Unilever rushes to sell underperforming food labels as it focuses on ‘power brands’ March 11, 2025 Unilever will speed up the sale of its underperforming labels and focus on its 30 power brands, according to its chief executive. Fernando Fernandez said the FTSE-100 company would act at a “faster pace” and that the firm has around €1bn (£840m) of brands in its Foods Europe division, which “don’t fit well” with its company’s portfolio. [...]
International Women’s Day: Women Empowering Women to Accelerate Change March 7, 2025 It’s often said that when women support each other, incredible things happen. Nowhere was that more evident than at the 2025 Power of Women event, hosted by Dress for Success Greater London earlier this week. Held at Blue Orchid Hospitality’s The Skyline London, the event marked a decade of empowering women and advancing resilience, leadership, [...]
Will western brands return to pariah state Russia? March 4, 2025 It was the sight that heralded a new geopolitical era. Hundreds of Russian punters standing in a disorderly queue and braving the bitter Moscow air to sample their first bite of the latest big import from America. The iron curtain – having been chipped away slowly for years – had fully fallen just two months [...]
Unilever CEO Hein Schumacher makes surprise resignation February 25, 2025 Unilever chief Hein Schumacher has unexpectedly resigned after less than two years in the role, as the company attempts to push forward with its cost-cutting programme. Schumacher will be succeeded by Unilever’s financial chief Fernando Fernandez from next week and leave the firm at the end of May, the firm said. The news comes amid [...]
Unilever: Amsterdam chosen for primary ice cream listing in blow for London February 13, 2025 Shares in Dove and Marmite maker Unilever have dipped despite an uptick in profit, with some additional concern as London will miss out on the primary listing of its ice cream arm. Shares dipped more than seven per cent in early trades due to “exceptionally weak” guidance, analysts said. “Unfortunately for Unilever… the market doesn’t tend [...]
Cristiano Ronaldo wants to own ‘several football clubs’ February 5, 2025 Cristiano Ronaldo wants to take his prolific streak into the boardroom when he retires from playing football by owning a multi-club network. Ronaldo shows no sign of hanging up his boots as he turns 40 today, with the forward still breaking goalscoring records for Portugal and Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. But the [...]
Time to breakup? Which UK stocks might benefit from selling assets January 27, 2025 Selling assets is a fashionable activity for UK stocks: WH Smith announced this morning that it is exploring a possible sale of its high street business to focus on its travel trade, following in the footsteps of Reckitt Bensicker, Marston’s and DCC, all of which have sold assets to unlock value recently. The news from [...]
FTSE 100 hits all-time high as investors bet on interest rate cuts January 17, 2025 The FTSE 100 has hit a new all-time high this morning, surpassing the previous peaks it reached in spring last year, as investors ramp up their bets on an interest rate cut by the Bank of England next month. The value of London’s 100 largest listed companies has grown 3.2 per cent in the last [...]
Rachel Reeves to raise Ukraine and Hong Kong human rights on China trip January 11, 2025 Rachel Reeves is expected to raise Russia’s war in Ukraine and issues of human rights in Hong Kong during her trip to China. The Chancellor is visiting Beijing for the first UK-China economic and financial dialogue since 2019, with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and top financial services figures. Ministers are insisting the trip [...]
Thames Water to avoid state bailout, the FTSE 100 at 7900 and an ITV bid: my predictions for UK plc in 2025 January 2, 2025 Predictions may generally be a mug’s game, but looking back at my forecasts for the business world in 2024, I seem to have fared better than usual. Klarna, the buy now pay later giant, opted for a New York listing; Dame Alison Rose made a comeback in a senior private equity role; Unilever announced that [...]