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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Jul- 2020 -6 JulySupermarkets
Tesco demands large supplier discounts as it preps for ‘price war’
Big Four Grocer Tesco has reportedly demanded discounts of up to 50% from suppliers as it prepares for a price war with Aldi and Lidl. According to the Sunday Times, Tesco has given suppliers up until Friday 10 June to accept the terms which will likely be funded by abandoning…
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6 JulyPeople Moves
Morrisons appoints Jeremy Townseand as non-exec director
Morrisons has announced the appointment of Jeremy Townsend as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Townsend will also be appointed to the audit, corporate compliance and responsibility, nomination and remuneration committees. He will be appointed as chair of the audit committee with effect from 10 September 2020. Townsend currently holds…
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3 JulyFeatures
Reducing returns abuse without sacrificing customer experience
For merchants, delivering a great customer experience has always been high on their list of priorities. It’s essential for fostering customer loyalty, and increasing top-line revenue. A significant aspect of customer experience is how a merchant handles returns, as this can mean increased flexibility and convenience for consumers. Recent Forter…
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3 JulyClothing & Shoes
Boohoo denies it ‘puts workers at risk’
Online clothing retailer Boohoo has defended its business practices against accusations that it was putting workers at factories in Leicester at risk of contracting coronavirus. The allegations made by worker’s rights group Labour Behind the Label come after the East Midlands city was placed under lockdown earlier this week. The…
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2 JulyHigh Street
Casual Dining Group falls into administration
The owner of Bella Italia and Café Rouge, Casual Dining Group, has fallen into administration. According to a report by the BBC, almost 1,900 of the group’s 6,000 strong workforce have been made redundant, with 91 sites closing their doors for good. The BBC said AlixPartners, the appointed administrators, will…
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2 JulyClothing & Shoes
Arcadia to cut 500 head office jobs
Arcadia has revealed it is set to cut around 500 head office roles due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The group reportedly informed staff in an email on Wednesday around a fifth of its 2,500 head office staff would be affected by the restructuring. Reports suggest that the…
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2 JulyCoronavirus
High street retailers ‘urgently’ need government recovery plan, says Usdaw
Shopworkers union Usdaw has urged the government to agree with employers and trade unions a recovery plan for the high street as “thousands of further job losses are announced”. The union said the scale of job losses across the retail industry is “accelerating” as the high street continues to struggle…
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1 JulyCoronavirus
Harrods to cut 700 jobs
Luxury department store Harrods is set to cut around 700 jobs as it attempts to weather the storm caused by the coronavirus pandemic. According to The Guardian, Harrods has told its staff that one in seven of its employees would be affected by jobs cut. The paper revealed that in…
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1 JulyDepartment Stores
John Lewis set to axe stores and jobs
Department store chain John Lewis is reportedly set to cut jobs in a bid to reduce its costs. In a memo first seen by the Evening Standard, chairman Sharon White told 80,000 employees that it was “highly unlikely” the group would reopen all of its John Lewis stores. In addition…
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1 JulyHigh Street
Harveys collapses into administration as Bensons saved
Furniture retailer Harveys has collapsed into administration after the retailer’s parent company, Blue Group, called in PwC to financially restructure the business. Bensons for Beds, which is also owned by Blue Group, has been saved from the same fate after it was acquired by Blue Group owner Alteri Investors in…
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