“Excellent” Christmas puts Marston’s ahead again January 28, 2011 Pub landlord Marston’s has delivered another warming trading update, beating sales and profit expectations in its three divisions. Marston’s, which owns and manages pubs and brews its own beer, said customers turned out to celebrate Christmas despite the snow and ice, with food sales the clear driver of its strong results. Like for like sales [...]
Unite threatens fresh strike ballot as bullying feud ignites August 31, 2010 TENSIONS between British Airways (BA) and Unite were re-ignited yesterday over allegations of bullying as the trade union representing the airline’s cabin crew warned of a possible fresh wave of strikes to be held over the Christmas period. An unresolved dispute over bullying allegations made by the union and BA staff during the previous 22 [...]
Asda is given go-ahead for Netto deal September 23, 2010 ASDA will sell around a quarter of its newly-acquired Netto supermarkets, the Office of Fair Trading said yesterday, in a blow to the grocer’s expansion into smaller city-centre outlets. Asda paid £778m for Netto in May, but said yesterday it will find buyers for 47 shops after the OFT raised competition concerns. The supermarket is [...]
Richemont in lift as watch sales thrive September 8, 2010 SWISS luxury goods group Richemont’s five-month sales jumped 37 per cent, beating forecasts and confirming a rebound in the sector as wealthy Asians splash out again on luxury watches and jewellery. Richemont, normally cautious in its outlook, said yesterday net profit for its first half to September should be significantly higher than last year. However, [...]
Tesco sales hit by snow chaos January 13, 2011 Tesco posted a 6.2 per cent rise in Christmas sales as strong growth in its overseas markets helped offset a weaker than expected performance in its main British market. The supermarket group, which accounts for about one in every seven pounds spent at British retailers, said on sales at UK stores open over a year [...]
WH Smith in margin boost January 26, 2011 WH SMITH said yesterday a drop in sales over Christmas had been offset by a rise in profit margins. Sales in the two months to 22 January dropped four per cent at the newspaper, stationery and book chain. Like-for-like sales, which strip out the effect of new store spaces, fell by seven per cent. The [...]
WH Smith in margin boost January 26, 2011 WH SMITH said yesterday a drop in sales over Christmas had been offset by a rise in profit margins. Sales in the two months to 22 January dropped four per cent at the newspaper, stationery and book chain. Like-for-like sales, which strip out the effect of new store spaces, fell by seven per cent. The [...]
Kesa profit squeezed by Comet sales January 19, 2011 ELECTRICALS retailer Kesa yesterday warned that profits would be at the lower end of expectations due to weaker sales at its UK chain Comet. Total like-for-like sales for the period between 1 November and 18 January were down four per cent. But Comet sales plummeted 7.3 per cent as tough competition, lukewarm consumer sentiment and [...]
Sainsbury’s sees record festive sales January 12, 2011 J SAINSBURY reported its best ever Christmas sales as customers splashed out on more expensive ranges over the festive period. The supermarket group, which this month overtook Asda as the second largest supermarket in the four week run-up to Christmas, said in a trading statement yesterday that like-for like sales for the 14 weeks to [...]
Waterstone’s man plots £100m return September 5, 2010 THE founder of the Waterstone’s book chain could launch a bid of more than £100m to take the business private if owner HMV decides to sell, it is understood. Tim Waterstone, the novelist-cum-entrepreneur who started the company in 1982, is reported to have lined up financing from backers including a London-based hedge fund. Waterstone has [...]