Morrisons retail sales surge in lockdown but fuel demand drops May 12, 2020 Morrisons retail sales jumped in the first quarter of the year due to coronavirus stockpiling, however a drop in demand for fuel hurt overall sales. Like-for-like retail sales jumped 5.1 per cent in the 14 weeks to 10 May, driven by a 10.8 per cent surge in sales between weeks 12 and 14 of the [...]
Starbucks to reopen stores for takeaway and drive-thru this week May 11, 2020 Starbucks will begin a phased reopening of drive-thru and takeaway-only stores with social distancing measures in place this week. The coffee shop giant said stores will begin reopening from Thursday after the government eased the lockdown restrictions to allow more traffic on the roads. Starbucks said it will offer a “near complete” drinks menu and [...]
High street suffers biggest ever decline in footfall as Brits obey lockdown May 11, 2020 The UK high street suffered its greatest ever decline in footfall last month as Brits steered clear of shops during the coronavirus lockdown. Retailers were hit with an “unprecedented” 80 per cent plunge in footfall in April, with high streets and shopping centres the worst affected. Retail parks were the most resilient thanks to the [...]
UK retailers warn government coronavirus aid not enough to prevent ‘imminent collapse’ May 11, 2020 UK retailers have warned that its financial aid package for businesses during the coronavirus crisis will not prevent the “imminent collapse” of many firms. In a letter to the chancellor Rishi Sunak and small business minister Paul Scully, the British Retail Consortium said the crisis “facing parts of the retail sector…must be addressed urgently ahead [...]
UK lockdown: No pubs or restaurants to reopen until July ‘at very earliest’ May 11, 2020 Pubs, hair salons and restaurants will not open until 4 July at the “very earliest”, Dominic Raab said today in a warning the UK lockdown is far from over. While manufacturing and construction workers will begin returning to work today the picture is very different for retailers, the foreign secretary said today. Raab insisted the [...]
Retailers call for shop reopenings based on safety standards May 10, 2020 The reopening of shops after the coronavirus lockdown should be based on safety standards rather than size or business type, a top retail chief has said. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said she expected a “gradual lifting” of the restrictions, with schools and transport the first to reopen. But she [...]
UK lockdown: Consumer confidence remains ‘severely depressed’ May 8, 2020 Consumer confidence in the UK’s lockdown economy remained “severely depressed” at the end of April, although research indicated there could be some pent up consumer demand when restrictions lift. GfK’s consumer confidence index was at minus 33 at the end of April, a one-point increase on the previous score. However, consumer confidence has plummeted 20 [...]
UK lockdown: Online sales soar 109 per cent to record high May 8, 2020 Online sales soared to a record high in April after high street stores shut their doors during the UK’s coronavirus lockdown. Non-store sales surged 109.6 per cent last month, the strongest result since records began 10 years ago, after all non-essential physical stores closed. However, overall retail sales plunged 29.6 per cent during the month [...]
Holiday Inn owner IHG’s occupancy levels dive to record lows during coronavirus pandemic May 7, 2020 Holiday Inn owner Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) said occupancy levels dropped to historic lows in March and April due to coronavirus lockdowns around the world. The hotel group said global revenue per available room plunged 25 per cent in the first quarter, with a 55 per cent drop in March. It is forecast to fall [...]
Ex-Asda boss Andy Clarke praises UK supermarkets’ ‘incredible’ response to coronavirus crisis May 7, 2020 Former Asda chief executive Andy Clarke said the UK supermarket sector had responded “incredibly well” to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. Clarke, who led Asda for six years before leaving in 2016, said UK grocers had managed to “get Britain back on track” after a surge in stockpiling caused product restrictions in the lead [...]