Edrington chief flags downturn in many markets (The Herald)
Ian Curle, chief executive of Famous Grouse and Macallan distiller Edrington, said yesterday he was "generally cautious" about the eco- nomic outlook and highlighted the prospect of "a sustained downturn, not just in the UK but in many global markets".
It's time to buy British: Huma Qureshi goes in search of top UK brands (Guardian Unlimited)
Shoppers, your country needs you. The credit crunch may be continuing to swallow up the high street, with another two major names, MFI and Woolworths, going into administration - but there is apparently one way to help: by going shopping. From tomorrow until the end of next year, VAT will be cut from 17.5 per cent to 15 per cent. The government hopes that will encourage consumers to go out ...
Saturday Interview: (The Herald)
As Scottish Water staff walked out on a 24-hour strike on Thursday, chief executive Richard Ackroyd was regretful but unperturbed.
Big Blogger 2008: vote for the week four winner (Guardian Unlimited)
Yes, you read that right. Six. Such was the quality of the 122 blogs we recieved this week that we've doubled the shortlist. In truth, we could have upped it to a dozen or more. For after one or two standouts, there was a very healthy batch of uniformly good and varied blogs just behind. In the end, though, we thought reading 8,400 words in one stretch would be too much, so six it had to be. ...
Italian craft fair: 10 days to shop the world (Reuters via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News)
L'Artigiano in Fiera, the 10 day crafts fair that opens Saturday, might not ooze the snow-globe charm of other European Christmas markets, but hey, nobody does shopping like Milan.
The Herald : Business: MAIN BUSINESS (The Herald)
The administrator of high street retailer Woolworths claimed it had already received expressions of interest in its businesses. The company formally confirmed yesterday morning that it was going into administration.
Park will be field leader (Newham Recorder)
WITH sweeping lawns, riverside cafes and markets, cycle-ways and festival-atmosphere, Stratford's Olympic Park will celebrate centuries of British design know-how to create an eco-friendly attraction for the 21st Century.
Italian craft fair: 10 days to shop the world (Reuters)
By Barbara Cornell MILAN (Reuters Life!) - It's like Italy's version of Santa's workshop.
The One Millionth Fiat Grande Punto Produced (carpages)
The one millionth Fiat Grande Punto has just rolled off the production line at Fiat's factory in Melfi, Italy.
Deutsche Bahn refuses to slow down (Guardian Unlimited)
"More Germans believe the banks should be nationalised than Deutsche Bahn should be privatised," admitted Alexander Hedderich, head of DB's corporate development, as pouring rain darkened the depressed mood in the federal capital. The state-owned rail group has pulled its long-promised stockmarket float of a 24.99% state in its passenger and freight/logistics business. This was due to go ...