Business Briefing: renewables | Energy Assets | Suntory
ENERGY
Record number of Scots working in renewables
THE number of people employed in Scotland’s burgeoning renewables industry has soared to record levels. A report published today reveals a 5 per cent growth in employment in companies involved in offshore and onshore wind, bioenergy and hydro, wave and tidal schemes across the country. The report, commissioned by Scottish Renewables, shows that more than 540 Scottish-based firms now employ a total of at least 11,695 men and women.
Energy Assets on track for strong growth in 2013
ENERGY Assets, a Scottish meter specialist, has said it is on course to achieve good growth in the current financial year, after recording a strong performance in the first nine months. Livingston-based Energy Assets said trading from 1 April to 31 December was significantly ahead of the same period in the prior year, putting the company on course to deliver growth in line with expectations.
Scotsman Conference
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FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE
Suntory surprises City with £10bn price for Beam
JAPANESE drinks giant Suntory yesterday toasted a $16 billion (£10bn) deal to buy American peer Beam in a move that creates the world’s third-largest spirits company and unites whisky brands including Bowmore, Laphroaig and Teacher’s under the same roof. New York-listed Beam was spun-out from Fortune Brands in 2011 to make it a more attractive acquisition target. Diageo – Scotland’s largest distiller and the owner of the Bell’s, J&B and Johnnie Walker brands – had been rumoured to be eying a joint bid for Beam with Suntory.
Toni Macaroni gains bigger slice of eatery market
ITALIAN restaurant chain Tony Macaroni yesterday served up plans to open a further six outlets and create up to 300 jobs. Guiseppe “Sep” Marini, managing director of Tony Macaroni and the Marini brand of fish and chip shops, launched his first restaurant in East Kilbride in 2007 and now has ten sites. The next branches will consist of two in Edinburgh and one-a-piece in Braehead, Cumbernauld, Lanark and St Andrews.
Rabbie’s tours owner motors ahead with cafe plans
Rabbie’s Small Group Tours owner Robin Worsnop is to fulfil a life-long dream by opening his own chain of cafés. Worsnop, who founded Rabbie’s in 1993, will open his first outlet on Edinburgh’s Waterloo Place next month. He already has his eye on further branches in Dublin, Glasgow and London. The cafés will be open to the public, as well as providing refreshments for visitors on Rabbie’s tours.
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TRANSPORT & INDUSTRY
Strong foundation for north builder’s return
A top Highland house builder says it has made a “flying start” to 2014 after reporting its best year since the global financial crisis. Sales and reservations for Tulloch Homes rose 27% in 2013, its best year since 2008. And the firm – which is building 350 homes at Slackbuie, near Inverness – is now lining up a return to the lucrative Aberdeen market.