Comparison of M&S to Tesco Plc
1.0 Comparison of M&S to Tesco PLC
1.1Company Background Marks and Spencer Group (M&S) is the premier retailer in clothing, foods and home ware within the United Kingdom. The company’s commitment to quality, value, service, innovation and trust is a key contributor to their success as a high street retailer in the UK. Their current core UK operations centre around three divisions, food, general merchandise (including clothing and home ware), and the financial services industry. Therefore Tesco plc is the prime UK retailer to analyse and compare growth, financial performance and the financial status of M&S Plc in line with other competitors within the same industry.
1.2 Analysis of Financial Statements
M&S’s financial statements represent stability within the company. Revenue increase was a highlight within the key performances, which included a substantial rise in its food business. However the segment information also shows that were less efficient in controlling their product costs (cost of sales).
Similarly Tesco Plc has also seen an increase in their revenue, and their cost of sales. One possible reason could be to the ‘Soaring food prices’, which ‘Pushed up output prices 1.4 per cent between March and April’, 2008. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-565787/Family-budgets-set-rise-production-costs-climb-fastest-pace-20-years.html accessed 3/4/09 9.49 AM)
Another important aspect of the income statement is the expenses incurred by the business. This reveals that while both companies had increased revenue, the value of expenses has also risen; therefore applying that ‘Economies of Scales’ was not achieved.
In relation to the Balance Sheet, the Operating director of M&S referred to it as’ A strong Balance Sheet that underpins our future plans to invest’ and the figures seem to reiterate this message (M&S annual Report 2008, pg 9). During the last year M&S has seen increases in its current and non-current Assets, particularly in areas
1.1Company Background Marks and Spencer Group (M&S) is the premier retailer in clothing, foods and home ware within the United Kingdom. The company’s commitment to quality, value, service, innovation and trust is a key contributor to their success as a high street retailer in the UK. Their current core UK operations centre around three divisions, food, general merchandise (including clothing and home ware), and the financial services industry. Therefore Tesco plc is the prime UK retailer to analyse and compare growth, financial performance and the financial status of M&S Plc in line with other competitors within the same industry.
1.2 Analysis of Financial Statements
M&S’s financial statements represent stability within the company. Revenue increase was a highlight within the key performances, which included a substantial rise in its food business. However the segment information also shows that were less efficient in controlling their product costs (cost of sales).
Similarly Tesco Plc has also seen an increase in their revenue, and their cost of sales. One possible reason could be to the ‘Soaring food prices’, which ‘Pushed up output prices 1.4 per cent between March and April’, 2008. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-565787/Family-budgets-set-rise-production-costs-climb-fastest-pace-20-years.html accessed 3/4/09 9.49 AM)
Another important aspect of the income statement is the expenses incurred by the business. This reveals that while both companies had increased revenue, the value of expenses has also risen; therefore applying that ‘Economies of Scales’ was not achieved.
In relation to the Balance Sheet, the Operating director of M&S referred to it as’ A strong Balance Sheet that underpins our future plans to invest’ and the figures seem to reiterate this message (M&S annual Report 2008, pg 9). During the last year M&S has seen increases in its current and non-current Assets, particularly in areas
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