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 [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 29, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES WAITROSE EYES DUCHY ORIGINALS US PUSH Waitrose is making its first foray into the US through its Duchy Originals range, the label founded by Prince Charles. The supermarket arm of the employee-owned John Lewis Partnership is talking to North American retailers and distributors about selling Duchy Originals products in US stores. PENSIONS REGULATOR [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS September 29, 2010 Tullett Prebon The inter-dealer broker has re-hired Tory MP Michael Fallon as a non-executive director, just a few months after he resigned to pursue an unsuccessful campaign for the Treasury Select Committee chairmanship. Fallon, who lost out to Andrew Tyrie, rejoins Tullett a week after he replaced Lord Ashcroft as deputy chair of the Conservative [...]
Fast & furious September 28, 2010 IT’S ALWAYS a little strange when you get the impression you’re driving a Ferrari when you’re really hitting 40mph in a small hatchback. Powering along the north Kent coast in the Fabia vRS, towards a particularly excellent gastro pub, the car shrieked and howled so loudly you’d think there was a V12 under the bonnet. [...]
Waitrose to take Tesco head on in price contest September 26, 2010 WAITROSE is to take Tesco head on after the supermarket giant revealed that it will price match its rival on over 1,000 branded products. Starting today, Waitrose will use Tesco as a benchmark when pricing its top-selling everyday branded products, such as Persil, Ribena and Heinz Baked Beans. Managing director Mark Price said this is [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 22, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES SIEMENS PROMISES WORKERS JOBS FOR LIFE Siemens’ German workers have struck a deal that will see their jobs secured indefinitely, in an arresting move that highlights how the financial crisis has triggered a fresh consensus between labour and management in corporate Germany. The engineering group said it had sealed an agreement with its [...]
John Lewis in recovery as its profit rises September 16, 2010 JOHN Lewis warned yesterday that trading conditions were likely to get tougher as tax hikes and public spending cuts hit shoppers, even as it reported a 28 per cent rise in first-half profit. The group, owned by its 70,000 staff, said its strong first-half performance gave it confidence that both its department stores and grocery [...]
John Lewis sees £111m profit but warns over headwinds September 16, 2010 John Lewis said trading conditions would likely get tougher as tax hikes and public spending cuts hit shoppers, as it reported a 28 per cent rise in first-half profit. The group said its strong first-half performance gave it confidence that both its department stores grocery chain Waitrose would cope well. “Despite the economic headwinds, and [...]
Ocado sales surge but investors wary September 7, 2010 ONLINE retailer Ocado yesterday said its sales had surged by almost 30 per cent – but investors remained unconvinced and the announcement was greeted with a dip in its share price. The company, which recently completed a controversial flotation, hasn’t made an annual operating profit since it launched ten years ago, but hopes to go [...]