What the Sunday papers said - 03 February
The Sunday Telegraph
Carlsberg-Tetley, the Danish-owned brewer, is in talks with Interbrew, the owner of Stella Artois, to combine their UK beer operations to slash costs and to take on Adolph Coors of the US, the new owner of Carling, Britain's biggest selling beer. The companies are in talks to combine their logistics and distribution divisions into one operation, which will then be contracted out and run by a third party, though to be BOC.
The Mail on Sunday
New Punch boss Giles Thorley has slammed CAMRA's campaign for full pints: "It's utterly ridiculous - customer's don't want it. The Government has had only 10 complaints since 1984." In a profile, the executive chairman said he did not know if the company would be able float its tenanted division by March, with much depending on when the split from the retail arm is complete, and also, the stability of the stockmarket.
Whitbread has shelved plans for a £50m hotels sell-off. The company, which has spent two years reinventing itself by pulling out of brewing and pubs, bought the Swallow hotels chain in 1999. In the wake of September 11, it believes it will only be able to sell the chain for aknock-down price.
The Independent on Sunday
Shares in Six Continents, the pub and hotel operator, took a beating last week when it announced it plans to buy 60 hotels in Spain over the next three years. The news coincided with word from the World Tourism that Spain had surpassed the US as the world's favourite travel destination, second only to France.
The Sunday Times
Sir Richard Branson is to sell his Kensington Roof Garden restaurant and nightclub for £4m. Matthew Fraud, the publicist, and Joel Cadbury, the chocolate heir, would like to turn the space into a luxury fitness centre. Nightclub entrepreneur Howard Spooner is also thought to be interested.
The £100m sale of Compass's Strand Palace and Regent Palace hotels to London & Regional Properties, the company owned by the millionaire Livingstone brothers has fallen through due to "irreconcilable differences".
The Observer
Spearmint Rhino, the US lap-dancing firm, is planning to open 100 new clubs in Britain. The company, which currently has 30 clubs in America and six in these shores, says the UK is ripe for expansion.
The Business
Marriott is to introduce three new hotel brands to over the next five years. The US-owned company will open its 2,500th hotel this year and ED Fuller, president of international lodging at Marriott International, says the company's next goal is to open all three of its "city products" - Marriott, Renaissance and Ritz Carlton - in every gateway city in the world.
The Sunday Express
The paper's investment column says shares in fast-growing pizza and pasta restaurant group Ask Central are a buy. Solid earnings and defensive qualities put the stock on the menu.
