MBS Intelligence

Wooden gavel on employment law book

Weekly Column

Nearly fifteen years after he sold the company, Mohamed Al Fayed’s period of controversial ownership of Harrods has come back into the spotlight – this time focusing on allegations of rape and sexual harassment.   Fortunately, whilst allegations of...

View from the shop: In conversation with M&S Chief People Officer, Sarah Findlater, on her three months getting closer to customers and closer to colleagues

Weekly Column

A head office reception says a lot about a company, and it often gives me an opportunity to gauge the culture and pulse of an organisation. I have been visiting the M&S HQ for more years than I can remember, but since Stuart Machin took over as CEO,...

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People, leadership & talent

Healthy team, healthy business: the growing role of employers…

Who is responsible for people’s health? As rates of ill health in the working population have risen across the world in the aftermath of the pandemic, the already complex answer to that question – is it individuals? The state? – is changing. With...

Trends, strategy & emerging markets

The future of M&A in beauty: why newness is…

The beauty sector may have reached peak saturation. Over the past few years, it has seemed like everyone – from online influencers to top-tier financiers – has staked their claim in the market, launching brands, incubating startups or making...

Concepts, marketing & creative direction

Purple formula one car on stand, featuring Charlotte Tilbury lips motif on the bodywork

Popstars, Pillowtalk and the Paralympics: pop-culture’s influence on sports…

Gen Z and millennial women are this generation’s pop-culture shapers. Catch them at the right moment, and they can skyrocket a celebrity to superstardom or sell out a product from a previously unheard-of brand in a matter of hours. In fact, women have a...

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

Tracking progress on diversity and inclusion in UK retail…

The MBS Group has partnered with the BRC for the fourth year of research into D&I in the UK retail sector. The report draws on three sources. First, MBS research, which encompasses data captured from the industry’s leading businesses through...

ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance)

pic of two men and horse - ponterra

“Anything less than excellence is greenwashing”: in conversation with…

The biodiversity crisis is an urgent and irreversible side-effect of the climate emergency. “Nearly three-quarters of the animals that existed in 1970 don’t exist today,” Celia Francis told me, “and out of 58,000 tree species, 17,000 are...

Events & Thought Leadership

Thought Leadership

Tracking progress on diversity and inclusion in UK retail 2024

The MBS Group has partnered with the BRC for the fourth year of research into D&I in the UK retail sector. The report draws on three sources. First, MBS research, which encompasses data captured from the industry’s leading businesses through...

 

Groundbreaking clinician leaders, and why they give us reasons to be cheerful about the future of Healthcare   

Our new white paper, Groundbreaking Clinician Leaders: And why they give us reasons to be cheerful about the future of healthcare, highlights more than 20 clinicians who have carved out bold careers in a huge variety of leadership roles and are having...

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MBS News

Retail

14 October 2024 - 8:35

Harvey Norman opens first store in England The Australian lifestyle, tech and home appliance retailer has opened a 57,000 sq ft store in the West Midlands, its first in England. The company sells the likes of Dyson, Shark, Apple and Samsung. Read more on The Retail Bulletin

14 October 2024 - 8:34

Waitrose to launch over 30 new bakery products The supermarket is adding to its in-store bakery range, refreshing a third of its offerings due to sales growing in the category by 14%. There will be 15 trend-driven products and 15 sweet treats added to its self-serve. Read more on The Retail Bulletin

Consumer Goods & Services

14 October 2024 - 8:37

Arkive Headcare launches first fragrance The British celebrity hairstylist’s wellness-focused hair care brand has launched Arkive Makes Scents, a collection of four genderless eau de parfums for hair and skin. They will retail at £30 for 50ml. Read more on Cosmetics Business

14 October 2024 - 8:36

Robinsons launches Wicked-inspired squash It has partnered with Universal Pictures’ Wicked for the launch of two limited-edition squashes. They will roll out on 16 October and are inspired by the main characters of the film, Elphaba and Glinda. Read more on The Grocer

Fashion, Lifestyle & Luxury

14 October 2024 - 8:39

Bestseller sees rise in profits The Danish fashion group has reported an 8% rise in profits to £590m for the year to July 2024. Sales across retail channels were up 5%, despite a slight drop in revenue, and the group opened 330 new stores. Read more on Drapers

14 October 2024 - 8:38

Mulberry rejects increased bid from Frasers Group Following a revised offer of £111m on Friday, Challice, who owns the majority stake in the British fashion brand, said it has no interest in selling shares to Frasers. The group now has until 28 October to make a firm offer. Read more on The Guardian

Digital

14 October 2024 - 8:40

Zalando reports sales and profits rise The online retailer’s adjusted EBIT rose from £19m to £78m while sales rose 5% to £2.01bn. It now expects adjusted EBIT for FY24 to come between £367m and £402m, up from its previous forecast of £318m to £377m. Read more on Retail Week

11 October 2024 - 8:15

THG raises £95m for Ingenuity split The group has said it received strong support from new investors and existing shareholders to spin-off its loss-making technology arm, Ingenuity, into a separate company. Read more on Retail Gazette

Private Equity

14 October 2024 - 8:40

Cathay-led investor group, Bosideng, invests in Moose Knuckles Bosideng, whose majority investor group is private equity firm, Cathay Capital, has entered into a strategic partnership with Canadian luxury outerwear brand, Moose Knuckles. The exact terms of the deal were not disclosed. Read more on Fashion United

11 October 2024 - 8:16

Risk Capital Partners acquires The Light The cinema operator has been acquired by private equity firm Risk Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum. The deal fully recapitalises the business, which currently operates 13 cinema and leisure venues across the UK. Read more on Propel

Travel, Leisure & Hospitality

14 October 2024 - 8:41

The Ned reports strong trading levels The City of London venue and private members’ club, which is operated by Soho House, has reported a turnover of more than £76m, up from £69m the previous year, saying its trading levels are comparable to pre-pandemic. Read more on Propel

14 October 2024 - 8:41

Toca raises $100m in private backing The social football entertainment company has raised around $100m in private offerings from investors, including Harry Kane and Jim Kavanaugh. This is for its global expansion push. Read more on Sportcal

Arts Agenda & Recommended Reading