Marks & Spencer seeks customer loyalty with digital coffee app trial January 21, 2015 Marks & Spencer's chief executive Marc Bolland knows something about the power of loyalty. In his case it's shareholder (and staff) sticking with him despite three and a half years-worth of consecutive declines in clothing sales. But the business is also awakening to the fact it's quite helpful if your customers are loyal, [...]
Waitrose plans expansion and 2,000 new jobs January 27, 2015 Waitrose announced plans yesterday to create 2,000 new jobs as the upmarket supermarket continues to expand its presence and grab a greater slice of the grocery market. The chain, owned by the John Lewis Partnership, will open 14 new stores from spring this year including seven Little Waitrose convenience stores and seven supermarkets, including one [...]
Britain can produce world-beaters – if business speaks up for capitalism April 28, 2015 The startup parliament. That may well be the history books’ verdict on the last five years of our economy. It has been a period in which the UK has flexed its commercial muscles to become one of the most successful enterprise destinations in the world. Of Europe’s 25m small firms, more than five million operate [...]
Mooove over Sainsbury’s: Waitrose claims its dairy farmers get the cream of milk prices January 26, 2015 Premium supermarket Waitrose has lifted the lid on its dairy practices following Sainsbury's attack ad last week, insisting it pays “a fair price” for its milk. The John Lewis Partnership-owned grocer was among those to appear on the naughty list of businesses that were accused of not supporting British fresh milk farmers. The [...]
Is Barclays chairman John McFarlane right to say that bonuses encourage people to cut corners? October 25, 2015 Alex Edmans, professor of finance at London Business School, says Yes. High pay is indeed justified if an executive has generated long-term value. However, bonuses are typically paid according to short-term performance. They can encourage executives to “cut corners” by ignoring the long-run consequences of their actions, and focus narrowly on their impact on short-term [...]
Tesco first half results: Analysts question whether “Drastic Dave” Lewis has been drastic enough October 7, 2015 Tesco may have beaten expectations for UK sales in the first half of this year, but analysts are warning that the troubled supermarket still has a long way to go if it is to shrug off the many problems facing the UK's biggest retailer. Tesco's profits fell 55 per cent in the six months to 31 [...]
Waitrose pulls Christmas cracker as online shoppers boost sales January 6, 2015 THINGS may be bleak for the big four supermarkets, but for the smaller, challenger businesses initial signs are that Christmas was a real cracker. Waitrose has topped off a strong year, in which it had grown market share to five per cent by December, according to figures published yesterday. The upmarket grocer, which is part [...]
Quindell share price leaps 27 per cent as it names Richard Rose as chairman and makes three more executive hires January 12, 2015 Shares in troubled insurance claims outsourcer Quindell jumped 27 per cent in late morning trading after it confirmed it has hired four new executives. Richard Rose, the chairman of online electrical goods retailer AO.com and cash-and-carry operator Booker Group, has been named as its new chairman, replacing Rob Terry who stepped down in November. Meanwhile [...]
London Air Ambulance called in after man suffers severe injuries from Peter Jones escalator fall December 30, 2014 The London Air Ambulance was called into central London today after a man in his 20s suffered severe injuries after falling from an escalator in the Peter Jones department store. The incident that occurred at the Sloane Square store, owned by John Lewis Partnership at around 1pm on December 30, with police saying they will [...]
Dixons Carphone ups profit forecast after Black Friday and Christmas trading success January 21, 2015 Dixons Carphone has raised its profit forecast after a “roller coaster” Christmas proved a success for the retailer. Full-year pre-tax profits are expected to come in at between £355m and £375m, ahead of expectations, after a seven per cent rise in like-for-like sales over the festive period, including eight per cent growth in the UK. [...]