Retail
FeedWhy your Sunday roast is set to soar
Adrian Holliday
Sep 3rd 2010
Filed under: Economy, Investing, Manufacturing, Retail
The price of Sunday lunch is going up. Or it will be if you haven't turned vegetarian. Lamb prices are at a near 40-year high. Pork prices have soared and beef prices are also rising fast. Even mince is rising. Something's clearly cooking - but not your roast dinner if prices continue like this.Zara enters online fashion fray - at last
Adrian Holliday
Sep 2nd 2010
Filed under: Economy, News , Retail
Online fashion got a boost today with the new web opening of Zara. This has to be a smart (though overdue) move for the Spanish retailer - high street consumer confidence remains low while on-line shopping continues to boom. Witness similar online moves by key rivals H&M, GAP and Banana Republic.Bidding hots up for Carrefour
David Burrows
Sep 2nd 2010
French supermarket giant Carrefour is putting the bulk of its Asian business up for sale with as many as 10 interested parties believed to be putting together bids – including Tesco.
Given we are told constantly of the growth prospects of the Asian market it might seem strange that Carrefour should be planning such an exit strategy.
Burger King 'May Be Sold'
DailyFinance.com
Sep 2nd 2010
Burger King (BKC), the second largest burger chain in the USA, is reportedly in talks with private equity firms over a possible sale. The Wall Street Journal reported that one likely buyer is UK private equity group, 3i.Darling admits bonus supertax failed
Adrian Holliday
Sep 2nd 2010
Filed under: Economy, Personal Finance, Financial Crisis, Banking , Retail
Ex-chancellor Alistair Darling has admitted the 50% bankers' bonus tax failed. At a financial conference yesterday Darling told an audience that many bankers were "very good at getting out of these things". Given that Credit Suisse sprang a surprise round of bonuses on 400 of its top London bankers, Darling's timing was right on the money.Managers jump back into UK equities
Adrian Holliday
Sep 1st 2010
Filed under: Company, Debt, Economy, Personal Finance, Retail
Apparently the double-dip fears are overdone. Or perhaps fund managers have a more reliable crystal ball than the rest of us. Whatever it is, fund managers are starting to pour their cash back into UK equities. So maybe there are reasons to be cheerful about the economy?Ad regulations extended to websites
Press Association
Sep 1st 2010
Filed under: News , Media, Retail
Full advertising regulations are to be extended to retailers' own websites and online areas like Twitter and Facebook, it has been announced.The online extension has "the protection of children and consumers at its heart" and will come into effect in March next year, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said.
Tesco under fire in "secret" land deal
Adrian Holliday
Aug 31st 2010
Filed under: Economy, Small Business, Investing, Retail
Did Tesco buy a town centre through a front company then let it deteriorate so it could land a regeneration deal? Accusations of underhand tactics from UK major retailers aren't new. But a report in today's Times alleges a shopping centre in Linwood, Renfrewshire was deliberately let go to seed by Tesco via front vehicle Edinburgh-based Balmore Properties.Lionel Richie fronts Walkers ad push
Martin Cloake
Aug 31st 2010
Cheesy Like Sunday Morning could well have been your reaction to Lionel Richie's first appearance in an advert for 30 years (right) over the Bank Holiday weekend. He's promoting Walkers Crisps alongside long-time face of the brand Gary Lineker. It's enough to keep you up All Night Long.Consumer tech spend picks up
Guy Clapperton
Aug 31st 2010
Filed under: Economy, Technology, Retail
Consumer technology is one of the first sectors to come out of recession, according to figures just released by research company Mintel. That's the theory but it doesn't stack up against what's happening in America as we've reported previously.Consumer confidence soars in August
Adrian Holliday
Aug 31st 2010
Filed under: Debt, Economy, News , Retail
Consumer confidence is back - at least, until the next consumer confidence survey tells us that it isn't. But if you put your trust in surveys, the latest GfK NOP consumer confidence looks bullish: this index advanced four points in August, the biggest increase since February. Of course, you could argue some consumers were enjoying an end-of summer blow-out.
Blockbuster (Newsagents get poorer as paper sales die
Adrian Holliday
Aug 27th 2010
Filed under: Economy, Investing, Personal Finance, Retail
Your local newsagent is getting poorer. Whether it's Mr Patel or Mr Price, British newsagents are almost 15% worse off than they were 10 years ago. And, according to retail analyst Mintel, the pressure on newagents to make a living is getting worse. But how bad is it really? Let's take a look.Tobacco companies bypass ad restraints
Guy Clapperton
Aug 26th 2010
Filed under: News , Technology, Retail
Tobacco can't be advertised on TV since I was a young man - that long ago. There may now be a workaround, although the companies themselves have denied it to Sky News and others that they're involved: you put the movies or old ads on YouTube and people volunteer to watch them.Full-year profits sober up for Diageo
Adrian Holliday
Aug 26th 2010
Filed under: Company, Investing, Retail
Liquor giant Diageo says full year operating profits increased just 2% thanks to better performance from the emerging markets of Latin America and Asia. However back in recession-hit Europe and the US, the Guinness and Smirnoff maker has less to celebrate; sales remain weak.
