EDF Energy in talks to buy electric vehicle chargers Pod Point October 31, 2019 The French energy supplier EDF is in talks about the acquisition of electric vehicle-charging start-up Pod Point. The company is the latest utilities supplier to branch out into the global automotive sector. Read more: Fiat Chrysler and PSA set to enter 50-50 share swap in $50bn merger Talks about a deal are understood to have [...]
John Lewis, Ikea, or Aldi — which 2019 Christmas advert is the winner? November 18, 2019 From clumsy dragons to evil sprouts, here’s our review of the festive adverts from some of the UK’s biggest retailers. M&S Food: This Is Not Just Food… This Is M&S Christmas Food The premise of this entire advert hinges on presenters Paddy McGuinness and Emma Willis, who swan around a Christmas market for 1.30 minutes as [...]
Weak Asda sales drive down Walmart’s international income August 15, 2019 Slow sales at Asda and other non-US retailers owned by Walmart have driven down the corporation’s international operating income by almost 30 per cent in the second quarter. In second quarter results released today, Walmart said that overall operating income was also down 2.9 per cent, as it lowered international sales growth guidance. Revenue was [...]
Tesco unveils new Clubcard Plus subscription scheme October 29, 2019 Tesco has announced its new £96 per year subscription loyalty scheme is set to launch next week. The supermarket said Clubcard Plus, which offers customers 10 per cent off two shops worth up to £200 each per month, could save shoppers more than £400 a year. Read more: Analysts react to Tesco chief executive Dave [...]
Let’s end the airline monopoly over Europe’s busiest airport September 12, 2019 This week’s two-day strike by British Airways (BA) pilots is not just another blow for the brand and a pain for thousands of passengers. It is also a vivid demonstration of the pitfalls of letting one airline group have an effective monopoly over many routes at Europe’s busiest airport, Heathrow. Luckily, expansion at Heathrow provides the [...]
Sainsbury’s beats rivals to report sales growth October 15, 2019 Sainsbury’s beat its rivals to become the only major UK supermarket to report sales growth in the last 12 weeks. The grocer’s sales increased 0.6 per cent, its fastest rate since October last year, while the other “Big Four” supermarkets- Tesco, Asda and Morrisons – saw sales decline 0.2 per cent, 0.9 per cent and [...]
Mobile shopping platform Rezolve bags tie-up with Korean retail giant Lotte November 11, 2019 Mobile shopping tech firm Rezolve has signed a multi-million-pound deal with South Korean conglomerate Lotte Corporation as it expands its presence in Asia. Lotte will use the London startup’s technology in its supermarket app, allowing customers to make purchases by scanning promotional print leaflets with their smartphone. Read more: Mobile shopping platform Rezolve secures bumper [...]
Sainsbury’s outperforms big four rivals September 17, 2019 Sainsbury’s was the best performing of the big four supermarkets, according to industry data for the latest 12 week period, as the UK grocery market returned to growth. The supermarket saw sales dip 0.1 per cent in the 12 weeks to 8 September. Read more: Aldi targets London expansion as profit falls Rival grocers Tesco. [...]
Mobile shopping platform Rezolve secures bumper deal with Samsung September 30, 2019 Mobile shopping platform Rezolve has secured a deal with Samsung to make its technology available on the South Korean firm’s smartphones. The London-based tech startup said its product will be embedded directly into Samsung’s Bixby Vision software and will be available in the US later this year. Read more: Samsung prepares to release new foldable [...]
Store wars: Sainsbury’s and Asda mega-merger heats up race to become Britain’s ultimate supermarket superpower April 30, 2018 The race to become Britain’s ultimate supermarket superpower grew suddenly more interesting over the weekend as Sainsbury’s and Walmart-owned Asda revealed they are in merger talks to become Britain’s largest grocer. The two supermarkets, which have both lost market share, are seeking to join forces in a bid to topple Tesco, the current market leader [...]