This week M&S had its AGM, whose shareholder questions are always a source of humour. However, leaving questions over Sir Stuart Rose’s Russian spy heritage and problems about its socks falling apart, here are this week’s best quotes.
“I’ve still got to win the lottery; I don’t think you have” – a shareholder addressed new M&S boss Marc Bolland over his pay package.
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“I don’t think that local Russian producers are meeting those levels of hygiene quality. They’re definitely not producing to the same level as in Finland” – Juha Lepisto, Ingman Ice Cream business development director following his products’ import ban from Russia
“Kellogg’s focus and expertise in R&D is primarily on the ‘D’ – development. Our open innovation programme is an enabler for giving us access to external research to supplement our internal development capabilities” – Kellogg vice president for research, quality and technology Margaret Bath said of its tie up with Ajinomoto
“Cadbury has probably already made next year’s Easter eggs, where my product only lasts for six weeks” – James Ecclestone describes the difference between Casemir’s fresh chocolate vs those of the big manufacturers
“These claims are a fraud on the California courts and never should have been brought in the first place” – said Michael Carter, executive vice president and general counsel at Dole after a Californian court dismissed a pesticide case against the fruit and vegetable giant
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By GlobalData“We don’t know if the guarantees are sufficient” – said MEP Marisa Matias of national bans on GM products approved for cultivation across the EU
“Our biggest opportunity to drive Sainsbury’s forward is right here in the UK. We’ve got huge opportunities for growth. But we should, a little bit further over the horizon, think about where there are opportunities outside the UK” – said Sainsbury’s chairman David Tyler at the retailer’s AGM this week
said: “We are hopeful that the union will continue to negotiate. Our desire is for an outcome that will allow us to continue to service our loyal customers, while ensuring a sustainable business model in which we can support our employees and colleagues” – said Loblaw vice president of public relations Julija Hunter of union threats to strike over pay cuts
“The company doesn’t need to raise GBP200m, but it is choosing to do so to grow the business and build a second CFC. It is ridiculous to suggest that we would not be able to continue in business if we did not do the IPO or if we did not raise the GBP200m” – said an Ocado spokesperson over claims that the company my not be a going concern if its float isn’t successful
“They need to do more,” he said. “If we are to reverse the trends in obesity, the commercial sector needs to change their business practices, including how they promote their brands and product reformulation,” said health secretary Andrew Lansley of the commercial sector’s need to contribute to their consumers’ health
