Morrisons wins legal case over data breach liability April 1, 2020 The UK’s highest court has ruled that Morrisons is not legally liable for the actions of a disgruntled former employee who leaked the data of more than 100,000 workers. Supreme Court judge Lord Reed ruled this morning that the supermarket was not vicariously liable for the conduct of Andrew Skelton, who was jailed in 2015 [...]
English winemaker Chapel Down toasts surge in sales due to coronavirus lockdown April 1, 2020 British beer and wine producer Chapel Down has toasted a surge in supermarket sales as consumers stock up during the coronavirus lockdown. Supermarket and off licence sales have grown “substantially” and online transactions have also increased after the government ordered all pubs, theatres and hospitality venues to close in a bid to stop the spread [...]
Minimum wage hike to go ahead despite coronavirus pressure on businesses March 31, 2020 The UK minimum wage is set to rise tomorrow as planned despite calls for the government to postpone the increase due to the coronavirus outbreak. The National Minimum Wage will increase 6.2 per cent from £8.21 to £8.72 per hour from 1 April, despite the economic challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic. However, two thinktanks [...]
Coronavirus: Debenhams seeks landlord support for new restructuring plan March 31, 2020 Embattled department store Debenhams is reportedly in urgent talks over a further restructuring plan that could involve more store closures. The high street chain has ramped up discussions with landlords due to the coronavirus outbreak. Debenhams’ lenders, which took control of the retailer last year, are unwilling to provide further funding without landlords agreeing to [...]
Retail landlord New River suffers drop in rent payments due to coronavirus March 31, 2020 Retail landlord New River received 60 per cent of its quarterly rent due this month as tenants were forced to close due to the coronavirus outbreak. The shopping centre owner said it was working with occupiers that had not yet paid to recover late payments or agree alternative solutions such as deferment or transition to [...]
Coronavirus: Aldi, Morrisons and Waitrose ease stockpiling restrictions March 31, 2020 Supermarkets have begun to ease restrictions on the number of productions shoppers can purchase as availability has improved following a spike in coronavirus-related stockpiling. All major UK supermarkets were forced to limit the number of items customers could buy earlier this month, to combat an increase in panic buying. Aldi announced this morning that, while [...]
Coronavirus: Tesco adds 100,000 online delivery and collect slots March 31, 2020 Tesco has boosted the number of online delivery and click and collect slots by more than 100,000 as the supermarket scrambles to meet an “unprecedented” surge in demand during the coronavirus crisis. The grocer today said it has increased capacity from 660,000 slots two weeks ago to 780,000 this week. And it plans to add [...]
Ocado orders coronavirus testing kits for staff March 30, 2020 Ocado has purchased coronavirus testing kits for its frontline workers, who will also receive a 10 per cent bonus during the pandemic. Employees working on the frontline of the food delivery operation, such as drivers, personal shoppers, drivers, engineers, and site managers will get a bonus on all hours worked from 23 March. The online [...]
Arcadia cancels supplier orders amid coronavirus crisis March 30, 2020 Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia has cancelled all orders from its suppliers and extended its payment terms as it seeks to conserve cash during the coronavirus pandemic. Arcadia, which owns high street giants Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Burtons, has written to its supply chain to say all orders have been cancelled and payment terms will be [...]
Thousands of jobs at risk as Carluccio’s and Brighthouse collapse under coronavirus pressure March 30, 2020 Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s and rent-to-own retailer Brighthouse both appointed administrators this morning, putting thousands of jobs at risk. Carluccio’s has appointed FRP Advisory as administrator after forced restaurant closures following the outbreak of coronavirus, and ongoing pressures in the hospitality sector, led to it running out of cash. FRP said it will use the [...]
