Sainsbury’s has sales boom to outpace rivals November 13, 2013 SHARES in Sainsbury’s rose three per cent yesterday, making it the biggest riser in the FTSE 100, after the supermarket chain posted a surge in half-year sales and profits. Sainsbury’s is the only one of the big four supermarkets to be growing its market share, with data from Nielsen last month confirming that it had [...]
Indian summer hurts shop sales in September October 7, 2014 HIGH street sales growth came to a grinding halt last month for the first time since February after Britain’s Indian summer put shoppers off stocking up on winter clothing, according to new research out today. Accountancy firm BDO’s monthly high street sales tracker shows sales dipped by 2.9 per cent in September, ending the first [...]
David vs Goliath? Why Tesco’s “Every Little Helps” is losing the battle for supermarket supremacy October 3, 2014 Like most of us, I’ve been watching the differing fortunes of Tesco and Aldi play out over the past few days. And it’s compulsive viewing, not least of all because we love the underdog. Plucky little Aldi with just 500 stores, takes on the might of Tesco and gives the goliath a bloody nose. Great [...]
Three things to look out for from Tesco’s results tomorrow – other than the numbers October 22, 2014 When Tesco publishes its first-half results tomorrow, including an update on its investigation into an expected £250m profit black hole, all eyes will be on the numbers. Initially, investors will look for the specifics of exactly how much profits were "overestimated" by, and what effect it has on the supermarket's previously reported profits and future [...]
Sainsburys, Asda, House of Fraser, Shop Direct and 15 more businesses will let customers pay via mobile with Zapp October 8, 2014 Sainsbury’s, Asda and House of Fraser are just some of the country’s biggest shops that will soon let customers pay for items using just a mobile phone via Zapp. The mobile technology, already supported in the apps of UK banks such as HSBC, Nationwide and Santander, will be supported by more than 15 high street [...]
Tesco rushes in new finance boss September 23, 2014 TESCO has rushed in its new finance director Alan Stewart to start two months earlier than planned after a £250m profit error and new industry data yesterday showing a slide in quarterly sales plunged the retailer into further turmoil. The retailer, which had billions of pounds knocked off its share price after revealing the error [...]
Falling Brent crude oil and prices at the pump delay interest rate hike October 13, 2014 Tumbling oil prices on world markets are expected to pull British petrol prices down even further in the coming weeks, with economists pushing back their predictions for when interest rates will finally rise. Brent oil prices plummeted more than $2 a barrel during yesterday’s trading, touching their lowest levels since 2010. At around $88 per [...]
Just 15 per cent think challenger banks are better than big lenders August 26, 2014 New banks want to establish themselves as a fresh alternative to the dominant high street banks which have taken the blame for the financial crisis. But it is a tough ask. For new research out today from U-Switch suggests the public is not impressed with their offerings so far. Just 15 per cent think the [...]
Maplin appoints Darren Shapland as chairman August 11, 2014 Electrical goods retailer Maplin has appointed Darren Shapland, the new Poundland chairman, as its non-executive chairman. He replaces John Lovering who is retiring. Shapland starts his role next month following the sale of Maplin by Montagu Private Equity to Rutland Partners for £85m in June. Shapland was previously Carpetright chief executive and also held senior [...]
Fashion wars… a Lidl bit of what you fancy August 20, 2014 The invasion of supermarkets into the fashion sector is hotting up after hard discounter Lidl announced yesterday it was entering the fray. The German retailer is to launch a new fashion range for women next Monday, including ankle boots for £9.99 and even a faux leather jacket for £15. Lidl already sells basic clothing such [...]