UK pensions deficits: FTSE 100 firms fear pension pain as workers retire September 6, 2015 Pension schemes represent a “material risk” for many of the largest companies in the FTSE 100, new research shows. Six firms, including BAE Systems, British Airways-owner International Airlines Group, RSA and Royal Bank of Scotland, all have total disclosed pension liabilities almost double their equity market value, so says JLT Employee Benefits’ quarterly report [...]
Supermarket wars: Big Four in big trouble as Tesco, Asda and Morrisons register more declines August 25, 2015 Tesco is still struggling to shrug off competition from the discount supermarkets, as data released this morning reveals yet more declines. While consumer spend within the grocery sector rose 0.9 per cent for the 12 weeks to 16 August, at Tesco it dropped by the same proportion. The price of a comparable basket of [...]
Fitbug share price jumps after appointment of new chief executive Anna Gudmundson August 27, 2015 Shares in penny stock Fitbug closed up 15 per cent to 2.5p today after the wearable fitness tracker-maker announced the appointment of a new chief exec Anna Gudmundson. Gudmundson has held the role of interim product director since February, leading Fitbug's ongoing development of its digital coaching system, Kiqplan. She'll replace Malcolm Fried who stepped down after he completed his [...]
Sainsbury’s celebrates 10 years in fashion September 2, 2014 Sainsbury’s non-food director James Brown said clothing was on track to become a £1bn business as it unveiled its new collection yesterday to mark the 10-year anniversary of fashion brand Tu. The UK’s seventh largest clothing retailer by volume has doubled the number of in-house designers to 30 over the past 12 months and also [...]
National living wage: All businesses will end up paying it – but time is running out to reap the rewards of good publicity September 2, 2015 Another big name has increased pay and got the press coverage that it deserves. Oliver Bonas is the first high street retailer to commit paying its employees and third-party contractors the Living Wage. This is an optional rate (£9.15 an hour in London and £7.85 an hour elsewhere) set by the Living Wage Foundation. [...]
Graze grabs a snack in stores July 12, 2015 ONLINE snack retailer Graze is to start delivering to stores as well as letter boxes after launching in 1,200 Sainsbury’s, Boots and WH Smith Travel stores today. Graze, which is majority owned by private equity group Carlyle, delivers snack boxes to thousands of customers in the UK and the US. Revenues grew by 31 per [...]
Fever Tree does can cans for supermarkets June 28, 2015 UPMARKET drinks company Fever-Tree has stepped up its retail presence by launching mixers in can format on supermarket shelves for the first time today. The 10 year-old business, which supplies mixers for alcohols to retailers, hotels and bars, said its Naturally Light Tonic Waters will be available to buy in packs of eight 150ml cans [...]
Moscow Mule trend lifts profits at UK drinks maker Fever-Tree July 27, 2015 Upmarket carbonated drinks producer Fever-Tree is toasting a fizzing set of financial results that have seen revenues climb 62 per cent since the firm floated in November. The firm, which produces soda mixers for alcoholic drinks, said yesterday that its revenue in the first six months of the year climbed to £24.1m, up 62 per [...]
Jerky Group and Cruga form beef snacks empire August 4, 2015 THE JERKY Group has merged with biltong and meat snacks-maker Cruga to create the largest beef snack manufacturer in Europe with combined turnover of around £12m. Founded in 2000, The Jerky Group’s brands include Wild West Jerky, Hogbites pork crackling and BullOx Biltong. It also produces Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Joe Walters’ beef jerky brand Texas [...]
Price war prompts a record high of bets against Supermarket giants June 9, 2015 HEDGE funds are making record bets against the health of the supermarket sector, with the average interest in the UK’s four listed grocers breaking the 11 per cent barrier for the first time. Sainsbury’s and Morrisons are now the two most-shorted constituents of the FTSE 100 behind oilfield services provider Petrofac, according to a report published [...]