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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Mar- 2020 -31 MarchSupermarkets
WHSmith launches partnership with Sainsbury’s amid Covid-19 virus outbreak
WHSmith and Sainsbury’s has announced its partnership to help NHS staff amid the coronavirus pandemic. WHSmith will be stocking an extended range of Sainsbury’s grocery products to “support the incredible work of the NHS through this challenging time.” The partnership will be available in over 80 hospital stores to include…
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31 MarchCoronavirus
Matalan employees furloughed, ‘massive win’ for safety says GMB
Matalan has announced all warehouse staff will be offered furlough leave in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The GMB said the move was a “massive win for victory and common sense”, and came after the union and workers put “sustained pressure” on the retailer. The union said that the “massive…
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31 MarchSupermarkets
UK supermarket sales surge amid Covid-19 outbreak
British consumers made over 79 million extra grocery shopping trips in the last four weeks, with total till sales at supermarkets surging to 20.5%, according to new data from Nielsen. The uptick in sales was particularly pronounced in the week ending 21 March, which saw a “massive” 43% weekly growth…
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31 MarchOnline & Digital
Online sales see mixed result during first week of lockdown
During the first week of the new pandemic guidelines, online retail sales growth was down -2.2% year-on-year (YoY), according to the latest IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index. Though fairly flat, IMRG said the result concealed a “much more tumultuous picture” at a category level. One of three standout categories, last…
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30 MarchCoronavirus
BrightHouse collapses, 2,400 jobs at risk
BrightHouse has collapsed into administration, placing 2,400 jobs “at serious risk”. The rent-to-own home furnishings brand has now called in Grant Thornton as administrators following a period of poor trading amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to the BBC, Julie Palmer, from corporate recovery business Begbies Traynor, said that the…
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30 MarchComment
What are your legal rights if your job has been affected by COVID-19?
Ever since the coronavirus outbreak gathered speed, life in the UK has largely been put on hold. From staff being unable to work due to self-isolation, to workers needing to stay at home to care for their children after schools were ordered to close, the impact on many businesses and…
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30 MarchAdvice
Covid 19: The future health of the high street
The health of the high street is up for debate now more than ever. If retailers were struggling before coronavirus set its sights on our shores, following last week’s forced government closure of non-essential brick & mortar stores throughout the UK, it’s likely that many will have pulled down their…
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30 MarchShopping Centres
Hammerson suspends dividend after collecting just 37% of Q2 rent
Shopping centre owner Hammerson has revealed it collected only 37% of its Q2 rent bill and has suspended its dividend amid the coronavirus outbreak. In a trading update released this morning (30 March), Hammerson said that with figures adjusted for rent deferred, switched to monthly payment, and a nominal proportion…
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27 MarchCoronavirus
Tesco sets 80 item limit for online orders
Tesco has announced that from today (27 March) it will be limiting the number of items customers can put in online shopping baskets to 80. The move will enable the supermarket giant to “reach more customers, with more deliveries” as the coronavirus crisis continues to unfold. The group said that…
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27 MarchCoronavirus
Co-op fills 5,000 roles in one week
The Co-op announced it has filled 5,000 temporary store roles it created last week in just seven days after an “unprecedented response” to the recruitment drive. The 5,000 new employees will have all been inducted to the group’s network of stores by this weekend. The retailer said that those who…
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