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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Oct- 2020 -16 OctoberHigh Street
Sales at Boots’ retail sites drop 30%
Sales at Boots’ retail sites reportedly fell by almost 30% in the quarter up to August as consumers chose to carry out their shopping online. Walgreens Boots Alliance, Boots’ parent company, reported that despite an improvement from the 48% drop seen in the previous quarter, the UK retailer continued to…
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16 OctoberClothing & Shoes
Edinburgh Woollen Mill to shut 50 stores, 600 jobs at risk
Phillip Day’s Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group (EWM) is reportedly set to shutter 50 of its stores, placing around 600 jobs at risk, as it begins its restructuring process. According to The Telegraph, the majority of the closures will take place in its Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Peacocks chains and will…
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15 OctoberClothing & Shoes
Uniqlo ‘will recover’ says owner Fast Retailing
Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing has announced that its profit for the fiscal year declined 49% to 90.4m yen (£663,000) down from 178m yen (£1.3m). The decline in profit was attributed to the temporary closure of all Uniqlo stores during the global pandemic. Revenue decreased to 2.01bn yen (£14.7m) for the…
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15 OctoberOnline & Digital
AO World H1 revenues surge 57%
Online retailer AO World has reported a 57% increase in revenues for the six month period ending 30 September 2020. In an interim trading update AO World said it expects group revenue for the period to be £715m. It also revealed that UK revenue increased by 54% and in Germany…
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14 OctoberSupermarkets
Tesco to hire 11,000 temporary staff
Tesco is set to hire more than 11,000 temporary members of staff to assist its stores during the festive period. New recruits will be hired across the UK and work in Tesco’s Superstores and Extra stores, with the focus being on filling roles in online delivery and store replenishment. Rachel…
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13 OctoberEconomy
UK unemployment rises to 4.5%
The UK unemployment rate increased to 4.5% during the three months from July to August, the highest level in over three years. According to the latest figures from the office of National Statistics (ONS), the total number of unemployed increased by 138,000 to 1.58 million people. It comes as over…
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11 OctoberSupermarkets
New Asda owners considering £3bn George sale
The Issa brothers, the new owners of ‘Big Four’ grocer Asda, are reportedly considering a £3bn sale of its clothing arm George. According to the Mail on Sunday, industry sources have told the paper that the sale of George is one of several strategies being considered by the new owners…
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9 OctoberClothing & Shoes
Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group calls in administrators
Philip Day’s EWM Group, owner of retail brands Edinburgh Woollen Mills, Peacock’s and Jaeger has announced it is to appoint administrators to conduct a review of the business. In an update the group said it is “responding to the harsh trading conditions caused by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic…
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9 OctoberHigh Street
Retailers record best monthly in-store sales since February
High street sales in September recorded the best monthly in-store results since before Covid-19 began in February, according to new figures. BDO, an accountancy and business advisory firm, said sales at the beginning of September were the second-best weekly total since early March. Sales rose by 65.1% in September compared…
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8 OctoberOnline & Digital
Very Group revenue tops £2bn for first time
The Very Group has announced a return to profit as group revenue rose by 2.9% in the full-year to top £2bn for the first time in its history. The group reported a pre-tax profit of £48m and underlying EBITDA of £264m, both of which included coronavirus-related costs. Very.co.uk retail sales…
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