Coronavirus
This coverage analyses the impact of coronavirus on the UK retail industry, focusing on operational challenges, government measures, financial pressures, workforce management, and shifts in consumer behaviour. Reporting provides insights into how retailers responded to closures, safety protocols, supply chain disruptions, and evolving customer needs — helping executives and managers assess lessons learned and long-term changes.
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May- 2020 -14 MaySupermarkets
Tesco Boss Dave Lewis handed £6.42m pay package
Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis has been given a £6.42m pay package, including £4.8m in bonuses. Lewis, who is set to leave the big four grocer in September, has seen his pay increase by more than a third due to an increase in both annual and share price bonuses to…
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13 MayComment
Three ways supermarket behaviour has changed after seven weeks of lockdown
While the beginning of lockdown was marked by empty shelves, panic-buying and a lack of delivery slots – have we now adapted to the new way of shopping for groceries? There’s no doubt that shopping is a very different experience from a couple of months ago; a life before socially…
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13 MayCoronavirus
Sharpest decline on record as sales fall amid lockdown
Total retail sales tumbled by 19.1% in the four weeks ended 2 May, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. This was a notable decrease against the 2.4% sales increase recorded the year prior, and the “worst decline recorded” since the monitor began in January 1995. Like-for-like retail sales…
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12 MayEconomy
Chancellor expected to extend furlough scheme to September
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is expected to extend the Government’s coronavirus furlough scheme to September, but reduce the amount people can claim to 60% of their earnings. According to Sky News, the move aims to prevent some 1.2 million redundancies, and comes after Sunak promised there would not…
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12 MayComment
The impact of extended returns policies for retailers and customers
Many retailers have announced that they will be extending their returns policies to help customers adapt to the current situation. Coronavirus has certainly forced businesses to make critical decisions over a very short space of time, with the ability to engage in normal shopping practices removed and adaption required immediately.…
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12 MayDIY
Kingfisher sales drop 25% in Q1 results
B&Q and Screwfix owner B&Q has revealed its first quarter sales fell by 24.8% to £2.2bn as the impact of the coronavirus hit its core markets of UK, Ireland and France. Kingfisher said it saw UK and Ireland sales fall 14.7% to £1.09bn, with B&Q sales plummeting 22.1% to £663m.…
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11 MayTips
The Impact of COVID-19 on Garment Workers – What to Know
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a dramatic shift to our daily and professional lives, leaving no one unaffected. Many businesses have taken a stepback and many jobs were lost, with the clothing industry taking much of the hit. Garment factories have been forced to shut their doors and temporarily…
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11 MayHigh Street
Mike Ashley and Peter Cowgill in race to acquire Office
Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley and JD Sports owner Peter Cowgill have both been revealed as bidders for footwear retailer Office. According to Sky News, it comes as the chain seeks funding to support it through the current coronavirus pandemic. Two other unnamed parties who have also expressed an interest…
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11 MayCoronavirus
Retail industry responds to PM’s conditional plan to ease lockdown
The retail industry has reacted to the prime minister’s announcement last night that outlined a ‘conditional’ to ease lockdown with stores possibly reopening sometime in June. Last night (10 May), Boris Johnson gave a prospective outline for a series of phased store reopenings next month if certain conditions of a…
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11 MayComment
From dark store to hybrid store – adapting to a new world order
It’s safe to say the embattled UK high street had a rocky start to the year, with a reported 18,248 retail jobs lost and 1,211 shops closed in the first two months of the year alone. In fact, in February, the high street saw a 7.8% drop in footfall, as…
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