You don't say.'
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One of the reasons we've heard for the No comment" attitude in industry (see Editorial, p2) is the fear that talking to the press will divulge confidential information to a competitor. Brother, talking to anyone, or no one, in your sleep can do that. When two people know about it, -itis no longer a secret.
The worst kind of industrial espionage-conscious person is the one who wants to say a little, not too much and strictly off the record.
• Take the case Paul Mungo met in Ireland last week when talking to an operator. Could we publish the weekly trading figures per vehicle for his vans?
Uh, no, it would help the opposition.
Could we then publish his export figures?
Yes, they're about half, but don't say where to — say the Continent, that's broad enough.
Who makes the body insulation?
I can't tell you, that would help the competition.
Right, then, will you tell me the numbers of vehicles you have in each size?
Just say we have a fleet of vehicles. It might help the competition.
End of interview.
We asked nothing that a good industrial espionage agent couldn't find out over a jar of Guinness. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the general manager of a food firm in Eire had died of fright from his own shadow.