2000s
THE NOUGHTIES
53
This new decade marked a watershed in the
company’s history. It had always recognised
the need to evolve, change and, latterly,
recruit new skills. Now it was about to make
the biggest change of all in order to drive the
business forward and safeguard its future.
CHAPTER SIX
2004
Indian Ocean
tsunami
In 2005
the top
holiday destination
was Spain with
13.8m visits by UK
residents, with
France second
(11.1m visits)
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2008
a loaf of bread
and packet of butter cost
£2.33, a dozen free-
range eggs cost £2.35.
Accelerating prices put an
annual increase of £750
on family groceries
DID YOU KNOW?
2008
US elected first African
American President
Lehman Brothers
Holdings Inc declared
bankrupt
(left)
Hire Station, the tool hire
business, formed through
the merger of five
regional tool businesses
