Shopping around is the future of law June 1, 2010 COMMENTATORS talk excitedly about “Tesco Law” and the ongoing liberalisation of legal services as though it were a latter day gold rush led by big name supermarkets and banks. But what is it that consumers want? New research suggests that there is little enthusiasm on the part of the public to associate legal services with [...]
Rose: We had to pay Bolland his £15m golden handshake February 7, 2010 THE outgoing head of Marks & Spencer has defended the £15m “golden hello” offered to his successor Marc Bolland. Sir Stuart Rose, who will be replaced by Bolland in May, said M&S needed to pay the sum in order to remain competitive. He told a Sunday newspaper: “At the end of the day, if you’re [...]
M&S steps up drive for sustainability March 1, 2010 MARKS & Spencer yesterday unveiled plans to ramp up its eco-credentials by opting for more sustainable ingredients and agreeing a living wage for suppliers in its bid to become the world’s most sustainable retailer by 2015. M&S said its new plan would extend green targets introduced by the company in 2007, helping to make the [...]
Morrisons in bid to expand March 11, 2010 SUPERMARKET chain WM Morrison yesterday pledged to open more smaller stores after new openings last year helped it to record a 30 per cent rise in full-year pre-tax profit. In 2009, pre-tax profits surged to £858m as turnover rose by six per cent to £15.4bn. The company, Britain’s fourth largest supermarket, raised its annual dividend [...]
Marks & Spencer promotes Dixon to the board fuelling Rose succession talk September 9, 2009 MARKS & Spencer (M&S) has promoted its head of food, John Dixon, to its executive board, strengthening his chance of succeeding Stuart Rose as chief executive next year. M&S has always said it would prefer an internal candidate to succeed Rose, and signs of recovery at the group’s upmarket food business in recent months have [...]
M&S boss in new pressure to cut salary February 28, 2010 MARKS & Spencer’s (M&S’s) joint chief executive and chairman Sir Stuart Rose has seen renewed investor demands to reduce his pay in the latest shareholder salvo against executive pay deals. Rose, who assumed the joint title of chairman and chief executive last year, could see his £1.13m salary reduced by investors after an ongoing and [...]
Cracking eggs for Easter March 10, 2010 FLORAL EGG, COCOMAYA The chic Mayfair chocolate shop has come up with a rather eccentric egg, with a glittery surface decorated with a chocolate medallion embossed with the face of a Roman emperor and three little white marzipan rosettes, all nestled in a straw nest. The milk chocolate is rich and silky with a bit [...]
Home baking boosts Real Good Food’s annual sales January 26, 2010 REAL Good Food yesterday announced a 15 per cent sales increase over the year, with strong results in the sectors of sugar retail, baking ingredients and its bakery division, Hayden’s. Hayden’s reported a rise in sales to all three of its major customers; Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Costa Coffee. Meanwhile, food service sales, which [...]
Bolland given £15m mission to save M&S February 1, 2010 THE OUTGOING boss of supermarket chain Morrisons is set for a “golden hello” worth up to £15m after accepting one of the toughest missions on the high street – to turn around Marks and Spencer. Dutch Marc Bolland will receive the package in pay, bonuses and compensation for giving up his previous job when he [...]
Bolland to start crunch talks January 10, 2010 MARC Bolland will jet back early from holiday to have crunch talks with Wm Morrison about his departure date. Soon-to-be new employer Marks & Spencer wants him to start as chief executive as soon as possible but under the terms of his contract the Dutchman still has nine months notice to work. Morrison’s is believed [...]