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{{short description|British price comparison business}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC
| name = Moneysupermarket.com Group plc
| owner =
| owner =
| logo = MoneySuperMarket logo.jpg
| logo = Msm-aug-21-logo.png
| logo_size = 220px
| logo_size = 170px
| former_name = Moneysupermarket.com Group Limited (June{{endash}}July 2007)<ref name="CompaniesHouse">{{Cite web |date=2007-03-14 |title=Moneysupermarket.com Group plc overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06160943 |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=[[Companies House]] |language=en}}</ref>
| type = [[Public company|Public]] ({{LSE|MONY}})
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| foundation = 1993
| traded_as = {{ubl|{{LSE|MONY}}|[[FTSE 250 Index|FTSE 250]] component}}
| founder = [[Simon Nixon]]
| foundation = 1993
| location_city = [[Ewloe]]
| location_country = [[Wales]]
| founder = [[Simon Nixon]]
| location_city = [[Ewloe]]
| key_people = [[Bruce Carnegie-Brown]] <small>([[chairman (official)|Chairman]] of the [[board of directors|board]])</small><br>[[Simon Nixon]]<small> (Founder)</small><br>Mark Lewis [[Chief executive officer|CEO]]
| location_country = [[UK]]
| homepage = [http://www.moneysupermarket.com/ Moneysupermarket.com]
| key_people = {{Ubl
| caption =
| Robin Freestone ([[chairman (official)|Chairman]] of the [[board of directors|board]])
| website = [http://www.moneysupermarket.com/ Moneysupermarket.com]
| Peter Duffy ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
| revenue = [[Pound sterling|£]]329.7 million (2017)<ref name=prelims>{{cite web|url=http://corporate.moneysupermarket.com/~/media/Files/M/Moneysupermarket-V3/result-and-presentations/annual-report-2017.pdf|format=PDF|title=Annual Report 2017|publisher=Moneysupermarket.com Group |accessdate=27 March 2018}}</ref>
}}
| operating_income = [[Pound sterling|£]]94.9 million (2017)<ref name=prelims/>
| caption =
| net_income = [[Pound sterling|£]]78.1 million (2017)<ref name=prelims/>
| website = {{URL|https://moneysupermarket.com}}
| num_employees =
| revenue = {{increase}} [[Pound sterling|£]]432.1 million (2023)<ref name=results>{{cite web|url=https://corporate.moneysupermarket.com/~/media/Files/M/Moneysupermarket-V3/press-release/preliminary-results-2023.pdf|title=Annual Results 2023|publisher=Moneysupermarket.com Group |access-date=20 February 2024}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{increase}} [[Pound sterling|£]]97.3 million (2023)<ref name=results/>
| net_income = {{increase}} [[Pound sterling|£]]72.2 million (2023)<ref name=results/>
| num_employees =
}}
}}


'''Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC''' ({{lse|MONY}}) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[price comparison]] website-based business specialising in financial services. The website enables consumers to compare prices on a range of products, including [[mortgages]], [[credit cards]] and [[loans]]. The company also purchased [[MoneySavingExpert.com]] for £80 million from [[Martin Lewis (financial journalist)|Martin Lewis]] in 2012, becoming a subsidiary of Moneysupermarket. He remains a shareholder in the parent company, selling a small percentage of shares in 2015.
'''Moneysupermarket.com Group plc''' is a British [[Comparison shopping website|price comparison]] website-based business specialising in financial services. The website enables consumers to compare prices on a range of products, including energy, [[car insurance]], [[home insurance]], [[travel insurance]], [[mortgages]], [[credit cards]] and [[loans]]. The company's subsidiaries include the Travel Supermarket and [[MoneySavingExpert.com|Moneysavingexpert]] websites. Moneysupermarket Group is listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] and is a constituent of the [[FTSE 250 Index]].

Moneysupermarket is listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] and is a constituent of the [[FTSE 250 Index]].


==History==
==History==
The company was founded by [[Simon Nixon]] and Duncan Cameron as a mortgage subscription business in 1987.<ref name="moneyweek">{{cite web|last1=Hohler|first1=Emily|title=My first million: Simon Nixon of Moneysupermarket|url=https://moneyweek.com/31394/my-first-million-simon-nixon-of-moneysupermarket|publisher=[[MoneyWeek]]|date=8 July 2007}}</ref> It expanded rapidly during the mid-1990s.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Higgins|first1=Ria|title=A Life in the Day: Simon Nixon, internet entrepreneur|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a-life-in-the-day-simon-nixon-internet-entrepreneur-93krfxzbt5w|work=[[The Times]]|date=11 November 2007}}</ref> In the late 1990s, Nixon realised that the introduction of easy access to the internet would create opportunities for web-based businesses. He launched a website which facilitated price comparison for personal loans and [[credit card]]s<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thelwell|first1=Emma|title=Simon Nixon: UK's richest young entrepreneur|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2954737/Simon-Nixon-UKs-richest-young-entrepreneur.html|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=21 February 2008}}</ref> which was marketed as a business to consumer business.<ref name=moneyweek />
[[Simon Nixon]] founded a two businesses in the mortgage market in the late 1980s, which eventually became Moneysupermarket.


As the web-based business expanded to offer mortgage comparisons, Nixon decided to close the traditional mortgage subscription business which at the time was known as Mortgage 2000.<ref name=moneyweek /> As Cameron had been recruited to run the IT side of Mortgage 2000, there was no longer a full-time role for him and, from 2002, he simply became a [[wikt:silent partner|silent partner]] in the business.<ref name="independent2">{{cite web|last1=Prosser|first1=David|title=Simon Nixon: Checkout tills ringing for internet guru|url=https://www.independent.co.uk:80/news/business/analysis-and-features/simon-nixon-checkout-tills-ringing-for-internet-guru-452422.html|work=[[The Independent]]|archive-date=7 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507003614/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/simon-nixon-checkout-tills-ringing-for-internet-guru-452422.html|date=9 June 2007|access-date=7 April 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=guardian>{{cite web|last1=Connon|first1=Heather|title=The man who made the tills ring at Moneysupermarket|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/22/business.newmedia|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=22 July 2007}}</ref>
This began when he established a mortgage subscription business in 1987. Nixon was a student at the [[University of Nottingham]] studying accounting, while also working a job selling mortgages. While working in the role, he noticed after a number of months there was no easy way for brokers to compare all the mortgage deals available. He worked evenings and weekends setting up best-buy tables so he could send out information to those who required it. He began it as a free service, before charging subscriptions at £11 a fortnight. After two years in business, Nixon was earning £10,000 a month from his subscription business, offering [[mortgage]] advice via post.<ref name="moneyweek">{{cite web|last1=Hohler|first1=Emily|title=My first million: Simon Nixon of Moneysupermarket|url=https://moneyweek.com/my-first-million-simon-nixon-of-moneysupermarket/|publisher=[[MoneyWeek]]|date=July 8, 2007}}</ref>


In 2000, Moneysupermarket announced the launch of [[Travelsupermarket.com]]. The website operated in the same way as Moneysupermarket, but compared prices for the travel market. The goal of Travelsupermarket was to provide transparent pricing, describing the exact differences between the different price structures being offered.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Berman|first1=Chloe|title=Interview: Travelsupermarket.com commercial director Chris Nixon|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/25916/interview-travelsupermarketcom-commercial-director-chris-nixon|publisher=Travel Weekly|date=16 November 2007}}</ref>
In 1989, he persuaded Duncan Cameron to quit is IT degree course at [[Liverpool University]] and assist him with expanding the business. Together they formed Mortgage 2000 just as computers and the [[Internet]] were becoming regular fixtures in offices across the UK. Mortgage 2000 was aimed at accounting firms and financial advisors who had access to the Internet. Instead of simply offering a fortnightly update via post, subscribers could log on and check deals real-time via Mortgage 2000. The stats were updated daily, rather than fortnightly.<ref name=moneyweek />


In 2002, the company appeared in ''[[The Sunday Times]]''{{'}} Fast Track 100, and it was also the 80th fastest growing tech business in the [[United Kingdom]] in the period from 2000 to 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/moneysupermarket-com-4/|title=Moneysupermarket.com - Fast Track|last=TWK|work=Fast Track|access-date=7 September 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2003, Nixon was declared Entrepreneur of the Year at the National Business Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/moneysupermarket-founder-named-entrepreneur-of-the-year/|title=Moneysupermarket founder named Entrepreneur of the Year|date=14 November 2003|publisher=Mortgage Strategy|access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref>
This expansion was hugely successful in the financial sector in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Higgins|first1=Ria|title=A Life in the Day: Simon Nixon, internet entrepreneur|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a-life-in-the-day-simon-nixon-internet-entrepreneur-93krfxzbt5w|publisher=[[The Times]]|date=November 11, 2007}}</ref> In the late 1990s, the Internet expanded from an office-based service into peoples homes. Nixon spoke to [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] about spotting an opportunity when [[Freeserve]] began to offer free access to the Internet for homeowners in 1999 and saw a rapid expansion in Moneysupermarket from that point forward. Initially the website focused on a number of small comparison and sourcing markets for personal loans and [[credit cards]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thelwell|first1=Emma|title=Simon Nixon: UK's richest young entrepreneur|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2954737/Simon-Nixon-UKs-richest-young-entrepreneur.html|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=February 21, 2008}}</ref> Instead of providing [[Independent Financial Advisor]]s with the information, Moneysupermarket.com was marketed as a business to consumer business to compliment their ''Mortgage 2000'' offering.<ref name=moneyweek /> Nixon and Duncan made commissions varying from 30p to £30 for different deals their users signed up for in the year days. As these figures began to add up, they shut Mortgage 2000 and began to offer mortgage comparisons on Moneysupermarket.com.<ref name=moneyweek />


In June 2007, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that Moneysupermarket was processing 52% of all the price comparisons in the UK.<ref name="guardian"/> However, the reporter also pointed out that, in the case of household and car insurance, price comparison websites such as Moneysupermarket rarely include all products on the market and that price comparisons are consequently incomplete.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2007/jun/22/insurance|title=Take care when using price comparison websites|date=2007-06-21|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=7 September 2018}}</ref> Also, in June 2007, Nixon acquired Cameron’s 47% stake in the business for £162 million.<ref name="independent2"/>
This caused strain between the co-founders as Duncan was brought on board to run the IT side of Mortgage 2000. Once the potential for Moneysupermarket was realised, Mortgage 2000 only had limited potential. The focus away from Mortgage 2000 led Duncan to stop getting involved in the business in early 2002, but remained as a [[wikt:silent partner|silent partner]] in the business.<ref name=independent>{{cite web|last1=Prosser|first1=David|title=Simon Nixon: Checkout tills ringing for internet guru|url=https://www.independent.co.uk:80/news/business/analysis-and-features/simon-nixon-checkout-tills-ringing-for-internet-guru-452422.html|publisher=[[The Independent]]|archivedate=2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507003614/http://www.independent.co.uk:80/news/business/analysis-and-features/simon-nixon-checkout-tills-ringing-for-internet-guru-452422.html|date=June 9, 2007}}</ref><ref name=guardian>{{cite web|last1=Connon|first1=Heather|title=The man who made the tills ring at Moneysupermarket|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/22/business.newmedia|publisher=[[The Guardian]]|date=July 22, 2007}}</ref>


Later that month, the company was the subject of an [[initial public offering]] on the [[London Stock Exchange]] at a price that valued the business at circa £1 billion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2812909/Moneysupermarket.com-IPO-disappoints.html|title=Moneysupermarket.com IPO disappoints|last=Bland|first=Ben|journal=Daily Telegraph|date=26 July 2007|access-date=7 September 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/5f7f208c-2f76-11dc-a68f-0000779fd2ac|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211221209/https://www.ft.com/content/5f7f208c-2f76-11dc-a68f-0000779fd2ac|archive-date=11 December 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=IPO values Moneysupermarket at £1bn|website=Financial Times|language=en-GB|access-date=7 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jun/29/citynews.newmedia|title=Moneysupermarket.com to go public|last=Wearden|first=Graeme|date=29 June 2007|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=7 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/comparison-sites-do-they-find-you-the-best-deals-1029634.html|title=Comparison sites: do they find you the best deals?|work=The Independent|access-date=7 September 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> It was one of the largest tech flotations in the [[United Kingdom]] to have taken place for many years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://citywire.co.uk/money/moneysupermarket-com-to-float-as-largest-lse-tech-stock-in-years/a284597|title=Moneysupermarket.com to float as largest LSE tech stock in years|work=Citywire Money|access-date=2018-09-07|language=en}}</ref>
In 2000, Moneysupermarket announced their first major expansion with the launch of [[Travelsupermarket.com]]. The website ran in the same way as Moneysupermarket, but compared prices for a different market. Pricing for the travel market at the time wasn't [[consumer]]-friendly, often providing a "price from" advertisement. The initial goal of Travelsupermarket was to provide transparent pricing, describing the exact differences between the different prices provided.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Berman|first1=Chloe|title=Interview: Travelsupermarket.com commercial director Chris Nixon|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/25916/interview-travelsupermarketcom-commercial-director-chris-nixon|publisher=Travel Weekly|date=November 16, 2007}}</ref>


In 2012, Moneysupermarket announced the acquisition of [[MoneySavingExpert.com]] for £87 million. Following the acquisition, MoneySavingExpert remained editorially independent<ref>{{cite web|last1=Osborne|first1=Hilary|title=Martin Lewis sells MoneySavingExpert for £87m|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/jun/01/martin-lewis-sells-moneysavingexpert|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=1 June 2012}}</ref> and its founder, [[Martin Lewis (financial journalist)|Martin Lewis]], remained as the chief editor of the platform.<ref>{{cite web|title=Martin Lewis sells MoneySavingExpert.com for £87m|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18295587|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=1 June 2012}}</ref> The company announced in 2015 that Lewis would be reducing his overall holding in Moneysupermarket.com to 1.5%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Martin Lewis nets £25m after selling Moneysupermarket.com shares|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jul/31/saving-expert-martin-lewis-sells-25m-moneysupermarket-shares|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=31 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Cunningham|first1=Tara|title=Martin Lewis makes £25m from MoneySuperMarket share sale|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/11775753/Martin-Lewis-makes-25m-from-MoneySuperMarket-share-sale.html|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=31 July 2015}}</ref>
Moneysupermarket was recognised in 2002 by [[The Sunday Times]]' Fast Track 100, as one of the fastest growing companies in the UK. The awards measured three financial years, between 2000 and 2002, to study the growth of the business. MoneySupermarket were judged to be the 80th fastest growing tech business in the [[United Kingdom]] during the three-year period. The company's sales grew from £5.4 million in 2000 to £13.6 million in 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/moneysupermarket-com-4/|title=Moneysupermarket.com - Fast Track|last=TWK|work=Fast Track|access-date=2018-09-07|language=en-GB}}</ref>


In October 2016, the company announced that Mark Lewis, a former retail director at [[John Lewis (department store)|John Lewis]], would take over as CEO from Peter Plumb in May 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McClean|first1=Paul|title=Moneysupermarket names John Lewis retail director as chief|url=https://www.ft.com/content/1bf0a4ac-9c55-11e6-a6e4-8b8e77dd083a|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211221225/https://www.ft.com/content/1bf0a4ac-9c55-11e6-a6e4-8b8e77dd083a|archive-date=11 December 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|publisher=[[Financial Times]]|date=27 October 2016|access-date=7 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kollewe|first1=Julia|title=Moneysupermarket appoints Mark Lewis as chief executive|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/oct/27/moneysupermarket-appoints-mark-lewis-as-chief-executive|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=27 October 2016}}</ref>
Following the success of Moneysupermarket, [[Simon Nixon]] was announced as Entrepreneur of the Year at the National Business Awards in 2003.
In September 2020, in another change in management, Peter Duffy took over as CEO.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ralph |first1=Oliver |title=Just Eat's Peter Duffy takes top job at Moneysupermarket |url=https://www.ft.com/content/732f07b7-7fd0-4944-ac92-965c42bb5d88 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211221243/https://www.ft.com/content/732f07b7-7fd0-4944-ac92-965c42bb5d88 |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=5 February 2021 |work=Financial Times |date=15 May 2020 }}</ref>


On 19 October 2021, Moneysupermarket announced it was acquiring Maple Syrup Media, the owners of the UK cashback website, Quidco.com. The sale amount is reported to be £87 million in cash, plus an additional £14 million as a deferred payment.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hawkins |first1=Emily |title= Moneysupermarket acquires cashback platform Quidco |url= https://www.cityam.com/moneysupermarket-acquires-cashback-platform-quidco/ |access-date=20 October 2021 |work=CityAM |date=19 October 2021}}</ref>
By 2006, the group earned pre-tax profits of £11.7 million on revenues of £105m.<ref name="moneyweek" /> A year later, [[The Guardian]] announced that the website was processing 52% of all the price comparisons in the UK.<ref name="guardian">{{cite web|last1=Connon|first1=Heather|title=The man who made the tills ring at Moneysupermarket|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/22/business.newmedia|publisher=[[The Guardian]]|date=July 22, 2007}}</ref> In June 2007, Duncan Cameron sold his 47% stake in the business to co-founder [[Simon Nixon]] for £162 million.<ref name="independent2">{{cite web|last1=Prosser|first1=David|title=Simon Nixon: Checkout tills ringing for internet guru|url=https://www.independent.co.uk:80/news/business/analysis-and-features/simon-nixon-checkout-tills-ringing-for-internet-guru-452422.html|publisher=[[The Independent]]|archivedate=2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507003614/http://www.independent.co.uk:80/news/business/analysis-and-features/simon-nixon-checkout-tills-ringing-for-internet-guru-452422.html|date=June 9, 2007}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' noted that for household and car insurance, price comparison websites such as moneysupermarket.com rarely include all products on the market and that price comparisons are consequently incomplete.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/money/2007/jun/22/insurance|title=Take care when using price comparison websites|date=2007-06-21|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-09-07}}</ref>

Shortly after [[Simon Nixon]] became the main shareholder in the business, Moneysupermarket announced that the company was to be listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2812909/Moneysupermarket.com-IPO-disappoints.html|title=Moneysupermarket.com IPO disappoints|last=Bland|first=Ben|date=2007-07-26|access-date=2018-09-07|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Shortly before the floatation, the [[Financial Times]], [[The Guardian]] and [[The Independent]], all reported that the group had been valued at around £1 billion at the time of its [[initial public offering]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/5f7f208c-2f76-11dc-a68f-0000779fd2ac|title="IPO values Moneysupermarket at £1bn|last=|first=|date=|website=Financial Times|language=en-GB|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2018-09-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jun/29/citynews.newmedia|title=Moneysupermarket.com to go public|last=Wearden|first=Graeme|date=2007-06-29|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-09-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/comparison-sites-do-they-find-you-the-best-deals-1029634.html|title=Comparison sites: do they find you the best deals?|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-09-07|language=en-GB}}</ref> The floatation valuation was seen at the time as one of the largest tech IPOs in the [[United Kingdom]] for a long period of time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://citywire.co.uk/money/moneysupermarket-com-to-float-as-largest-lse-tech-stock-in-years/a284597|title=Moneysupermarket.com to float as largest LSE tech stock in years|work=Citywire Money|access-date=2018-09-07|language=en}}</ref>

In 2012, Moneysupermarket announced that they had purchased [[MoneySavingExpert.com]] in a deal worth £87 million. After the acquisition was completed in September of that year, MoneySavingExpert remained as an editorially independent platform, as part of the contractually binding Editorial Code.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Osborne|first1=Hilary|title=Martin Lewis sells MoneySavingExpert for £87m|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/jun/01/martin-lewis-sells-moneysavingexpert|publisher=[[The Guardian]]|date=June 1, 2012}}</ref> Its founder, [[Martin Lewis (financial journalist)|Martin Lewis]], announced that he would remain as the chief editor of the platform.<ref>{{cite web|title=Martin Lewis sells MoneySavingExpert.com for £87m|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18295587|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=June 1, 2012}}</ref>

Moneysupermarket announced in 2015 that [[Martin Lewis (financial journalist)|Martin Lewis]] would be selling 1.6% of his shares in Moneysupermarket, reducing his overall holdings in the company to 1.5%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Martin Lewis nets £25m after selling Moneysupermarket.com shares|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jul/31/saving-expert-martin-lewis-sells-25m-moneysupermarket-shares|publisher=[[The Guardian]]|date=July 31, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Cunningham|first1=Tara|title=Martin Lewis makes £25m from MoneySuperMarket share sale|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/11775753/Martin-Lewis-makes-25m-from-MoneySuperMarket-share-sale.html|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> Moneysupermarket recruited a new chief executive in October 2016 to replace Peter Plumb, who would be leaving the group in May 2017. Mark Lewis was announced as the new chief executive and had previously served as retail director at [[John Lewis (department store)|John Lewis]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=McClean|first1=Paul|title=Moneysupermarket names John Lewis retail director as chief|url=https://www.ft.com/content/1bf0a4ac-9c55-11e6-a6e4-8b8e77dd083a|publisher=[[Financial Times]]|date=October 27, 2016}}</ref> He was tipped to become its managing director before joining Moneysupermarket. In an interview with [[The Guardian]] he stated he wanted to return to digital retail after working with both CollectPlus and [[eBay]] previously.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kollewe|first1=Julia|title=Moneysupermarket appoints Mark Lewis as chief executive|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/oct/27/moneysupermarket-appoints-mark-lewis-as-chief-executive|publisher=[[The Guardian]]|date=October 27, 2016}}</ref>

In the third quarter of 2017, Moneysupermarket announced slight dips in their money and home services operations, but overall saw an increase on the previous year’s figures. The group reported a total revenue of £90.2 million, a six percent increase when compared to the previous year’s Q3 revenue figures.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityam.com/274003/moneysupermarketcom-reports-increased-revenue-third-quarter|title=Moneysupermarket.com reports increased revenue in third quarter of the year|last=|first=|date=|website=City A.M.|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref> The company's best performer was its insurance revenues, which grew by 11 percent compared to the previous year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/95a00d0f-d493-3770-8bc8-ebf82a20eefe|title=Moneysupermarket Q3 revenue rises 6%|last=|first=|date=|website=Financial Times|language=en-GB|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2018-09-07}}</ref>

==How it works==
From 2003 to 2006, Moneysupermarket underwent a ninefold growth in traffic. This resulted in them deploying an enterprise management and monitoring system to track availability and increase internal understanding of the users' experience.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Annesley|first1=Christian|title=Moneysupermarket plots usage for growth|url=http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240076401/Moneysupermarket-plots-usage-for-growth|publisher=[[Computer Weekly]]|date=January 31, 2006}}</ref>

Sites such as Moneysupermarket collect data directly from merchants used to find quotations for any given comparison market. Retailers can also supply Moneysupermarket with products and prices by manually submitting their own lists. These would then be matched up against the original database so their aren't any duplications.<ref>{{cite web|title=How The MoneySuperMarket Site Works|url=http://www.moneysupermarket.com/hubs/how-moneysupermarket-works/|publisher=Moneysupermarket}}</ref>

Data feed files can also be used to collect data. In this scenario, a merchant would provide Moneysupermarket with information electronically in a set format. Like other [[comparison shopping website]]s, Moneysupermarket has previously used third-party [[affiliate network|affiliate]] networks to receive information and aggregate data. Another method used is to [[Web crawler|crawl]] the web for prices. This effectively takes away the submission aspect of smaller merchants, while Moneysupermarket still provide their clients with accurate pricing. It was estimated that this method was initially used in the early days of price comparison.<ref name=explainedtelegraph>{{cite web|last1=Simon|first1=Emma|title=Comparison sites explained|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/money-saving-tips/8368276/Comparison-sites-explained.html|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=March 8, 2011}}</ref>

In recent years, [[comparison shopping website]]s such as Moneysupermarket have been able to use their inventory data to place retailer prices on a blog or content website as an advert. In return, the owner of that website will receive a commission percentage from Moneysupermarket. While this effects the overall commission earned by Moneysupermarket from merchants, it increases traffic and is now a common method used by comparison websites to drive traffic.<ref name=explainedtelegraph />


==Operations==
==Operations==


===Moneysupermarket===
===MoneySuperMarket===
[[Simon Nixon]] founded Moneysupermarket.com, which is the main source of revenue for the Moneysupermarket group. Following the amalgamation of a number of companies dating back to 1989, Nixon formed the largest UK-based comparison website for insurance, finance, energy and a number of other markets. To date, it is the largest [[Comparison shopping website|comparison website]] in the UK by revenue.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ralph|first1=Oliver|title=Going gets tough for GoCompare the SuperMeerkat|url=https://www.ft.com/content/8997ec7a-2f01-11e6-bf8d-26294ad519fc|publisher=[[Financial Times]]|date=June 13, 2016}}</ref>
MoneySuperMarket, which specialises in financial services, was in 2016 the largest [[Comparison shopping website|comparison website]] in the UK by revenue.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ralph|first1=Oliver|title=Going gets tough for GoCompare the SuperMeerkat|url=https://www.ft.com/content/8997ec7a-2f01-11e6-bf8d-26294ad519fc|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211221257/https://www.ft.com/content/8997ec7a-2f01-11e6-bf8d-26294ad519fc|archive-date=11 December 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|publisher=[[Financial Times]]|date=June 13, 2016|access-date=7 March 2018}}</ref>
[[File:Travel Supermarket Logo (Reception).jpg|alt=|thumb|Travel Supermarket logo]]
===TravelSupermarket===


The TravelSupermarket.com website, specialising in price comparison for [[Package tour|package holidays]], was established in 2004 as a sister site to Moneysupermarket.com.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://corporate.moneysupermarket.com/about-us/our-history|title=Our History|website=corporate.moneysupermarket.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-16}}</ref>
===Travelsupermarket===
[[File:Money Saving Expert Logo.jpg|thumb|Money Saving Expert logo]]
Travelsupermarket was founded in 2000, as a travel comparison website and subsidiary of the Moneysupermarket.com group. Initially it competed with sites such as [[Expedia]] and [[Skyscanner]]. In 2005, it was named the best online travel company in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|title=Results of the survey - Travel Awards 2005|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/733759/Results-of-the-survey.html|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=October 8, 2005}}</ref>
Like Moneysupermarket, TravelSupermarket's television advertisements have become known for their humour and use of celebrities. Previous ads featured comedian [[Omid Djalili]], former Labour MP [[John Prescott]] and ''[[The X Factor|X Factor]]'' stars [[Jedward]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jedward-travel-advert-is-misleading-njwqmp6kfl0|title=Jedward travel advert is 'misleading'|last=Atherton|first=Mark|date=2011-04-27|work=The Times|access-date=2019-02-12|language=en|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>


===MoneySavingExpert===
===MoneySavingExpert===
[[MoneySavingExpert.com]] is a subsidiary of the Moneysupermarket group, after it was acquired from [[Martin Lewis (financial journalist)|Martin Lewis]] in 2012 for a deal in the region of £87 million. It was founded in February 2003, after Lewis believed the UK needed a resource to provide basic financial advice.<ref name=MSEabout>MoneySavingExpert.com, [http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/about-the-site About]</ref> The site had grown to attract 13 million monthly users by 2012, with 7 million subscribers opting in to receive weekly emails.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/martin-lewis-sells-moneysavingexpertcom-for-87m-7810705.html |title=Martin Lewis sells MoneySavingExpert.com for £87m |first=Ellen E |last=Jones |work=The Independent |date=1 June 2012}}</ref>
[[MoneySavingExpert.com]], established by financial journalist [[Martin Lewis (financial journalist)|Martin Lewis]] in 2003 to provide financial information to consumers, was bought by Moneysupermarket in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-06-01 |title=Martin Lewis sells MoneySavingExpert.com for £87m |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-18295587 |access-date=2022-07-15}}</ref> The subsidiary also operates a Cheap Energy Club which monitors users' energy tariffs to help them find the cheapest available.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gammell|first1=Kara|title=Moneysavingexpert.com launches 'Cheap Energy Club'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/household-bills/9847889/Moneysavingexpert.com-launches-Cheap-Energy-Club.html|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=February 4, 2013}}</ref>

In September 2012, he sold the website while remaining editor-in-chief.

In 2013, the group announced the launch of the Cheap Energy Club by Moneysupermarket subsidiary, [[MoneySavingExpert.com]]. Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert, stated in a number of interviews that he believed the energy market was broken. The service monitors the users energy tariff to ensure they are on the cheapest gas and electricity deal. The scheme requires the user to input data regarding your current [[energy tariff]]s and state the amount of saving for which you would be willing to switch [[Public electricity supplier|provider]]s. Tariffs that are available are then reviewed every month and you are notified when switching would trigger your target saving.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gammell|first1=Kara|title=Moneysavingexpert.com launches 'Cheap Energy Club'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/household-bills/9847889/Moneysavingexpert.com-launches-Cheap-Energy-Club.html|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=February 4, 2013}}</ref>


== Research ==
== Research ==
Moneysupermarket has a [[research]] arm, which frequently releases data about [[Britons]] and common trends they spot in their data. With energy consumption, the group released statistics suggesting that the UK wasted £1.6 billion on energy bills each year from leaving devices such as televisions on standby.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-much-money-you-waste-11669591|title=This is how much money you waste each year by leaving devices on standby|last=Robson|first=Steve|date=2017-12-10|work=mirror|access-date=2018-08-28}}</ref>
Moneysupermarket has a research arm: it has released statistics suggesting that the UK wastes £1.6 billion on energy bills each year from leaving devices such as televisions on standby.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-much-money-you-waste-11669591|title=This is how much money you waste each year by leaving devices on standby|last=Robson|first=Steve|date=2017-12-10|work=mirror|access-date=2018-08-28}}</ref> It has also found that the cost of TV subscriptions can be reduced dramatically through [[Streaming media|streaming services]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/tv-prices-rising-cut-the-cost-with-streaming-deals/|title=TV prices rising? Cut the cost with streaming deals|last=Gammell|first=Kara|date=2016-09-20|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> In February 2018, the group's research found that 20 per cent of people in [[Scotland]] had never switched energy provider.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/nearly-a-fifth-of-scottish-households-have-never-switched-energy-provider/|title=Nearly a fifth of Scottish households have never switched energy provider - Sunday Post|work=Sunday Post|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en-US}}</ref>


==Advertisements==
Other domestic trends spotted by the groups research found that a TV subscription costing UK households £357 annually could be reduced dramatically through [[Streaming media|streaming services]], often to less than £100.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/tv-prices-rising-cut-the-cost-with-streaming-deals/|title=TV prices rising? Cut the cost with streaming deals|last=Gammell|first=Kara|date=2016-09-20|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
[[File:Dave Moneysupermarket.jpg|thumb|right|A 2015 advert featuring a male character named Dave strutting in high heels garnered controversy]]
In 2010, adverts featured comedian [[Omid Djalili]] as the character of "HaggleHero".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/video/2009/dec/30/omid-djalili-moneysupermarket|title=Watch Omid Djalili in Moneysupermarket.com ad|date=30 December 2009|work=The Guardian|access-date=10 April 2016}}</ref> From 2011 to 2013 the company's adverts included a man surfing on an inflatable crocodile, a man in a jungle with gorillas and a man going into space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarket-surf-mother/1078211|title=Moneysupermarket 'surf' by Mother|date=4 July 2011|publisher=Campaign Live|access-date=10 April 2016}}</ref> In August 2013 a new advert was launched, featuring "Bill" with an army of cats whilst a spokesman, played by [[James Lance]], referred to Bill as "so Moneysupermarket".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarketcom-running-cats-mother/1194703|title=Moneysupermarket.com "running with cats" by Mother|date=12 August 2013|publisher=Campaign Live|access-date=10 April 2016}}</ref>


In January 2014, [[Snoop Dogg]] and his song "[[What's My Name? (Snoop Doggy Dogg song)|Who Am I (What's My Name)]]" were featured in a new ad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCd_J-4BauA|title=MoneySuperMarket Ad Featuring Snoop Dogg|date=3 March 2014|publisher=You Tube|access-date=10 April 2016}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> In August of the same year, the "Epic Elephunk" walked around [[Manhattan]] with "Graeme" riding on its back; again he was described as "so Money Supermarket"; the soundtrack was "[[Word Up! (song)|Word Up!]]" by [[Cameo (band)|Cameo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarketcom-epic-elephunk-mother/1307234|title=Moneysupermarket.com "epic elephunk" by Mother|date=4 August 2014|publisher=Campaign Live|access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref>
In February 2018, the group's research found that 20 percent of [[Scotland]] had never switched energy provider.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/nearly-a-fifth-of-scottish-households-have-never-switched-energy-provider/|title=Nearly a fifth of Scottish households have never switched energy provider - Sunday Post|work=Sunday Post|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Adverts==
In 2010, adverts featured comedian [[Omid Djalili]] as the character of "HaggleHero".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/video/2009/dec/30/omid-djalili-moneysupermarket|title=Watch Omid Djalili in Moneysupermarket.com ad|date=30 December 2009|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=10 April 2016}}</ref>


In January 2015, another advertising campaign was launched featuring a man named Dave (played by Michael Van Schoik), walking down a street in L.A, dressed in a shirt, suit jacket, denim hot pants and high heels. He alongside two other people, struts confidently to the song "[[Don't Cha]]" by the [[Pussycat Dolls]], while showing off his prominent rear to stunned onlookers, including [[Sharon Osbourne]]. It was later revealed by the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]] in the UK to be the most complained about advert in 2015 with 1,513 complaints. In their ruling, the ASA found that whilst it may be distasteful to some, it did not judge the advert was offensive and the complaint was not upheld.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asa.org.uk/News-resources/Media-Centre/2016/2015-most-complained-about-ads.aspx#.VxDHCpN94_U|title=2015's most complained about ads|date=23 February 2016|publisher=ASA|access-date=15 April 2016}}</ref>
Then from 2011 to 2013 showed adverts such as man surfing on an inflatable crocodile, another man in a jungle with gorillas and another man going into space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarket-surf-mother/1078211|title=Moneysupermarket 'surf' by Mother|date=4 July 2011|publisher=Campaign Live|accessdate=10 April 2016}}</ref> In August 2013 a new advert was launched showing a man named Bill running around [[Croydon]] with an army of cats whilst a spokesman played by [[James Lance]] saying that Bill is so Moneysupermarket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarketcom-running-cats-mother/1194703|title=Moneysupermarket.com "running with cats" by Mother|date=12 August 2013|publisher=Campaign Live|accessdate=10 April 2016}}</ref>


In July 2015, another advert was launched. It shows a chubby construction worker named Colin (played by Kyle McIntire). He dances, gyrates, does a worm dance and a split in front of his co-workers and the bemused office staff at the other building. The song featured in this advert is "[[Just a Little (Liberty X song)|Just a Little]]" by British pop group [[Liberty X]]. At the end of the advert, he also swings on a wrecking ball (a reference to the video of Miley Cyrus' [[Wrecking Ball (Miley Cyrus song)|Wrecking Ball]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarket-follows-epic-strut-pole-dancing-builder/1357516|title=MoneySupermarket follows 'epic strut' with pole-dancing builder|date=24 July 2015|publisher=Campaign Live|access-date=10 April 2016}}</ref>
In January 2014, a new advert was launched featuring [[Snoop Dogg]] and his song "[[Who Am I (What's My Name)]]" features on the ad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCd_J-4BauA|title=MoneySuperMarket Ad Featuring Snoop Dogg|date=3 March 2014|publisher=You Tube|accessdate=10 April 2016}}</ref>


In August 2014, another new advert was launched featuring the Epic Elephunk walks around the road of [[Manhattan]] city while Graeme is riding the Elephunk the Elephant's back, the narrator claiming he is so Money Supermarket, and the chosen soundtrack being "[[Word Up! (song)|Word Up!]]" by [[Cameo (band)|Cameo]] on this ad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarketcom-epic-elephunk-mother/1307234|title=Moneysupermarket.com "epic elephunk" by Mother|date=4 August 2014|publisher=Campaign Live|accessdate=27 March 2018}}</ref>
In January 2016, another TV campaign by agency [[Mother (advertising agency)|Mother]] was launched featuring a bodyguard named Gary. The song featured in the advert is "[[Big Bad Wolf (Duck Sauce song)|Big Bad Wolf]]" by [[Duck Sauce]], an American-Canadian DJ duo.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarketcom-epic-wolf-mother/1378494 | title = Moneysupermarket.com "epic wolf" by Mother | date = 2016-07-01 | website = [[Campaign (magazine)|Campaign]] | publisher = [[Haymarket Media Group]] | access-date = 2016-03-02 | quote = Moneysupermarket.com's follow-up to last year's popular "epic strut" and "Colin" ads features a presidential bodyguard popping and locking to Duck Sauce's Big Bad Wolf.}}</ref>


In April 2016, another advert was released. It showed all three of the 'epic' people having a dance off in a car park. The song featured in the advert is "[[Worth It (Fifth Harmony song)|Worth It]]" by [[Fifth Harmony]] featuring [[Kid Ink]]. The ad premiered during the first break of ''[[Britain's Got Talent]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/04/09/the-new-money-supermarket-ad-has-debuted-and-it-features-a-bit-of-an-epic-dance-off-5806344/|title=The new Money Supermarket ad has debuted – and it features a bit of an epic dance off|date=9 April 2016|work=Metro|publisher=[[DMG Media]]|access-date=10 April 2016}}</ref> <sup>]</sup> It was revealed in an article by [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] that in 2016 three of Moneysupermarket's adverts made the top 10 list of most complained about commercials in the United Kingdom, a list produced by the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/moneysupermarket-wins-big-annoying-ads-a7534961.html|title=MoneySuperMarket wins big with annoying ads|website=The Independent|date= 19 January 2017|author=James Moore|access-date=3 September 2020}}</ref> Despite the potential negativity, the company's new Chief Executive stated that he believed the 2,500 complaints showed their adverts had people talking about the brand.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/10/08/moneysupermarket-ceo-pleased-twerking-adverts-talked-about/|title=Moneysupermarket CEO: I'm pleased our twerking adverts were talked about|last=Burton|first=Lucy|date=2017-10-08|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
In January 2015, another advertising campaign was launched featuring a man named Dave (played by Michael Van Schoik), walking down a street in L.A, dressed in a shirt, suit jacket, denim hot pants and high heels. He alongside two other people, struts confidently to the song "[[Don't Cha]]" by the [[Pussycat Dolls]], while showing off his prominent rear to stunned onlookers, including [[Sharon Osbourne]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/6274146/booty-man-dancing-moneysupermarket-advert-divides-opinion.html|title=Businessman's bizarre 'sexy' strut|publisher=The Sun|date=17 January 2015}}</ref> It was later revealed by the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK to be the most complained about advert in 2015 with 1,513 complaints. In their ruling, the ASA found that whilst it may be distasteful to some, it did not judge the ad was offensive and the complaint was not upheld.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asa.org.uk/News-resources/Media-Centre/2016/2015-most-complained-about-ads.aspx#.VxDHCpN94_U|title=2015's most complained about ads|date=23 February 2016|publisher=ASA|accessdate=15 April 2016}}</ref>


In September 2016, an advert featuring the hashtag 'epicsquads' was released. This time featuring strutting businessman "Dave", his builder rival "Colin", and gangs of each of their similarly-attired friends.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarketcom-epic-squads-mother/1407675|title=Moneysupermarket.com "Epic squads" by Mother|publisher=Campaign|date=2 September 2016}}</ref>
In July 2015, another advert was launched. It shows a chubby construction worker named Colin (played by Kyle McIntire). He dances, gryates, does a worm dance and a split in front of his co-workers and the bemused office staff at the other building. The song featured in this ad is "[[Just a Little (Liberty X song)|Just a Little]]" by British pop group [[Liberty X]]. At the end of the advert, he also swings on a wrecking ball (a reference to the video of Miley Cyrus' [[Wrecking Ball (Miley Cyrus song)|Wrecking Ball]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarket-follows-epic-strut-pole-dancing-builder/1357516|title=MoneySupermarket follows 'epic strut' with pole-dancing builder|date=24 July 2015|publisher=Campaign Live|accessdate=10 April 2016}}</ref>


In March 2017, another advert featuring [[Skeletor]] dancing to the song "[[Fame (Irene Cara song)|Fame]]" by [[Irene Cara]] and also featuring [[He-Man]] was released, the advert returned yet again in October 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://creativity-online.com/work/moneysupermarketcom-epic-skeletor/51334|title=Skeletor Boogies to 'Fame' in Moneysupermarket's Latest 'Epic' Spot|last=Jardine|first=Alexandra|work=Creativity Online|access-date=2018-08-28}}</ref> Later, in August 2017, the brand released another advert, this time featuring [[Skeletor]] and [[He-Man]] dancing to the song "[[(I've Had) The Time of My Life|Time of My Life]]" from the film "[[Dirty Dancing]]" with He-Man.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.adweek.com/creativity/he-man-and-skeletor-have-the-time-of-their-lives-in-ridiculous-dirty-dancing-ad-spoof/|title=He-Man and Skeletor Have the Time of Their Lives in Ridiculous Dirty Dancing Ad Spoof|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en-US}}</ref>
In January 2016, another TV campaign by agency [[Mother (advertising agency)|Mother]] was launched featuring a bodyguard named Gary. The song featured in the ad is "[[Big Bad Wolf (Duck Sauce song)|Big Bad Wolf]]" by [[Duck Sauce]], an American-Canadian DJ duo.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarketcom-epic-wolf-mother/1378494 | title = Moneysupermarket.com "epic wolf" by Mother | date = 2016-07-01 | website = [[Campaign (magazine)|Campaign]] | publisher = [[Haymarket Media Group]] | access-date = 2016-03-02 | quote = Moneysupermarket.com's follow-up to last year's popular "epic strut" and "Colin" ads features a presidential bodyguard popping and locking to Duck Sauce's Big Bad Wolf.}}</ref>


In March 2018, an advert featuring [[Action Man]] dancing to the song "[[Finally (CeCe Peniston song)|Finally]]" by [[CeCe Peniston]] was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarketcom-epic-action-man-mother/1459068|title=Moneysupermarket.com "Epic Action Man" by Mother|date=9 March 2018|publisher=Campaign Live|access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref>
In April 2016, another advert was released. It showed all three of the 'epic' people having a dance off in a car park. The song featured in the advert is "[[Worth It]]" by [[Fifth Harmony]] featuring [[Kid Ink]]. The ad premiered during the first break of ''[[Britains Got Talent]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/04/09/the-new-money-supermarket-ad-has-debuted-and-it-features-a-bit-of-an-epic-dance-off-5806344/|title=The new Money Supermarket ad has debuted – and it features a bit of an epic dance off|date=9 April 2016|work=Metro|publisher=[[DMG Media]]|accessdate=10 April 2016}}</ref> <sup>]</sup> It was revealed in an article by [[The Telegraph]] that in 2016 three of Moneysupermarket's adverts made the top 10 list of most complained about commercials in the United Kingdom, a list produced by the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]]. Despite the potential negativity, the company's new Chief Executive stated that he believed the 2,500 complaints showed their adverts had people talking about the brand.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/10/08/moneysupermarket-ceo-pleased-twerking-adverts-talked-about/|title=Moneysupermarket CEO: I’m pleased our twerking adverts were talked about|last=Burton|first=Lucy|date=2017-10-08|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>


In March 2019, a new campaign, in tandem with a new logo, was launched featuring a parachuting cat and was narrated by comedian and voice over artist [[Matt Berry]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarket-promises-help-people-get-money-calm-brand-relaunch/1578248|title=Moneysupermarket promises to help people 'Get money calm' in brand relaunch|website=www.campaignlive.co.uk}}</ref>
In March 2017, another advert featuring [[Skeletor]] dancing to the song "[[Fame (Irene Cara song)|Fame]]" and also featuring [[He-Man]] was released.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://creativity-online.com/work/moneysupermarketcom-epic-skeletor/51334|title=Skeletor Boogies to 'Fame' in Moneysupermarket's Latest 'Epic' Spot|last=Jardine|first=Alexandra|work=Creativity Online|access-date=2018-08-28}}</ref> Later, in September 2017, the brand released another advert, this time featuring  [[Skeletor]] dancing to the song "[[(I've Had) The Time of My Life|Time of My Life]]" from the film "[[Dirty Dancing]]" with He-Man.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.adweek.com/creativity/he-man-and-skeletor-have-the-time-of-their-lives-in-ridiculous-dirty-dancing-ad-spoof/|title=He-Man and Skeletor Have the Time of Their Lives in Ridiculous Dirty Dancing Ad Spoof|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en-US}}</ref>


In March 2018, an advert featuring [[Action Man]] dancing to the song "[[Finally (CeCe Peniston song)|Finally]]" by [[CeCe Peniston]] was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarketcom-epic-action-man-mother/1459068|title=Moneysupermarket.com "Epic Action Man" by Mother|date=9 March 2018|publisher=Campaign Live|accessdate=27 March 2018}}</ref>
In June 2020, a new campaign was released, still featuring Berry on narration duties, but this time, focusing on a “money calm” [[bull]] who remains calm even in chaotic situations, a play on the idiom "bull in a [[Chinese ceramics|China]] shop".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/moneysupermarket-rewrites-bull-china-shop-narrative/1686811|title=Moneysupermarket rewrites 'bull in a china shop' narrative|date=19 June 2020|publisher=Campaign Live|access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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* [http://corporate.moneysupermarket.com/ Corporate website]
* [http://corporate.moneysupermarket.com/ Corporate website]
* [http://www.alexa.com/data/details/main?q=&url=moneysupermarket.com moneysupermarket.com] on [[Alexa Internet|Alexa]]
* [http://www.alexa.com/data/details/main?q=&url=moneysupermarket.com moneysupermarket.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031020045131/http://www.alexa.com/data/details/main?q=&url=moneysupermarket.com |date=20 October 2003 }} on [[Alexa Internet|Alexa]]


{{FTSE 250 Index constituents}}
{{FTSE 250 Index constituents}}

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[[Category:Comparison shopping websites]]
[[Category:Comparison shopping websites]]
[[Category:Online retailers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Online retailers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1993]]
[[Category:Financial services companies established in 1993]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Companies in the FTSE 250 Index]]

Latest revision as of 18:38, 20 February 2024

Moneysupermarket.com Group plc
FormerlyMoneysupermarket.com Group Limited (June–July 2007)[1]
Company typePublic
ISINGB00B1ZBKY84 Edit this on Wikidata
Founded1993
FounderSimon Nixon
Headquarters
Ewloe
,
UK
Key people
RevenueIncrease £432.1 million (2023)[2]
Increase £97.3 million (2023)[2]
Increase £72.2 million (2023)[2]
Websitemoneysupermarket.com

Moneysupermarket.com Group plc is a British price comparison website-based business specialising in financial services. The website enables consumers to compare prices on a range of products, including energy, car insurance, home insurance, travel insurance, mortgages, credit cards and loans. The company's subsidiaries include the Travel Supermarket and Moneysavingexpert websites. Moneysupermarket Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

History[edit]

The company was founded by Simon Nixon and Duncan Cameron as a mortgage subscription business in 1987.[3] It expanded rapidly during the mid-1990s.[4] In the late 1990s, Nixon realised that the introduction of easy access to the internet would create opportunities for web-based businesses. He launched a website which facilitated price comparison for personal loans and credit cards[5] which was marketed as a business to consumer business.[3]

As the web-based business expanded to offer mortgage comparisons, Nixon decided to close the traditional mortgage subscription business which at the time was known as Mortgage 2000.[3] As Cameron had been recruited to run the IT side of Mortgage 2000, there was no longer a full-time role for him and, from 2002, he simply became a silent partner in the business.[6][7]

In 2000, Moneysupermarket announced the launch of Travelsupermarket.com. The website operated in the same way as Moneysupermarket, but compared prices for the travel market. The goal of Travelsupermarket was to provide transparent pricing, describing the exact differences between the different price structures being offered.[8]

In 2002, the company appeared in The Sunday Times' Fast Track 100, and it was also the 80th fastest growing tech business in the United Kingdom in the period from 2000 to 2002.[9] In 2003, Nixon was declared Entrepreneur of the Year at the National Business Awards.[10]

In June 2007, The Guardian reported that Moneysupermarket was processing 52% of all the price comparisons in the UK.[7] However, the reporter also pointed out that, in the case of household and car insurance, price comparison websites such as Moneysupermarket rarely include all products on the market and that price comparisons are consequently incomplete.[11] Also, in June 2007, Nixon acquired Cameron’s 47% stake in the business for £162 million.[6]

Later that month, the company was the subject of an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange at a price that valued the business at circa £1 billion.[12][13][14][15] It was one of the largest tech flotations in the United Kingdom to have taken place for many years.[16]

In 2012, Moneysupermarket announced the acquisition of MoneySavingExpert.com for £87 million. Following the acquisition, MoneySavingExpert remained editorially independent[17] and its founder, Martin Lewis, remained as the chief editor of the platform.[18] The company announced in 2015 that Lewis would be reducing his overall holding in Moneysupermarket.com to 1.5%.[19][20]

In October 2016, the company announced that Mark Lewis, a former retail director at John Lewis, would take over as CEO from Peter Plumb in May 2017.[21][22] In September 2020, in another change in management, Peter Duffy took over as CEO.[23]

On 19 October 2021, Moneysupermarket announced it was acquiring Maple Syrup Media, the owners of the UK cashback website, Quidco.com. The sale amount is reported to be £87 million in cash, plus an additional £14 million as a deferred payment.[24]

Operations[edit]

MoneySuperMarket[edit]

MoneySuperMarket, which specialises in financial services, was in 2016 the largest comparison website in the UK by revenue.[25]

Travel Supermarket logo

TravelSupermarket[edit]

The TravelSupermarket.com website, specialising in price comparison for package holidays, was established in 2004 as a sister site to Moneysupermarket.com.[26]

Money Saving Expert logo

Like Moneysupermarket, TravelSupermarket's television advertisements have become known for their humour and use of celebrities. Previous ads featured comedian Omid Djalili, former Labour MP John Prescott and X Factor stars Jedward.[27]

MoneySavingExpert[edit]

MoneySavingExpert.com, established by financial journalist Martin Lewis in 2003 to provide financial information to consumers, was bought by Moneysupermarket in 2012.[28] The subsidiary also operates a Cheap Energy Club which monitors users' energy tariffs to help them find the cheapest available.[29]

Research[edit]

Moneysupermarket has a research arm: it has released statistics suggesting that the UK wastes £1.6 billion on energy bills each year from leaving devices such as televisions on standby.[30] It has also found that the cost of TV subscriptions can be reduced dramatically through streaming services.[31] In February 2018, the group's research found that 20 per cent of people in Scotland had never switched energy provider.[32]

Advertisements[edit]

A 2015 advert featuring a male character named Dave strutting in high heels garnered controversy

In 2010, adverts featured comedian Omid Djalili as the character of "HaggleHero".[33] From 2011 to 2013 the company's adverts included a man surfing on an inflatable crocodile, a man in a jungle with gorillas and a man going into space.[34] In August 2013 a new advert was launched, featuring "Bill" with an army of cats whilst a spokesman, played by James Lance, referred to Bill as "so Moneysupermarket".[35]

In January 2014, Snoop Dogg and his song "Who Am I (What's My Name)" were featured in a new ad.[36] In August of the same year, the "Epic Elephunk" walked around Manhattan with "Graeme" riding on its back; again he was described as "so Money Supermarket"; the soundtrack was "Word Up!" by Cameo.[37]

In January 2015, another advertising campaign was launched featuring a man named Dave (played by Michael Van Schoik), walking down a street in L.A, dressed in a shirt, suit jacket, denim hot pants and high heels. He alongside two other people, struts confidently to the song "Don't Cha" by the Pussycat Dolls, while showing off his prominent rear to stunned onlookers, including Sharon Osbourne. It was later revealed by the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK to be the most complained about advert in 2015 with 1,513 complaints. In their ruling, the ASA found that whilst it may be distasteful to some, it did not judge the advert was offensive and the complaint was not upheld.[38]

In July 2015, another advert was launched. It shows a chubby construction worker named Colin (played by Kyle McIntire). He dances, gyrates, does a worm dance and a split in front of his co-workers and the bemused office staff at the other building. The song featured in this advert is "Just a Little" by British pop group Liberty X. At the end of the advert, he also swings on a wrecking ball (a reference to the video of Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball).[39]

In January 2016, another TV campaign by agency Mother was launched featuring a bodyguard named Gary. The song featured in the advert is "Big Bad Wolf" by Duck Sauce, an American-Canadian DJ duo.[40]

In April 2016, another advert was released. It showed all three of the 'epic' people having a dance off in a car park. The song featured in the advert is "Worth It" by Fifth Harmony featuring Kid Ink. The ad premiered during the first break of Britain's Got Talent.[41] ] It was revealed in an article by The Telegraph that in 2016 three of Moneysupermarket's adverts made the top 10 list of most complained about commercials in the United Kingdom, a list produced by the Advertising Standards Authority.[42] Despite the potential negativity, the company's new Chief Executive stated that he believed the 2,500 complaints showed their adverts had people talking about the brand.[43]

In September 2016, an advert featuring the hashtag 'epicsquads' was released. This time featuring strutting businessman "Dave", his builder rival "Colin", and gangs of each of their similarly-attired friends.[44]

In March 2017, another advert featuring Skeletor dancing to the song "Fame" by Irene Cara and also featuring He-Man was released, the advert returned yet again in October 2018.[45] Later, in August 2017, the brand released another advert, this time featuring Skeletor and He-Man dancing to the song "Time of My Life" from the film "Dirty Dancing" with He-Man.[46]

In March 2018, an advert featuring Action Man dancing to the song "Finally" by CeCe Peniston was released.[47]

In March 2019, a new campaign, in tandem with a new logo, was launched featuring a parachuting cat and was narrated by comedian and voice over artist Matt Berry.[48]

In June 2020, a new campaign was released, still featuring Berry on narration duties, but this time, focusing on a “money calm” bull who remains calm even in chaotic situations, a play on the idiom "bull in a China shop".[49]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Moneysupermarket.com Group plc overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". Companies House. 14 March 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Annual Results 2023" (PDF). Moneysupermarket.com Group. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Hohler, Emily (8 July 2007). "My first million: Simon Nixon of Moneysupermarket". MoneyWeek.
  4. ^ Higgins, Ria (11 November 2007). "A Life in the Day: Simon Nixon, internet entrepreneur". The Times.
  5. ^ Thelwell, Emma (21 February 2008). "Simon Nixon: UK's richest young entrepreneur". The Telegraph.
  6. ^ a b Prosser, David (9 June 2007). "Simon Nixon: Checkout tills ringing for internet guru". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  7. ^ a b Connon, Heather (22 July 2007). "The man who made the tills ring at Moneysupermarket". The Guardian.
  8. ^ Berman, Chloe (16 November 2007). "Interview: Travelsupermarket.com commercial director Chris Nixon". Travel Weekly.
  9. ^ TWK. "Moneysupermarket.com - Fast Track". Fast Track. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Moneysupermarket founder named Entrepreneur of the Year". Mortgage Strategy. 14 November 2003. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  11. ^ "Take care when using price comparison websites". The Guardian. 21 June 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  12. ^ Bland, Ben (26 July 2007). "Moneysupermarket.com IPO disappoints". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  13. ^ "IPO values Moneysupermarket at £1bn". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  14. ^ Wearden, Graeme (29 June 2007). "Moneysupermarket.com to go public". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  15. ^ "Comparison sites: do they find you the best deals?". The Independent. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  16. ^ "Moneysupermarket.com to float as largest LSE tech stock in years". Citywire Money. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  17. ^ Osborne, Hilary (1 June 2012). "Martin Lewis sells MoneySavingExpert for £87m". The Guardian.
  18. ^ "Martin Lewis sells MoneySavingExpert.com for £87m". BBC. 1 June 2012.
  19. ^ "Martin Lewis nets £25m after selling Moneysupermarket.com shares". The Guardian. 31 July 2015.
  20. ^ Cunningham, Tara (31 July 2015). "Martin Lewis makes £25m from MoneySuperMarket share sale". The Telegraph.
  21. ^ McClean, Paul (27 October 2016). "Moneysupermarket names John Lewis retail director as chief". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  22. ^ Kollewe, Julia (27 October 2016). "Moneysupermarket appoints Mark Lewis as chief executive". The Guardian.
  23. ^ Ralph, Oliver (15 May 2020). "Just Eat's Peter Duffy takes top job at Moneysupermarket". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  24. ^ Hawkins, Emily (19 October 2021). "Moneysupermarket acquires cashback platform Quidco". CityAM. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  25. ^ Ralph, Oliver (13 June 2016). "Going gets tough for GoCompare the SuperMeerkat". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  26. ^ "Our History". corporate.moneysupermarket.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  27. ^ Atherton, Mark (27 April 2011). "Jedward travel advert is 'misleading'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  28. ^ "Martin Lewis sells MoneySavingExpert.com for £87m". BBC News. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  29. ^ Gammell, Kara (4 February 2013). "Moneysavingexpert.com launches 'Cheap Energy Club'". The Telegraph.
  30. ^ Robson, Steve (10 December 2017). "This is how much money you waste each year by leaving devices on standby". mirror. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  31. ^ Gammell, Kara (20 September 2016). "TV prices rising? Cut the cost with streaming deals". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  32. ^ "Nearly a fifth of Scottish households have never switched energy provider - Sunday Post". Sunday Post. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  33. ^ "Watch Omid Djalili in Moneysupermarket.com ad". The Guardian. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  34. ^ "Moneysupermarket 'surf' by Mother". Campaign Live. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  35. ^ "Moneysupermarket.com "running with cats" by Mother". Campaign Live. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  36. ^ "MoneySuperMarket Ad Featuring Snoop Dogg". You Tube. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2016.[dead YouTube link]
  37. ^ "Moneysupermarket.com "epic elephunk" by Mother". Campaign Live. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  38. ^ "2015's most complained about ads". ASA. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  39. ^ "MoneySupermarket follows 'epic strut' with pole-dancing builder". Campaign Live. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  40. ^ "Moneysupermarket.com "epic wolf" by Mother". Campaign. Haymarket Media Group. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016. Moneysupermarket.com's follow-up to last year's popular "epic strut" and "Colin" ads features a presidential bodyguard popping and locking to Duck Sauce's Big Bad Wolf.
  41. ^ "The new Money Supermarket ad has debuted – and it features a bit of an epic dance off". Metro. DMG Media. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  42. ^ James Moore (19 January 2017). "MoneySuperMarket wins big with annoying ads". The Independent. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  43. ^ Burton, Lucy (8 October 2017). "Moneysupermarket CEO: I'm pleased our twerking adverts were talked about". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  44. ^ "Moneysupermarket.com "Epic squads" by Mother". Campaign. 2 September 2016.
  45. ^ Jardine, Alexandra. "Skeletor Boogies to 'Fame' in Moneysupermarket's Latest 'Epic' Spot". Creativity Online. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  46. ^ "He-Man and Skeletor Have the Time of Their Lives in Ridiculous Dirty Dancing Ad Spoof". Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  47. ^ "Moneysupermarket.com "Epic Action Man" by Mother". Campaign Live. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  48. ^ "Moneysupermarket promises to help people 'Get money calm' in brand relaunch". www.campaignlive.co.uk.
  49. ^ "Moneysupermarket rewrites 'bull in a china shop' narrative". Campaign Live. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2021.

External links[edit]

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