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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Feb- 2024 -5 FebruaryNews
Morrisons stores chief steps down
Morrisons stores chief has stepped down from his role at the company after four years, The Telegraph has reported. David Lepley, who was appointed group retail director in 2020, has worked for Morrisons for almost eight years. He has an extensive career in the retail industry, having started at Asda…
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2 FebruaryFeatures
Could loyalty schemes bring back the weekly shop?
The weekly grocery shopping spree has been falling out of favour for some time now, with just 16% of consumers now reportedly sticking to this food shop schedule as opposed to 26% in 2020, according to Savanta’s latest Grocery Eye report. Former Ocado Group finance director, Vineta Bajaj, chalks this…
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Jan- 2024 -31 JanuaryFeatures
It’s not all just fun and games
The UK toy industry reported that its annual sales dropped by nearly £200m in 2023. Sales dropped by 5% to £3.5bn, according to the annual toy industry report by the market research company Circana. The report stated that the decline reflected the broader impacts of challenging UK economic conditions. So,…
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25 JanuarySport & Leisure
Halfords maintains FY guidance despite weak December sales
Halfords has maintained its full-year guidance despite December sales being “much weaker” than expected. In its third quarter, total revenues were up by 1.6%, and 2.0% on a like-for-like basis. According to the group, stronger sales in Motoring and needs-based categories were partly offset by weaker spend in discretionary areas…
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23 JanuaryHigh Street
Storm Isha dampens early week footfall
Battering winds from Storm Isha hit retail over Sunday and Monday with footfall across all UK retail destinations down -4.6% on the week previous and down -5.1% on 2023 levels, according to the latest data from MRI Springboard. Against 2023 levels, footfall on UK high streets slumped by -14.4% on…
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23 JanuaryAdvice
Sustainable packaging and e-commerce: what more can be done?
The Thanksgiving weekend of 2023, including Cyber Monday, saw $38 billion in online sales in the US, while e-commerce in the UK is forecast to exceed 38% of all retail sales by 2025. That’s an awful lot of packages being delivered to homes. Brands that sell a lot (or all)…
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18 JanuaryPeople Moves
Paula Nickolds to leave Sainsbury’s to become CEO of The White Company
Sainsbury’s has revealed its General Merchandise Commercial director, Paula Nickolds, is set to leave the business to become CEO of The White Company. Over the past three years, Sainsbury’s said Nickolds has led much progress across its ‘Brands that Deliver’ strategy, making Argos, Habitat and Tu “considerably stronger” and more…
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17 JanuaryAdvice
Diversifying revenue streams: A strategic imperative for retailers
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of businesses that depended solely on physical retail. Diversification provides a safety net during crises and economic downturns. Consumer behaviours and preferences have also evolved rapidly and diversification allows retailers to adapt to changing market trends and seize emerging opportunities. Additionally, many retailers also…
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16 JanuaryNews
Today’s news in brief-16/1/24
Card Factory reported a 10% increase in total sales for the 11 months ending December 2023, reaching £476.9m, driven by robust Christmas trading. The like-for-like (LFL) store revenue surged 7.8% in November and December, attributed to increased transactions and higher average basket values. The Store Evolution Programme positively impacted space…
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16 JanuarySupermarkets
Ocado returns to earnings growth as sales soar
Ocado has returned to positive earnings in its full-year results after sales soared over the year, in part boosted by a “record” Christmas for the group. While full-year retail revenues rose by 7% to £2.35bn, sales in the final quarter of the year soared by 10.9% to £609.4m, marking a…
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