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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Aug- 2020 -24 AugustEconomy
Record economic growth anticipated for Q3
The UK is reportedly on track for a record economic resurgence during the third quarter of the year, following sharp declines in GDP at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Q2. According to the Financial Times (FT), City of London economists have predicted a 14.3% rise in GDP for…
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24 AugustHigh Street
Foot Locker sales jump 18% in Q2 results
Foot locker has reported a 17.1 % increase in total sales to $2bn (£1.5bn) for the second-quarter period ended 1 August 2020. Second quarter comparable-store sales also increased by 18.6% during the period. However, the company’s gross margin rate decreased to 25.9% from 30.1% when compared with the same time…
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24 AugustDepartment Stores
Debenhams owner calls in advisers for its own administration
The holding company of Debenhams, Celine Group Holdings, has appointed advisers to help prepare for its own administration. Celine confirmed that Philip James Watkins and Philip Lewis Armstrong of FRP Advisory have been appointed as administrators in respect of the company and its immediate parent company, Celine UK Newco 1…
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21 AugustHigh Street
Retail sales volumes recover slightly in July
Retail sales volumes increased by 3.6% in July when compared with June, according to new data from the ONS. The figure is also 3% above pre-pandemic levels in February 2020. During the month the volume of food store sales and non-store retailing remained at high sales levels, despite monthly contractions…
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21 AugustHealth & Beauty
Estée Lauder to axe up to 2,000 jobs
Estée Lauder has announced that it will axe between 1,500 and 2,000 positions across its global business in a bid to restructure the company following the coronavirus crisis. The redundancies, which form part of its ‘Post-Covid Business Acceleration Program’, will primarily affect point of sale employees and support staff in…
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19 AugustCoronavirus
Pizza Express to close 73 sites, 1,100 jobs at risk
Pizza Express has formally launched a CVA in a bid to reduce its restaurant estate and rental cost base following the pandemic. The CVA proposal will see the permanent closure of 73 restaurants, resulting in a loss of 1,100 jobs. The casual dining chain first announced it had reached an…
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19 AugustComment
Security: The new experience shoppers are seeking in the ‘new normal’?
Retailers have been battling COVID-19 for months. Many traditional brick-and-mortar stores closed. Workforces were scattered — either furloughed or required to work from home. Meantime, online sales have provided a lifeline, as dramatic e-commerce spikes helped firms navigate these trying times. Now, with physical stores starting to reopen, more disruption…
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19 AugustCoronavirus
Usdaw leader launches petition to protect retail staff from violence and abuse
Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis has today (19 August) launched a House of Commons petition calling on the Government to legislate to protect shopworkers. The trade union said the petition has been launched in response to “continued growing assaults, threats and abuse against shopworkers and the doubling of such incidents…
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19 AugustSupermarkets
Asda delivers ‘record’ online sales in Q2
Asda has announced that like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, increased by 3.8% year-on-year in the quarter ended 30 June. In its second quarter of trading, the supermarket also delivered “record” online sales, with online grocery sales doubling, while click-and-collect sales quadrupled in the period. According to the group, transactional data shows…
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18 AugustPeople Moves
Hamleys CEO to step down
Hamleys chief executive, David Smith, is to step down from the position after only six months with the iconic toy retailer. According to Sky News, the reasons behind his departure remains unclear and it is understood that Smith will leave the group at the end of August. He was previously…
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