City diary: Office beckons for birthday boy
Many happy returns to Terry "Tesco" Leahy who celebrates half a century in this world today. We wonder if, like outgoing HMV boss Alan Giles, the supermarket chief is contemplating a life change now he's reached the big 5-0. Or maybe not, if Tezza's plans for the day are anything to go by. We're reliably informed, that like most other days of the year, he'll be found beavering away at his desk at Tesco HQ in Cheshunt.
· The biggest slice of Domino's Pizza's enlarged advertising budget has been earmarked for four new themed pizzas based on the Simpsons. A sponsor of the Sky show for eight years, Domino's new campaign stars the cartoon family themselves squabbling over its pizzas (most of which are more calorific than a Big Mac). Chris Moore, its chief operating officer, insisted yesterday that the fast food outfit doesn't market to kids. So putting Bart on a pizza box isn't an attempt to appeal to children? "Actually 70% of the Simpsons audience on Sky are over 15 years old." Hmmm.
· London and Edinburgh Inns chairman Alan Bowes is taking the industry's beef with the government over its ban on smoking in pubs into his own hands. Pub paper Morning Advertiser reports Bowes is filming a "hard-hitting" documentary which claims more children will die from passive smoking at home as a result of the ban. It seems Bowes, whose empire extends from Howfield Manor in Canterbury to St Michaels Inn at St Andrews, is not deterred by his lack of television experience. And the subtle title of his film aimed at persuading the government to change its mind? "Blair Will Kill Children."
· It's all in the name. Japanese glass maker Nippon Sheet Glass yesterday confirmed it would buy Pilkington Glass for £2.2bn in a deal that will create a "world class" glass maker. So who advised Nippon on its bid? Brunswick spin doctor Jonathan Glass.