Do strong brands make good investments? Brand Finance certainly think so February 1, 2017 When purchasing consumer goods, we’re attracted to brands we know and love. We buy Coca Cola, rather than an own brand product. We prefer Ray Ban sunglasses, Colgate toothpaste, Apple’s iPhone. And we’re willing to pay a premium for the privilege. Consumers have an affinity with the real thing, not just through overt awareness – [...]
Tescooker? Everything you need to know about Tesco eating Booker January 27, 2017 The UK's largest supermarket, Tesco, announced this morning that it will merge with wholesaler and convenience store supplier Booker Group. Share pries for both companies flew, with Tesco finishing the day nine per cent higher, at 206.3p, while Booker rose 16 per cent to 212.3p – above Tesco's offer price. Here's everything you need to know about the [...]
Analysts react to Unilever’s drop in revenues January 26, 2017 Unilever's shares are set for their worst day of trading in the last five years, having fallen four per cent this morning. Investors are reacting to the food manufacturing giant's fourth-quarter and final year results, which missed expectations. Revenue fell one per cent for 2016, and Unilever also warned that it would be facing "tough market conditions" [...]
Unilever braced for tough market conditions to continue in 2017 as it reveals subdued sales January 26, 2017 Unilever is keen to remind everyone it is – and has been for a while now – battling challenging market conditions. The food manufacturing giant has reported lower than expected sales in the fourth quarter and is braced for these "tough market conditions" to continue, at least for the start of 2017. Brazil's economic slowdown [...]
Unilever’s sales expected to unveil sagging European sales tomorrow January 25, 2017 Food manufacturing giant Unilever is forecast to post an increase in global sales and profit when it reports its full-year results tomorrow, but analysts expect the company to reveal sagging growth in Europe. Bernstein analysts expect profit before tax to come in at €7.58bn (£6.46bn), up from €7.22bn last year. They have forecast net sales of €52.98bn, with organic sales growing [...]
Premier Foods warns on profits (but at least mince pie sales are up) January 18, 2017 Premier Foods has not made an exceedingly good start to 2017 – its shares dived today after it warned on profits. The figures The food manufacturer, whose brands range from Bisto to Mr Kipling and 80s stalwart Angel Delight, said sales in its third quarter were down one per cent at £251.4m, despite a strong December. Branded sales [...]
Davos 2017: Who’s at the World Economic Forum and who’s not? Theresa May and Philip Hammond head to Switzerland along with bank bosses and, um, Jamie Oliver January 15, 2017 The great and the good of the global elite will head to the slopes Switzerland this week for the annual World Economic Forum in Davos. From bank bosses to economists, tech stars to politicians – and even a sprinkling of celebrity glitz – the agenda for the 47th meeting may be centred around the concept of [...]
Britons face more price hikes with Sky next to increase costs January 13, 2017 Sky has jumped on the bandwagon of companies hiking prices, with line rental charges set to increase from 1 March. The news comes just days after free-to-air competitor Freesat pointed out that since 2010 the cost of Sky TV had risen at four times the rate of inflation and twice the pace rail fares have increased. [...]
Food suppliers squeezed as supermarkets play hardball in Brexit price talks January 10, 2017 Food suppliers are being squeezed as supermarkets play hardball in talks over which side should shoulder the burden for the devaluation of the pound, new figures suggest. Research from insolvency firm Begbies Traynor shows 6,000 food suppliers were showing signs of financial distress in the final quarter of 2016, an increase of 13 per cent [...]
More than 530 US companies and 100 investors beg President-elect Donald Trump and Congress to stick with low-carbon agenda January 10, 2017 More than 530 US companies and 100 investors have signed an open letter to President-elect Donald Trump demanding that the US reaffirms its commitment to a low-carbon economy and the Paris Climate Agreement. Corporate signatories of the letter, which is also addressed to President Obama, members of Congress and global leaders, span Fortune 500 stalwarts [...]