Kingfisher’s share price falls despite third quarter sales rising to £2.7bn November 24, 2015 Kingfisher's share price fell this morning as it revealed sales had climbed 2.6 per cent to £2.7bn for the third quarter, but down 2.5 per cent on a reported basis. The retail giant, which owns Screwfix and B&Q, also reported a profit on retail activities of £223m, up just 0.4 per cent on a constant currency basis [...]
Working Lunch review: Big Easy, Canary Wharf January 6, 2016 Big Easy, Crossrail Place, E14 WHAT? The third – and largest – Big Easy serving “low and slow” meat and seafood cooked in pit rooms that house two tonne US smokers. The sheer size of this venue – to give you an idea, it employs 170 staff – means it also accommodates an American breakfast [...]
Kingfisher share price rises on plans to close 60 B&Q stores in UK and Ireland March 31, 2015 Kingfisher's profits fell last year despite an increase in sales, but plans to close 60 B&Q stores have sent shares up. The figures The DIY retailer, which owns B&Q among others, experienced a 2.9 per cent increase in sales last year, but its pre-tax profits fell 7.5 per cent to £675m. The figures, for the [...]
The 32 best barbecue restaurants in America: From Austin to North Carolina, we take a foodie tour of the American South’s top grills March 7, 2016 The best way to see America is by car, and the best way to taste America is on a driving tour of the country’s most celebrated BBQ pits. On a three week, six state and 2,500 mile journey from Texas to the Carolinas, I went in search of the best BBQ in the American South, [...]
Clearbell snaps up £200m of property assets August 19, 2015 CLEARBELL has splurged £200m on two separate portfolios of retail, industrial and office properties spread out across the UK, the private equity real estate fund management said yesterday. The Amber portfolio contains 29 properties totalling two million square feet and is let to tenants such as B&Q, Travis Perkins and Sports Direct.com. Clearbell acquired the [...]
The Audi SQ7 is a torque monster and the world’s most powerful diesel SUV June 6, 2016 Torque: it’s easy to feel, but difficult to explain. As my physics teacher once told me, “power is the speed you hit the wall. Torque is how far you take the wall with you”. If you do need to move a tonne of bricks, cemented or otherwise, the Audi SQ7 is the perfect choice. With [...]
Bank’s decision to hold rates helps FTSE rise – London Report October 9, 2015 THE BANK of England’s decision yesterday to keep interest rates at record low levels contributed to rises in the blue-chip FTSE 100 index. A continuing surge in energy and mining shares also helped the index to maintain a run of rises. The FTSE 100 ended 0.6 per cent stronger at 6,374.82 points, outperforming major European [...]
Kingfisher sells off B&Q business in China for £140m December 22, 2014 Kingfisher has agreed to sell a controlling stake in its Chinese B&Q business to Wumei Holdings for £140m. The retail group had been looking for a “strategic partner” for its business in China in order to focus on the larger and more lucrative European market said newly installed Kingfisher chief Véronique Laury. B&Q first opened [...]
The 9 biggest winners and losers of from the Fifty Shades of Grey effect – B&Q, London Fire Brigade, Teddy Bears, midwives and more February 13, 2015 Fifty Shades of awesome: The winners 1. B&Q B&Q has come in a winner among the many, many, shameless Fifty Shades bandwagon jumping stakes. For a usually family-friendly DIY store, the “leak” of an email warning staff to expect a run on duct tape, rope and cable ties from adventurous shoppers inspired the movie was [...]
FTSE lifts after strong opening on Wall Street – London Report September 16, 2015 Britain’s top equity index turned higher in thin trade yesterday, as a strong start to trade on Wall Street helped lift mining stocks off their lows. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed up 0.9 per cent higher at 6,137.60 points, turning higher as Wall Street gained following a climb in retail sales. The move helped [...]