Morrisons is Xmas winner as sales surge January 21, 2010 SUPERMARKET chain WM Morrison posted the biggest rise in Christmas sales among Britain’s top four grocers – but urged caution about 2010. Sales at stores open at least a year rose 6.5 per cent, excluding petrol and VAT, in the six weeks to 3 January. Total revenue rose by 10.8 per cent for the period. [...]
Union loses legal scrap with BA February 19, 2010 THE Unite union has failed in a High Court action against British Airways over a shake-up up in the way they work. It claimed the changes – including freezing pay and cutting crew on long-haul flights – were introduced without consultation. The union had been set to strike over the issues over Christmas, but a [...]
Qinetiq braced for heavy cuts March 7, 2010 QINETIQ chief executive Leo Quinn looks set to announce a number of stinging cost cutting measures in order to stem the losses at the defence group. The Hampshire based company was forced to issue two profit alerts in the last few months, warning that the cost of war in Afghanistan had resulted in lower spending [...]
Morrison beats rivals with festive sales boost January 21, 2010 SUPERMARKET chain Morrison posted the biggest rise in Christmas sales among Britain’s top four grocers – but urged caution about 2010. Sales at stores open at least a year rose 6.5 per cent, excluding petrol and VAT, in the six weeks to 3 January. Total revenue rose by 10.8 per cent for the period. Morrison, [...]
Mince pie bonanza over the festive season helps Greggs to increase sales January 13, 2010 PHENOMENAL demand for festive savoury bakes stoked a Christmas sales rise at baker Greggs although snow and sub-zero temperatures dented trade at the start of 2010. The firm, which sold more than a million mince pies each week over the festive period, yesterday said sales at stores open for more than a year increased 1.1 [...]
FIT FOR A KING February 8, 2010 IT’S HARD to say whether a picture of a City grandee has ever tickled The Capitalist quite as much as this gem, which shows Bank of England governor Mervyn King taking a ride on a dog sled at the G7 summit last week in the remote Arctic city of Iqaluit in Canada. Our Merv, kitted [...]
Halfords mulls Hobbycraft deal February 8, 2010 BIKE retailer Halfords is mulling making acquisitions within the retail sector as part of ambitious expansion plans, it emerged yesterday. Halfords, which saw like-for-like sales jump 15 per cent over the Christmas period, is understood to be looking at crafts chain Hobbycraft, according to Sky News. Hobbycraft is undergoing a thorough strategic review by accountancy [...]
Home Retail ups forecast March 11, 2010 HOME retail Group – which owns Argos and Homebase – has tipped its pre-tax profit for the year to come in at £290m. The figure is slightly ahead of its earlier forecast of £285m for the year to 27 February. Argos sales fell 9.4 per cent while sales at its home improvement operation Homebase declined [...]
FULL DISCLOSURE February 1, 2010 SOME passengers using Heathrow and Manchester airports must now pass through new full body scanners or be they will be barred from boarding their flights. New rules drawn up in the wake of the failed attempt to bomb a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas day stipulate that selected passengers must agree to be scanned.
Comet in festive sales slump January 19, 2010 COMET dragged down sales at parent company Kesa as the electrical store failed beat off its rivals over Christmas. Like-for-like sales dropped by 3.9 per cent at Comet between 1 November and 8 January. Kesa’s overall sales fall was limited to 0.3 per cent after growth in its international businesses. Comet’s performance was overshadowed by [...]