Ryanair Benefit from Fuel Costs

The airline company Ryanair has mentioned it is making more money than expected this year. Due to a 40% decrease in fuel bills the airline company has already reduced its winter losses from nearly £19M in the previous year to just under £10M this year round.

Besides the reduced expenditure they also say they have had a large number of passengers this season, around 16 million between October and December.

Source: Working Lunch, BBC. (01-02-2010)

Ryanair Benefit from Fuel Costs

Coal Mining Company Losing Money

The UK's biggest coal mining company, UK Coal, is losing considerable amounts of money.

They have been losing for a number of years but this last year has seen 7 times more loss than those at £115M. The company expects to lose even more this coming year still.

This has all led to a fall in coal production and therefore coal prices have become lower.

Coal Mining Company Losing Money

Windows 7 'Thrilling' Sales

The computer software company, Microsoft, has seen a huge boost in sales. It's profits have increased 60% to amount over £4B.

Microsoft attributes such a high rise to its new Operating System Windows 7, saying there was such a large demand for the product. It was described by one the executives as 'thrilling'.

Windows 7 'Thrilling' Sales

Papa John's UK

Papa John's is an American pizza take-away with a market in Britain. They currently have 142 stores throughout the UK and have plans to open 40 more in 2010. They have seen a rise in sales for more than four years and saw a particular increase in the last winter.

The rise may owe partly to the recession as many preferred eating at home rather than going out to restaurants. Papa John's have also benefited from their new online order system where people may order even up to 14 days in advance. Thirty percent of their orders come online.

The company is one that looks for people franchising and in the last year has had around 1'200 applications. Their Managing Director Ian Saunders promises the franchisees great support before, during and after and recommends this course for those who would not want to risk running their own entrepreneurial venture in these economic times but would still like to run a business.

Source: Working Lunch, BBC. (27-01-2010)

Papa John's UK

New Balance Sports Shoes

New Balance is an American owned company with a factory in Fimbly in Cumbria. They are the last factory mass manufacturing trainers and other sports shoes in the UK and are well ahead of their competition in the Far East. Some of their items are even exported to those areas.

The factory was built just less than 30 years ago, and after other shoe making companies in the area closed down, New Balance had many skilled workers available. Up to now some of those who worked there from the start remain and work along side new younger recruits.

Surviving the Cumbrian floods as well the recession the company plans on following up its success by trebling productions from last year taking sales from £1M to £3M.

Source: Working Lunch, BBC. (27-01-2010)

New Balance Sports Shoes

Halfords Incorporate New Techniques

Starting as a small hardware store in 1892, Halfords has now become a huge business having 370 superstores and an online presence. The company works in two main areas, car maintenance products and bicycles.

After first only selling car maintenance products, the company now also fits the parts for its customers, changing the company from a retailer to a service provider. In the last few months they have spent on training their workers for the tasks involved in the service and have also scheduled extra workers for the busiest times.

As for their bike sales, according to their Chief Executive David Wild, this area is a major one for income and is doing better each year. The business does well in offering an extended range of childrens' bikes and also has a focus on premium bikes.

Halfords now sell their products online. There were fears initially that an online option would impede customers coming into stores. After implementing it however they have learnt that around 80% of online customers still come in to stores. With a reserve and collect service, where the online user can choose a product and check which stores it is available in, shopping in store is actually becoming more attractive.

The online presence also brings new customers who otherwise would not shop at Halfords, but now do after seeing the company's offers online.

Source: Working Lunch, BBC. (21-01-2010)

Halfords Incorporate New Techniques

Vauxhall / Opel Cutting Production

The UK car manufacturer Vauxhall with its European counterpart Opel are aiming to cut their car production by around one fifth following a long term fall in sales.

Vauxhall currently has 2 production plants including one in Luton. They have hinted to cutting 350 jobs in that particular plant. Meanwhile Opel are to close their plant at Antwerp in Belgium.

Source: Working Lunch, BBC. (21-01-2010)

Vauxhall / Opel Cutting Production

John Smedley Coping in the Recession

The family owned knitwear company, famed for its quality and price, are now celebrating their their 225th anniversary. The company makes around £15M a year on jumpers, cardigans and twinsets.

Andrew Caughey is John Smedley's Managing Director. He says that during the recession sales for the company have remained stable. The reason, according to him, is that in a downturn consumers are often willing to forego cheaper and lesser quality products for those which are more lasting.

Only a third of John Smedley's sales are in the UK, and it turns out that the Kingdom held strong for the business recently due to its weakening sterling which has attracted tourists to buy more.

Source: Working Lunch, BBC.

John Smedley Coping in the Recession

Cadburys and Kraft

The chocolate making company Cadbury have been approached by a number of companies for a possible takeover and have thereafter raised their forecast for sales and profitability.

Recently, Kraft, the American food giant, gave a hostile bid of £10bn which Cadbury have disagreed with. They say that Krafts existing offer considerably undervalues Cadbury.

Since the approach from Kraft, Cadburys share prices have rocketed up significantly.

Cadburys and Kraft