Person of the Week

Andrew Flintoff

Freddie was instrumental in this week's historic Test match win at Lord’s and according to his captain Andrew Strauss, "After he took that first wicket this morning he said 'by the way, I ought to let you know I'll keep bowling until all the wickets are gone' - I thought that sounds like a good plan to me and so it proved." Having also announced his retirement from Test cricket, Flintoff's performance has set up an interesting Ashes series over coming weeks and his tenacity in the 2nd test underpins his achievement within the England squad.

Quote of the Week

"It is rather as though at Balaklava, Lord Cardigan had been reappointed and the remnants of the Light Brigade had been invited to reapply for their posts."

Sir Bert Massie on Trevor Phillips reappointment as Chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Facts of the week

US restaurants: did discounting bring in the customers?

Mixed views as Wall Street braces for second quarter earnings

• This article from the Wall Street Journal discusses the impact of discounting in US restaurants.
• Yum Brands – who own Taco Bell and Pizza Hut – reported a 10% increase to second quarter fiscal earnings. However, same store sales declined 1% following an 8% decline at Pizza Hut, which has been promoting discounts.
• The argument appears to be that the level of customer traffic has not been significantly increased as a result of these promotions.
• It points out that, whilst franchisees of Burger King rejected a proposal to sell its double cheeseburger for $1, the chain will be mailing coupons to 80 million households. In some BK restaurants the product sells for $2.69.
• The article concludes with some examples of restaurateurs who are designing lower priced items rather than discounting existing items. Does this provide a more sustainable pricing model?

See the report here

Shaken, stirred...and bottled – the new drinks trend

Drinks companies want to make 'mojitos at home' the new experience

• In a move designed to increase sales, major drinks companies Diageo and Bacardi have reported the launch of bottled versions of some of their most popular cocktails this week.
• With more people drinking at home, they want to provide a fuss-free solution to consumers and off-set falling bar sales.
• Spiros Malandrakis of Euromonitor confirms that cocktails are increasingly popular and that a new ready-made product had gone on sale almost weekly during the course of this year.
• In the US, sales of bottled cocktails have increased by 40% over the past year according to a Diageo executive.
• How will this trend impact the UK market? Diageo are planning to launch their bottled mojitos and cosmopolitan shortly.

Source: timesonline.co.uk

Article of the week

In this ongoing series from EP magazine, the article this week is from the EP archives and is a business feature entitled: "It's all about substance"

Following last weekend's enthralling Open Golf championship at Turnberry, we turn our attention this week to an article from 2008 featuring David Hill, Director of Championships at the R&A Club in St. Andrews. It explores the relationship between the R&A and Sodexo, who have a six year contract as sole caterer to the Open. What defines the relationship?

Amuse Bouche

The next issue of EP magazine is due out on 1 August. EP magazine currently has a taster offer for readers of EP Condense, two issues for £5. Click here to find out more.