Bah, humbug: Why Black Friday 2014 can’t end soon enough November 28, 2014 When I’m president of the world, I will ban all pigeons from inner cities, the use of the word ‘brainstorm’, and any Christmas decorations before December. While I hope the first two are self-explanatory, allow me to elaborate on the third. It’s not that I’m against Christmas or its commercialisation (we all inadvertently [...]
Goodbye Christmas jumpers – hello Christmas suits? The must-have self-purchase for 2014 revealed. Maybe December 2, 2014 Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a novelty outfit of some sort. The Christmas jumper has been a long-time favourite but, as with the Shoreditch beard that has grown in popularity over a similar period, it's safe to say we've now reached peak-jumper. Last year every retailer from Tesco to John Lewis jumped on the [...]
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 [...]
Tesco wins court battle against Sainsbury’s over Price Promise November 10, 2014 SAINSBURY’S claim that Tesco’s Price Promise campaign was unlawful and like comparing “apples with pears” has been thrown out by a High Court judge. Sainsbury’s complained that, when applied to Tesco’s own label products and fresh food, the price comparisons were misleading, unfair and unlawful. The promise involves a pledge to match Sainsbury’s, Asda and [...]
Fuel price decline lifts spending power for embattled consumers August 25, 2014 The drop in fuel prices and lower inflation on other essential items is helping to prop up discretionary incomes in the UK, according to figures released this morning. Fuel prices fell by 2.9 per cent in the year to July, according to research conducted by Asda, while food prices also dipped by 0.4 per cent. [...]
Tesco loses more market share as supermarket sector slows to record low September 23, 2014 Growth in the supermarket sector has slowed to an all-time low, with Tesco once again losing market share to Asda, Aldi and Lidl. The troubled supermarket, which yesterday revealed a £250m black hole in its profits, saw its market share drop 4.5 per cent in the 12 weeks to September 14. During the [...]
UK consumers’ confidence at a three-year high October 20, 2014 A HEALTHY jobs market has pushed consumer confidence to a three-year high, according to figures released this morning by the accountancy firm Deloitte. The Deloitte consumer tracker shows the net balance (the percentage of people saying “yes” minus those saying “no”) of respondents whose confidence had increased over the last three months rising to minus [...]
Tesco is shopping for a new chairman October 23, 2014 SIR RICHARD Broadbent yesterday announced his plans to leave Tesco, and said he felt the need for a demonstration of accountability by the supermarket’s bosses. His decision came as the firm revealed its pre-tax profits had slumped 92 per cent on the year to £112m in the first six months of its financial year. Sales [...]
Sainsbury’s loses clash of the titans as its challenge over Tesco’s Price Promise is thrown out November 10, 2014 Tesco can breathe a sigh of relief – Sainsbury's claim that its Price Promise campaign was unlawful and like comparing “apples with pears” has been thrown out by a High Court judge. Sainsbury's had complained that, when applied to Tesco's own label products and fresh food, the price comparisons were misleading, unfair and unlawful. [...]
Asda boss Andy Clarke’s 4 top leadership tips February 5, 2014 Speaking last night at the British Retail Consortium’s Future Retail Leader’s event, Asda chief executive Andy Clarke gave an account of his journey to the top – starting with the day he left school with just one O Level in English at 15. Realising he had spent too much time on the rugby pitch in [...]