Clubcard holders can now earn 250 points by quoting and buying Motorbike Insurance through Tesco Compare!

Tesco Compare‘s limited promotion allows customers to take advantage of the opportunity to earn 250 points for Clubcard holders who quote and buy motorbike insurance through www.tescocompare.com before 30th April 2012. It has been launched as a way of giving a little extra back.

The price comparison website allows customers to search a wide range of insurance policies covering up to 35 motorbike insurance providers. The results page has been designed to provide customers with all the relevant information they need, to choose the policy which is right for them.

The Tesco Compare Motorbike Insurance Comparison Service is provided by The Bike Insurer, a trading style of Vast Visibility Ltd.

Product Development Manager of Tesco Compare, Craig Monahan, said: “Our aim is to basically make our customers’ lives easier; our site is quick, easy to use and provides very competitive prices if you then add this deal on top it is a strong incentive for customers to shop with us.”

How does it work?

Opportunity

The offer couldn’t be simpler. Customers quote and buy motorbike insurance through www.tescocompare.com before 30th April 2012. While quoting they enter their Clubcard number and after purchasing a policy will be awarded 250 points. See www.tescocompare.com for full terms and conditions.

Craig Monahan added: “We believe the partnership with The Bike Insurer will help Tesco Compare assert itself as the price comparison site of choice for Bikers and Tesco Customers alike. We appreciate our customers and the 250 Clubcard points promotion is our way of saying thank you.”

In addition to bike insurance Tesco Compare offers a range of other services: It can also introduce people to comparison services for a number of other products including money, utilities and telecoms, as well a wider range of insurance products including car insurance and home insurance.

*Terms and Conditions of the 250 Clubcard Points Offer for Motorbike Insurance

250 Clubcard points will be awarded for motorbike insurance policies purchased from the 1st March to the 30th April 2012. The Clubcard must be in the policyholder’s name and the Clubcard number must be entered correctly when completing the details on tescocompare.com. An online quote must be fully completed before purchase. Failure to do so will mean the points will not be allocated to the Clubcard holder’s statement. Tesco Compare will notify the policyholder via email when the Clubcard points have been awarded. Points may be awarded up to ten weeks from purchase of the policy. If the policy is cancelled within two weeks of purchase then no Clubcard points will be awarded. Tesco Compare reserves the right to amend, vary or cancel these terms and conditions or to withdraw this promotion at any time. The Clubcard Scheme is administered by Tesco Stores. Tesco Stores are responsible for fulfilling points.

For media enquiries please contact:

Gemma Whitton: 0131 203 5516, or email gemma.whitton@tescobank.com

Notes to editors: Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited (trading as Tesco Compare) is part of the Tesco Personal Finance Group Limited, the financial services arm of the UK’s number one supermarket chain, which is fully owned by the Tesco Group. Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited, registered in Scotland No.318925. Interpoint Building, 22 Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh EH12 5BH. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Originally used to create 2D games for iPhone, Cocos2d now works fully with Marmalade, an open and standards-based SDK for cross-platform mobile development. As a result, Marmalade licensees can now use Cocos2d, free of charge, to create great 2D games – and deploy them simultaneously to iOS, Android, BlackBerry 10 and beyond. For the first time ever, Cocos2d games can also be developed and deployed to iOS entirely from a Windows PC environment.

While games engines can lock developers into a proprietary way of creating apps, Marmalade takes the opposite approach. It offers developers both simple OS abstraction and C/C++ standards compliance – allowing them to plug in a vast array of open source tools, modules and engines.

And by joining forces with game engines like Cocos2d, Marmalade not only gives developers more freedom in the way they create mobile apps – but also in where they deploy them.

Marmalade’s partnership with Cocos2d has already borne fruit in the form of several notable games, including PowerDown by Albino Pixel. Ported from iOS to Marmalade, this is now available from both the App Store and Android Market.

Dave Allanson, Technical Director of Albino Pixel, said: “It took just two weeks to port our existing Cocos2d game for iOS to Marmalade, and deploy it to Android Market. Now that we’re working with Marmalade, we can easily publish apps to a host of other platforms that were previously beyond our reach.”

And with well over 3,000 games already created for iOS in Cocos2d, Marmalade is confident that a large proportion of this catalogue can be ported to its SDK just as easily.

To download Cocos2d for use with Marmalade, visit:

https://github.com/marmalade/cocos2D-x/wiki/Develop-with-cocos2d-for-marmalade

To download the Marmalade SDK, visit:

http://www.madewithmarmalade.com/downloads

About Marmalade:
The Marmalade SDK is a cross-platform development environment for rich apps and games on smartphones, tablets and other embedded platforms. Marmalade allows developers to compile a single codebase to native CPU instructions, then deploy apps easily to all iOS, Android, bada and BlackBerry 10 devices, as well as other platforms including Smart TV. Marmalade has been adopted by thousands of developers around the world, including leading publishers and has enabled a number of high profile, high performance AAA titles including four #1 games on the Apple App Store. Launched at the end of 2009 (and formerly known as Airplay SDK), Marmalade has achieved over 50,000 installations worldwide, currently increasing at a rate of over 750 new installations every week. Hundreds of Marmalade apps are now available for download across multiple channels including the Apple App Store, Android Market, Samsung Apps, BlackBerry App World and more. Marmalade has headquarters in London with offices in San Francisco, Korea and Japan.

Contact Marmalade:
Simon Judges for Marmalade UK and Europe
+44 207 484 6288 / +44 7949 138017
simon@if-communications.com

Dan Gamble for Marmalade US
+1 (415) 598-8902 / +1 (415) 971-7938
dan@if-communications.com

Leeks are a popular ingredient of sausages, salads, stews and soups. Because the season to harvest winter leeks is approaching again, Lovethegarden has decided to make this unique vegetable the central theme of their first recipe blog competition of 2012. The online gardening experts are challenging all British bloggers to share their own leek recipes. Food blogger and Secret Garden Club host, Kerstin Rodgers, will judge the competition. The winner will get a restaurant voucher worth £200, and the three runners up will each receive a copy of Rodgers’ cookbook, Supper Club.

Entering the competition is easy as pie. Bloggers need to:

1.    Publish a blog post about their favourite leek recipe;
2.    Mention the Spring-a-Leek competition;
3.    Email the URL of their entry to entries(at)lovethegarden(dot)com before April 8th, 2011.

Kerstin Rodgers is not only a food specialist, but also knows all about the challenges of squeezing recipes into the blog format, as she runs the blog The English Can Cook. Bloggers are invited to trim, chop, slice, shred, braise, sweat or mash fresh leeks for a chance to win the prize. Even first-time bloggers are encouraged to get involved!

In 2011, Lovethegarden hosted 4 highly popular Vegetable Recipe Competitions: Creative with Cabbage, Potty for Potatoes, Taste for Tomatoes and the Christmas Carrot Competition.

The deadline for the Spring a Leek Competition is 11.59pm (UK time) on April 8th, 2011. For more information, please visit the vegetable garden competition page.

Notes to editors:

LovetheGarden ®, ™ and Miracle-Gro, Plus, Scotts and Pour & Feed are trade marks of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company LLC or its affiliates.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Salisbury House, Catteshall Lane, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XE

For more information please contact Brittany LaGambina, Brittany.LaGambina(at)arena-media(dot)co(dot)uk

Tesco Compare now offers consumers gadget insurance as the comparison site joins forces with providers, Protectyourbubble.com and Gadget Cover.

The move marks Tesco Compare’s continual drive to add new partners and services that will give consumers greater choice when looking for deals on insurance, money and utilities products. Protectyourbubble.com and Gadget Cover have been providing insurance for many years, offering cover for devices such as iPhones, sat navs, video cameras, iPads, games consoles and Ipods in the event of theft, loss or damage.

Typical types of insurance available from the providers include cover for multiple gadgets, and usage abroad – which can be individually-tailored.

Vikki Macleod, Tesco Compare’s Commercial Director, said: “We are pleased to be working with both providers. Alongside giving a broader selection of services, we are introducing people to more bespoke forms of insurance. Gadgets are expensive to replace and mean a lot to people. That’s why consumers can search for a gadget insurance deal.”

People are carrying around more gadgets than ever before increasing the risk of theft, loss and breakage. Gadgets, particularly mobile phones, are vital to people and an integral part of their life. Whether the gadget is a laptop, smart phone or camera, many people have at least one gadget they rely on considerably.  Insurance can ease the financial burden if someone’s beloved gadget is lost, stolen or accidentally damaged.

Vikki Macleod summed up: “Teaming up with both providers underlines our commitment to expanding our offering alongside our existing services. Introducing people to gadget insurance demonstrates our dedication to evolving with the needs of the modern customer.”

Why not get your hands on gadget insurance? Look for a deal on www.tescocompare.com/gadgets/gadget_insurance.shtml

For media enquiries please contact:

Gemma Whitton: 0131 203 5516, or email gemma.whitton@tescobank.com

Notes to editors: Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited (trading as Tesco Compare) is part of the Tesco Personal Finance Group Limited, the financial services arm of the UK’s number one supermarket chain, which is fully owned by the Tesco Group. Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited, registered in Scotland No.318925. Interpoint Building, 22 Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh EH12 5BH. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Tesco Compare

• Tesco Compare is a comparison site, based in the UK. Since our launch in 2007, our business activities have extended to facilitate the introduction of a wide range of comparison services.
• Our own principal comparison services are for car and home insurance to which we compare over 60 and 20 providers respectively.
• Products compared by third party suppliers include: Money (credit cards, loans, mortgages, current accounts and savings accounts). Insurance (business, life, van, motorbike, travel and health). Utilities (broadband, mobile broadband, home phone, digital TV and gas & electricity). We also provide customers with links to pet and breakdown insurance providers.
• Our aim is to introduce customers to fair prices and deals from a range of leading brands.
• We believe that comparison sites should be about more than just the lowest price so our comprehensive comparison service helps you search and compare a wide range of products and providers by feature as well as price.

Ends.

3 MARCH 2012 – Ski fans taking advantage of the heavy recent snowfall in Europe and North American resorts can save a small fortune on their car hire needs thanks to leading website eRentals.co.uk. The site has this week announced the availability of deals from as little as £20* per day.

Brits heading for the pistes can log on to the car rental website right now and get themselves some great value hire offers for late ski trips – prices are presently available starting at £20* a day from Salzburg and Innsbruck Airports, £21* a day in Aspen, £23* a day from Banff Airport and £21* a day in Salt Lake City.

Briony Fairbairn, spokesperson for eRentals.co.uk, says: “There has been some fine quality snow on the slopes of Europe and North America recently, meaning that people are booking themselves late ski breaks.”

“Whether you have already had a ski trip this season, or are taking your first one now, it’s best to check into the weather and conditions to make sure you’re going to the right resort.”

“We also counsel booking in-demand accessories like winter tyres and snow chains in advance of travelling – rental providers only keep limited stocks of them and are prone to running out.”

eRentals.co.uk Top Ski Destinations –

1. Aspen
2. Banff
3. Salt Lake City
4. Salzburg
5. Innsbruck

To compare the latest ski deals visit www.erentals.co.uk *Prices are based on seven-day rental from 12 March 2012 and are subject to change.

eRentals.co.uk is a specialist car hire company, providing car rental in over 12,000 locations around the World. Committed to finding its customers the best prices, eRentals.co.uk offers a quick and easy search of the latest offers, including car hire Portugal deals and pick up locations for Madeira car hire.
/ends.

About eRentals.co.uk
eRentals.co.uk was launched in 2006 and is a specialist car hire company, providing low cost car rental in over 12,000 locations around the World, in all major countries and tourist destinations. Committed to finding its customers the best prices, eRentals.co.uk offers a quick and easy search of the latest offers. eRentals.co.uk is operated by Sublime Systems Ltd, a company that specialises in online businesses.

Media Contact
Jenny White
Context
T:             01625 511966
F: 01625 511967
Jenny.white@contextpr.co.uk
www.contextpr.co.uk

SportsDirect.com, the UK’s leading online sportswear and football boots retailer are selling the shirt from just £35 and it will be available in kids, men’s and ladies sizes. You can also complete your England kit and step out of the official 2012/2013 England shorts and socks from just £8 online at SportsDirect.com. Even the mini England supporters can be fully kitted out with full kits starting at 3-6 months from £27.

Best of all, if you pre-order the new England shirt from SportsDirect.com before midday 27^th February you could be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to see England vs Holland on 29^th February- where the new strip will make it’s debut! (Entrants must be 18 or over- full terms and conditions can be found on SportsDirect.com).

Shop for the whole range today, plus a huge selection of other England memorabilia ready for this year’s tournament and show your support for the England squad in 2012. Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it online at SportsDirect.com with guaranteed low prices every day.

You can also find out the latest deals from SportsDirect.com via their official Facebook and Twitter pages.

Emma Parker
08703339413
Emma.Parker@sportsdirect.com

Tesco Compare has posted a Burglary Infographic on its website to let customers know about the rate of burglaries in different UK areas, and the strategies used by housebreakers.

An innovative approach from Tesco Compare, an Infographic is used to represent information graphically. The new one on the site displays interesting statistics:

Did you know the most likely break-in and burglary victims are single-parent families in urban UK areas?*

Alongside revealing UK burglary hotspots, the webpage also displays most sought-after items amongst burglars.

Vikki Macleod, Commercial Director of the comparison website, comments: “Infographics are an innovative way to display statistics by making them easier to understand. We aim to use more imaginative techniques to convey information – and this form of graphic is a great way to achieve this.”

In addition to unveiling most commonly-stolen objects, or when and how burglaries happen, the Infographic may give people an insight into some of the variables insurers base their home insurance premiums on. This, for example, may include the home’s location and its level of security.

Who is Tesco Compare?

Launched in 2007, Tesco Compare helps people search for deals from leading car and home insurance providers. But there is more to the comparison site than meets the eye: It can introduce consumers to comparison services for products within money and utilities, and a greater range of insurance products. It also provides links to pet and breakdown insurance providers, and customers can also compare quotes and deals by features according to what is important to them, not just on price.

Summing up, Vikki Macleod, said: “We look forward to continually developing the site by introducing new types of web pages to engage and help customers. By presenting them with interesting information, we intend to encourage greater interaction with Tesco Compare.”

Want to see if you could find a deal on your car and home insurance this winter? Visit www.tescocompare.com

*Source: Home Office, Scottish Government andNorthern IrelandPolice Service, 2009-2011.

For media enquiries please contact:

Gemma Whitton: 0131 203 5516, or email gemma.whitton@tescobank.com

Notes to editors: Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited (trading as Tesco Compare) is part of the Tesco Personal Finance Group Limited, the financial services arm of theUK’s number one supermarket chain, which is fully owned by the Tesco Group. Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited, registered in Scotland No.318925.InterpointBuilding, 22 Haymarket Yards,EdinburghEH12 5BH. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Good news travels well: Tesco Compare is delighted to announce that it has teamed up with theidol.com, giving customers a fresh proposition and providers to find travel insurance deals.

The provider has already enjoyed a working relationship with Tesco Compare since 2009, delivering the life insurance comparison service. For those wanting to ‘get away from it all’ in the New Year, there will be the chance to search for different travel insurance quotes with the aim of saving money.

Peter Burgess, theidol.com’s Marketing Director, says: “We are more than happy to be working with Tesco Compare on a wider level, having already enjoyed a successful relationship for nearly three years. Our business recognises the comparison site as being part of a big brand. We believe we can offer new opportunities for those searching for competitive premiums.”

Search leading travel insurance brands…

Under the new provider, customers will be able to search over 20 travel insurers – many of which are leading brands. Theidol.com believes it can offer customers one of the most advanced travel insurance quote services available on the market today.

Vikki Macleod, Tesco Compare’s Commercial Director, said: “We are committed to ensuring customers have innovative ways to compare products. Working closer with theidol.com, this time for travel insurance, will demonstrate our dedication to giving customers a new choice. The provider is recognised in the industry and we look forward to working with them more comprehensively.”

The comparison service also allows customers to adjust the cover value for individual features in the quote results using a handy slide function – including, for example, aspects such as baggage cover, cancellation and curtailment, medical expenses and airline insolvency (scheduled airline failure).

A wide range of travel insurance cover to compare…

Through the provider, Tesco Compare can introduce customers to travel insurance for many areas, including personal and family cover, senior citizens, backpackers, business travellers, cruises, pre-existing medical conditions, winter sports activities and cover for people up to age 99.

Vikki Macleod summed up by saying: “Ultimately the new comparison service will help customers search for value for money travel insurance. The development marks an exciting new chapter for Tesco Compare to work closer with its partners. In turn, customers can search across a new choice of products to find a deal suited to their needs.”

Want to get away this winter? Why not search for cover via http://www.tescocompare.com/travel-insurance.shtml

– ENDS –

For media enquiries please contact:

Andy Moore, 0131-203-5515, or andy.moore@tescobank.com

Notes to editors:

Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited (trading as Tesco Compare) is part of the Tesco Personal Finance Group Limited, the financial services arm of the UK’s number one supermarket chain, which is fully owned by the Tesco Group. Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited, registered in Scotland No.318925. Interpoint Building, 22 Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh EH12 5BH. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

The Financial Services Authority does not regulate loans, credit cards, telecoms or utilities.

Tesco Compare

• Tesco Compare is a comparison site, based in the UK. Since our launch in 2007, our business activities have extended to facilitate the introduction of a wide range of comparison services.
• Our own principal comparison services are for car and home insurance to which we compare over 60 and 20 providers respectively.
• Products compared by third party suppliers include: Money (credit cards, loans, mortgages, current accounts and savings accounts). Insurance (business, life, van, motorbike, travel and health). Utilities (broadband, mobile broadband, home phone, digital TV and gas & electricity). We also provide customers with links to pet and breakdown insurance providers.
• Our aim is to introduce customers to fair prices and deals from a range of leading brands.
• We believe that comparison sites should be about more than just the lowest price so our comprehensive comparison service helps you search and compare a wide range of products and providers by feature as well as price.

The ‘Branson’ will be accepted as legal tender at all Virgin Holidays destinations from April 2 and can be bought through one of the company’s 100 retail outlets in the UK as well as in resorts upon arrival.

The ‘Branson’ launch follows research commissioned by Virgin Holidays and think tank Gray HL Division which found poor exchange rates polled highest in reasons for not travelling to a holiday hotspot, followed by bad weather, having to take vaccinations and deadly insects.

76% of respondents would sacrifice hot temperatures to make their money go further on holiday and 64% claimed not have travelled to a country because of a poor exchange rate.

Sir Richard Branson said: “We’ve listened to our customers and are shaking up the travel industry once again. With the ‘Branson’ we will ensure Virgin Holidays’ customers’ money goes further on holiday, meaning they really are receiving the ultimate Rockstar Service.”

The new currency will be printed in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 initially and the artwork will reflect the various types of holiday you can experience with the holiday company – beach, city break and cruise.

Financial expert Ray Hiding Viols said: “With uncertainty in the world’s financial system creating problems for people trying to work out holiday budgets, the ‘Branson’ is a very welcome addition to the Foreign Exchange. With two Bransons the equivalent of one British Pound, Virgin Holidays holidaymakers can forget about being stuck by fluctuating exchange rates – and enjoy more for their money.”

- ends -

For further information please contact:

Charlotte Andrews      charlottea@launchgroup.co.uk     020 7758 3921 / 07703 729 691

Sonal Patel         sonalp@launchgroup.co.uk     020 7758 3927 / 07904 197 903

Notes to editors:

About Virgin Holidays
Virgin Holidays is the UK’s leading long haul holiday company and its brochures cover USA, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle and Far East, the Indian Ocean and Australasia.

As one of the top travel companies in the UK, Virgin Holidays strives to deliver amazing holiday experiences to all customers. Formed in 1985 following the creation of Virgin Atlantic, and built on the Virgin principles of excellent customer service, high quality and value for money, Virgin Holidays offers maximum convenience and flexibility with an emphasis on fun and excitement. The brand is particularly known for the ‘magic touches’ and customers have come to expect whatever destination they choose. Virgin Holidays has become synonymous with honesty and reliability, delivered with a sense of fun and an innovative twist.

Entering the competition is easy. All bloggers need to do is:

• Share a carrot recipe on their own blog;
• Mention the competition in the post;
• Tell Lovethegarden by emailing the URL of their entry before 21^st December 2011.

The orange root vegetable is a prominent part of traditional Christmas meals, but recipes don’t have to be Christmas themed. Recipes for soups, salads, stir-fries and even cakes with this versatile vegetable are welcomed too.

Lovethegarden launched their first competition to find the best recipes for garden vegetables in February 2011, which encouraged bloggers to be creative with cabbage. The winner was Karolina with her Cabbage & Mushroom Pasties. In August, David Hall won the Potty for Potatoes competition with his Hot potato, bacon and nasturtium salad and the winner of the Taste for Tomatoes competition was Nic from Cherrapeno with her Summer Tomato Tart with Chilli Cheese Pastry. The carrot competition will be the last one for 2011, but in 2012, Lovethegarden will continue to encourage everyone in the UK to eat their five-a-day.

The deadline is 11.59pm (UK time) on 21th December 2011. For more information, please visit the vegetable garden competition page.

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

LovetheGarden ®, ™ and Miracle-Gro, Plus, Scotts and Pour & Feed are trade marks of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company LLC or its affiliates.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Salisbury House, Catteshall Lane, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XE

For more information please contact Brittany LaGambina, Brittany.LaGambina@arena-media.co.uk