Private Equity Independency?
Despite the fact that City opinion indicates that the private equity boom is ‘somewhere near its top’, it is likely that the effect of...
Private Equity Investment – a New ‘Deriver’ in Retail?
Given the current rate of change of ownership in the retail market, one might be forgiven for assuming that buying and selling retailers has...
Globalising A.S. Watson – the Alliance Boots catalyst?
With the acceptance of the KKR-Pessina bid for Alliance Boots, and the relative lack of property sell-off options, it is probable that the takeover...
Going For Broke With Tesco?
Given Tesco’s rate of growth and level of expertise, and accounting for upwards of 30% of a supplier’s business, many companies are faced with...
Large Customers’ Impact Upon Suppliers, a Reality-check…
The Competition Commission’s Emerging Thinking document covers much useful ground which has since been assessed elsewhere. As always, apart from the main objectives of...
Pricing Discussions – How Far Can You Go?
UK and EC Competition Laws prohibit anti-competitive agreements or practices. They were introduced to ensure healthy competition between companies, as this should both promote...
Standing up to the Reality of Retail…
Survival for suppliers in the current retail climate means being able to understand the realities of the retail business model and insisting upon a...
KAM – the New Centre of Gravity?
With the growth in trade funding from 5% to 20% of sales to the trade, possibly at a cost to above-the-line budgets in a...
Audit-proofing Trade Funding….
With the development of Post-Audit-Recovery (PAR), coupled with the growth in trade funding to over 20% of sales to the customer, it is important...
‘Unlike-with-like’ Competition in Blind-eye Sourcing….
In their relentless quest for lower prices, retailers are correctly including global sourcing in their buying repertoire. Buyers are obliged to seek the best...
