The controversial retail tycoon who saved Next (NXT) from collapse in the late 1980s has died aged 76. Sir David Jones, who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease, is credited with rescuing the firm as it teetered on the brink of disaster and rebuilding it into one of the UK’s most successful high street businesses. He joined the fashion chain in 1986 when it bought home shopping catalogue business Grattan. Two years later Sir David became chief executive after a boardroom coup, when Next’s founder George Davies was ousted. When he arrived, Next was worth a meagre £25m, but after nearly 20 years at its helm as chief executive and chairman, the retailer’s market capitalisation rocketed.
Costa and Greggs (GRG) are eyeing bumper vegan sales with meat-free toasties and bakes as part of their menus for the New Year. Coffee chain Costa will launch a vegan ham and cheese toastie as part of its largest vegan menu. Greggs, the baker, is expected to offer a meat-free version of its steak bake following the success of a vegan sausage roll it launched in January 2019. Its meat-free steak bake uses Quorn as a substitute. Tyneside-based Greggs caused a buzz last New Year when it rolled out the meatless roll. The vegan alternative to its regular breakfast snacks proved a hit.
Questor: the Saudi factor has held BAE Systems (BA.) back but is becoming less significant – time to buy. Questor share tip: the defence company’s drive to sell more to countries such as Australia is reducing its dependence on riskier markets
