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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Apr- 2020 -7 AprilSupermarkets
Tesco to launch NHS Nightingale pop-up stores
‘Big 4’ grocer Tesco has announced plans to open pop-up convenience stores at NHS Nightingale sites across the UK, amid the coronavirus pandemic. The NEC in Birmingham has been selected as Tesco’s first NHS Nightingale Hospital pop-up store, which is due to open later this week. Discussions are also in…
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7 AprilCoronavirus
WH Smith raises £166m through share placing
WH Smith has raised £166m through a share placing in efforts to shore up its finances amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A total of 15,751,826 new ordinary shares were placed at 1050p per share, with existing and new investors. The move raised a total of £165.9m for the group. The…
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6 AprilCoronavirus
Debenhams appoints FRP as administrator
Debenhams has announced its intent to appoint an administrator in order to “protect” the business from creditors during the coronavirus outbreak. It is believed the move will work to prevent liquidation while its 142 UK stores remain closed in line with government advice amid the ongoing pandemic. The news closely…
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6 AprilEconomy
Consumer confidences slumps to lowest level since records began
Gfk’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index has decreased drastically by 25 points between the first two and last two weeks of March, falling to –34. According to the market research organisation, it’s the biggest fall since records began in January 1974. The ‘Personal Financial’ index fell by six points to -4…
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6 AprilCoronavirus Featured Content
Coronavirus and the Retail Property Sector
Coronavirus continues to spread across the world and many countries have now established strict social distancing measures to halt its transmission. This includes government requirements in the UK that all non-essential businesses close their doors for the foreseeable future. While the effects of the virus can be felt in every…
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6 AprilCoronavirus
Temporary store closures due to coronavirus lead to 14% drop in retail jobs
The UK job market has been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, with retail jobs dropping by 14% in March, when comparing data with the previous year, according to the latest report from CV-Library. The study, which explores job market data from March 2020 and compares this with figures from…
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6 AprilCoronavirus
WH Smith to raise equity amid ongoing pandemic
WH Smith has announced its plans to issue equity in order to secure a £120m lending facility amid the ongoing pandemic. Due to the “uncertain” period of trading, the group plans to secure the loan in order to strengthen its balance sheet, working capital and liquidity position and mitigate the…
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6 AprilSupermarkets
Aldi Ireland appoints Niall O’Connor as group managing director
Aldi Ireland has announced the appointment of Niall O’Connor as its new group managing director (GMD). O’Connor will be responsible for all of Aldi’s activities in Ireland, including its multi-million-euro store-opening programme and Irish buying office. He has been a senior executive with Aldi in Ireland for almost 20 years…
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3 AprilCoronavirus
Debenhams readying to appoint administrators amid Covid-19
Department store chain Debenhams is reportedly set to enter administration for the second time in a year in order to protect the business from creditors during the coronavirus outbreak. According to Sky News, the embattled retailer could file for administration as early as next week, with ‘Big Four’ accountancy firm…
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3 AprilCoronavirus
Chancellor unveils new measures to SME loan scheme
Chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak has unveiled a major overhaul to his previously announced SME loan scheme. Initially, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) was aimed at businesses unable to secure regular commercial financing as the virus took its toll on the UK’s economy. However, according to Sky…
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