As Tesco’s share price drops to an 18-year low, it’s clear the rollercoaster ride will continue for some time yet December 10, 2015 Tesco has turned back time this week, with its share price dropping to an 18-year low. The less said about what was going on in 1997 the better – instead, we turn our focus to the rollercoaster ride that is the UK's largest retailer. Dave Lewis has certainly ushered in some change, but given where Tesco's [...]
Bye-bye BOGOF? Tesco finally winds down promotions in favour of simpler pricing strategy February 2, 2016 Tesco is winding down its focus on promotions such as the famous BOGOF – buy one get one free offers – instead offering customers clearer prices in the long term. It's the latest supermarket to follow in the footsteps of discounters Aldi and Lidl with low prices overall rather than deals which have been criticised as [...]
EasyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannau opens first EasyFood pilot store in London – with food priced at 25p February 2, 2016 Aldi and Lidl are about to get a taste of their own medicine, after EasyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannau has opened his first EasyFoodstore in north-west London, bringing the challenging spirit of the discount airline to the grocery sector. The Park Royal shop (next to the EasyBus depot on the North Circular, natch) will sell a limited and basic [...]
Consumer goods groups challenge financials to become biggest sector in FTSE 100 as Barclays, HSBC, RBS and Standard Chartered share prices plummet year-to-date March 3, 2016 Consumer goods groups are challenging the dominance of financial firms in the FTSE 100 for the first time in a decade. The two sectors are neck-and-neck, with consumer goods actually overtaking financials briefly during February, rising to account for 20.85 per cent of the FTSE 100, compared with 20.61 per cent, before slipping back down again. [...]
Low inflation in 2015 battered businesses as consumers rejoiced January 18, 2016 Businesses lost out to the tune of £16.8bn last year due to low inflation, new research given to City A.M. shows. Prices were only 0.1 per cent higher in November than a year ago, well below the Bank of England’s two per cent inflation target, and hovered around zero per cent for most of 2015. [...]
Tesco announces pay rise for staff, taking salaries (slightly) above National Living Wage February 2, 2016 Tesco is raising its hourly pay above the Living Wage threshold to £7.62, the supermarket announced this afternoon. The supermarket, which has just dropped its Bogof policy and is winding down the number of stores that operate for 24-hours, said the 3.1 per cent pay rise would come into effect across the UK "for all established colleagues". [...]
UK farmers plan London march after world commodity crisis slashes incomes February 2, 2016 British farmers are reacting to the world commodity crisis in an unusual way – by planning a march on London. Lobby group Farmers For Action has received thousands of pledges of support for a demonstration on Wednesday 23 March. Coachloads of countryfolk will descend on London to highlight the sharp drop in food producers’ incomes over [...]
Is Tesco saved? A small victory for Dave Lewis in the supermarket’s Christmas results, but 2016 remains a challenge January 14, 2016 Tesco reported its best Christmas trading results since Dave Lewis has been at the helm but does this really mean that ‘Drastic Dave’ and his management team can breathe a little easier? The dynamics of grocery shopping has changed with value and convenience the two biggest factors for consumers. Competition has never been fiercer so it would [...]
End of an era: thousands of jobs to go at BHS stores to close as administrators call time on sale June 2, 2016 BHS is being wound down today after administrators revealed no deal was found to rescue the store, likely putting 11,000 staff out of work. In a statement this afternoon, administrators Duff & Phelps said it had "not been possible to agree a sale of the business". BHS is now being “wound down” because no buyer would [...]
Every little helps Tesco take on German disruptors January 20, 2016 It seems the Big Four supermarkets are fighting back against German disruptors Aldi and Lidl, with big beast Tesco reporting better-than-expected figures for the Christmas period. Despite gloomy City forecasts, the news saw Tesco shares spike as optimism returned for the future of the embattled retailer with the turnaround being spurred by lower prices on some [...]