Retail news

• UK relaxes trading rules so food stores can work together

  19-03-2020 20:57 via theguardian.com
  
  Competition regulations put on hold so shops can share depots, vans and stock dataCoronavirus – latest updatesAll our coronavirus coverageThe government is relaxing competition regulations to allow retailers to work together more closely to help feed the UK during the coronavirus outbreak.Supermarkets will be allowed to cooperate to keep shops open, to share distribution depots and delivery vans and to share data with each other on stock levels under the temporary waiver approved on Thursd
  
  Read more

• UK food retailers urge government to relax trading regulations

  19-03-2020 20:57 via theguardian.com
  
  Stores want competition rules suspended so they can work together to feed nationCoronavirus – latest updatesAll our coronavirus coverageThe government is relaxing competition regulations to allow retailers to work together more closely to help feed the UK during the coronavirus outbreak.Supermarkets will be allowed to cooperate to keep shops open, to share distribution depots and delivery vans and to share data with each other on stock levels under the temporary waiver approved on Thursday
  
  Read more

• Dedicated shopping for vulnerable people worked for me | Letters

  19-03-2020 20:43 via theguardian.com
  
  Susan Treagus on how her supermarket got it right, Sylvia Markham on an empty Trafalgar Square, and John Barstow on backing for the bill to protect retail workersI am sorry for the people who did not have such a positive experience as I did today (Sainsbury’s dedicated shopping hour for vulnerable people ‘chaotic and crowded’, 19 March). This emergency scheme worked brilliantly for me at 8am at the Fallowfield Manchester store. A young manager explained how it would work, befor
  
  Read more

• Billionaire retailers seek rent cuts during coronavirus crisis

  19-03-2020 19:48 via theguardian.com
  
  Philip Green and Mike Ashley join wave of high street names seeking lower costsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBillionaire retailers Sir Philip Green and Mike Ashley have asked landlords for rent cuts of up to 50% as they try to cut costs during the coronavirus outbreak.Green’s Arcadia retail empire and Ashley’s Sports Direct chain have joined a wave of retailers including H&M, New Look and Debenhams in asking landlords for rent holidays or cuts
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• British supermarkets draft in army of temps to 'feed the nation'

  19-03-2020 18:51 via theguardian.com
  
  Food retailers create thousands of jobs in bid to keep shelves full amid panic buying Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageFood retailers are drafting in an army of coronavirus temps to “feed the nation” as worried shoppers continue to panic-buy groceries.With millions of jobs at risk as whole sectors of the economy close down, besieged food stores, including Asda, Tesco, Co-op and Iceland, are creating thousands of temporary jobs in a bid to keep their s
  
  Read more

• Shutting up shop may cost Ocado more than 4 days of orders

  19-03-2020 18:39
  Online retailer could take lesson from bricks-and-mortar rivals; Asos shoppers don’t buy dresses to wear at home
  
  Read more

• UK firms scrap dividend payouts to protect against disruption

  19-03-2020 18:31 via theguardian.com
  
  Payouts to shareholders cancelled to protect balance sheets during coronavirus crisisCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageUK-listed businesses are scrapping plans to pay dividends in a bid to protect their balance sheets against months of disruption, hitting private investors who rely on the payouts for an income as well as pension funds.Retailers, leisure groups and house builders have all cancelled plans for payouts to shareholders since last week in response to un
  
  Read more

• Ikea joins list of retailers shuttering stores due to coronavirus

  19-03-2020 18:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Ikea to shut down all UK and Ireland stores as a “precautionary measure” from the coronavirus pandemic
  // The temporary closures are effective from 6pm on Friday night
  // Customers can still shop online and have purchases delivered, with contact-free delivery also an optionIkea has joined a fast-growing list of retailers that announced a temporary closure of its UK and Ireland stores, effective from 6pm on Friday night.
  The furniture giant cited the decision as a “precaution
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• UK supermarket restrictions: what you need to know

  19-03-2020 17:55 via theguardian.com
  
  Here are the key changes being made to prevent panic buying during the coronavirus crisisCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageLimits to shopping hours: All stores closing at 10pm for restocking. Some larger stores with pharmacies will stay open later. Temporary closure of all fresh food counters, except bakeries. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Food retailers urge government to relax trading regulations

  19-03-2020 17:53 via theguardian.com
  
  Supermarkets want competition rules suspended so they can work together to feed the nationCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe government is under increasing pressure to relax a string of regulations as food retailers say they need to bend the normal rules to help feed the nation.Defra has already said it will work with local authorities to extend the hours that deliveries can be made to food stores to help keep food supplies on the shelves. In many built-up area
  
  Read more

• Asda to pay coronavirus-isolated staff in full; concessions given rent holiday

  19-03-2020 17:52 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Asda confirms that any staff in isolation due to coronavirus will be paid in full
  // Grocer will also pay suppliers immediately to help with their cashflow during the pandemic
  // Small business tenants that operate concessions in Asda stores will be given 3-month rent holidayAsda has said workers in isolation due to coronavirus will still be paid in full, and suppliers will be paid immediately while concession operators will be given a rent-free quarter.
  The Big 4 retailer revealed a package
  
  Read more

• Coronavirus: Co-op fast tracks 5000-strong recruitment drive

  19-03-2020 17:27 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Co-op creates 5000 store-based jobs to provide temporary employment for hospitality workers affected by coronavirus
  // Co-op will simplify its recruitment process so successful candidates can start work within days
  // Permanent jobs will also be on offer at the Co-op’s 2600 stores across the countryThe Co-op is to create 5000 store-based posts which will provide temporary employment for hospitality workers who have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus crisis.
  The grocery retailer
  
  Read more

• BoE warned most retailers will not qualify for rescue loans

  19-03-2020 17:11
  Consortium says majority of businesses will not have rating required to receive cheap finance
  
  Read more

• TX Maxx the latest to close UK stores amid coronavirus crisis

  19-03-2020 16:48 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // TK Maxx the latest major retailer to shutter UK store estate amid coronavirus outbreak
  // 349 stores will close as of tomorrow until further notice
  // Stablemate Homesense will also close its 78 storesTK Maxx has become the latest retailer to reportedly take the decision to close down its UK store estate as the coronavirus crisis shows no signs of an end date any time soon.
  According to Retail Week, TK Maxx’s 349 stores are due to close until further notice once trading ends today.
  
  Read more

• Online sales flat in month before coronavirus crisis hitting UK

  19-03-2020 16:24 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // In the month before the coronavirus crisis, online retail sales declined 0.4% year-on-year
  // Despite the surprising upturn in late 2019, February’s result continues the weak growth seen in January
  // Month-on-month online sales down 0.7%In the month before the coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic and plunged global markets into crisis, the UK’s string of winter storms failed to stimulate online retail sales.
  For the month of February, online sales limped in with a margina
  
  Read more

• Shutting up shop may cost Ocado more than four days of orders

  19-03-2020 16:06
  Online retailer could take a lesson in communications from bricks-and-mortar competitors
  
  Read more

• The 'fortress firms' best placed to weather the coronavirus crisis

  19-03-2020 16:02 via theguardian.com
  
  Big supermarkets such as Tesco and M&S likely to get boost from ‘essential retailer’ statusAs the corporate and economic toll of the coronavirus outbreak mounts, it is clear that some winners will also emerge from the crisis, including supermarkets and others such as Marks & Spencer, which are likely to be handed “essential retailer” status.If the UK government follows in the footsteps of other countries such as France, where only supermarkets, pharmacies, banks,
  
  Read more

• Ocado expected to ration more products

  19-03-2020 15:50
  Online retailer wants to ‘ensure fairer distribution’ among consumers in coronavirus rush for groceries
  
  Read more

• Coronavirus: Clarks, Sweaty Betty, Oxfam, Fenwick the latest to close stores

  19-03-2020 15:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Clarks the first major UK retailer to temporarily shut down its UK store estate amid coronavirus pandemic
  // Clarks said its employees would continue to be paid during the closures
  // Other retailers that have announced store closures include Fenwick, Oxfam and Sweaty BettyClarks, Sweaty Betty, Fenwick and Oxfam have become the latest retailers to announce the temporary closure of all of its British stores in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
  Clarks confirmed it would temporarily close al
  
  Read more

• King’s Cross development landlord waives rent for 3 months

  19-03-2020 14:48
  Argent says it wants to support tenants such as Waitrose and Nike hit by coronavirus slowdown
  
  Read more

• Social distancing in supermarkets do not help, says MP

  19-03-2020 13:54 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Environment Secretary George Eustice says social distancing measures taken in Italy were “counterproductive”
  // He said they led to hundreds of people “huddled together” at store entrances
  // Remarks came after government was accused of lacking urgency in their response to coronavirus pandemicRestrictions on customer numbers within supermarkets have been ruled out by the Environment Secretary.
  George Eustice said such social distancing measures taken in Italy had prove
  
  Read more

• Coronavirus: John Lewis & Waitrose launch £1m community fund & rationing

  19-03-2020 13:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // John Lewis Partnership launches £1m support fund for local communities amid coronavirus crisis
  // Partnership also setting up a support fund to aid staff facing additional costs as a result of the pandemic
  // Protected shopping hour for the elderly and vulnerable also introduced, along with rationingJohn Lewis Partnership has announced new measures to help its shops meet the needs of customers during the coronavirus crisis, with a focus on the elderly and the vulnerable.
  These incl
  
  Read more

• Ocado expected to impose rationing on more products

  19-03-2020 13:15 via theguardian.com
  
  Online shopping firm to reopen on Saturday with ‘fairer distribution of goods’ amid coronavirus crisisOcado is expected to increase rationing on its site when it reopens on Saturday as it tries to cope with overwhelming demand for grocery home deliveries.The online grocer is already limiting sales of around 500 products but signalled that was likely to increase as it sought to “ensure a fairer distribution of our capacity” to shoppers. Related: UK coronavirus live: Willia
  
  Read more

• Sainsbury's dedicated shopping hour for vulnerable people 'chaotic and crowded'

  19-03-2020 12:26 via theguardian.com
  
  Older and disabled people say they encountered huge queues and empty shelvesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageElderly and vulnerable customers who visited Sainsbury’s stores for a dedicated shopping hour have said they were met with huge crowds and empty shelves on Thursday morning.The first hour of trading at the supermarket’s 2,300 UK stores had been set aside for the exclusive use of those whose health is most at risk from the disease. Many people h
  
  Read more

• Coronavirus: Calvin Klein closes all European, US & Canadian stores

  19-03-2020 12:02 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Calvin Klein closes its European, US & Canadian stores due to ongoing Covid-19 outbreak
  // All employees will receive pay & benefits for their scheduled hours during the closures
  Calvin Klein has temporarily closed all of its European, US and Canadian stores until March 29 as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
  It joins a growing list of retailers, including Burberry, Zara, Apple and Selfridges, who have either decided or have been forced to close stores as many countries go into lock
  
  Read more

• Next warns of unprecedented high street crisis over coronavirus

  19-03-2020 11:34 via theguardian.com
  
  UK retailers, bus companies, publishers and cinema chains issue warnings as sales take large hitCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe chief executive of Next has said the British high street is facing a crisis that is “unprecedented in living memory” as the fashion retailer joined a slew of companies warning of the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.Simon Wolfson said Next was planning for a sales hit of up to £1bn in the year ahead a
  
  Read more

• Next warns of unprecedented crisis on high street amid coronavirus impact

  19-03-2020 11:34 via theguardian.com
  
  UK retailers, bus companies, publishers and cinema chains issue warnings as sales take hitCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe chief executive of Next has said the British high street is facing a crisis that is “unprecedented in living memory” as it joined a slew of companies warning of the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.Simon Wolfson said Next was planning for a sales hit of up to a £1bn in the year ahead as the UK prepares for
  
  Read more

• Coronavirus brings down a New York restaurant empire

  19-03-2020 11:00
  Andrew Carmellini shutters Locanda Verde and The Dutch as pandemic grips Manhattan
  
  Read more

• Chefs hang up hats as restaurants deal with virus fallout

  19-03-2020 11:00
  New York kitchen stars such as Andrew Carmellini and Danny Meyer lay off thousands of workers
  
  Read more

• Coronavirus: supermarkets open early for elderly & vulnerable

  19-03-2020 10:59 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda & Iceland open early for the elderly and vulnerable to shop during Covid-19 pandemic
  // Customers are urged to shop in store where possible to free up slots for the more vulnerableGrocers are implementing elderly hours in stores for vulnerable customers to shop when its quieter and stock up on essentials due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
  Asda announced it will open be open for vulnerable shoppers before 9am tomorrowThe grocer’s chief executive Roger Burnley asked
  
  Read more

• Amazon warehouse workers strike as staff COVID-19 cases rise

  19-03-2020 10:59 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Amazon has confirmed the first COVID-19 infection in its US delivery network as its warehouse staff in France strike amid fears of contagion.
  The retailer’s delivery station in Queens, New York, has been temporarily closed for a deep clean while its workers have been sent home with full pay after a member of staff was confirmed to have contracted the virus.
  “We are supporting the individual who is now in quarantine,” Amazon said in a statement.
  It added that since the start of
  
  Read more

• Joules to take “prudent actions” amid coronavirus outbreak

  19-03-2020 10:56 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Joules will take action against the coronavirus outbreak after a decline in footfall & revenue
  // The outbreak will likely impact business over the coming monthsJoules has announced that ”prudent actions” will be taken after reporting a decline in footfall and revenue thanks to the coronavirus outbreak.
  The British lifestyle retailer said its key retail channels performed in line with expectations following its interim results on January 21.
  But since the outbreak, Joules said
  
  Read more

• Burberry feels the coronavirus bite as majority of its stores close

  19-03-2020 10:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Over 60% of Burberry’s stores in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa have closed as due to lockdowns
  // In the Americas, more 85% of stores have closed, but in China most of its stores have reopened
  // Luxury fashion retailer warns that its store sales likely to take a 30% hitMost of Burberry’s European and American stores have closed as high streets have been hit in the bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the retailer revealed.
  More than 60 per cent of stor
  
  Read more

• Intu on brink of collapse after “running out of options”

  19-03-2020 10:07 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Intu close to collapse after “running out of option”
  // The retail landlord posted a 22% drop in the value of its portfolio last weekRetail analysts have reportedly warned that Intu is on the brink of collapse after “running out of options”.
  Last week, the shopping centre owner posted a 22 per cent drop in the value of its portfolio and its debt-to-asset ratio had increased to 68 per cent.
  It also posted a £2 billion loss, up from £1.17 billion the year bef
  
  Read more

• Coronavirus: Next sales could drop by 100%, retailer warns

  19-03-2020 09:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Next has warned on the coronavirus impact on trading
  // Sales could tumble by up to 100% in the coming weeks
  // Online sales are likely to perform far betterNext is preparing for a “significant” trading downturn after the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll on the retailer as sales drop 30 per cent in recent days.
  However, the retailer said it could “comfortably sustain” more than £1 billion loss of sales over the full year – including sales declines of up
  
  Read more

• Next 'facing unprecedented' crisis as firms warn of coronavirus fallout

  19-03-2020 09:47 via theguardian.com
  
  CEO says chain is facing up to £1bn hit as UK retailers, bus companies, publishers and cinema chains issue warningsThe chief executive of Next has warned the British high street is facing a crisis that is “unprecedented in living memory” as it joined a slew of companies warning of the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.Simon Wolfson said it was planning for up to a £1bn hit to sales from coronavirus in the year ahead as the UK prepares to lockdown to control t
  
  Read more

• Next braces for £1bn sales hit amid warnings over coronavirus impact

  19-03-2020 09:47 via theguardian.com
  
  UK retailers, bus companies, publishers and cinema chains all issue warningsThe chief executive of Next has said the British high street is facing a crisis that is “unprecedented in living memory” as it joined a slew of companies warning of the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.Simon Wolfson said Next was planning for up to a £1bn hit to sales in the year ahead as the UK prepares for lockdown to try to slow the spread of the virus. He called on the government to pu
  
  Read more

• David Littleproud: eBay must clamp down on 'parasites' who profiteer from hoarded groceries

  19-03-2020 09:32 via theguardian.com
  
  Coronavirus panic buying aggravated by social media and Australia in no danger of running out of food, agriculture minister saysDavid Littleproud will write to eBay to ask them to clamp down on “parasites” who appear to be selling hoarded groceries online and says Australia is at no risk of running out of food.The agriculture minister said a lack of trust in government and traditional media sources had contributed to the waves of panic buying, leading to people trusting false reports
  
  Read more

• Coronavirus: M&S stores will remain open, CEO Steve Rowe says

  19-03-2020 08:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // M&S stores will stay open but cubicle-based bra & suit-fitting services have been closed
  // Contact-free delivery service will be available for clothing, home, flowers, hampers & wine orders
  // Currency refunds will be offered to those who can’t travel due to the coronavirus outbreakMarks & Spencer has announced that its stores and business functions will remain open, as it puts new measures in place to support customers and colleagues amid the coronavirus outbreak.
  M&am
  
  Read more

• Tesco rations all items to counteract coronavirus panic-buying

  19-03-2020 08:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Tesco to limit items to three per person as part of new move to prevent panic-buying
  // All counter services will also be closed to focus more on stocking shelves
  // Lewis said healthy shoppers are encouraged to come to stores to free up online capacityTesco has introduced a three per person limit on all items in a bid to counteract coronavirus-linked stockpiling.
  In a letter to staff, chief executive Dave Lewis wrote that all counter services will be closed to focus on stocking shelves, and
  
  Read more

• 'Suddenly I have no paycheck': layoffs and cuts for workers rocked by coronavirus

  19-03-2020 08:00 via theguardian.com
  
  As the outbreak has hit America and the country has started to shut down, workers in many industries wonder: what now?Nevin Muni, 52, has always had an unpredictable schedule working in a stockroom at TJ Maxx in Queens, New York. She regularly works about 20 hours a week after being requested to come in on unscheduled days. Related: 10,000 extra troops to join British army's Covid support force I have an elderly mother in El Salvador who I have to constantly send money to make sure she’s t
  
  Read more

• Regional Australian supermarket hires security to prevent out-of-town shoppers from clearing out shelves

  19-03-2020 01:56 via theguardian.com
  After ‘thousands of different faces’ began panic-buying due to coronavirus, customers must now prove they live locally
  A small supermarket in regional Victoria has hired security guards to check identification at the door to prevent shoppers from Melbourne from clearing out the shelves.It’s a phenomenon that has reportedly been occurring in regional towns around the country as panic buying sparked by the coronavirus enters its third week. Related: Australian supermarkets limit
  
  Read more

• Tesco and Sainsbury’s launch new measures to help shoppers during coronavirus outbreak

  19-03-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sainsbury’s and Tesco are bringing in a number of new measures to help address issues arising from the coronavirus outbreak. Tesco is introducing a storewide restriction... View Article
  
  Read more

• Retail’s Omnichannel Mystery Machine: Why Are Customer Journeys Still So Disjointed?

  19-03-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  As the retail industry cruised through the recent holiday season, several colleagues and I decided to take a look at just exactly how well retailers around... View Article
  
  Read more

• Ocado retail sales up 10.3% in first quarter

  19-03-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Online grocer Ocado has reported a 10.3% uplift in retail revenue in its first quarter. In the 13 weeks to 1 March, the revenue climbed to... View Article
  
  Read more

• Joules experiences lower footfall due to coronavirus

  19-03-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Lifestyle clothing brand Joules has said the outbreak of COVID-19 in the UK has led to a decline in sales and footfall in its stores. Although... View Article
  
  Read more

• ChannelAdvisor expands support for brands and retailers on Amazon in the Netherlands

  19-03-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  ChannelAdvisor Corporation (NYSE:ECOM), a leading provider of cloud-based e-commerce solutions that enable brands and retailers to increase global sales, today announced support for Amazon.nl, coinciding with Amazon’s... View Article
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!