Pandemic
This coverage examines the impact of pandemics on the UK retail industry, focusing on operational disruption, financial challenges, consumer behaviour shifts, and recovery strategies. Reporting highlights store closures, safety measures, supply chain pressures, leadership decisions, and lessons learned to enhance resilience. Tailored for executives and managers, it provides insights to navigate crisis situations and strengthen preparedness.
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May- 2021 -4 MayHigh Street
WH Smith mulls takeover of Dixons Carphone’s airport stores
WH Smith is reportedly eyeing up a takeover of Dixons Carphone’s airport stores, after the electronics business closed 35 of its travel shops following the effects of the pandemic. According to The Telegraph, Carl Cowling, WH Smith’s chief CEO, said the exit was “another opportunity” to roll out its own…
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4 MayDIY
Loaf explores £70m sale
Furniture retailer Loaf has reportedly begun exploring a potential sale of the business that could value the business at around £70m. According to the Sunday Times, the retailer has appointed Grant Thornton to start the sales process and sound out any potential suitors. The news comes after the retailer saw…
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Apr- 2021 -30 AprilTechnology
Apple sees Q2 revenues up 54%
Apple has revealed that its revenues for the second quarter of the year ending March 27, increased 54% to $89.6bn (£64.3bn). It comes as the retailer reported that international sales accounted for 67% of the quarter’s revenue. Apple reported double-digit growth in all of its product categories, with iPhone sales…
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30 April
Amazon sees Q1 profits surge to $8.1bn
Amazon has revealed that net income soared to $8.1bn (£5.8bn) in its first quarter results, up from a net income of $2.5bn (£1.8bn) the year prior, as more customers turned to online shopping amid the global pandemic. In the same period, its net sales increased 44% to $108.5bn (£78bn) in…
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30 AprilEconomy
One in seven retail units remain vacant, says BRC
Retail vacancies in the UK have increased across all shopping destinations, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Local Data Company’s (LDC) Vacancy Monitor. The trade association’s data revealed that one in seven of the country’s retail shops remain empty due to the pandemic. In the first quarter of…
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29 AprilShopping Centres
Westfield owner sees Q1 shopping centre turnover drop 42.8%
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), the owner of Westfield, saw a 30.1% year-on-year decline to £313.6m for its shopping centre revenues in Q1 2021. The group’s total turnover for the period fell 42.8% to £393.2m, as the company’s operations remained strongly impacted by ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. According to the group, the quarter saw…
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29 AprilHigh Street
WH Smith launches fundraise to open 100 new travel stores
WH Smith has unveiled plans to open around 100 new travel stores after launching a £325 bond offering in convertible bonds, despite reporting losses in its half-year results. The group, which also secured a £250m revolving credit facility with an extended maturity to 2025, said the funds will aid the…
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29 AprilClothing & Shoes
French Connection FY21 revenue drops 40.4%
French Connection saw its revenues plummet 40.4% year-on-year to £71.5m in the 12 months to 31 January 2021. The fashion retailer and wholesaler’s underlying losses for the period also expanded to £11.7m, from £2.9m the year before, as Covid-19 caused store closures and a reduction to wholesale demand. The group…
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28 AprilDIY
Travis Perkins completes Wickes demerger
Travis Perkins has announced that it has completed the demerger of Wickes Group following an approved shareholders general meeting. Following on from the demerger, the shares of Wickes were admitted at 8.00 a.m. today (28 April 2021) to trade on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. The group…
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28 AprilSupermarkets
Sainsbury’s swings to £261m loss as Covid costs rise to £485m
Sainsbury’s has slumped to a pre-tax loss of £261m, down from a profit of £255m the year before, after it was hit by £485m in Covid-19 related costs during the full-year period ending 6 March 2021. Alongside the Covid-related costs, the group also attributed the loss to costs arising from…
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