Cafe move for Whitbread boss

Daily Mirror managing director Colin Myler has left. He has been replaced by Mirror Group’s deputy managing director Roger Eastoe.

Sainsbury’s has appointed Phil Robinson to the role of director marketing services, responsible for all aspects of market research, competitive analysis and forecasting. He joins from IDV where he was director of market research. Robinson takes over from John Renshaw, who takes up the new role of director, location marketing…

… Sainsbury’s says it has signed up more than 5.5 million customers for its Reward Card.

The Department of Trade & Industry has launched a consultation document on pyramid selling and other trading practices.

BT is setting up a chain of nationwide superstores. The out-of-town stores will target small business customers and will be called BT Business Connections Centres.

Nintendo will launch a handheld console, Game Boy Pocket in October. It will be 30 per cent smaller than the highly successful Game Boy. The console will cost about 70 and have improved graphics. It will target mid-teens to mid-20s instead of the traditional eight to 14-year-olds.

Software City will open this Friday as the largest computer software site in Europe. Alan Taylor, chief executive of the 7,000 ft sq site in Leeds, says he plans 40 more sites by the year 2000.

Nike and Robbie Fowler, the Liverpool striker, are thought to have signed a multimillion-pound boot deal, as reported in Marketing Week (April 12).

Lloyds TSB bank has confirmed that marketing services director Tim Pile (right) has resigned and will join Alliance & Leicester (MW last week). An Alliance & Leicester spokesman says no appointment has been made.

McCain Foods (GB) has appointed the woman behind the launch of soft drink Oasis as its marketing director. Julie Leivers, former marketing controller for Coca-Cola Schweppes Beverages on adult soft drinks brands, will take responsibility for McCain brands including Pizza Perfection and Oven Chips and new product development.

Littlewoods Leisure has appointed Jeff Nicholas consumer marketing manager. Littlewoods Pools is being relaunched with a new strapline ‘Get A Result’.

McVitie’s is launching four products targeted at the under-tens called Noddy Rich Tea Fingers, McVitie’s Squidgers, McVitie’s Jam Splatz and Dotty Cookies.