MBS News
Thursday
August 19, 2010
Industry headlines from Moira Benigson Executive Search
Retail
Poundland Discount Chain To Create Up To 2,000 Jobs
Discount retail chain Poundland plans to open 50 new stores, which will create about 2,000 jobs. There are currently 263 stores operating under the Poundland banner.
Consumer Goods
Kraft Plots Dairy Milk That Doesn’t Melt
Kraft is searching for high-tech packaging that can keep chocolate solid at up to 40°C. The company has invited tenders from packaging companies to provide a cost-effective and non-bulky solution.
Read more on www.thegrocer.co.uk »
Lucozade Nets Arsenal And Liverpool Sponsorship Deals
GlaxoSmithKline has agreed deals with Arsenal and Liverpool Football Clubs for Lucozade Sport to be their official "Sports Nutrition Partner", similar to its recent deal with Chelsea FC.
Read more on www.marketingweek.co.uk »
Digital And Online
Flying Brands Acquires Online Gardening Business
Home shopping group Flying Brands has completed its acquisition of Garden Centre Online, having paid £130,000 for the business which sells gardening hardware products, garden furniture and ‘grow your own’ ranges.
Read more on www.retail-week.com »
Facebook Launches Location-Based Service
Facebook has launched a location-based service, Facebook Places. It is currently only available in the US or via the iPhone and some mobile browsers.
Asda Extends Web Content To Include Recipes And TV Listings
Asda has revamped its web content, which now includes a recipes site and TV listings. The recipes site provides tips for meal preparation and will notify users of in-store deals by distributing digital coupons.
Henri Lloyd Rolls Out New Site
British heritage brand Henri Lloyd has launched a new website showcasing all of the brand’s collections for the first time.
Read more on www.drapersonline.com »
Fashion, Lifestyle And Luxury
Sixty UK Files For Liquidation
Sixty UK, the UK distributor for young fashion brands Miss Sixty and Energie, has filed for liquidation after the High Court last month rejected its Company Voluntary Arrangement.
Read more on www.retail-week.com »
Levi's Rolls Out Brand Targeted At Asian Consumers
Denim brand Levi Strauss & Co has launched a new brand, Denizen, aimed at the Asian market. It is Levi’s first brand to be launched outside of the US. It will initially target customers in China, Singapore and South Korea before expanding to India.
Read more on www.drapersonline.com »
Travel And Leisure
American Airlines To Charge Fee For Front-Row Seats
American Airlines has announced that it intends to charge customers for the privilege of sitting in the first few rows of its economy class cabins from now on.
McDonald's Ad Prompts Wrath Of Comic Fans
A new McDonald's advert, featuring popular comic book hero Asterix eating a hamburger, has infuriated French fans of the comic character who claim he has "sold out" to the fast food giant.
Read more on www.brandrepublic.com »
On The Move
New Look Directors Step Down As IPO Prospects Remain Distant
Two of New Look’s non-executive directors, easyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall and former ITV finance director Henry Staunton, have stepped down from the board of the fashion retailer.
Read more on www.retail-week.com »
JJB Sports Finance Director To Quit
JJB Sports finance director Lawrence Coppock has revealed he intends to leave the troubled retailer within the next 12 months.
Read more on www.retail-week.com »
Yo! Sushi's Robin Rowland Joins Marston's As Non-Exec Director
Robin Rowland, CEO of Yo! Sushi, has been named as a non-executive director at Marston's, the regional brewer and pub retailer.
Read more on www.bighospitality.co.uk »
The Weatherman Says...
There is nothing more embarrassing for a cyclist on a cool bike, than getting your feet stuck in your clips at a traffic light. You pull up, swagger (if that's possible on a bike), come to a halt and then tip over, right in front of all the cars at a red light. It's the equivalent of a girl going out with her dress tucked in the back of her knickers! The sun is shining and my hip bone is aching!