MBS Intelligence

Marketing & Strategy

Some years ago, I worked as a professional opera singer. At that time, touring formed a significant part of my career. I keenly remember one job in particular, which required me to drive my trusty (yet clattery) diesel car all the way from my home in...

Inspiring inclusion: The Women to Watch in Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Retail Index 2024

Weekly Column

Yesterday marked International Women’s Day. This year, the theme was ‘inspiring inclusion’ – a notion that felt particularly relevant when we launched the 2024 edition of the Women to Watch in Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Retail Index on...

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People, leadership & talent

Women to Watch in Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Retail…

The MBS Group is delighted to present the 2024 edition of the Women to Watch in Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Retail Index, produced in partnership with WiHTL and Diversity in Retail. Now in its sixth year, the publication highlights more than 100...

Trends, strategy & emerging markets

Homes, hotels and space ships: the exciting world of…

In recent years, our luxury team at The MBS Group has done as much work in interiors and homewares as it has in apparel and accessories. Since the pandemic, businesses from right across the fashion and luxury arena have moved into homeware, and – unlike...

Concepts, marketing & creative direction

Do sports clubs need creative directors?

Two weeks ago, Kenny Annan-Jonathan was appointed as Creative Director at Crystal Palace, marking the first time a Premier League team has hired a creative lead. Brought in to “oversee apparel collections and fashion partnerships,” Kenny’s...

Tech & innovation

Human 2.0: in conversation with Patrick Kane, author, advertiser…

Patrick Kane’s email signature reads: he/him/disabled. “This isn’t because I want more time to complete tasks, or because I need reasonable adjustments,” he says, “but because when I solve a client’s problem, I want them to know that a...

Diversity & inclusion

Human 2.0: in conversation with Patrick Kane, author, advertiser…

Patrick Kane’s email signature reads: he/him/disabled. “This isn’t because I want more time to complete tasks, or because I need reasonable adjustments,” he says, “but because when I solve a client’s problem, I want them to know that a...

ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance)

From Cape Town to Camden: gardens with purpose

On the 1st July 2019, Dorp opened its doors to the public in Cape Town. Since then, my annual visit ‘home’ to South Africa has brought me to this hotel/home from home, on the highest hill underneath Signal Hill and across from Table Mountain. The...

Events & Thought Leadership

Thought Leadership

What can sports learn from the consumer playbook?

In whichever direction you look, the sports industry is transforming: fan habits are evolving, games are getting more diverse and sport media is being reimagined. The space is also becoming increasingly global, attracting billions of dollars in...

 

The power and purpose of the Senior Independent Director

In the early 2000s, the UK saw two high-profile business failures. In 2001, the industrial giant Marconi broke records by generating an overall loss of £5bn, following a misguided strategy of acquisitions. Around the same time, insurance firm Equitable...

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MBS News

Retail

18 March 2024 - 8:39

Frasers Group appoints administrators for Base Childrenswear and Kids Cavern The retail group has called in administrators for its Base Childrenswear and Kids Cavern brands. The two retail companies were acquired as part of a £47.5m deal with JD Sports in December 2022. Read more on The Retail Bulletin

18 March 2024 - 8:14

Currys increases full-year profit guidance The electricals retailer has said that it expects full-year profit to be at least £115m, up from previous guidance of between £105m and £115m. The news comes after confirmation that both JD.com and Elliott Advisors have scrapped potential takeover bids. Read more on Retail Week

Consumer Goods & Services

18 March 2024 - 8:31

Campbell Soup finalises $2.7bn Sovos acquisition A new business unit will be formed within Campbell’s Meals & Beverages portfolio, which will be home to Sovos' brands including Rao’s, Michael Angelo’s and Noosa. The deal was first announced in 2022. Read more on FoodBev

18 March 2024 - 8:16

Pfizer looks to reduce stake in Haleon The pharma giant is attempting to sell 630 million shares in Haleon, the group behind Sensodyne toothpaste and Panadol painkillers. The placing would reduce Pfizer's stake in the group from 32% to 24%. Read more on The Times

Fashion, Lifestyle & Luxury

18 March 2024 - 8:06

Italian eyewear group Safilo misses expectations The maker of Tommy Hilfiger eyewear has reported a 4.8% downturn in full-year revenues to €1.02b. Full-year adjusted net result dropped by 76% on a yearly basis, due to the accounting effect of the valuations of options of non-controlling interests. Read more on Fashion Network

18 March 2024 - 8:02

Bimba y Lola reports “stable performance” in 2023 The Spanish fashion house has reported a 1% uptick in revenues to €227m in its last full financial year. The company successfully solidified its presence in key international markets, with international sales accounting for 44% of total revenue. Read more on Fashion Network

Digital

18 March 2024 - 8:35

Apple and Google in AI talks for iPhone According to reports in Bloomberg, Apple is in exclusive talks with Google about a deal which would see Google's Gemini AI engine built into iPhones. Read more on Reuters

15 March 2024 - 8:00

Vodafone confirms sale of Italy business The FTSE 100 telecom group has inked a deal to sell its Italian arm to Swisscom for €8bn. Vodafone recently sold its Spanish business, and has said that this move will allows it to "deliver predictable, stronger growth in Europe." Read more on The Times

Private Equity

15 March 2024 - 8:24

Protein shake franchise business ShakeSmart secures backing ShakeSmart, which was founded in 2011 and now runs 45 healthy fast-casual locations across the US, has picked up investment from Tecum Capital. The business will continue to be run by the existing executive team. Read more on PE Hub

14 March 2024 - 8:12

Family Adventures Group kicks of expansion drive Family Adventures Group, which is backed by private equity firm Foresight, is targeting growth of up to 30 new nurseries and eight new leisure sites in the next four years. The business currently operates 9 locations in the UK. Read more on Propel Hospitality

Travel, Leisure & Hospitality

18 March 2024 - 8:54

The Gym Group revenue up 18% in 2023 The low-cost gym operator has announced that full-year sales for 2023 reached £204.0m, up 18% on the previous year. Sales were boosted by increased membership from the opening of new sites. Read more on Leisure Opportunities

18 March 2024 - 8:08

Nightcap trading in line with market expectations The bar group, which owns Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group, Dirty Martini and the Barrio Familia group, has said that it is trading in line with market expectations, and that it predicts the hospitality sector will experience recovery later in 2024. Read more on Propel Hospitality

Arts Agenda & Recommended Reading