Last Week in the City: Amazon buys a pharmacy June 29, 2018 Garry White, chief investment commentator, looks at the market-moving events that have shaped the UK equity markets this week (25 to 29 June 2018). The FTSE 100 traded little over the week, despite a rally in oil prices. There was more bad news from the retail sector after The John Lewis Partnership warned on profits [...]
Wine over matter: TV wine expert Amelia Singer on working with Jamie Oliver and binge-drinking Brits June 25, 2018 “I wasn’t going to start with this statement, but hey why not – I’m all about cross-dressing when it comes to wine,” says Amelia Singer, with a glint in her eye. What she means is that wine is best served with life’s other great enhancers – like art, music, and food. That might sound obvious [...]
M&S should look at a tie-up with Amazon, says former digital boss June 20, 2018 A former Marks & Spencer digital boss has said that the retailer should consider a tie-up with Amazon. Amazon has been making aggressive moves into the UK’s retail sector through its acquisition of Whole Foods and a tie-up with Morrisons. It even talked to the John Lewis Partnership about a potential takeover of Waitrose, but [...]
Iceland Food rules out deal with Amazon as Food Warehouse attracts new customers June 15, 2018 Iceland's boss has ruled out a deal with Amazon, telling City A.M. that "we don't want anything to do with them". The retailer reported steady sales growth this morning, as it eyes expansion into sites left vacant by the recent wave of store closures and grows its online business. But managing director Tarsem Dhaliwal said [...]
Having a house near a supermarket can boost your house price by as much as £43,000 June 9, 2018 Owning a home close to a chain supermarket could potentially boost the house price by £21,500 on average, according to research by Lloyds Bank. The new research also showed that areas within range of so-called premium supermarkets, such as Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury's, will command house prices which are on average 12 per [...]
From John Lewis to Jaguar: The companies Brits most want to work for May 24, 2018 John Lewis has been ranked the company Brits would be most proud to work for, in a new YouGov poll. The high street stalwart was followed by M&S, Mercedes-Benz and then Jaguar. The polling giant asked the public whether they would be proud or embarrassed to say that they work at a business, and this [...]
Amazon eyed buying Waitrose but was held off by John Lewis Partnership May 6, 2018 Amazon considered an acquisition of Waitrose last year, but was blocked from entering formal talks, reports suggest. A senior executive at the online shopping giant’s UK arm pushed for a meeting with the John Lewis Partnership but was “shut down” by the board, the Sunday Times reported today. The tech company’s acquisition of Whole Foods [...]
Yo! Sushi buys London-based Waitrose supplier Taiko April 23, 2018 Restaurant group YO! Sushi has continued its expansion drive with the acquisition of a London-based Waitrose supplier. Taiko Foods, which employs 220 people in West London, makes sushi for supermarkets including Waitrose. It follows YO!’s acquisition of 600-branch US and Canada restaurant chain Bento Sushi for £59m last year. Details of today’s deal were not [...]
Waitrose chocolate avocado sells out at some stores as Easter treat becomes best-selling own-brand egg March 21, 2018 Waitrose’s avocado-shaped chocolate egg has become the fastest-selling own-brand Easter egg in the supermarket’s history. The £8 treat has even sold out at some stores as customers rushed to get their hands on one. Waitrose is now restocking its branches in preparation for the weekend. “Our chocolate avocados have been a phenomenal hit with customers [...]
No end in sight for high street’s woes as stalwarts like John Lewis struggle March 9, 2018 The UK high street was dealt another blow yesterday as one of the country’s biggest household names posted a sharp drop in profits. Profits at the John Lewis Partnership – which comprises John Lewis and Waitrose – fell 77 per cent to £103.9m in 2017, forcing the retailer to cut its staff bonus to its [...]