Broken-hearted: sales drop at John Lewis on the week before Valentine’s Day February 14, 2017 Sales at retail bellweather John Lewis fell in the second week of February, signalling that the sector may be heading for another poor performance this month after retail sales dropped in January. Total sales at John Lewis for the week to 11 February were £73m, down two per cent on the same week last year. [...]
End of days: Waitrose is closing six of its stores February 9, 2017 Is this the end of the middle classes as we know them? Waitrose is planning to close six stores, putting 500 jobs at risks, it has been reported. The supermarket, beloved of the chattering classes, has begun consulting with staff at six locations in Hertford, Staines, Leek, Huntingdon, Cardiff and Palmers Green (although the latter [...]
AmazonFresh parks tanks in Waitrose territory with expansion into Home Counties February 8, 2017 Already widely available across London, Amazon’s grocery delivery service is now expanding into the suburbs of Hampshire and Surrey. Launched in June last year, AmazonFresh was initially available within 69 London postcodes, before increasing its remit to 190 postcodes in the city and a total of 260 across the country. Amazon says that “Prime” customers [...]
The NASDAQ of advertising: Reprogramming programmatic with Infectious Media January 30, 2017 About 10 years ago, programmatic advertising was but a twinkle in the eye of some Silicon Valley bods, determined to bring about a sea change to digital advertising transactions. They were unaware, perhaps, of the flood that opening this sluice would bring to AdLand, nor the landscape that would remain when the new tide washed [...]
Opinion: Considering buying a place above a shop? Don’t do it unless you’ve thought about these factors first January 27, 2017 Whether high street or side street, look up above any shop-lined street in the capital and you are bound to see apartments. Accessed by narrow doors tucked between the various operators, these spaces are proving an increasingly tempting living proposition. More and more, we are seeing developers turning the ground floor of their new schemes [...]
This is the most popular brand in the UK (and it’s not even from here) January 19, 2017 Aldi and Lidl have topped YouGov's ranking for the most popular British brands, beating well-heeled rivals John Lewis and Marks & Spencer. Every week last year YouGov asked a group of consumers whether they had heard good or bad news about the biggest brands in Britain – and the German immigrants came out on top. Read more: Aldi bags [...]
Microwave meal maker Bakkavor set for London float January 15, 2017 Ready meal maker Bakkavor is considering a float on the London stock market, according to reports. The firm, founded in 1986, manufactures microwave meals for supermarkets including Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Marks and Spencer. The company also supplies fresh goods such as lettuce, tomatoes and sweet potatoes. According to the Sunday Times, Bakkavor has enlisted Rothschild to [...]
Torrential rain in Spain means spinach shortage and blow to Popeye wannabees January 13, 2017 New Year gym-goers aiming to build up a Popeye-like physique have been dealt a major blow. Torrential rain in Spain has damaged this winter’s spinach crop, and supermarkets are struggling to feed consumer demand. Read more: Manufacturing giant Premier Foods considers price rises due to Brexit vote Waitrose supermarkets, for instance, have signs warning shoppers [...]
John Lewis will cut staff bonus as profit comes under pressure January 12, 2017 The John Lewis Partnership has warned profit is "under pressure" due to falling shop prices, the growing dominance of online shopping, and cost pressures from the devaluation of sterling. The company, which shares its profits with staff through an annual bonus, said the difficulties the business is facing will mean the employee bonus will be "significantly lower" [...]
Thinking smaller: Why Tunisian olives hold the key to the UK’s post-Brexit trading success January 11, 2017 On reaching the Americas in 1519, Hernán Cortés burnt his ships. Pointing up the beach he told his astonished crew that, since retreating to Europe was no longer an option, the only way was forward to the possibilities he anticipated in the New World. Britain now stands on the brink of its Cortés moment. When Article [...]