Alec Mattinson
Alec leads The Grocer’s expanding coverage of all things finance-related. Follow Alec on Twitter: @AlecMattinson
Contact info
- Tel:
- 01293 610512
- Email:
- alec.mattinson@thegrocer.co.uk
NewsCity snapshot: Lockdown and writedowns halve Diageo’s annual profits
Annual profits at global spirits giant Diageo have almost halved amid write-downs of £1.4bn and an 8.4% slump in sales due to closure of pubs and restaurant, the cancellation of sporting events and a plunge in travel retail.
- News
Media Bites 3 Aug: Amazon, John Lewis/Waitrose, Byron Burger
Amazon has struck deals to open more than 10 Amazon Go convenience stores and is holding talks on about another 20
- News
OC&C Global 50 shows the fmcg giants in good health
The world’s 50 biggest fmcg companies continued their resurgence before lockdown hit, posting their highest levels of organic growth since 2015
- Analysis & Features
OC&C Global 50: the five top performing fmcg companies of 2019
The OC&C Global 50 enjoyed their best overall performance in five years – within this group the report has picked out four ‘performance champions’ that drove particularly stellar growth last year
- News
Lily’s Kitchen revenues near £40m amid exports surge
Premium petfood brand Lily’s Kitchen saw revenues jump to near £40m ahead of its acquisition by Nestlé on soaring export sales and strong growth in its home market.
- News
Insect-based petfood maker Aardvark smashing fundraising target
A startup producer of insect protein petfood has smashed its launch fundraising target as it prepares to make its first products.
- Analysis & Features
OC&C Global 50 report 2020: ready for the storm
The biggest fmcg players were in great shape heading into the coronavirus. And many are ideally positioned to thrive in the ‘new normal’
- News
City snapshot: Lockdown hits first half performance at Kerry Group
Revenues and profits were hit at Kerry Group in the first half of the year as the global closure of foodservice businesses hit its business in the second quarter. Plus, half year results from AB InBev, Pets at Home sales slow and all the rest of the latest news from the City.
- News
Media Bites 31 July: John Lewis Partnership, Amazon, Nestlé
Turning unwanted John Lewis and Waitrose shops into homes, launching a gardening business and striking new partnerships are some of the ideas to save the retail group
- News
City snapshot: Lockdown stockpiling boosts Nestlé’s first half sales
Panic buying in March has helped Nestlé to a stronger-than-expected start to the year as consumers turned to trusted brands during the coronavirus outbreak. Plus, on the busy morning, updates from AB InBev, Danone, Compass Group, Casino and all the rest of the latest news from the City.
- News
Media Bites 30 July: Pizza Hut, Majestic Wine, Aldi
Pizza Hut has become the latest restaurant chain to put a financial restructuring on the menu by hiring advisers to explore the possibility of an insolvency agreement that could entail significant job losses
- News
City snapshot: Premier Foods sales surge 22.5% in first quarter
Premier Foods has posted a 22.5% surge in first quarter sales driven by consumers flocking to its brands during the coronavirus lockdown period. Plus, food inflation holds steady at 1.5% and all the rest of the latest news from the City.
- News
City snapshot: Reckitt brands clean up amid coronavirus demand spike
Sales and profits have soared at Reckitt Benckiser in the first half as hygiene-conscious consumers flocked to buy its disinfectant brands during the Covid-19 outbreak. Plus, on a busy morning trading updates from Greencore, AG Barr, Greggs and B&M and all the rest of the latest news from the City.
- News
Media Bites 28 July: Amazon, Walgreens Boots, Online sales tax
Amazon is to offer free grocery delivery to millions of customers in a massive expansion of the company’s Fresh food network, throwing down the gauntlet to traditional supermarkets
- News
Food and drink deals decline but activity still ‘surprisingly high’
UK food and drink dealmaking slumped in the second quarter, but the sector continued to see a “surprisingly high” level of activity given the economic disruption caused by the lockdown.
- News
Unilever sales resilience shows ‘true strength’ says Alan Jope
The first half showed “the true strength of Unilever” according to its CEO Alan Jope, as a surge in eating at home propelled the consumer giant above market expectations.
- News
City snapshot: Supermarket Income REIT buys £61m Tesco store
Grocery property investor Supermarket Income REIT has bought a £61m Tesco superstore and agreed a new £60m lending facility to support future acqusitions.
- News
Media Bites 27 July: Anti-obesity measures, UK economy, Walmart/Asda
Food manufacturers have attacked Boris Johnson’s proposed anti-obesity measures, arguing a key plank of reforms set to be unveiled next week will prove expensive, ineffective and stifle innovation.
- News
Retail sales bounce back to pre-lockdown levels
UK retail sales grew 13.9% in June compared to the previous month, with sales now back up to pre-lockdown levels driven by strong food sales growth.
- News
Media Bites 24 July: Unilever, Junk food ads, Face masks
Unilever has become the most valuable company on the FTSE 100 after a better than expected trading update sent shares in the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods group soaring.
