MBS is proud to have been championing diversity for over thirty years – so it was a real privilege to partner with the IGD and PwC to produce a first-of-its-kind report, giving an honest appraisal of the status of diversity and inclusion across the...
One of the great pleasures of my role as Director of Hospitality, Travel and Leisure at The MBS Group is witnessing up and coming talent progressing through the industry. It is a perk of the job to see individuals taking inspiration from others, rising...
On a seasonally cold winter’s evening, nearly 150 Chairmen, CEOs, NEDs and HRDs from across the food and grocery sector came together at the IoD to hear the findings of our recent report: Diversity in Food and Grocery. The evening was spent exploring...
I have just returned from visiting our clients in Australia and New Zealand. The New Zealanders were still reeling from their loss against England in the Rugby semi-finals – so it was very easy to move the conversation swiftly on to retail, brands and...
It’s been a quarter of a century since the phrase ‘got milk?’ entered the zeitgeist. I grew up with ‘Accrington Stanley, Who Are They?’, and others at MBS have boasted similarly nostalgic memories of iconic milk advertising. The...
Perhaps it’s the clocks going back this weekend that makes me want to turn my attention to my home, South Africa. Or it might be the arrival of Naspers in our papers this week, the South African firm whose $5bn hostile bid for Just Eat has made quite a...
I have just returned from visiting our clients in Australia and New Zealand. The New Zealanders were still reeling from their loss against England in the Rugby semi-finals – so it was very easy to move the conversation swiftly on to retail, brands and...
The MBS Group is proud to have been championing diversity for over thirty years – so it was a real privilege to partner with the IGD and PwC to produce a first-of-its-kind report, giving an honest appraisal of the status of diversity and inclusion...
The MBS Group has been championing diversity in our sectors for over thirty years, so we were delighted to be asked to join forces with the WiH2020 initiative and PwC on the latest report on diversity in the Hospitality, Travel & Leisure (HTL)...
Co-op prepares for Christmas with 30 store openings The British retailer is set to create 500 new jobs in the run-up to the holidays with 30 new store openings across the UK. The decision follows a £25m investment in the expansion of the Co-op estate. Read more on The Grocer
Black Friday boosts weekly sales at John Lewis Partnership The department store has reported a 6.1% YOY sales increase in the week ending 7 December as shoppers took advantage of Black Friday deals. Most popular categories emerged as womenswear, men's footwear, leisure and home technologies. Read more on Retail Gazette
William Grant & Sons expands sustainability portfolio The drinksmaker is launching a new rum infused with banana peels that would otherwise go to waste. The product will be part of the company's eco-friendly Discarded range. Read more on FoodBev
Pasta Evangelists rolls out concession stands The pasta delivery service is doubling down on its omnichannel efforts by launching a concession stand in M&S's new format store. Pasta Evangelists has already trialled the in-store concession model with a similar offering in Harrods’ food hall. Read more on The Grocer
Safilo makes plans to boost profitability The eyewear business will cut nearly 700 jobs next year, or more than 10% of its global workforce, in a move to drive profits amid slow sales. Read more on Reuters
Italian jewellery label Bulgari rethinks distribution The LVMH-owned accessories brand is overhauling its distribution network, withdrawing products from multi-brand retailers to focus instead on selling collections in its own boutiques. Read more on Fashion Network
Walmart trials autonomous delivery in the US The leading grocery retailer has partnered with the self-driving startup Nuro to deliver groceries to a select group of Houston shoppers. The trial will use Nuro’s R2 robot in a bid to test the efficiency of autonomous delivery. Read more on TechCrunch
VSCO acquires Rylo in content sharing partnership The photo sharing app popular with Instagram users has acquired video editing startup Rylo for an undisclosed sum. Rylo hit headlines in October 2018 when it raised $20m in Series B funding backed by Sequoia Capital and Icon Ventures. Read more on TechCrunch
American restaurant group Connor Concepts receives investment The owner of the Steak & Seafood and The Chop House brands has secured funding from private equity firm CapitalSpring. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Read more on PE Hub
EPI taps Valérie Hermann to lead fashion and luxury practice The ex-Ralph Lauren global brands president is set to join the private equity firm on 8 January. She will become a member of the executive committee while taking over the Bonpoint and J.M. Weston brands. Read more on WWD
Fatburger sells debut UK chain The fast food franchise’s original UK arm will be closing its doors after four years in London’s Camden neighbourhood. The decision suggests US burger brands are struggling to infiltrate the British market, but the Wembley site will remain open. Read more on Big Hospitality
Wetherspoons to invest more than £200m on expansion JD Wetherspoon will officially be investing more than £200m in its pub and hotel estate over the next four years. In a bid to revive the pub scene in quieter areas, the chain will focus on smaller towns. Read more on The Caterer
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