Big supermarkets fight to master a changing market October 3, 2012 TESCO’S first fall in profits for almost two decades suggests a watershed moment for the supermarkets. On one side, the race for space against a backdrop of generous margins; on the other, an altogether tougher battle for bargain-conscious, internet-savvy and convenience-oriented customers as margins shrink. Yesterday’s results were a worrying suggestion that Tesco is losing [...]
Ready to thrive on its own but still waiting for the launch date September 3, 2012 IT IS A slow year for IPOs, so hopes of a Direct Line Group flotation are high, even as it awaits final confirmation. Direct Line is keen to stress the extent to which it has now prepared itself to operate separately from RBS Group, but it should also still benefit from the connection. A five-year [...]
Barratt to build 463 Fulham homes July 12, 2012 Housebuilder Barratt Developments announced yesterday that its subsidiary Barratt London, in partnership with L&Q, the housing association, has bought a derelict 8.5 acre site in Fulham from Sainsbury’s. It currently houses a Sainsbury’s store and car park and a large, derelict wharf building. Barratt is set to transform the £420m site into 463 riverside flats [...]
FTSE 100 up on ECB meeting hopes September 6, 2012 The blue chip index was up in morning trading, as markets were dominated by speculation over European Central Bank policy action at the monthly meeting later today. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee minutes will also be released today, at 12 noon. Miners led the index up, as Lonmin was an early riser, adding [...]
British Land acquires mall July 31, 2012 BRITISH LAND yesterday said it has bought a 50 per cent share in the Eden Walk shopping centre in Kingston-upon-Thames for £41.5m. The firm bought the stake in the 1960s mall from the Universities Superannuation Scheme, its partner on Whiteley Shopping Centre in South Hampshire, which is due to open next year. The pair plan [...]
Strong first half puts Interserve back on track for the full year August 15, 2012 SUPPORT services and construction group Interserve yesterday reported half-year profit of eight per cent driven by strong performance in its British support services business. Pre-tax profit for the firm, whose services range from cleaning Sainsbury’s supermarkets to building Jaguar a new site in Coventry, came in at £32.6m in the six months to 30 June, [...]
Supermarkets hold talks with government on Sunday trading August 19, 2012 RETAILERS have been holding discussions with the government and trade bodies over the permanent relaxation of Sunday trading rules, it was revealed yesterday. Current rules limit large shops to six hours of trading between 10am and 6pm on a Sunday. This has been temporarily relaxed during the Olympics and it is thought communities secretary Eric [...]
Retail boss: Red tape is worse than ever September 9, 2012 THE COALITION will today announce plans to exempt hundreds of thousands of businesses from health and safety inspections, as one of the country’s leading businessmen criticised the coalition for taking too long to start tackling red tape. Justin King, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said the coalition’s decision to focus its efforts on economic growth after [...]
Sainsbury’s stays neutral in supermarket price war November 28, 2011 J SAINSBURY says it will not join the wave of discounting sweeping the retail sector, believing shoppers will splash out on Christmas despite a gloomy economic backdrop. Commercial director Mike Coupe made the vow as Britain’s third-biggest supermarket group unveiled its biggest ever Christmas range, including around 500 groceries and 700 non-food items. “The evidence [...]
Asda boss says yes to relaxing Sunday trading August 16, 2012 THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE of Asda yesterday came out in support of Sunday opening hours being extended on a permanent basis, as the debate over Sunday trading continues to divide retailers. Andy Clark said it was too early to say what the impact of the extra trading hours has had on sales but shoppers had welcomed [...]