John Lewis is ranked among influential list November 14, 2010 RETAIL giant John Lewis has surged into a ranking of Britain’s most influential brands, as the group’s partnership approach to doing business and a record year for till receipts propelled it into the top three. TLG’s annual index of UK Business Thought Leaders ranks John Lewis below Apple and Google but above other respected names [...]
West End sees robust October high street sales November 14, 2010 SALES at London’s West End shops remained robust during October despite the details of the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review acting to unnerve consumers. According to lobby group the New West End Company, which is backed by major retailers and property owners in Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street, West End sales rose 7.7 per [...]
Waitrose sees sales rise November 11, 2010 Waitrose sales rose by nine per cent in the third quarter as the mild weather fuelled sales of unseasonal products including salad and ice cream. The retailer – which does not issue quarterly profit figures – said sales for the three months to the end of October had been buoyant. On a like-for-like basis its [...]
NATIONAL BUSINESS AWARDS CELEBRATE VERY BEST OF BRITISH November 9, 2010 “CELEBRATING” the Best of British was how Prime Minister David Cameron described the National Business Awards last night, speaking via a video link recorded before his trip to China this week. And a fine celebration the ceremony was too, honouring companies of all sectors and sizes across the UK economy, from niche tiddlers such as [...]
Alliance Boots predicts strong Xmas as acquisitions boost half year figures November 3, 2010 ALLIANCE Boots said it was expecting a Christmas trade boost from its new ranges while acquisitions had ensured solid half-year figures. The company’s same-store revenues for its health and beauty division grew by two per cent to £3.4bn, it reported yesterday. Revenues for the whole group rose by six per cent to £8.9bn. Finance director [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS October 25, 2010 BENARES’ DIWALI FEAST Mayfair’s favourite posh Indian restaurant is going to be celebrating Hindu festival Diwali in style with a special menu. Michelin-garnering chef Atul Kochhar’s menu, on offer throughout November, will two or three courses with paired wines, of which highlights include smoked lamb kebabs with pickled red cabbage; tandoor sea trout with marinated [...]
Blacks fields potential buyers October 19, 2010 CAMPING and hiking retailer Blacks Leisure yesterday confirmed it has received several approaches to take over all or parts of its business. Shares in the company rose 25 per cent to 42.50p following the news that Blacks has taken on financial advisers McQueen to help field potential offers. The share price gives the company a [...]
John Lewis sales stalled by strike and sunshine October 15, 2010 RETAILER John Lewis said sales growth slowed last week, as a strike on London Underground and a brief Indian summer meant fewer shoppers in its stores. The employee-owned company, traditionally seen as a bellwether of the UK retail sector but which has outperformed competitors for over a year, said on Friday sales at its 28 [...]
Waitrose director:sales growth will continue for years October 12, 2010 UPMARKET grocer Waitrose expects annual sales to rise by a double-digit percentage for years to come, despite a tough economic backdrop, driven by new store openings, its managing director said yesterday. Mark Price, speaking at the annual conference of grocery industry body the Institute of Grocery Distribution, said conditions for consumers were likely to be [...]
Eat takes its third bite at the market as it is put up for sale October 10, 2010 SANDWICH shop chain Eat has been put on the market for the third time by its owners. The company, which has 100 stores and is planning to double that in the next two to four years, is expected to fetch more than £100m as interest from private equity groups mounts. The firm is being advised [...]