. More [...]
Morrisons and Amazon: Retail’s newest BFFs June 14, 2019 By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. Extending its relationship with the world’s biggest retailer is shrewd business by Morrisons’ CEO. The quiet revolution at Morrisons (LSE:MRW) under chief executive David Potts continues to impress after the supermarket chain extended its partnership with online giant Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN). Whereas its rivals have looked to grow through consolidation – with Tesco (LSE:TSCO) buying Booker and Sainsbury’s (LSE:SBRY) trying to [...]
Packaging maker DS Smith shares on the rise as profits soar June 13, 2019 DS Smith shares rose five per cent today on the news it enjoyed profit boost of nearly one-third last year. The packaging manufacturer said it had plans in place to stockpile goods ahead of Britain’s planned exit from the EU at the end of October. Read more: DS Smith sells plastics division to US private [...]
Tesco sales growth slows in ‘subdued’ market June 13, 2019 Tesco sales growth slowed in the first quarter of the year due to a “subdued” UK market. The supermarket, which is the largest in the UK, said sales hit £9.08bn in its core market, representing like-for-like sales growth of 0.4 per cent. Read more: Tesco Bank quits ‘challenging’ mortgage market Analysts had predicted growth in [...]
Gympass secures $300m in Softbank-led funding round June 12, 2019 Gympass has raised more than $300m (£236m) in a funding round led by Japanese investment giant Softbank. Read more: Softbank earns $11bn for selling some of its huge Alibaba stake The corporate fitness platform, which offers flexible gym memberships, said it has secured the funding from Softbank’s Vision Fund and existing investors. Softbank’s Latin America [...]
End of the Saga: Chief executive Batchelor hangs up his lance June 12, 2019 The chief executive of over 50s travel and insurance group Saga will retire next year, the company said today. Lance Batchelor will retire at the end of the financial year in January 2020 after six years with the business. The recruitment of his successor is underway. In April Saga shares sank 40 per cent after [...]