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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Sep- 2020 -9 SeptemberEconomy
Pizza Hut to close 29 sites, 450 jobs cut
Pizza Hut has confirmed it is to close 29 sites as part of a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) that will see around 450 jobs lost. Pizza Hut Restaurants revealed it is currently negotiating a CVA in order to “mitigate the financial impact of Covid-19”. It said PHR is “one of…
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9 SeptemberPeople Moves
Ewan Venter to leave CEO role at Fortnum & Masons
Department store Fortnum and Mason has announced its CEO Ewan Venters is to leave the business in the new year to take up the post of CEO at Hauser and Wirth. Venter, who has been CEO at the Piccadilly-based store since August 2012, will join the art gallery as its…
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9 SeptemberHigh Street
Travis Perkins profits slump 80%
Travis Perkins has reported a 80.9% decrease in adjusted operating profits to £42m for the half-year period ended 30 June 2020. This reflected “shortfall” from lower sales volumes, and was partially offset by actions to reduce and control operating costs. The retailer also reported a 20% fall in revenues to…
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9 SeptemberClothing & Shoes
Majority of UK consumers change their shopping habits during lockdown
A study by online market vendor Capterra has revealed how consumers’ shopping habits have changed since the start of Covid-19. The study, which was conducted at the end of the summer, revealed that 62% of shoppers felt that their retail habits have been altered as a result of UK self-isolation…
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9 SeptemberClothing & Shoes
Quiz sales plummet, store closures anticipated
Fashion retailer Quiz has revealed its sales have been “significantly impacted” by the pandemic, with total sales falling by 77% to £12.8m between 1 April and 31 August. Its website sales totalled £4.9m in the period, marking a 45% decline against the £8.9m reported the year before. Sales through third…
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8 SeptemberEconomy
UK retail sales increase by 4.7% in August
UK retail sales in August have increased by 4.7% on a like-for-like basis from August 2019, according to figures released in BRC-KPMG’s Retail Sales Monitor report for the month. Overall sales increased by 3.9% in the period, in comparison to a decline of 0.4% in August 2019. This is above…
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7 SeptemberCoronavirus
60% of mid-sized businesses plan redundancies, BDO finds
More than half (60%) of the UK’s medium-sized businesses are planning redundancies as a result of the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme coming to an end in October, according to new research from accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO. BDO’s monthly Rethinking the Economy survey of 500 medium-sized businesses across…
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7 SeptemberEconomy
GDP to contract £15.3bn each year if home working persists
Lower consumer spending and a decrease in economic clustering if pandemic levels of home working persist would reduce UK GDP by £15.3bn every year, according to new research published by PwC. The ‘Big Four’ accountancy firm said the hit to consumption is a result of office workers spending fewer days…
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3 SeptemberEconomy
UK small business sector ‘plagued’ by late payment issues
UK freelancers and small business owners continue to be plagued by the problem of late payment, according to new research by cloud accounting software company Freeagent. Analysis of over two million invoices sent by FreeAgent customers between January 2019 and June 2020 has revealed the “startling impact” of late payment…
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3 SeptemberHigh Street
Retail vacancy rate reaches six-year high
Retail shop vacancies have reached a six-year high due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to new research from Springboard. The research found the UK vacancy rate rose to 10.8% in July up from 9.8% in January, which means it is now at the highest level since January…
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