With a new CEO stepping in, Unilever must now do the right thing and exit Russia July 4, 2023 Still operating in Russia currently means financing Putin's war in Ukraine. It's time for Unilever to face reality, end its hypocrisy and exit the country for good, writes Margaret Hodge
Boots to shut 300 UK stores despite stronger sales June 28, 2023 Boots has said it will shut 300 of its stores across Britain over the next year. The historic retailer revealed the raft of closures despite posting stronger sales over the latest quarter. The move, which it said will impact stores in close proximity to other sites, will reduce its store estate from 2,200 to 1,900 [...]
Own-brand buys and No7 skincare boosts sales for Boots June 27, 2023 Boots has revealed a surge in online shoppers and people opting for own-brand labels has driven up sales over the latest quarter. The pharmacy and retail chain said its own ranges have been flying off the shelves as consumers hunt down value. It came as its US owner, Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), revealed its net [...]
The Notebook: Andy Silvester on the Tory Mayoral race, a new must-read and a tremendous lunch spot June 15, 2023 The Tories appear to have done a real botch-job of selecting their candidate for next year’s mayoral election. Most who were paying attention expected the final three or four to be a combination of Paul Scully, the minister for London and Sutton MP, social media star and former adviser Samuel Kasumu, techie and diplomat Daniel [...]
Don’t trust every “recyclable” logo you see: greenwashing is rife in construction too June 8, 2023 If you think greenwashing is limited to retail or fashion, think again. It's rampant in the construction industry. So buying the right materials requires a lot of diligence, writes Victoria Brocklesby
Unilever share price in focus as hunt for new chair begins June 6, 2023 Unilever has reportedly commenced the hunt for a new chair as a shake-up of its senior level continues to unfold. The Ben and Jerry’s and Dove soap maker is said to have drafted in the executive search firm Spencer Stuart to scour for a new chair to replace Nils Anderson, according to reports in Bloomberg. [...]
Evolving ESG June 2, 2023 As the world becomes more socially and environmentally conscious, impactful ESG policies have become integral to corporate strategies. Stakeholders at every level, be they shareholders, employees, or consumers are demanding more of them, and firms should look to embrace this as a chance to make radical positive change. These increasing public expectations have been accompanied [...]
Unilever CFO departs ahead of new CEO’s arrival May 30, 2023 Unilever has announced a shake up at the top with both its chief financial officer and chief digital and commercial officer departing their roles just weeks before new CEO Hein Schumacher takes the reins. Graeme Pitkethly, who headed the consumer goods giant’s finances, is retiring after 21 year at the business. He will retire from [...]
Capita wins £565m in government contracts – despite major data breach May 25, 2023 Capita was today confirmed as the government’s chosen partner in two contracts worth a combined total of £565m – despite two recent major data breaches, the impact of which is still being investigated. The firm said the investigation and clear up will cost between £15m and £20m – this includes “further steps [taken] to ensure [...]
Do FTSE 100 bosses need more money? May 23, 2023 A debate is raging in the Square Mile over how much executives are paid - do UK firms need to pay more money to attract the best talent?