Business Cafe - Summer 2012

Five more business case studies have just been uploaded to Business Cafe - our digital magazine for KS4 and KS5 business studies teachers and students. A brief summary of each one is provided below.

Tesco’s Change of Strategy

Tesco is the UK’s largest retailer. For the last 20 years it has had rising profits. However, this year it has experienced a fall in its UK profits. This has led to its chief executive, Philip Clarke, announcing a change in strategy.

Mothercare and the Management of Change

Mothercare has announced this week that it is to close over 100 stores in the UK in the next 3 years. Some of these stores will be traditional Mothercare outlets following the closure of over 50 stores last year.

Profitable growth at McDonalds

McDonalds have announced an increase in profits by 5% in the first quarter of 2012, which it has attributed to the revamp of its restaurants. During 2012, the company is spending $1.45 billion on giving 2,400 of its stores a makeover. The head of McDonalds in the United Kingdom, Jill McDonald, stated that 90% of the stores in the country have been “re-imaged” to make them more attractive destinations.

Scotch Sales Rally in China

A fast-growing economy is boosting demand for sales of spirits in China and Diageo is forecasting that half of its entire sales revenue will come from China by 2015.

Winners and losers from the National Lottery

The National Lottery - who benefits? How do you become a supplier of lottery tickets? What are the costs and benefits to a retailer? What are the objections to it? In considering these issues, it opens up a huge area for debate which is very much on any Business Studies course – business ethics.