News roundup--Robert Dyas, Thorntons, more

Retail entrepreneur and TV “Dragon” Theo Paphitis has acquired hardware company Robert Dyas for an undisclosed sum. Paphitis’s retail empire also includes Ryman, the stationery retail chain, and Boux Avenue lingerie. Paphitis joins the Robert Dyas Board as chairman, while current chief executive, Graham Coles, remains in his position along with other members of the Robert Dyas Board. Chairman Geoff Brady and nonexecutive director Ian Gray leave the Board. Kypros Kyprianou, group chief executive of Ryman joins the board as director.

Sales at Thorntons bounced back in the last quarter with total sales for the nine weeks to 30th June up 7.8 percent, or £1.8 million, to £24.7 million. The growth was mostly driven by commercial sales which increased by £2.9 million to £9.3 million, due to the introduction of this summer's “Best of British” range and some differences in the timing of deliveries to commercial customers.

Choice quote from a Financial Times profile of High Street TV boss Andrew Malcher: “All 60 staff at High Street TV’s office in Harrogate, north Yorkshire, are expected to drink free smoothies every morning and melon juice in the afternoon”. According to the piece, the formula is working as the business has “gone from zero to £30 million [turnover] in three-and-a-half years and created 60 jobs”.

Following yesterday’s announcement that Kate Bostock is leaving Marks & Spencer in October, Asos’s Nick Robertson won’t rule out that he’s hiring her in a senior role, writes the Independent.

Oracle has merged its Oracle ATG Commerce and Oracle Endeca businesses to create a unified offering. Under the name Oracle Commerce, the division has the aim of helping its customers deliver personalised cross-channel customer experiences. Oracle bought Endeca in October 2011 and ATG in November 2010.