Malcolm Walker news, comment and analysis – Page 15
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The likeliest of bedfellows
Corporate takeover activity is often fuelled by synergies between former executives and finance vehicles. Glynn Davis looks at the names that are set to pounceFebrile speculation over the future of the legacy retailers Marks and...
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Cooltrader acquires Poundfreeze
Cooltrader, the freezer chain set up by former Iceland boss Malcolm Walker, has almost doubled its store base with the acquisition of West Midlands chain Poundfreeze.The eight-store deal boosts Cooltrader’s estate to 20 stores, said buying...
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Cooltrader acquires Poundfreeze
Cooltrader, the freezer chain set up by former Iceland boss Malcolm Walker, has almost doubled its store base with the acquisition of West Midlands chain Poundfreeze.The eight-store deal boosts Cooltrader’s estate to 20 stores, said buying...
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Baugur’s big mystery
Big Food Group might be happy to recommend a 110p a share takeover from Icelandic group, Baugur. But would it be so amenable if the offer were lowered to 90p?Last week the group, which owns Iceland, confirmed that it had opened its books to...
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Hungry for sales growth
Sean McAllister reports on developments at five small but sharp companies we identified as rising stars in FebruaryThe first time we reported on The Grocer’s five Ones To Watch (The Grocer, February 21, 2004), we said if you’re not...
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Cooltrader gets funds to grow
Frozen food discounter Cooltrader has completed a deal with private equity house Gresham to finance a fast-track expansion of the business.Cooltrader has a dozen freezer centres around Manchester, Liverpool and North Wales after opening its...
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Start-up that iceland failed to defeat
from Malcolm Walker, Cooltrader, by e-mailSir; So Bill Grimsey is accusing Tesco of trying to drive smaller local players out of business (The Grocer, May 15, p6).Could this be the same Bill Grimsey who tried very hard to see off...
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Sexy stuff going places
Sean McAllister identifies five retailers showing a resourcefulness that could make them tomorrow’s stars of groceryCompared to the multiples these companies are minute. Even compared to many in The Grocer’s Top 50 independent...
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Cool Trader expansion
Cooltrader, the frozen food chain set up by former Iceland boss Malcolm Walker, has opened its eighth store in Manchester.Buying director Andy Errington said the company – set up by Walker in July 2001 – was stepping up its store opening...
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Baugur’s big mystery
The BFG takeover strategy is hard to fathom, says Elaine WatsonBig Food Group might be happy to recommend a 110p a share takeover from Icelandic group, Baugur. But would it be so amenable if the offer were lowered to 90p?Last...
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Press round-up
Somerfield will revalue its 1,300-store property portfolio in its full-year results in July, in an attempt to justify its rejection of a 120p-a-share bid approach from entrepreneurs John Lovering and Bob Mackenzie.The Daily Telegraph said that...
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Press round-up
Sainsbury is to recruit an extra 10,000 staff in a drive to cut supermarket checkout queues. Retail director Adam Fowle told the Mail on Sunday that research among people who shop at different supermarkets showed “that we are still a long way...
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Single shop as Nature shrinks
Elaine Watson Organics chain As Nature Intended, the brainchild of former Iceland boss Malcolm Walker, has imploded with the sale of the East Sheen store and the closure of the warehouse in Acton. As Nature Intended MD Pippa Sterry has left...
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Another step too far?
A sudden flurry of activity from food retailers with big plans for their online businesses is a good reminder that Tesco's rivals have not given up the fight just yet. And leading the charge this week is Iceland.co.uk with an interesting plan to...
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n Iceland's boss says he knows what his customers want, and
Are they doing a deal or are they doing a deal? Iceland customers don't seem to think so and have turned their backs on the chain and its new EDLP strategy. Following last week's dismal trading statement, Iceland's been forced to restore its bogof...
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Bogof's week
The cast seems to change every year, but the Booker Prize for Excellence 2001 at the Park Lane Hilton was the usual glittering affair. Instead of Stuart Rose (Malcolm Walker didn't even hang around long enough to make one appearance) Bill Grimsey...
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Bogof's week
One of my colleagues was chatting this week with new Booker boss Malcolm Walker who has been busy meeting customers this week among them Baz Patel who runs a store in Luton. But it seems Walker was as impressed with Patel's big, posh car as he...
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Bogof's week
I'm going to start this week with a bit of a rant and why not, it's my column. Why is it that the switchboards of so many big companies (mostly American owned companies, it has to be said) are refusing to give out job titles, confirm name...
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Bogof's week
I have always had a soft spot for former Iceland boss Malcolm Walker and his shoot-from-the-hip style of management. Even when he was being a bit well, how can I put this? economical with the truth. No, I am not talking here about share dealing...
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Code comfort for the few
n For key players in the British grocery industry, 2001 could be dubbed the year of recovery. Tesco remained firmly at the top, but Sainsbury started to show real signs of renaissance and Iceland and Somerfield started to pull round. The toothless'...