All articles by George MacDonald – Page 251
-
News
Wal-Mart chief executive: Tesco's Fresh & Easy will succeed
The success of Tesco’s fledgling US venture, Fresh & Easy, has been endorsed by the most unlikely of advocates – bitter rival Wal-Mart’s chief executive, Lee Scott.
-
News
New season of negative updates gives retail analysts little reassurance
Retail had regained favour in the run-up to the reporting season, but the first set of updates brought a slew of bad news.
-
Opinion
City Insider: Simon Fox is working magic at HMV
There was no new Harry Potter book this year to summon up book sales but that other sorcerer, Magic Circle member and HMV boss Simon Fox, still managed to conjure an impressive performance at group level.
-
News
Trading toughens for Dunelm
Value homewares retailer Dunelm has posted a leap in preliminary profits, but like-for-like sales have plummeted in the new financial year.
-
News
Morrisons’ value stance brings profit surge
Supermarket group Morrisons has reported a surge in first half profits, as it benefits from business improvements and its value credentials.
-
News
Argos like-for-likes nosedive in second quarter
The mighty Argos became the latest victim of the consumer recession, as like-for-likes plummeted during the second quarter.
-
News
Carphone Warehouse ejected from FTSE 100
Carphone Warehouse has been ejected from the FTSE 100, bringing retail’s representation on the blue-chip index to the lowest in memory.
-
News
Sports Direct posts flat quarterly sales and profits
Sports Direct, the store group controlled by controversial tycoon Mike Ashley, managed to maintain sales and profits in its last quarter, despite torrid trading conditions.
-
News
Comet to make first-half loss as sales plunge
Anglo-French electricals group Kesa disclosed that sales have plunged at its flagship businesses, including UK chain Comet, which will make a first-half loss.
-
News
Galiform and Merchant Equity settle MFI row for £8 million
Building supplies group Galiform has agreed to pay Merchant Equity Partners 8 million in settlement of a dispute arising from the sale of MFI’s retail business to the private equity firm.
-
News
Primark sales and profits to climb
Value fashion retailer Primark’s sales and profits will be “well ahead of last year”, parent company Associated British Foods reported in its pre-close update.
-
News
Retail acquisitions likely in Central Europe as credit crunch bites
The impact of the credit crunch and inflation is threatening to pitch emerging retailers in Central and Eastern Europe into difficulties, providing acquisition opportunities for Western groups.
-
News
City concern for retail spirals as sterling suffers further knocks
Despite a sector rally, analysts remained resolutely downbeat about retail’s prospects as recession loomed and the pound plunged to a record low against the euro.
-
News
Shop Direct avoids strike with pay deal
Home shopping business Shop Direct has averted strike action, after staff members voted in favour of a revised pay offer.
-
Analysis
Is this really the worst of times?
As Alistair Darling’s sobering comments on the downturn hit home, George MacDonald asks industry experts what truth lies behind the figures and what the impact will be for retail.
-
NewsFat Face cuts debt
Fat Face, the private equity-owned leisurewear specialist, has taken advantage of weak debt markets to slash its borrowings.
-
News
M&S faces strike after mole's dismissal
Trade unionists are mobilising against Marks & Spencer following the retailer’s dismissal of a staff member who leaked details of plans to change redundancy terms.
-
News
M&S fires redundancy mole
Marks & Spencer has sacked the staff member who leaked details of proposed changes to the retailer’s redundancy payments to the media.
-
News
M&S overhauls food ads
Marks & Spencer will break with its established food advertising campaign this Sunday, when the first of a new generation of ads will be aired on ITV1.
-
News
Hunter takes charge at Wyevale as Hodkinson quits
Jim Hodkinson has stepped down as executive chairman of garden centre group Wyevale, Retail Week can reveal.