In 2018, VF Corporation, home to brands like The North Face and Timberland, doubled its net profit to the tune of USD 1.2 billion and sold 400 million units. So how does the company balance increased production and profits with being green? Martino Scabbia Guerrini, VF’s EMEA head, says it’s not just about creating less waste or working with recyclable materials, but also about business innovation. This week, the company starts testing the rental market in London with its Kipling brand. “We’ve got to close the cycle,” he says.
VF Corporation tests London rental market with its Kipling brand
In 2018, VF Corporation, home to brands like The North Face and Timberland, doubled its net profit to the tune of USD 1.2 billion and sold 400 million units. So how does the company balance increased production and profits with being green? Martino Scabbia Guerrini, VF’s EMEA head, says it’s not just about creating less waste or working with recyclable materials, but also about business innovation. This week, the company starts testing the rental market in London with its Kipling brand. “We’ve got to close the cycle,” he says.
Staying relevant is more than just about prices, says PizzaExpress CEO
Gluten-free, vegan, low-calorie: Catering to food consumers is not what it used to be, which is why PizzaExpress has opened a food innovation center next to its London offices. “You want to be continuously relevant to new lifestyles,” says Chairman and CEO Jinlong Wang. In part four, he talks about upgrading the customer experience and shows Ana Maria Montero a bit of his personal side.
PizzaExpress CEO: China’s conflicts have become “an either-or game”
From the U.S.-China trade war to the continuing protests in Hong Kong, PizzaExpress CEO Jinlong Wang says that there are no real winners and these conflicts put the global economy, particularly export-focused economies like Switzerland’s, at risk. In part three, Wang urges all players to work together toward the endgame.
“No one is ready” for a no-deal Brexit, says PizzaExpress CEO
Despite “tremendous love” for his brand, PizzaExpress CEO Jinlong Wang says Brexit’s uncertainty is hurting his restaurant chain but also says existing PizzaExpress restaurants there will remain intact, no matter how you slice it. In part two, he talks Brexit woes, disappointing profits, and teaching Asian consumers new habits when it comes to their pizza.
PizzaExpress CEO: Coming to Switzerland “only a matter of time”
PizzaExpress chairman and CEO Jinlong Wang says it’s “only a matter of time” until he opens a restaurant in Switzerland, but there are no definite plans for now. A speaker at the SMG Forum in Zurich last month, Wang talked to Ana Maria Montero about expansion plans in Europe and shared his takeaways from the Swiss food industry.
Swiss Bankers Association: Bank jobs may be moved out of Switzerland
Without a Swiss-EU framework agreement, Swiss banks may be forced to move jobs out of the country, says Herbert Scheidt, chairman of the Swiss Bankers Association. He cites recent moves by the UK banking industry due to Brexit as precedent for “severe consequences” for Switzerland if a deal isn’t made.
Swiss banking chairman: Libra won’t take off quickly in Switzerland
From spy scandals to the surge of crypto banks, the Swiss Bankers Association has had its hands full in 2019. However, Chairman Herbert Scheidt seems calm and confident. In part one of our Newsmaker interview, Scheidt expresses doubt that Facebook’s Libra will be quickly embraced in Switzerland but adds that the digital currency can make “important inroads” in parts of the world where the infrastructure is not as secure.
Tencent’s Wallerstein: Europe should embrace artificial intelligence
Europe’s industrial sector is missing an important opportunity, says David Wallerstein, Tencent’s chief eXploration officer. He says AI could be used in areas like power generation and energy optimization, among others. “This is totally wide open and a perfect area for Europe to embrace,” Wallerstein says.
