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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Jan- 2021 -4 JanuaryNews
Aldi pledges £3.5bn towards UK suppliers
Aldi has outlined plans to increase its spending on UK-made food and drink by £3.5bn by 2025, as part of its growth plans over the next five years. The group is also investing £500m in new and upgraded stores, distribution centres and its supply chain this year, which will reportedly…
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4 JanuaryHigh Street
Arcadia to offload flagship Topshop store
Arcadia Group has announced that Eastdil and Savills have been hired to oversee the sale of retail chain Topshop’s flagship store in central London. According to Sky News, Eastdil will reportedly handle the sale strategy for the building, whilst Savills will advise on future leasing options. It comes after the…
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Dec- 2020 -24 DecemberHigh Street
Ann Summers CVA approved by creditors
Ann Summers has announced that its CVA has been approved by 90% of its creditors, which will see 25 of its stores move to a turnover-based rent system. In a statement, the lingerie store outlined the plans of the agreement with additional funding of up to £10m now being made…
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24 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Clarks shareholders approve £100m LionRock Capital rescue deal
Clarks has announced that its shareholders have approved a financial rescue deal from a Hong Kong-based private equity company. LionRock Capital will invest £100m in the shoe retailer as part of a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA). As a result of this new partnership, none of Clarks’ 320 stores will have…
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23 DecemberAdvice
Four positive signals of a happy new year for retailers in 2021
The resilience of retail has been a remarkable success story of 2020 in the face of continuing huge challenges. The pandemic has forced new ways of trading, from the obvious ways of ensuring COVID-safe spaces to rethinking how to target consumers spending the majority of their lives at home. For…
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22 DecemberAnalysis
Planning for the Future White Paper
The Government published the Planning for the Future White Paper in August, hailing it as a once in a generation opportunity to fix a planning system that has long been regarded as not fit for purpose. Although the White Paper recognises that the planning system faces a number of challenges…
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21 DecemberCoronavirus
Tier 4 will bring ‘severe’ consequences to retail sector, warns BRC
Retail will face “severe” consequences in light of heightened restrictions across much of the UK, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned. It comes after prime minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that Tier 4 restrictions would be introduced in London and the South East, effective from yesterday (20 December). Under Tier…
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18 DecemberCoronavirus
Retail sales down 3.8% in November
Retail sales in November were down 3.8% compared to the previous month, according to the latest figures published by the ONS. The office reported that the decline in sales was a result of many stores’ decisions to cease trading following government guidance during the coronavirus pandemic. Figures show that in…
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17 DecemberCoronavirus
Furlough scheme extended until April 2021
The furlough scheme has been extended until the end of April 2021 with the government continuing to contribute 80% towards wages to employee’s pay, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed today (17 December). The government will also extend current government-guaranteed Covid-19 business loan schemes until the end of March. This includes…
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17 DecemberCoronavirus
Non-essential retail to close in Wales
The First Minister of Wales has confirmed that the country will move to alert level four amid rising Covid-19 cases, with all non-essential retail ordered to close at the end of trading on Christmas Eve. Close contact services and all leisure and fitness centres will also close on 24 December,…
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