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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Jul- 2023 -13 JulyEconomy
UK economy shrinks in May
The UK economy contracted by 0.1% in May as output was negatively affected by the King’s coronation, according to the latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). On a three month basis GDP has shown no growth, however, monthly GDP is now estimated to be 0.2% above its…
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10 JulySupply Chain
Demand for retail warehousing falls to decade low
Demand for retail warehousing has reportedly fallen to its lowest point in the last decade, according to The Telegraph. The news comes as the surge in online shopping which culminated at its peak during the Covid-19 pandemic has also begun to falter with shoppers returning to the high street. The…
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10 JulySupermarkets
Iceland expects profits to hit 10-year high
Iceland expects to deliver its “highest” profit in over a decade due to its increased focus on value and cost-saving measures, The Times has reported. According to The Times, Iceland told bondholders last week that it was “confident” this year’s underlying profit will be its strongest in 10 years, exceeding…
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Jun- 2023 -30 JuneAnalysis
Hotel Chocolat is in a bad way – but so are other chocolatiers
Over the course of Easter 2023, the UK was responsible for one in eight Easter-related chocolate launches, according to research from Mintel’s Global New Products Database (GNPD), while seasonal Easter chocolate products also saw a 19% rise over the past 12 months. Meanwhile, UK-based ‘free-from’ chocolate brand NOMO reported a…
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30 JuneComment
To attract and delight customers online, you have to offer immersive experiences
By 2021, 82% of the UK population had purchased at least one product online. The digital age may be approaching a tipping point, but is it already here? Is traditional marketing set to reign supreme once more? In an era where most of the global population uses the internet, standing…
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28 JuneClothing & Shoes
Mulberry profits fall to £13.2m in FY23
Mulberry has reported that pre-tax profits fell from £21.3m to £13.2m in the year ended 1 April 2023, despite reporting that revenues rose by 4% to £159.1m over the same period. Its UK retail sales saw a slight decline from £88.5m to £87.7m however, as the first half of the…
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23 JuneHigh Street
Bank holidays boost May retail sales
Retail sales volumes are estimated to have risen by 0.3% in May 2023, beating analysts’ forecasts amid a welcomed boost from warm weather and May bank holidays. According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), non-store retailing sales volumes rose by 2.7% in May 2023 because…
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14 JunePeople Moves
BRC names new chairman
The BRC has announced the appointment of Andy Higginson as the new incoming chairman to succeed Tony De Nunzio in September this year. Higginson has over 30 years of senior executive and non-executive experience in the retail industry in the UK and internationally, covering major brands. Previously, he was CFO…
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9 JuneNews
May records negative retail sales for the first time since 2021
May experienced negative retail sales marking the end of 26 months of positive results, dating back to March 2021, according to new data from accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO. According to BDO’s latest High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like (LFL) sales, in-store and online combined, fell by -1.5%. Despite…
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5 JuneNews
Supply chain pressures slow down retail growth
Continued supply chain pressures, including cost increases, delayed materials and shortages outrank workforce challenges and increasing business costs as a main concern for over a third (36%) of mid-sized businesses, according to latest research from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO. The bi-monthly survey, which was conducted on 500 medium-sized…
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