John Lewis sales lifted by back to school gear September 2, 2011 John Lewis posted a rise in weekly sales, boosted by parents splashing out on items ahead of the imminent start of the new school year. The employee-owned business said sales at its department stores increased 1.4 per cent to £58.6m in the week to August 27. Sales excluding VAT sales tax fell 0.4 per cent. [...]
Why Ocado isn’t delivering as the markets hoped September 19, 2011 WHEN Ocado came to the market in July 2010, to some (its investors) it was a great opportunity to buy into a growth online market with a unique business model and amazing technology. The company had been going for ten years and was just about to break through the tipping point, which would lead profits [...]
John Lewis sales lifted by rain July 22, 2011 John Lewis reported higher weekly sales as wet weather drove shoppers to its shops and its summer sale stimulated trade. Department store sales increased 3.7 per cent to £59.9m in the week to 16 July and were up 2.1 per cent excluding VAT sales tax. “Continued mixed weather helped drive a solid final week for [...]
John Lewis sales lifted by rain July 22, 2011 John Lewis reported higher weekly sales as wet weather drove shoppers to its shops and its summer sale stimulated trade. Department store sales increased 3.7 per cent to £59.9m in the week to 16 July and were up 2.1 per cent excluding VAT sales tax. “Continued mixed weather helped drive a solid final week for [...]
Ocado sees slim profit as it seals Carrefour deal June 27, 2011 Online grocery delivery company Ocado has announced a deal to sell products supplied by French supermarket giant Carrefour, while reporting a small half-year profit. Its new Carrefour range will be in addition to its Waitrose lines. In the six months to 15 May, Ocado made a pre-tax profit of £200,000, compared with a loss of [...]
Getting the very best from the Home Counties September 15, 2011 PEOPLE are often very unfair to the Home Counties,” says James Grillo of Chesterton Humberts, “There is so much more to it than sprawling suburbia.” Indeed, as he points out, there’s more woodland per acre in Surrey than another county in England. “The schools are great, the commute is quick and the properties are fabulous.” [...]
Delia fattens Waitrose with cake November 22, 2010 Waitrose grocery sales rose four per cent in the 12 weeks to October 31 – lifted by swift sales of Delia Smith’s ready-to-make Christmas cake kit. The UK cook has in the past caused a run on ingredients like eggs, stout and goose fat, after championing them in her recipes. Earlier this year Waitrose ran [...]
Learning to make the most of asparagus May 9, 2011 ASPARAGUS is one of the glories of the British spring. Its yearly sprout excites chefs the country over. The problem with asparagus, though, is that it’s not exactly sexy for the rest of us. You don’t race to the supermarket with a craving for it – nor do you discuss its sensual merits with foodie [...]
Waitrose sees sales rise November 11, 2010 Waitrose sales rose by nine per cent in the third quarter as the mild weather fuelled sales of unseasonal products including salad and ice cream. The retailer – which does not issue quarterly profit figures – said sales for the three months to the end of October had been buoyant. On a like-for-like basis its [...]
Ocado slumps despite profit June 27, 2011 OCADO shares took a hit yesterday, falling 9.1 per cent despite the company reporting its first profit and unveiling a deal to deliver a range from French supermarket giant Carrefour. Chief executive Tim Steiner admitted the online delivery retailer had issues with capacity but said its growth plan was on track. In the six months [...]