Clarke resumes UK control as Brasher quits Tesco
Richard Brasher has stepped down as Tesco’s UK chief executive after just a year in the role. The supermarket said the move came “as a consequence of Philip Clarke’s decision to take a much closer involvement in the UK business”. Brasher steps down from the board immediately and will leave the company in July after handing over to Clarke. He joined Tesco in 1986.
The Co-op bags Olympic bid marketer Magliano
The Co-operative Group has named David Magliano as its new brand director, overseeing brand development across all of The Co-op’s businesses. Magliano worked on London’s 2012 Olympic bid – as well as the doomed attempt to bring the 2018 football World Cup to England. He has also worked for the airlines EasyJet and Go. He will report to group marketing director Gill Barr.
Asda unveils petrol price comparison tool online
Asda has launched a price comparison website dedicated exclusively to petrol. It allows drivers to check and compare prices within a three-mile radius of their local Asda forecourt. The supermarket claimed the tool would highlight “huge discrepancies” between towns where Asda operates and those where it does not.
Research by the AA has previously indicated that an Asda filling station in a town has a direct effect on the price charged by rivals for petrol.
John Lewis sales climb 14%
Sales at John Lewis department stores climbed 14.2% last week, when five stores delivered a double-digit revenue rise. There were advances in all the retailer’s main categories, led by electricals and home technology which was up 20.6%.
Fashion sales increased 17.5%. John Lewis Region B selling operations director David Barford said: “The star performers among lots of really good results were women’s accessories and beauty at 25.5%, driven by our price matching policy.
DFS to open first high street store on Tottenham Court Road
Sofas giant DFS makes first high street foray as it takes over Next Home’s landmark premises. Sofas giant DFS is to establish a high street presence with a shop on furniture Mecca Tottenham Court Road – a very different location from its traditional out-of-town pitch.
Jaeger head office team in consultation
Jaeger has put its 150-strong head office team in consultation as part of a review of its business. The retailer is changing its business model to outsource more of its design and development to help it achieve greater efficiency. As a result, it is reassessing its skill base and staff requirements.
Tesco UK CEO Brasher in shock exit
Tesco’s UK CEO Richard Brasher is making a shock exit from the supermarket chain just a year after taking on the role, following a set of disappointing results.
Group CEO Philip Clarke will add responsibility for the UK supermarket chain to his remit.
The reshuffle is part of Clarke’s plans to take a much closer involvement in the running of the UK business and comes just a year after he set up a dedicated UK board led by Brasher. He has recently vowed to introduce a raft of service improvements.
In a statement Clarke says: “I have decided to assume responsibility as the CEO of our UK business at this very important time. This greater focus will allow me to oversee the improvements that are so important for customers.”
Waitrose celebrates Queen with Jubilee range
Waitrose is launching a range of British inspired merchandise including a cake stand and cupcake cases, to help people celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this summer.
The range, which includes bunting, a cake stand, cake tins and cupcake cases and a range of paper cups, plates and napkins, has been illustrated by a British designer.
Waitrose, which carries a Royal Warrant as “Grocer and Wine and Spirit Merchants” to The Queen and the Prince of Wales, hopes that the “patriotic” range will help customers hold parties to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June.
B&Q ads celebrate feelings of DIY pride
B&Q is moving away from advertising that focuses on the functional benefits of its products to highlighting the pride that comes with completing a DIY project.
A TV campaign, created by McCann Erickson, launches on 19 March and features a grandfather building a chicken shed, a couple decorating a nursery and a young girl growing her own tomatoes. The ads aim to show the pride consumers take in DIY and forge an emotional connection with a broader range of customers.
B&Q marketing director Katherine Paterson says the role the DIY chain plays in helping people improve their homes has changed and it needed to modernise to appeal to a broader range of customers.
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