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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Mar- 2020 -25 MarchCoronavirus
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 MarchHigh Street
New Look asks landlords for three-month rent holiday
High street fashion retailer New Look has asked its landlords for a three month rent holiday as it looks to reduce costs during the coronavirus outbreak. In a trading update, the retailer revealed a series of measures focused on preserving cash, maximising liquidity, managing working capital. The measures include: Significantly…
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25 MarchSupermarkets
UK shoppers spent an additional £467m on groceries in March
Grocery sales at UK supermarkets during the week ending 14 March increased by over 22% compared with the same period in 2019, according to new data from Nielsen. This is equal to an additional £467m more in purchases than this time last year, and the “significant” rise in grocery sales…
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25 MarchAdvice
Keeping shop workers safe through Covid-19
This week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson advised workers across the UK to work from home if possible. But for thousands of workers, this simply isn’t an option – there are a large number of jobs that can’t be done sitting at the dining room table. The retail sector is a…
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25 MarchCoronavirus
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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25 MarchSupermarkets
Asda announces new measures amid Covid-19 outbreak
Supermarket Asda has outlined a wide ranging package of measures to help support its colleagues and other workers whose jobs have been impacted by coronavirus. Acknowledging the “incredible efforts’”of Asda’s hourly paid retail and distribution colleagues, CEO Roger Burnley confirmed to colleagues that they will receive full pay if they…
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24 MarchHigh Street
McColls announces stores remain open amid Covid-19 virus outbreak
McColls Retail Group has today announced that it is to keep its stores open amid the coronavirus pandemic. The convenience retailer said it has put into place a range of policies “designed to protect our colleagues and customers, keep our stores open and trading safely, and to enable our head…
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24 MarchCoronavirus
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 MarchCoronavirus
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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24 MarchBusiness Bites
The furloughs and loans are useless to small businesses
The small business community has been watching with great hope to see if the government will introduce measures that are useful for them to survive this period. Alas, those announced are absolutely useless for small companies, which make up an extremely significant portion of the UK economy. Coronavirus Business Interruption…
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