Scottish Business Briefing - Wednesday 15 February, 2012
RETAIL
High street gloom as falling sales set alarm bells ringing
SHOPS in Scotland suffered their biggest fall in sales for more than a decade last month, new figures reveal today. A glimmer of hope offered by yesterday’s falling inflation rate was offset by more gloom on Scotland’s high streets, where there has been a 1.5 per cent drop in sales for January compared with a year ago (Scotsman)
ENERGY & UTILITIES
Cosalt would be better off in private hands, says CEO
The chief executive of Cosalt said yesterday he wanted the company to return to private hands, but added he was confident in the future of the firm even if it remained listed (P&J)
FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE
Thorntons’ profits fall sharply after weak Christmas
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Hide AdHalf-year profits at chocolate maker Thorntons have fallen sharply after poor trading and high exceptional charges (BBC).
MEDIA & LEISURE
Cupid and Friends Reunited agree website brands deal
CUPID, the online dating business, yesterday struck a deal with Dundee-based Friends Reunited to take over the operation of several of its website brands (Scotsman)
TECHNOLOGY
Nexus Oncology completes journey from back bedroom to global force
A CANCER research firm founded 13 years ago by a former Edinburgh University student in her back bedroom has been sold to a US company in what is thought to be a multi-million pound deal (Scotsman).
TRANSPORT
Call to promote Scotland’s air connections
BUSINESS leaders in Glasgow want ministers on both sides of the Border to promote Scotland’s connections with international markets amid concerns that these are being undermined by capacity constraints at Heathrow Airport (Herald}).