Archive of all Wholesalers articles – Page 127

  • News

    Londis warms to Musgrave

    2004-03-15T00:00:00Z

    Musgrave is emerging as the frontrunner in the bidding war for Londis, according to exclusive research conducted by The Grocer.Our telephone poll of Londis retailers revealed Musgrave was edging ahead as the preferred bidder with 34% of the...

  • News

    We must keep our position of strength

    2004-03-13T00:00:00Z

    from Shamus Lehel, Wootton Post Office, Londis, BedsSir; Now that even the new independent directors appointed by KPMG have reached the conclusion that Londis should be sold, we should all get geared up behind our company and push for...

  • News

    Londis put up for sale

    2004-03-04T00:00:00Z

    The Londis board has recommended that the symbol group be put up for sale three months after Irish food group Musgrave’s controversial £40m offer sparked a bidding frenzy for the convenience chain.Londis said that following a strategic...

  • News

    Londis decision imminent

    2004-02-28T00:00:00Z

    The conflict over the future of Londis will reach a decisive stage this weekend.As The Grocer went to press, a report recommending the future strategy for Londis was about to be delivered to directors of the symbol group.The board will...

  • News

    Londis bidding war opens

    2004-02-28T00:00:00Z

    The bidding war for Londis has begun in earnest after the symbol group’s board unanimously decided that selling out to a bigger player was the best way to safeguard the future of its retailers.Big Food Group, Musgrave, Somerfield, the ...

  • News

    Horgan is new MD of SuperValu Centra

    2004-02-21T00:00:00Z

    Donal Horgan is to replace Michael Nason as the MD of Musgrave Group’s franchised c-store division Musgrave SuperValu Centra.Horgan moves from Musgrave Group, where he has been head of logistics for the last three years. He has been overseeing...

  • News

    Costcutter £30K spurned by stores

    2004-02-21T00:00:00Z

    Londis retailers have reacted angrily to a Costcutter letter offering them up to £30,000 to transfer to the symbol group.The letter was sent to the 1,200 largest Londis members and offered them £30,000 in three instalments for signing a...

  • News

    Costcutter woos Londis retailers

    2004-02-16T00:00:00Z

    Costcutter are trying to woo Londis shopkeepers with a £30,000 incentive to join the York-based symbol group.In a personal letter from Costcutter chairman and managing director, Colin Graves, Londis retailers are being offered £10,000 after...

  • News

    Londis would do well to join Nisa

    2004-02-14T00:00:00Z

    from Ashwin Dave, Vikas Buying Group, Bromley, Kentfrom Alastair Smyth, Limavady, Northern IrelandSir; re Londis chief executive Graham White’s allegation in a national newspaper that Londis does not have a future as...

  • News

    Nisa-Today’s suggests mutual Londis merger

    2004-02-07T00:00:00Z

    Nisa-Today’s has finally put its cards on the table and proposed a merger with Londis that would retain its mutual status and generate substantial savings for members through synergies in buying and logistics.The move follows a Londis...

  • News

    Londis is worth far more than £40m

    2004-02-07T00:00:00Z

    from Shamus Lehal, Wootton PO Londis, Wootton, BedsSir; In light of the recent offer to buy out Adminstore by Tesco for a reported £53.7m for 45 or so mainly leasehold stores, I think £40m is far too light a price to be selling Londis...

  • News

    New board at Londis

    2004-01-31T00:00:00Z

    Five new non-executive directors have been appointed to the board at Londis following criticism that existing board members have not acted in the best interests of retailers.Four of the appointments – Rick Bailey, Rodney Braxton, Mike Howe and...

  • News

    C-store chiefs fight deal

    2004-01-24T00:00:00Z

    C-store bosses have called on the OFT to prevent Tesco from marching unopposed into the convenience sector.Musgrave UK executive chairman Eoin McGettigan, Spar UK MD Jerry Marwood and Big Food Group CEO Bill Grimsey said they would be sounding...

  • News

    Budgens spring cleans

    2004-01-24T00:00:00Z

    Budgens has embarked on a radical brand rationalisation exercise to make its range more manageable.The spring-cleaning exercise, announced at the chain’s supplier conference in October, was not purely about tackling logistical problems, but...

  • News

    Shareholders to talk options with KPMG

    2004-01-17T00:00:00Z

    Londis shareholders will have the opportunity to discuss their options with the company’s advisors KPMG at a series of regional meetings this month.The meetings, to be held at Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester, will not be...

  • News

    Who wants a share?

    2004-01-10T00:00:00Z

    John Wood outlines the options that lie ahead for LondisThe Londis board appear to have dampened down some of the fury of their shareholders/retailers by appointing consultant KPMG Corporate Finance to conduct a strategic review. But...

  • News

    Payouts spark rebellion

    2003-12-20T00:00:00Z

    Londis retailers look set to reject Musgrave’s offer for the group, because of their anger over massive payouts it will trigger for four Londis directors.A telephone poll for The Grocer of 190 Londis retailers (10% of the entire membership)...

  • News

    Grimsey puts his offer in

    2003-12-20T00:00:00Z

    A bidding war for Londis loomed as The Grocer went to press, with Big Food Group entering the fray and Nisa-Today’s considering its options. Big Food Group, which has sent out a letter to Londis shareholders urging them to reject Musgrave’s...

  • News

    Retailers need a say in their future

    2003-12-20T00:00:00Z

    from Bernard Warren, retail vice-chairman, Spar National Guild and Spar retailer, Wool, DorsetSir; Re your story and feature last week about Musgrave’s bid for Londis. Londis has long been one of Spar’s competitors in the...

  • News

    Seeking a fair deal for shareholders

    2003-12-20T00:00:00Z

    from Adrian Costain, Londis Shareholders’ Action GroupSir; I write to explain how the Londis Shareholders’ Action Group (LSAG) came to be. We hope this will help to ensure that in future the standards of corporate governance in the...