An Asda foodstore and a new public square are promised at Swinton shopping centre in Greater Manchester in a scheme which will generate around 250 jobs.
Salford city council has approved plans to revamp the 180,000 sq ft centre three years after the complex became embroiled in the UK’s property crash.
In 2009, lenders at the West Bromwich Building Society forced the centre into the hands of Law of Property Act receivers. The centre was owned by clients of Mutual Finance.
The proposals include a 35,000 sq ft Asda store which is expected to be a catalyst for a wider regeneration of the shopping centre, with a new piazza, public areas and upgraded shops.
Layne Mercer, a director at GVA who is providing asset management advice for the scheme, said: “After years of neglect by the previous owners, we are delighted with the news and are committed to improving the centre for the benefit of the local community as a whole.
“Importantly, the scheme will generate around 250 new job opportunities for local people, adding further to the regeneration impact.
“We are now at the implementation stage and hope to start on site very shortly. We are delighted by the council’s decision as this echoes the support we have had from local people in getting to this stage. This will make a real difference to the town centre retail offer.”
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Source: menmedia.co.uk
Andy Hornby hired as Pharmacy2U chairman - Daily Telegraph
“We are delighted to welcome Andy Hornby as the new Chairman of Pharmacy2U’s board of directors and look forward to benefiting from his experience of the pharmacy industry and online retail businesses,” said Daniel Lee, managing director and Founder of Pharmacy2U.
“The imminent transition to electronic prescriptions across the NHS represents an exciting opportunity for Pharmacy2U, and Andy’s insights and leadership will be of significant value in helping us meet the challenges ahead while continuing to provide excellent patient care.”
“Pharmacy2U is an exciting organisation, and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to play a part in helping the management team achieve its vision for growth," added Mr Hornby.
It is thought that Mr Hornby will have some equity share in Pharmacy2U.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Tricycle theatre's new director aims for more diverse audience - The Guardian
The Tricycle theatre on Kilburn High Road, in north-west London, is opposite Planet Pizza and Lanny's Barbar (sic) Shop. The entrance is discreet and the auditorium only seats 240, but since its foundation 32 years ago this small theatre has packed a hefty theatrical punch, pioneering tribunal plays, constructed from verbatim accounts of public inquiries, such as Half the Picture, based on the Scott inquiry into arms sales to Iraq by British companies, and The Colour of Justice, based on the Stephen Lawrence inquiry.
For 28 of those years it was ruled by Nicolas Kent, but last year he announced he was stepping down as artistic director because of a £350,000 cut in the theatre's grant – a third of its subsidy. Kent is a hard act to follow, especially in straitened financial times, but Indhu Rubasingham, who formally took over from Kent a month ago and this week announces her first season, is as yet showing no signs of strain.
"I'm an optimist," she says. "The opportunity here is fantastic. You can change ways of thinking. Having been resistant to taking on a building, I've realised the potential is huge. As a freelance director I used to be a commitment-phobe – it was like having a string of affairs. But now I feel I've finally got married."
She recognises the financial pressures will be considerable, but the Arts Council has at least agreed to cushion the impact of the cuts in her first year.
Rubasingham, 42, wants to attract a younger and more diverse audience to the Tricycle, and her first season – four shows running from October – has a crowd-pleasing feel. Her debut show, which she will direct, is the world premiere of Red Velvet, a play by Lolita Chakrabarti about Ira Aldridge, Britain's first black classical actor. Rubasingham's trump card is that Chakrabarti's husband, Adrian Lester, will star as Aldridge.
Red Velvet is followed by a Christmas show – a first for the Tricycle – based on the Arabian Nights; a comedy called One Monkey Don't Stop No Show about a middle-class black family in Philadelphia, which Rubasingham describes it as "The Cosby Show meets restoration comedy"; and Paper Dolls, another play with music (a term she prefers to musicals) about Filipino care workers in Tel Aviv who in their spare time form a cross-dressing cabaret group. "It's about immigration, Israel, religion, sexuality – and it's got music!" she says, making it sound like a Jewish-Filipino Full Monty.
The trick will be to attract new audiences that better reflect the local community, the most diverse in London, without losing the old predominantly white, professional one. She reckons that if she can engage the myriad cultures that swirl around the Kilburn High Road, then by definition the work she is putting on has more than local significance. "I'm interested in looking at the world through different lenses," she says, "and if I'm speaking locally, I'm speaking internationally."
How hard is it to follow someone who did the job for so long? "It's very daunting," she admits. "Tricycle and Nic Kent are symbiotic, and there aren't many theatres like that." Some have suggested that he will still try to pull the strings from afar, but Rubasingham is sure he will let go. She has no plans to carry on the tradition of tribunal plays – the starry daily drama of Leveson suggests they would in any case find it hard to compete with the real thing.
Rubasingham was born in Sheffield to parents who had migrated from Sri Lanka – her father was a doctor and she was heading in the same direction until a stint doing work experience at Nottingham Playhouse as a 16-year-old – but she doesn't want to be characterised as one of that rare breed, "Asian women in the theatre". "I'm wary of reductiveness," she says. "I've done Asian plays, black plays, white plays. My passion is new writing." Some have suggested the fact she is female and of Asian origin made her the perfect candidate for the Tricycle. Does that rankle? "People can say what they want," she says. "It was my artistic vision that got me the job."
She is the latest in a string of women to secure prominent artistic directorships, following Vicky Featherstone at the Royal Court and Josie Rourke at the Donmar. Why this sudden trend? "I don't think there's any conscious decision to appoint lots of women artistic directors," she says. "I just think there's a lot of talent out there." Will they bring a different perspective? "It's really hard to answer that," she says, betraying a hint of exasperation. "It would be like me asking you what do white male journalists bring? To try to say the three of us have something in common because of our gender is ridiculous."
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Lidl to be the next supermarket giant? - money.aol.co.uk
Is Lidl the next power brand? According to a new survey the cheap-and-cheerful German retailer has more potential than any other high street name to hike its brand popularity. Comparisons with other once-derided brand names - Skoda, for example - are being made. So, is Lidl the new Skoda (as it were)? And what other brands are on the up?
No Lidl achievement?
The research, carried out by YouGov, took responses from 2,000 UK consumers that gave their view on 50 potential super-brands. And the no-frills supermarket came out top with a 27% share of the vote (full list below). Some turnaround from 2004 when Lidl found itself in the top ten loathed brands, just behind QVC and Pot Noodle. So, has the recession removed the stigma of shopping at stores that were once a by-word for low-rent cheapness?
"Shoppers are becoming more comfortable with the idea of a supermarket which sells simply good value produce rather than an ideal or a lifestyle," said Scott Wilkinson from advertising agency Bordello that organised the survey.
Czeching it out
"The word Lidl," he goes on, "may be still met with a snigger but with a rapidly growing market share and a strong business model, come 2015 – much like Skoda – it won't be a laughing matter."Other fast-growing brands include breakfast and snack operator Rude Health and bespoke tailoring company, A Suit That Fits, a company that claims to makes bespoke tailoring affordable. The black cap taxi app, Hailo, also did well.
However, surveys like these only offer a snapshot. Behind Lidl, be advised, at number two, sits Prince Harry. Advertising agency Bordello claims the reason why the prince sits between a cheap German supermarket and a taxi app is because "he has the human touch and it seems the public are now poised for the year of Prince Harry."
In case you didn't know.
Brands with the most potential for growth
More stories
Source: money.aol.co.uk
Mothers now prefer handing over smartphones rather than dummies to comfort crying babies - Daily Mail
- Ten per cent of these allow toddlers to play on phones for up to two hours
- Scottish mothers most likely to entertain babies with smartphones
- Only nine per cent of babies are given dummies by their parents
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When faced with a troublesome child, parents have traditionally turned to a toy or a dummy for help in restoring the peace.
But, in a sign of the times, they are increasingly reaching for a rather more high-tech solution . . . a smartphone.
More than one in four mothers admits to handing over a phone to a crying or bored tot when they need entertaining, research has found.
Smarty-pants: smart mums give restless babies smartphone apps to play with
And it is more common than shoving a dummy in their mouth or giving them a soft toy or even a bottle in these high tech times.
A range of apps for youngsters, including games, puzzles and educational programmes, means smartphones are now a parent’s best friend, said Asda.
The study found 27 per cent of mothers give their phones to their children to keep them entertained.
And although 40 per cent of these restrict playtime to no longer than ten minutes, 10 per cent admitted leaving their children to play with their mobile for anything up to two hours.
High-tech tots: Babies are shunning more traditional toys in favour of smartphone apps
The poll of 1,650 mums found 25 per cent stick to a bottle of milk or other drink as the main way of keeping their child entertained.
One in five (21 per cent) resort to a favourite soft toy and only nine per cent use a dummy as a pacifier.
Mother of two Louise Pearson of Bishop’s Stortford, Herts, said: 'My phone is the boys’ favourite toy, sometimes the only way to keep them quiet is to hand it over.
'I have a range of apps on it for them to play with from puzzles and games to educational programmes.'
Mothers in Scotland are most likely to use their smartphone as a child’s pacifier - 40 per cent of mums north of the border do it, said Asda.
David Fletcher, Asda’s mobile phone expert said: 'No longer are mobile phones just a device for keeping in touch.
'To see them also used as an "electronic pacifier" is no surprise with the large variety of games and entertainment now available to download for children.'
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Sainsbury, Asda, Aldi, Lidl Get Jubilee Sales Boost - NASDAQ
By Ian Walker
LONDON--J Sainsbury PLC (SBRY.LN), Asda and discount retailers Aldi and Lidl were the clear winners in the market share war during the 12 weeks ended June 10, which includes the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, as Britons spent an extra 213 million pounds ($334.0 million) at the tills in the week building up to the long celebratory weekend.
However, market shares fell for the former retail sector darling, Tesco PLC (TSCO.LN), and Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC (MRW.LN). In the 12 weeks ended June 10, Tesco's market share fell to 31%, from 31.4% in the 12 weeks ended June 12, 2011, while Morrison's share fell to 11.8%, from 12.2%.
J Sainsbury PLC's (SBRY.LN) market share rose to 16.6% in the 12 weeks, from 16.4%. Asda, a subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), saw its U.K. market share rise to 17.2%, from 16.6% in the comparable period a year earlier. Including Netto, which it bought in April last year, Asda's total market share was unchanged at 17.2%.
Upmarket retailer Waitrose also saw its market share rise to 4.6% in the 12 weeks ended June 10, from 4.4%, while discount retailers Aldi and Lidl's joint market share rose to 5.6%, from 4.9%. Separately, Aldi's share rose to 2.8% from 2.3% and Lidl's share rose to 2.8%, from 2.6%.
Edward Garner, director at Kantar Worldpanel, said the remarkable growth rate recorded over the Jubilee is a sign of what's to come during the Olympics when he expects grocery sales to soar.
"Competition is likely to be fierce with fortunes now considerably different among the big four," Mr. Garner added.
Sainsbury's and Asda's share rise was due to their successful price promotions--Asda with its Price Guarantee and Sainsbury's with its Brand Match, Mr. Garner said.
Earlier this year, Tesco issued its first profit warning in 20 years, citing the most difficult conditions for retailers in living memory. Since that time, however, the retailer has instigated a new round of price cuts and announced a GBP1 billion revamp of its stores.
Write to Ian Walker at ian.walker@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires 06-19-120659ET Copyright (c) 2012 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Source: www.nasdaq.com
Eight international wine awards for Lidl's own brand - Business and Leadership
Eight international wine awards for Lidl own brand
Lidl has scooped a total of eight awards for its own brand wines at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC).
The discount German-based retailer won one ‘Outstanding Silver’, three ‘Silvers’ and four ‘Bronze’.
Lidl’s Comte de Brismand Champagne Brut NV took the Outstanding Silver award. Priced at €17.99, it was judged to be: “gold with tiny pearl bubbles. Pungent nose of pie crust, toast and dried apples. Full creamy mousse balanced with zesty acidity and flavours of lemons and nougat. Vinous and expressive with a long finish.”
Aoife Clarke, spokesperson for Lidl, said winning these awards was a “huge endorsement” of the work that has gone into producing its own brand ranges. The winning wines start from €3.99.
The IWSC is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world's best wines, spirits and liqueurs and the awards given by the competition are considered to be some of the highest honours in the industry.
Sorcha Corcoran 
Source: www.businessandleadership.com
Kent And Jill Easter, California Couple, Accused Of Planting Drugs In Parent Volunteer's Car - Huffington Post
IRVINE, Calif. — A California couple was charged Tuesday with felony conspiracy and false imprisonment for allegedly planting drugs in the car of an elementary school parent volunteer they disliked because they felt she didn't properly supervise their son, prosecutors said.
Kent Easter, 38, of Irvine, planted prescription painkillers, marijuana and a marijuana pipe in the woman's car and then called police to say he had seen her hide the drugs in her car, according to the district attorney's office. Easter was in constant contact with his wife, Jill, by cellphone and text message as he did so, prosecutors said.
Investigators interviewed the school volunteer for two hours but turned their attention to the Easters when they realized the woman was in class at the time Kent Easter accused her of hiding drugs in her car, authorities said. She also vigorously denied knowledge of the drugs.
A video surveillance camera captured Kent Easter calling Irvine police from a business center in a hotel near his legal office, prosecutors said.
Kent Easter did not return a phone message seeking comment Tuesday.
The couple will be arraigned July 17.
If convicted on all charges, they would face a maximum of three years in prison.
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
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