CITY WHISPERS: Why Ocado is talking up Morrisons’ success

There has always been a healthy spirit of competition among large supermarkets, but there is also affection.

Take Rami Baitieh, Morrisons’ chief executive since November. He previously worked at France’s Carrefour, making the restructuring of Morrisons a challenging first venture across the Channel.

But the guiding principles it is using during the change appear to be inspired by an online rival. Its go-to acronym is none other than… Ocado.

As he told the Yorkshire Post last week: “O is to observe. C is to compare. A is to analyse. D is to diagnose. O is to operate. I told the Ocado team that and they were very happy about it.”

Whispers understands that he coined it himself. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but this is another level of praise.

BFC puts pressure on the government on the tourist tax

The British Fashion Council is wasting no time in its push to get the new government to change the tourist tax.

The group is understood to be the first creative industry trade body to meet new Culture Secretary Chris Bryant and said the reintroduction of VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors could provide a major boost to the economy.

Reams of data show that the tax, introduced and championed by Rishi Sunak, hurts not only retailers but also hotels, restaurants and theatres.

Keep drumming, fashion lovers.

Nuclear uncertainty

Sceptics of Sizewell C were given a boost last week when EDF, the French company behind the proposed nuclear plant in Suffolk, lost out to the Koreans in a bid to sell its reactors to the Czech Republic.

The Czechs say the Korean design is better “by all criteria” than the European pressurised reactor that EDF is also building at Hinkley Point C in Somerset.

Critics say there have been problems with the European model and that cracks have appeared in some.

Campaigners also point out that Sizewell was not mentioned in the King’s speech.

Their joy may be short-lived, as Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told the House of Commons that Labour supports “new nuclear power, including from Sizewell C”.

Battles in the city for canapés

Financial firms are finding all sorts of ways to compete, and this summer’s rivalry centers on… canapés.

The current winner is the food served by wealth manager Evelyn Partners at its private launch of the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

The pudding-style canapés of lemon meringue and chocolate and walnuts were particularly popular. Evelyn was catered by Caper & Berry of Godalming, Surrey.

If you’ve enjoyed some superior snacks at an event sponsored by a financial company and seen other guests running after the wait staff to ask for more, let Whispers know.

Contributors: Emily Hawkins, Anne Ashworth