
Clive Black
Dr Clive Black is vice-chair of investment bank Shore Capital Markets and a highly regarded grocery retail analyst.
Clive has been with Shore since 2003, and his investment notes are must-reads among UK retailers and their investors.
After a PhD at Queenâs University of Belfast (QUB) Clive was head of food policy at the NFU and strategic planner at Northern Food; he was awarded an honorary doctorate from QUB for his services to the agri-food system.Â
He has also worked for Charterhouse Tilney, where he was a number-one rated consumer analyst, and was head of pan-European retail research at ING. In addition to equity research he is chair of Bia Analytical and an NED of charitable The Community Shop.
OpinionâAre we looking at the first GLP-1 festive season in the UK?â
While supermarkets sold millions of confectionery tubs and mince pies at Christmas, growth trajectories may be permanently changing as new behaviour takes hold observes Shore Capitalâs Clive Black
OpinionâWhy not make a third less profit, Tesco?â
A call for Tesco to make less money isnât the answer to food price inflation but would mean less investment in Britain, a more insecure food system, and lower tax receipts, maintains Shore Capitalâs Clive Black
OpinionâUnless Amazon wants to remain a bit-part player in UK grocery, an acquisition would be the likely routeâ
Amazonâs UK grocery presence amounts to a pimple on an elephantâs backside so, if it wants to grow, a deal would be the obvious option, believes Shore Capitalâs Clive Black
OpinionâJob security jitters may rise â and constrain consumer spendâ
Consumer sentiment has been helped by a strong labour market, but nervousness on the jobs front means weak demand for discretionary goods may build, cautions Shore Capital director Clive Black
OpinionâWhy we are more downbeat on the UK retail outlookâ
Itâs hard to believe how the mood music of shoppers and retailers has changed since last yearâs general election, observes Shore Capitalâs Clive Black
OpinionâRIP John Sainsbury â one of Britainâs greatest ever retailersâ
Following the death of legendary retailer Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover, Shore Capitalâs Clive Black pays tribute to a man who changed the grocery and retail landscape
OpinionâThe Amazon giant is beginning to stir and UK grocers should take noteâ
Amazonâs latest tie-ups with Deliveroo and the Co-op show it is slowly tightening its grip on the UK grocery market by leveraging its sprawling network of Prime members.
OpinionOpinion: Carrefour must learn from the past to avoid another bout of travel sickness
Carrefourâs acquisition of 224 stores in Taiwan runs counter to recent strategic retreats from international markets of many once-global food retailers. International expansion remains a viable route to growth for food retailers, but only if the lessons of the past can be learned.
OpinionClive Black: Tesco and Lewis deserve a pat on the back
Tesco has issued a set of preliminary results that underscore its recovery and set the expectation for brighter times ahead.
OpinionClive Black: Sainsbury's â thank goodness for Argos
Who would have thought it? Argos has been a much-abused label for many years in Britainâs investment community and yet it is the shining light in Sainsburyâs interim results.
OpinionClive Black: Thai spice sours taste of Tesco's results
Tescoâs interim results brought with them a huge highlight for me â seeing and speaking to Charles Wilson after his treatment for cancer, which meant he had to relinquish the role of CEO of the groupâs UK business.
OpinionClive Black: Sainsburyâs-Asda is big challenge for CMA
Boom! When Poundland decided to acquire 99p Stores, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) took it to a Phase 2 investigation.
OpinionClive Black: Tesco's Chas and Dave hit the right note
Tescoâs results represented another year of good, solid, sound, detailed progress by the business.
OpinionOpinion: Sainsburyâs â one step forward, one step back
With headwinds from the second half of its 2016/17 financial year, the first half of 2017/18 was always going to result in a decline in year-on-year profitability from Sainsburyâs.
NewsClive Black: Tesco is back on its grocery throne
Tescoâs recuperation from the depths of corporate despair has been a time-consuming one.
OpinionOpinion: Lewis has the Tesco train back on track
Tescoâs first-quarter trading statement contained few shocks and surprises, bar the exit from the bulk alcohol and tobacco markets in Thailand.
OpinionClive Black: Tesco under pressure to deliver good news
Tescoâs preliminary results reveal more good progress with the recovery that has been engineered and delivered through Dave Lewis.
OpinionOpinion: Why Asda remains a work in progress
Asda has delivered a welcome improvement in its underlying trading performance as outlined through its fourth-quarter trading update, albeit same-store sales are still falling.
NewsOpinion: Why the fun is over for Aldi and Lidl
The limited assortment discounters (LADs) are not having as much fun as they used to.
OpinionOpinion: Tesco's growing capability and confidence is promising
Tesco boss Dave Lewis should be congratulated on progress, but his job isnât even half done yet, says Shore Capital analyst Clive Black.















