What the Sunday papers say - May 20

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Sunday TimesFarmers and hauliers plan to target Tony Blair in new demonstrations against the threat to country sports and the cost of fuel duty. Fuel...

Sunday Times

Farmers and hauliers plan to target Tony Blair in new demonstrations against the threat to country sports and the cost of fuel duty. Fuel protesters said that they turned away from oil depots early on Saturday at Stanlow in Cheshire, the flashpoint for last year's national oil blockade, and at Jarrow, near Sunderland, after arriving to find police with riot gear. Members of both the Countryside Alliance and the People's Fuel Lobby, who organised last week's Rhyl protest, are planning protests against Blair on a visit to the marginal seat of Ruthven in Wales this week. The Farmers For Action group said it was planning a new wave of blockades of oil establishments to make the high price of fuel duty a bigger election issue.

Investors in SFI Group should resist the temptation to take profits after its shares rocketed from 185p to 285 ½p. After last week's buyout of the group's tableside dancing arm, institutions put off by such activities are expected to take a look now. Buy the shares.

Investors in Luminar are recommended to sell their shares. The price has risen steadily from 622 1/2 p last December to a peak of 932 1/2 p. But judging from the recent share sale by Stephen Thomas, the group's founder and chief executive, it could be time for investors to take profits as well. Thomas sold 200,000 shares - nearly half his holding - at 910p last Monday, raising £1.82m. The shares have since fallen to 905p. He says he wanted the cash to buy a London house.

The Profit Track 100, which ranks Britain's fastest-growing unquoted companies by their profit growth, places Halewood International at 48 and The Beer Seller at 80.

Sunday Business

Bass' interim profits are expected to be flat when it announces its results on Thursday. Disposals of pubs and breweries have been achieved at respectable prices, but it has failed to lift shares. In its acquisitions programme, it has either overpaid, such as Intercontinental Hotels, or gone for something "boring", such as Posthouse. Reportedly it is set to buy Wyndham Hotels, which could give it the critical mass to demerge its pubs business.

Rank Group needs a deal to drive growth in its core gambling and entertainment operations. William Hill or Coral look like the best bets.

Sunday Telegraph

ITV Digital will this week unveil plans to take on Sky in the country's pubs with a new live football service. It aims to undercut Sky's prices by 40 to 50 per cent. The package will include 40 pay-per-view Premiership football matches plus ITV's existing European Champions League coverage.

Observer

Louie Salvoni, who popularised cappuccino and espresso culture 20 years ago when he worked for the Granada catering group and independent coffee houses, says coffee shop customers are "paying through the nose" for drinks that are often so badly made they are "a disgrace". He surveyed all the major high street coffee houses earlier this month and found that while the average cup costs 10p to make, customers pay up to £2. Inexperienced and poorly trained staff often did not know the difference between lattes and cappuccinos and ended up serving "warm milky drinks with a shot of caffeine and bit of froth on top".

The Mail on Sunday

Barracuda Group has entered the bidding for Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries' 33-strong Pitcher & Piano chain. It is up against six other bidders, who are thought to include SFI Group and Regent Inns. Indicative bids for the chain had to be in on Friday May 18.

After Luminar's shares rose, chief executive Stephen Thomas sold 200,000 shares on Monday for £1.8m. The following day he called time on 25,000 share options, paying 371p a share. Thomas sold them at 910p, making a £134,875 profit. Finance director Andrew Burns exercised an option, selling shares worth £637,000.

Sunday Express

Rank Group's refocusing after selling parts of its empire, including its clubs, is paying off. The prospect of gaming deregulation this summer should provide a major boost for its gambling business. Its shares are recommended as a buy at 214p.

Independent on Sunday

No industry-related stories.

Scotland on Sunday

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