Gazetteer: Investors want a cheap pizza the action

TAKEAWAY RETURNS

IT'S not just Domino's Pizza and FT publisher Pearson that are doing well during the downturn – investors are turning to local chip shops too, according to an Edinburgh solicitor.

Gill Maclean, who owns Practical Legal Solutions, said enquiries about buying pizza and Chinese takeaways were also increasing, alongside other small businesses with low overheads.

Maclean said her firm had handled two transactions involving fish and chip shops over the past six months and had also had inquiries about newsagents, local post offices and smaller fashion shops.

She said: "The small business owner needs to maintain a positive approach, while being realistic about what opportunities are viable.

"There are many opportunities for the smaller business, if they are willing to be creative."

Maclean said fish and chip shops may also become more attractive to customers as well as investors.

She said: "Basic but well-run establishments have the advantage of lower overheads, which can be passed on in competitive pricing to attract cash strapped consumers. Small affordable restaurants may also find they attract customers who had frequented more expensive eateries."

FACT OF THE DAY

£1.7bn

BRITISH companies are losing £1.7 billion a year through poor business processes, according to a survey commissioned by Logica Management Consulting.

One-third of firms that had changed their processes said the alterations had fallen short of expectations, such as failing to improve performance. More than a third of firms had abandoned a major project to manage change in the past three years.

KILLER QUOTE

"THIS will take time. There will be challenges. There's no doubt that the way to get the maximum bang for the taxpayers here was to invest in banks."

Hank Paulson, the US Treasury secretary, defending his decision to invest taxpayers' money in American banks

GOOD DAY

Clydesdale Bank

STAFF at Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks donated more than £148,000 to charities last year through the group's "payroll giving" scheme.

The banks won the "best employer and charity promotion" prize at the payroll giving excellence awards.

BAD DAY

Nissan

MORE than 200,000 cars are being recalled in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Persian Gulf after Nissan spotted a problem in a sensor system that could affect the cars' passenger side air bags. Nissan said the fault was picked up in internal testing.