Coronavirus
Coronavirus covers the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the UK retail industry. This section explores how retailers have adapted to shifts in consumer behaviour, operational disruption, and regulatory change. Retail Sector’s Coronavirus coverage includes news, analysis, and commentary on supply chain challenges, workforce management, financial recovery, and digital transformation, providing retail professionals with insight into how the sector continues to rebuild and evolve in the wake of the pandemic.
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Mar- 2020 -26 March
Arcadia ends fixed-term contracts early in view of Covid-19
Philip Green’s Arcadia Group has reportedly informed its employees that it will be ending fixed-term contracts early as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. In a letter seen by Drapers, the fashion retailer said that the retail industry has been “significantly impacted” by high levels of “consumer uncertainty” and as…
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26 March
Superdrug to stay open amid coronavirus outbreak
Health and beauty retailer Superdrug has revealed its new measures to protect its employees and customers amid the coronavirus pandemic. Superdrug has also confirmed its stores will remain open following the government announcement to close all non-essential services. In an email sent to customers, Superdrug’s CEO Peter Macnab said the…
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26 March
Asos ‘playing Russian roulette’ with employees, says GMB Union
Asos has been accused of “playing Russian roulette with people’s lives” by the GMB Union, one of the largest trade unions in the UK and Ireland. The union claims that social distancing has not been enforced in the fashion retailer’s “packed” warehouses amid the coronavirus pandemic. It is now calling…
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25 March
20,000 stores could close this year, says Centre of Retail Research
A total of 20,620 retail stores will have shuttered by the end of the year, according to the Centre of Retail Research. In the newly-released ‘Coronavirus: Lost Lives, Lost Stores and Lost Jobs’ report, it was revealed that 4,547 more businesses would have to close their doors in 2020 compared…
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25 March
Ebay and Amazon failing to prevent profiteering, says Which
Ebay and Amazon are failing to crack down on profiteering amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to Which. An investigation led by the research group found a “consistent overpricing” of household items, including cleaning products, thermometers, baby formula and tampons. The CMA had previously warned traders to not exploit panic-buying amid…
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25 March
Covid-19: Government suspends gender pay gap reporting
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has taken the decision to suspend enforcement of the gender pay gap deadlines for this reporting year (2019/20) due to the coronavirus outbreak. The GEO and EHRC said the decision means there will be no expectation on…
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25 March
Halfords forecast 25% sales slump
Halfords has warned that sales will “drop sharply” in light of the coronavirus outbreak, with a forecasted sales decline of 25%. After modelling a range of disruption scenarios that assume “significant sales declines” between April and June, it predicts its next full-year results will see a loss of £300m in…
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24 March
Aldi to grant employees 10% bonus
Aldi has today announced that all store and distribution employees will receive a 10% bonus on their hours worked, effective from 9 March 2020. The bonus is the retailer’s tribute to its “amazing colleagues” who have “worked tirelessly throughout this extremely busy time”. The supermarket giant has also announced a…
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24 March
Covid-19: UK retail spending to fall by £12.6bn
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic will wipe £12.6bn from retail sales this year, according to the latest forecast by GlobalData. The data and analytics company said that the figure was the equivalent of Aldi’s total UK sales last year. The total retail market for 2020 is now expected to…
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24 March
Covid-19: Debenhams, Ted Baker and The Works latest to close stores
Debenhams, Ted Baker and The Works are some of the latest retailers to close stores amid the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the UK. Debenhams said it took the “tough decision” to close stores yesterday evening as a result of the current circumstances, but hopes to reopen as soon as it is…
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