Best of the Brokers for 14 November 2013 November 13, 2013 BSKYB Westhouse has given the TV group a good reception, raising its rating from “neutral” to “buy” and sticking to its 985p target. Despite the loss of Champion’s League rights, BSkyB still has strong content and attractive growth, the broker reckons. FULLER, SMITH & TURNER Numis tells investors to “add” shares in the pub chain and [...]
Sainsbury’s market share at decade high as profits rise November 13, 2013 Sainsbury's has said this morning that its grocery market share is at its highest in a decade, at 16.8 per cent. The supermarket has seen like-for-like sales growth for 35 consecutive quarters, with profits in the first half of 2013 up seven per cent, at £400m. (Release) Total sales including fuel were up 4.4 per [...]
Workspace grabs slice of London tech market with Clerkenwell buy November 12, 2013 SMALL business landlord Workspace has snapped up an office block near Farringdon for £18.1m as it looks to tap into booming demand for space in the area from technology firms. Chief executive Jamie Hopkins said yesterday that the acquisition of Verulam House on Gray’s Inn Road, whose tenants include Tesco’s Blinkbox, marked its first major [...]
Tech powerhouse who wants to save our ailing high street November 10, 2013 Annabel Palmer meets Dan Wagner, back in the limelight with latest venture Powa Technologies HE may be one of Britain’s most prominent tech entrepreneurs, but Dan Wagner has had more than his share of career ups and downs and scathing headlines. In the 1980s, he was subject to criticism from the financial community for his [...]
Freight demand hurts Wincanton November 7, 2013 WAREHOUSE and freight provider Wincanton yesterday reported a two per cent dip in revenue as demand from the UK retail sector continued to remain sluggish. The company, which caters to clients such as Unilever, Tesco and Marks & Spencer, said sales fell to £542.3m in the six months to the end of September, from £551.2m [...]
Tesco to scan customers’ eyes for tailored advertising November 4, 2013 Tesco is to start scanning its customers, in a bid to tailor advertising towards them. Tesco petrol station users will be scanned at forecourts, using high-tech "OptimEyes" screens. The new system will be rolled out to all 450 of Tesco's petrol stations, with the screens predicted to reach a weekly audience of over five million [...]
Rothschild to advise on Poundland’s flotation November 4, 2013 BUDGET retailer Poundland has lined up Rothschild to advise on its upcoming public offering, which is expected to value the firm at more than £700m. The investment bank, which declined to comment on the issue, is expected to bring in other advisers to work on the flotation in the next few weeks. Poundland – which [...]
Lidl launches first television Christmas ad October 30, 2013 LIDL has launched its very first UK national TV campaign promoting its luxury range as the first-growing discount chain looks to win more middle-class shoppers from its larger rivals in the Christmas rush. The adverts, which go live today, will feature products from Lidl’s deluxe range, including mulled wine, whole cooked lobster and Serrano ham. [...]
The end of the rental shop October 30, 2013 As Blockbuster goes into administration again, Alex Dymoke looks to the future of online TV and film rentals BLINKBOX WHAT IS IT? Founded in 2006, Blinkbox is now owned by Tesco. It allows you to rent or buy films and TV shows online, which expire after 30 days. WHAT’S ON IT? The latest film and [...]
Sainsbury’s to take Tesco ad fight to court October 29, 2013 J SAINSBURY has announced it is to take Tesco to court to seek a judicial review, after the UK’s advertising watchdog twice rejected the retailer’s complaint against Tesco’s price comparison campaign. Tesco’s Price Promise scheme, launched in March, compares the cost of thousands of own-branded products against Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s and offers a money-off [...]