Scottish Business Briefing - Thursday 17 May, 2012

WELCOME to scotsman.com’s Scottish Business Briefing. Every morning we bring you a comprehensive round-up of all news affecting business in Scotland today.

ECONOMICS

Enterprise agency launches growth campaign

SCOTTISH Enterprise has launched a campaign to encourage companies to invest in growth to help get the economy moving and has held out the prospect of funding for firms that rise to the challenge (Herald)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

Turbines wind up profits as SSE eyes further acquisitions

SCOTTISH Hydro owner SSE is on track for a further solid rise in profits as hundreds of additional wind turbines begin turning, while more acquisitions are on the horizon (Scotsman).

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FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE

Tennent’s owner toasts rising profits

TENNENT’S lager maker C&C Group is on the hunt for acquisitions both in the British Isles and internationally after unveiling a €500 million (£400m) war chest, alongside a rise in full-year profits (Scotsman).

Greggs warns George Osborne’s ‘pasty tax’ could hit profits and jobs

BAKERY chain Greggs warned on Wednesday that the UK government’s plans to extend VAT to hot takeaway food such as pasties and sausage rolls would have a “material impact” on its sales and profits (http://www.scotsman.com/business/greggs-warns-george-osborne-s-pasty-tax-could-hit-profits-and-jobs-1-2297276|Scotsman|Scotsman}).

INDUSTRY

Escape seeks to develop north offering after Caithness move

Information-technology specialist Escape Business Technologies said yesterday it wanted to expand in the Highlands after signing a contract with Thurso-based Nuclear Decommissioning Services (NDS) (P&J.

RETAIL

Rasul opts out of ‘bricks and mortar retail’ as he offloads BigOffers outlet

SCOTTISH entrepreneur Shaf Rasul has sold his discount warehouse BigOffers for an undisclosed sum just a year after it opened its doors (Scotsman)