Covid-19
This coverage examines the effects of Covid-19 on the UK retail industry, focusing on operational disruption, financial pressures, consumer behaviour shifts, and recovery strategies. Reporting includes lockdown impacts, safety measures, supply chain challenges, online growth, and leadership decisions that shaped responses to the crisis. Designed for executives and managers, it offers lessons and insights for navigating future disruptions.
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May- 2021 -25 MayHigh Street
Ted Baker completes bank refinancing after Covid halts results
Ted Baker said it has signed an extension to its revolving credit facility (RCF) with its existing lending syndicate. Under the new terms, the existing RCF of £108m maturing in September 2022 and restricted RCF of £25m maturing in January 2022, will be replaced by a new RCF of £90m…
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21 MayHigh Street
Retail sales climb 9.2% in April
Retail sales across the UK increased 9.2% in April 2021 when compared to the previous month, as the easing of restrictions included the opening of non-essential retail across England, Wales, and Scotland during the period. According to the ONS’s retail sales data, sales grew 42.4% year-on-year due to April 2020…
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21 MayEconomy
Consumer confidence jumps six points in May
Consumer confidence in the UK has increased by six points to -9 in May 2021, according to GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index. The market research company primarily attributed this to the easing of lockdown restrictions and vaccine rollout, which it believes gave the country’s retail sector a much-needed boost. While respondents…
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20 MayDIY
Kingfisher raises guidance as Q1 sales soar 60%
Kingfisher has increased its profit forecast for the year after total sales for the first quarter of 2021 came to £3.44bn, resulting in a 60% year-on-year increase. The B&Q parent company saw like-for-like sales grow by 64.2% over the period compared to last year and posted a 22.5% rise when…
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18 MayClothing & Shoes
Shoe Zone reports £2.6m loss as revenues fall 40%
Shoe retailer Shoe Zone has reported a loss before tax of £2.6m for the six month period ending 3 April. The retailer attributed the loss to “tighter cost controls and an increase in digital”. It comes as it also saw revenues for the period plunge over 40% to £40.4m. As…
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18 MayDIY
Topps Tiles ‘confident’ despite 2.8% revenue decline
Topps Tiles is remaining “confident” after it saw revenues decline by 2.8% in the six months to 27 March, due to lockdown restrictions. In an update, the retailer said the results reflect “two distinct and contrasting” periods of trading – with stores originally seeing like-for-like sales up 19.9% in Q1…
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18 MayAdvice
Why retailers must invest beyond the buy button
Over the past 12 months, retailers have turbocharged their shift to digital. A recent survey by KPMG showed that 67% of decision-makers have accelerated their digital strategies because of Covid-19. These changes come in response to the ever-changing needs of consumers, which have proved harder to predict than ever before.…
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18 MayShopping Centres
Westfield owner confirms €1.25bn bond placement
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, the owner of Westfield shopping centres, has announced a successful €1.25bn (£1.07bn) bond placement. The two-tranche senior bond offering is intended to both strengthen the group’s liquidity position and extend its debt maturity. The placement features a €650m (£559m) bond with a seven-year and five-month maturity and a 0.75%…
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17 MayShopping Centres
Via Outlets reopens entire European portfolio
Via Outlets has announced it has reopened all shopping centres in its 11-strong portfolio, with the Zweibrücken Fashion Outlet in Germany opening last week. Not including the company’s Hede Fashion Outlet in Gothenburg, the London-based fashion outlet destination operator’s centres have been partially or completely closed for the majority of…
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17 MayCoronavirus
UK to spend £2.5bn this week as restrictions ease
The UK is set to collectively spend £2.5bn this week as indoor hospitality reopens and restrictions further ease, giving a “much-needed” boost to the high street. According to a new VoucherCodes.co.uk report, conducted by the Centre for Retail Research (CRR), 104 million people are predicted to visit hospitality venues this…
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