Ted Baker appoints new chief executive amid coronavirus crisis March 30, 2020 Embattled fashion chain Ted Baker has appointed a new chief executive as the retailer battles the challenges caused by the outbreak of coronavirus. Acting chief executive Rachel Osborne will take on the role on a permanent basis, the company announced this morning. The former Debenhams finance chief took the reins in December when Lindsay Page [...]
Mothercare franchising deal with Boots delayed by coronavirus March 30, 2020 Mothercare said today that the start of a franchising deal with Boots has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. In an update to the stock exchange this morning, Mothercare said its global franchise partners “are facing considerable challenges” related to the outbreak, adding that it will “not be immune to the effect of widespread store [...]
Retailers urge government to release tax rebates amid coronavirus crisis March 30, 2020 UK retailers have urged the government to approve billions of pounds worth of tax rebates to help cash flow as businesses battle to stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic. The British Retail Consortium and rating advisory Altus Group have called on the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to settle outstanding business rates appeals ahead of the new [...]
Coronavirus: Panic buying sparks surge in flexible storage demand March 30, 2020 Coronavirus panic buying has caused a 50 per cent jump in food production that has put pressure on UK supply chains, according to the latest research. Providers of flexible industrial space have reported an uptick in demand as supermarkets urgently attempt to cope with a surge in customer orders due to the pandemic. Grocers have [...]
Coronavirus: Thousands of UK pubs and restaurants at risk of collapse March 30, 2020 Thousands of UK pubs and restaurants could collapse due to coronavirus, as the latest research showed that insolvencies in the sector spiked before the outbreak. The number of restaurant and pub insolvencies jumped 10 per cent last year to 1,452 and 526 respectively, highlighting the weak state of the UK’s leisure sector before the pandemic. [...]
Coronavirus: Deliveroo to provide 500,000 free meals to NHS staff March 29, 2020 Deliveroo has pledged to deliver 500,000 free meals to NHS workers across the country as the UK gears up for the peak of the coronavirus outbreak. The delivery firm said it has begun providing meals to NHS trusts, while customers will be able to donate funds to buy food for doctors and nurses through its [...]
Coronavirus: Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia pauses pension scheme payments March 29, 2020 Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia is planning to pause payments to its pensions scheme in a bid to save cash during the coronavirus crisis. Green’s retail empire, which includes Topshop and Dorothy Perkins, will defer its deficit recovery contributions, after all non-essential retailers were forced to close as part of a government lockdown to slow the [...]
Carluccio’s left on the brink as coronavirus threatens to cause permanent closures March 28, 2020 Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s is in danger of collapse as it warned it was facing permanent branch closures. The company is working with administrators as the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that all restaurants, among other public venues, were to shut indefinitely a week ago in a bid to control [...]
BrewDog opens 102 virtual bars to encourage people in isolation to socialise March 27, 2020 Craft pub chain BrewDog is set to open 102 virtual bars at 6pm tonight to allow friends to get together and enjoy a beer. The independent craft brewery has lined up a series of events including beer tasting and homebrewing masterclasses, as well as live music, pub quizzes and comedy. It is hoping to replicate [...]
Travelex shuts all UK foreign exchange bureaus for eight weeks March 27, 2020 Travelex is set to shut all its foreign exchange bureaus in the UK for around eight weeks, it announced in a trading update this morning. It comes after the government introduced strict measures forcing the majority of retail businesses to close in order to contain the spread of coronavirus. Foreign exchange firm Travelex said it [...]