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The new manufacturers The new manufacturers

A great British renaissance has been taking place. From Aberdeen to the West Country, the zing is back in manufacturing. It’s about time this spectacular story was told.

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Sir Terence Conran prepares to sell up

by Catherine Woods - Monday, 12th May 2008 -

Sir Terence Conran prepares to sell up

Sir Terence Conran has become the latest entrepreneur to make plans to sell part of his stake in his restaurant empire.

According to The Sunday Telegraph, Goldman Sachs will be officially appointed today to seek an investor to take a controlling interest in D&D London, which is reportedly worth £200m.

Conran holds 51 per cent of the shares in the business but is not expected to opt out of D&D completely – just reduce his overall holding.

The news has been met with concern about what it means for the restaurant sector and also a degree of sadness that the Conran era is perhaps coming to an end.

Conran’s planned departure from the kitchen follows similar moves by two other leading London foodie entrepreneurs.

The Times reminds us that Wagamama supremo Alan Yau sold his Michelin-starred Hakkasan and Yauatcha eateries for £31m in January.

Meanwhile, Nobu founder Nobuyuki Matsuhisa is also seeking a buyer for his stake in the restaurant group.

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Bizarre.

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Anyone else gearing up to go wild over the new domain name changes? No? Just think of the wit, variety and confusion it will bring to the world wide web.


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