Competition watchdog could stop Tesco-Booker mega deal, claims retail body January 29, 2017 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) could stop Tesco's proposed £3.7bn takeover of Budgens and Londis owner Booker, according to a retail body that represents 33,500 local shops. "The CMA could either stop or put conditions on the deal," James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores told City A.M. "The deal was a [...]
Ocado reports sales growth in final quarter December 8, 2016 Ocado has reported growth in sales and order numbers during the 16 weeks to 27 November, with year end sales up 15.1 per cent – but shares in the firm dropped almost four per cent at the market open. The grocery delivery service said group sales were up 14.5 per cent in the fourth quarter, from [...]
Morrisons’ bounce back shapes up with same-day delivery Amazon tie-up (but it’s bad news for Ocado’s share price) November 16, 2016 The dream team is very much in business. Yes, that's right: Amazon and Morrisons have developed their tie-up to launch the aptly named Morrisons at Amazon service. But it's bad news for Ocado: shares were down 9.4 per cent by the early afternoon. Ouch. From today, Amazon Prime customers in selected areas can order a full [...]
Lord Stuart Rose interview: Former M&S boss opens up on the ill-fated Stronger In campaign and his 10,000 bottles of wine November 9, 2016 Lord Rose of Monewden knows how to do things in style. In the space of a 45-year business career he managed to navigate his way through more boards, bids, bust-ups and blow-ups than seems possible in a single lifetime, collecting a knighthood, then a peerage and a comfortable fortune on the way. More to the [...]
What the analysts are saying about the M&S results: ‘Seismic change’ needed after ‘humiliating’ plans unveiled November 8, 2016 Retail experts have blasted Marks & Spencer's plans for a turnaround – even taking a swipe at the firm's recent collaboration with Alexa Chung – and warned that without "seismic change", the group risks continuing its "terminal decline" to its inevitable conclusion. Marks revealed a massive drop in profits this morning, and outlined plans to close [...]
Analysts welcome a full year of growth for Morrisons November 3, 2016 Morrisons' share price was climbing this morning after the retailer said that its like-for-like sales were up 1.6 per cent in the third quarter, marking a year of positive same-store sales. Halloween sales jumped 20 per cent in the period. The company's share price was up 1.2 per cent this morning as a result, and [...]
As Tesco shares jump after it reported another rise in sales, is the retailer out of the woods? October 5, 2016 Clive Black, head of research at Shore Capital, says Yes. If you go down to the woods today… well, you won’t find Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis. Two years on from a troubled and tortuous analyst meeting, with the business on its knees, the Tesco boss is reporting that the remedial measures introduced to guide the [...]
Sainsbury’s is opening a London fulfilment centre to stop Amazon gobbling up its customers September 21, 2016 Sainsbury's is responding to London's growing hunger for online groceries by opening a new fulfilment centre in the capital. The retailer is expecting its online orders in London to double by 2024, and will meet that demand with a new warehouse in Bromley-by-Bow that can fulfil 25,000 orders per week. In total, the fulfilment centre will [...]
Online retailer Hut Group set to announce Ideal acquisition September 18, 2016 Online retailer Hut Group is poised to announce the takeover of an American dieting and sports nutrition company. The digital retailer is expected to announce the deal for Ideal Shape in the coming days, Sky News reported. Read more: The Hut Group eyes acquisitions after securing £210m loan Hut Group reported group sales of £334m, [...]
Next and Morrisons: What a difference a year makes September 16, 2016 What a difference a year makes. This time in 2015, shares in clothing retailer Next were up after it reported a jump in sales in its first half. Meanwhile, Morrisons warned of a “long recovery” as it made plans to sell its underperforming M Local stores amid falling sales and profits. Yesterday those fortunes reversed: [...]