 |
Arena Magazine 2006 Issue 1 January February |
 |
Company news in brief
Company news in brief.
Pension fund deficits at Britain's 350 biggest companies rose by 25 per cent to £93 billion last year, according to a new report.
Despite gains in the stock market, increasing life expectancy and falls in profits from other investments wiped out share price rises.
Swedish flat-pack furniture company Ikea has announced an ambitious three-year expansion programme which could create 10,000 jobs.
Ikea intends to open ten city-based stores as part of a £1 billion investment programme marking a significant shift in its previous out-of-town focus.
Thresher's has provided a jobs lifeline for around 1,200 staff from collapsed off-licence chain Unwins after it bought 200 of the company's stores.
Unwins went into receivership just before Christmas last year, and had 381 shops employing 1,800 workers. The remaining 181 stores are up for sale.
Morrisons and Sainsbury's reported better than expected Christmas trading results piling further pressure on Wal-Mart owned Asda.
Sainsbury's reported accelerating sales for the fourth quarter running while Morrisons' problems following its takeover of Safeway appear to have eased with increased sales.
 Printer Friendly Page  Email to a Friend
|
