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 -8 AprilOnline & Digital
Asos reports 25% drop in sales amid Covid-19 crisis
Online retailer Asos has reported a 25% decrease in group sales over past three weeks as the UK battles the Covid-19 pandemic, despite a 21% increase in revenues to £1.6bn in its half-year results. In the six months to 29 February 2020, Asos also reported a 21% increase in retail…
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8 AprilCoronavirus
Tesco: Sales rise 30%, but virus could cost nearly £1bn
Tesco has revealed that its sales rose 30% in the first few weeks of the coronavirus crisis, in light of increased stockpiling and panic buying across the country. The surge in sales has now stabilised, however, and the group has reported that normal sales volumes are now being experienced. In…
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7 AprilSupermarkets
Ocado unveils new measures as it apologises for inability to meet demand
Ocado has issued an apology to its customers for being unable to meet the current demand for its deliveries which it said is 10 times higher than usual. As a result it has also released a series of new measures including prioritising government shield list members and stopping orders from…
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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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