Battle of the Burgers: Burger King serves up sales growth to equal rival McDonald’s October 28, 2013 Fast food chain Burger King has reported higher quarterly profits on the back of cost reductions and higher same-restaurant sales growth in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Burger King said that same-restaurant sales grew by 0.9 per cent in the third quarter – the same as the growth reported by rival McDonald's [...]
A digital billboard revolution: The top out-of-home advertising sites changing the face of London November 2, 2014 In creative terms, advertising mediums can be split into “hot” and “cool” media. This distinction was first put forward by Canadian media critic Marshall McLuhan 50 years ago. The difference is that hot media grabs you, whereas people actively choose to get involved with cool media – the audience does the grabbing. Print, cinema, [...]
McDonald’s plans $3bn facelift November 14, 2013 McDonald’s said last night that it plans to spend $2.9bn to $3bn next year to open 1,500 to 1,600 new restaurants and remodel about 1,000 others – roughly in line with this year’s reduced spending forecast. The world’s biggest hamburger chain, which recently has struggled to meaningfully expand sales at established restaurants, last month trimmed [...]
New York Report: Dow creeping towards special 17,000 mark July 2, 2014 US stocks yesterday ended one of their flattest sessions in years as a positive read on private sector employment wasn’t enough to interest buyers ahead of the highly anticipated June payrolls report. The Dow ended 0.2 per cent below the landmark 17,000 points, at 16,976.24, the S&P 500 gained 0.07 per cent, to 1,974.62 and [...]
Playing sport boosts your chances in the City by improving your teamworking skills November 6, 2014 Playing rugby can help to improve your teamwork skills and demonstrate discipline. A huge opportunity is on its way. News that ITV is bumping some of its major shows in favour of rugby World Cup matches next year is an indication of the chance to create a real legacy for the sport. The potential [...]
The billionaire philanthropist: Chemical magnate Jon Huntsman talks egg boxes and saving lives January 4, 2015 Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.” That is what Jon Huntsman Senior, the self-made billionaire who has given away over 80 per cent of his wealth, said to me when I asked him what message he would like to send to today’s wealthy. [...]
The fast food revolutionary: EatFirst co-founder Rahul Parekh talks long hours, calories, mopeds and Mayfair hotels January 11, 2015 If you're after a startup story with a good luck streak, then that of Rahul Parekh, co-founder of EatFirst, might be the one for you. One evening, late last April, Parekh was holed up in a Mayfair hotel. He got chatting to some friends of a friend who, it transpired, worked for Rocket Internet – [...]
London buses: Now you can pay fares by tapping in with a mobile August 4, 2014 In the march towards a future where you can do everything through your mobile phone, London buses are the latest to get on board. Contactless payment system Cash on Tap is being accepted by TFL on all London bus routes and works in the same way as an Oyster card or contactless card. Handy if [...]
Britain’s cheapest burger? It’s not where you might think April 30, 2014 Where can you find Britain’s cheapest average high street burger meal? If you answered McDonalds, you’re absolutely wrong. Bargain-basement burgers In fact since 2008 the price of McDonald’s Big Mac, the fast food chain’s most popular burger, has jumped by more than 30%, according to research from stockbroker Shore Capital. Having remained at £2 for [...]
Ketchup shake-up as McDonald’s drops Heinz October 28, 2013 MCDONALD’S is to end its 40-year relationship with ketchup-maker Heinz after Bernardo Hees, the former boss of rival Burger King, took over as Heinz’s chief executive. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and investment firm 3G Capital bought Heinz in June, naming Hees as chief executive. McDonald’s said on Friday that as a result it plans to [...]