Waitrose hits £5bn sales in record year at grocer January 31, 2011 WAITROSE has surpassed £5bn in sales for a year for the first time ever it said yesterday. Total sales growth for the 12 months starting 1 February 2010 now stands at almost ten per cent. Waitrose managing director Mark Prices said yesterday: “Five billion is a fitting finale to a year of growth and consistent [...]
John Lewis continues to win market share August 26, 2011 John Lewis bucked the general gloom in the retail sector with another rise in weekly sales as it continued to win market share from rivals. The employee-owned business, which has been outperforming competitors for over a year, said on Friday sales at its department stores increased 2.6 per cent to £53.4m in the week to [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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.” [...]
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 [...]