Scottish Business Briefing - Friday 8 July, 2011

FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE

Splitting its operations will help pub giant punch above its weight

PUNCH Taverns, Scotland's largest pubs operator, yesterday confirmed it will trade as two separate groups from next month in a major shake-up to deal with its huge debts (Scotsman)

Caledonian shows bottle with pre-tax profits increase

THE Ayrshire drinks business formerly owned by "Fearless" Freddie Williams has achieved a one-third increase in the profits it makes from bottling drinks such as the WKD alcopop (Herald).

Read all today's food, drink and agriculture news from scotsman.com

ENERGY & UTILITIES

Ex-ScottishPower boss given golden goodbye

FORMER ScottishPower chief executive Nick Horler was paid 1.3 million, including a 840,000 golden goodbye, last year after quitting in October as the company suffered falling profits (Herald).

Read all today's energy and utilities news from scotsman.com

INDUSTRY

Factories see output surge but wider industrial picture bleak

MANUFACTURING output rose at its fastest pace in over a year in May, according to official figures yesterday which did little to change economists' guarded outlook for the wider economy (Scotsman).

Read all today's industry news from scotsman.com

MEDIA & LEISURE

News of the World: Shock for Scottish staff as paper is closed

THE closure of the News of the World was met with shock by staff at the paper's Scottish base, who branded the decision "despicable and deranged" (Scotsman).

Read all today's media and leisure news from scotsman.com

RETAIL

Three Scots stores close each week

THE CRISIS in the Scottish high street has been laid bare as new figures show that three stores a week have been closing since the turn of the year (Scotsman)

Read all today's retail news from scotsman.com