England
This coverage focuses on retail developments, trends, and performance across England. Reporting includes store openings and closures, regional economic factors, consumer behaviour, property developments, and strategic initiatives by national and local retailers. Designed for executives and managers, it offers insights into operating successfully within England’s diverse retail landscape.
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Sep- 2020 -11 SeptemberCoronavirus
Businesses hit by local lockdowns to receive grants
Businesses in England that are required to shut due to local lockdowns will now be able to claim up to £1,500 per property every three weeks, the Government has announced. Chief secretary to the Treasury, Steve Barclay, announced the new funding plan yesterday (10 September) as part of ongoing efforts…
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Aug- 2020 -14 AugustCoronavirus
Covid-19 outbreak strikes M&S supplier
Greencore, the factory that provides Marks and Spencer with its ready-to-eat sandwiches, has confirmed it is “proactively testing” workers after 299 employees tested positive for coronavirus. The group confirmed that those who had tested positive are now self-isolating, and the company is working alongside PHE East Midlands, Northamptonshire County Council…
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12 AugustEconomy
UK in recession following 20% GDP slump
The UK economy has entered into a technical recession following a “record” fall in gross domestic product (GDP) during the second quarter of the year. According to the Office for National Statistics, GDP slumped by 20.4% between April and June 2020, compared with the 2.2% drop seen during Q1 2020…
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4 AugustHigh Street
Mandatory face coverings sparks ‘modest’ uplift in footfall
Footfall across all UK retail destinations saw a “modest” uplift last week, with footfall up by 2.8% against the week prior. According to Springboard, this may have been boosted by the mandatory use of face coverings in shops, after footfall was up by 4.4% the weekend the rule was introduced. …
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Jul- 2020 -31 JulyCoronavirus
ScS reports ‘strong’ growth in lockdown-sales
Furniture retailer ScS has said trading has been “very strong” both in-store and online, since the reopening of its stores following the coronavirus lockdown, reporting a 92.2% increase in orders since 24 May. However, ScS reported a 92.5% drop in sales during the lockdown period as stores were temporarily closed.…
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21 JulyCoronavirus
Co-op outlines plans on face coverings
Central England Co-op has outlined plans for its staff to begin to wear face coverings early to promote their use ahead of them becoming compulsory for customers on Friday (24 July). Central England Co-op, which has over 400 food stores and funeral homes across 16 counties, is asking customers to…
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15 JulySupermarkets
Aldi doubles Deliveroo trial size
Aldi is extending its current trial with Deliveroo into 11 new stores, including five more in London and launching in Greater Manchester and Cambridge for the first time. The extension more than doubles the number of stores currently running the trial partnership after eight stores in Nottinghamshire introduced the Deliveroo…
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13 JulyCoronavirus
Footfall suffers despite June reopening
Footfall in June saw a “significant improvement” against the 73.3% decline reported in May, but was still less than half the level of last year, with an annual decline of 56.6%. According to the latest figures from Springboard, footfall fell by 65.1% in high streets and 62.3% in shopping centres,…
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10 JulyCoronavirus
Footfall decline eases amid ‘sluggish’ recovery
Footfall across the UK rose by 19% in June against the month prior, but was still down by 62.6% year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the BRC. In the first two weeks of the month, footfall decline averaged 77.1%, but this improved to 53.3% in the remaining three weeks…
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6 JulyPeople Moves
Morrisons appoints Jeremy Townseand as non-exec director
Morrisons has announced the appointment of Jeremy Townsend as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Townsend will also be appointed to the audit, corporate compliance and responsibility, nomination and remuneration committees. He will be appointed as chair of the audit committee with effect from 10 September 2020. Townsend currently holds…
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