Danone in talks to sell medical arm to Hospira July 27, 2014 French dairy group Danone is reported to be in talks to sell its medical nutrition arm to US group Hospira in a deal valuing the business at about $5bn (£2.95bn). Danone has been exploring a sale of the business, which makes food and drinks for people with special nutritional needs, since earlier this year as [...]
Supermarket price wars: Money can’t buy me love…or can it? July 24, 2014 As another CEO falls on his multi-million pound sword this week; the convenient simplification of the problem into pricing and the rampant value-retailer onslaught seems to deliver a somewhat myopic view of the task facing the brooding monoliths that are the big retailers. While Mr. Clarke was seemingly handed a metaphorical deuce to seven [...]
Unilever share price drops on weak emerging markets and food sales growth July 24, 2014 Challenging markets in the first half of the year have seen Unilever sales growth come in soft, despite launching a number of recent product launches. The addition of the Ben & Jerry's Core ice cream range, and innovations in compressed deoderants and oral hygiene ranges haven't been enough to generate the sales growth analysts were [...]
Dividend fears hit Tesco shares July 22, 2014 SHARES in Tesco slumped nearly four per cent yesterday on fears that dividends could be cut as analysts called for a complete overhaul in strategy under its new chief executive. JP Morgan analysts said Unilever director Dave Lewis, due to take over from Philip Clarke in October, would have to reset its UK margins from [...]
Tesco to splash £11m on Dave Lewis and Philip Clarke rescue operation July 21, 2014 Tesco will spend more than £1.8m on its new chief executive Dave Lewis but up to £9.6m on departing boss Philip Clarke as the supermarket puts its faith in the industry outsider to turn its sales around. Clarke’s shock departure and his replacement with Unilever’s president of personal care, who will start in October, comes [...]
Dave Lewis: Tesco banks on first outsider in its 95-year history. Will he make a difference? July 21, 2014 Tesco’ incoming boss Dave Lewis will have no easy task on his hands when he takes the reins at the UK’s biggest retailer and the world’s third largest chain in October. But while he lacks the Tesco genes that Philip Clarke had from spending 39 years at the grocer, Lewis makes up for it in [...]
City Views: Where do you think Tesco went wrong and what is your view on the CEO change? July 21, 2014 PAUL O’REILLY | VIRTUAL 1 I believe that Tesco should get rid of sections such as gardening and homeware. Also, Tesco was wrong to introduce auto-checkouts, as it needlessly cut of hundreds of jobs. I have no view on the CEO change other than I hope he will improve the company. RICHARD HILL-TOUT | SAUL TRUSTEE COMPANY [...]
Too big to succeed? How Tesco’s new leader can take on the toxic retailer July 21, 2014 The last-minute cancellation of his “40 years at Tesco” party suggests that Philip Clarke’s departure came as a big surprise. But in truth, his future at Tesco had been looking increasingly bleak for months. The man himself conceded as much in March, with his surprise statement at a conference that his days as chief executive [...]
Dave Lewis: Tesco share prices jumps as investors bet on new CEO’s strong Unilever record July 21, 2014 Investors have been reassured by the appointment of Dave Lewis as Tesco's new top dog. Despite a profit warning, Tesco's shares sprang up by as much as three per cent as markets opened. Part of that can be explained by the coming departure of CEO Philip Clarke. While he will continue to serve in his [...]
Tesco share price up on CEO exit despite profit warning July 21, 2014 Shares in Tesco rallied almost two per cent this morning on the news that boss Philip Clarke is standing down, despite the retailer saying sales and profits would fall below expectations. Tesco's share price jumped 1.8 per cent as investors responded positively to Clarke's departure and his replacement, Unilever's Dave Lewis, the first outsider to take [...]