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 -3 AprilHealth & Beauty
Boots reports 18% decrease in operating income amid Covid-19 virus outbreak
Health and beauty retailer Boots has reported a 18.7% decrease in operating income to $1.2bn (£973m) as a result of the Covid-19 virus pandemic. In its six months to 29 February, Boots reported its sales increased by 3.7% to $35.8bn (£29.1bn), as operating income decreased by 12% to $1.7bn (£1.38bn).…
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3 AprilClothing & Shoes
Primark execs take 50% pay cut
Primark bosses have revealed that they will slash their pay in half in light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis. George Weston, chief executive of parent group Associated British Foods, and finance director John Bason have both requested that their base pay be reduced by 50% on a temporary basis. Paul…
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2 AprilSupermarkets
Covid-19: Tesco to provide £30m package to support local communities
Tesco has announced plans to provide a £30m package of support for local communities tackling Covid-19, including a £25m food donations programme. The ‘Big Four’ grocer is currently donating £3m of food every month through its Community Food Connection scheme and distribution centres. In addition to that, over the next…
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2 AprilNews
Frasers Group to cut bosses’ salary to £40k amid April pay pledge
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has reportedly reduced the salary of its executive team to £40,000 and has pledged to pay all his staff up until the end of April. According to The Times, the executive team has taken a voluntary pay cut in a “show of support towards securing the…
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2 AprilCoronavirus
Pets at Home to beat guidance amid spiked demand
Pets at Home has revealed that its closing weeks of full-year trading saw “exceptional levels of demand” amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In the period ended 26 March 2020, existing customers increased their average basket size, whilst new customers have accessed its pet products and healthcare services. Trading was largely…
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2 AprilHigh Street
The Perfume Shop shuts online operations, affecting over 1,800 jobs
Fragrance retailer The Perfume Shop has announced the closure of its online operations amid the coronavirus outbreak, affecting over 1,800 jobs. The company, which had closed its 231 stores late last month following government guidelines that all shops would have to close, except those selling essential items, said it has…
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1 AprilHigh Street
JD Sports to withhold quarterly rent amid Covid-19 lockdown
Sports fashion retailer JD Sports has announced it is withholding its quarterly rent in bid to mitigate the effects of the UK lockdown. According to The Guardian, JD Sports has not paid the rent due for its 390 stores, and is reportedly in discussions with the next bill due in…
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1 AprilClothing & Shoes
Laura Ashley administrators axe 268 staff, 1669 furloughed
The joint administrators appointed to Laura Ashley revealed they have made 268 members of staff redundant and have furloughed a further 1669. Last week, Rob Lewis and Zelf Hussain of PwC were appointed as joint administrators of Laura Ashley Holdings plc and since then they have continued to trade the…
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Mar- 2020 -31 MarchSupermarkets
WHSmith launches partnership with Sainsbury’s amid Covid-19 virus outbreak
WHSmith and Sainsbury’s has announced its partnership to help NHS staff amid the coronavirus pandemic. WHSmith will be stocking an extended range of Sainsbury’s grocery products to “support the incredible work of the NHS through this challenging time.” The partnership will be available in over 80 hospital stores to include…
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31 MarchSupermarkets
UK supermarket sales surge amid Covid-19 outbreak
British consumers made over 79 million extra grocery shopping trips in the last four weeks, with total till sales at supermarkets surging to 20.5%, according to new data from Nielsen. The uptick in sales was particularly pronounced in the week ending 21 March, which saw a “massive” 43% weekly growth…
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