CMA launches coronavirus taskforce to stamp down on over-pricing March 20, 2020 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a taskforce to prevent businesses from taking advantage of shoppers during the UK coronavirus outbreak. The UK competition watchdog warned the outbreak has “prompted many concerns that businesses might exploit the situacion to take advantage of people”. Amid stockpiling of food and toilet roll across the UK, [...]
Supermarket sweep: Spending data reveals shopper stockpiling and collapse in holiday bookings March 19, 2020 Brits are stocking up on essentials and holding off on booking holidays as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the country, but they aren’t yet splashing the cash on takeaways, according to data from Starling Bank. The digital bank said customer spending at supermarkets was soaring to levels typically seen at Christmas, with warehouse outlet Costco entering [...]
Coronavirus: Supermarkets ramp up measures to keep shelves stocked March 18, 2020 Supermarkets have ramped up measures to keep shelves stocked amid panic buying and stockpiling during the coronavirus crisis. Tesco has reduced opening hours to allow staff more time to restock shelves and Waitrose has applied limits to some items. This morning the Waitrose website is down as it has been unable to cope with the [...]
Sainsbury’s ramps up rationing on more items as demand rises March 18, 2020 Sainsbury’s will today ramp up the rationing of a growing number of its products in response to heightened demand from customers stockpiling items in the light of new coronavirus restrictions. As of this morning, customers will be able to buy a maximum of three of any grocery product and a maximum of two on the [...]
Reports that mobile networks O2, EE, Vodafone and Three are down March 17, 2020 Users of mobile networks such as O2, EE, Vodafone and Three have said their networks are down. According to website Downdetector.co.uk, users of those services as well Tesco Mobile and Giffgaff have been reporting problems with their services. The outage happened as millions of Brits worked from home in light of the coronavirus epidemic. An [...]
Travelex owner Finablr planning for ‘potential insolvency’ March 17, 2020 Finablr, the owner of foreign exchange firm Travelex, has appointed advisers to prepare for a possible insolvency after the FTSE 250 company became mired in an accounting scandal. In an update to the stock exchange this morning, Finablr’s board said it had engaged an accounting firm “to undertake rapid contingency planning for a potential insolvency [...]
Coronavirus: Supermarkets mull streamlining stores to cope with spike in demand March 16, 2020 The biggest supermarkets in the UK are mulling cutting cafe, counters and other services to focus on maintaining basic provisions as the demand for essential items and hygiene products soars during the coronavirus outbreak. Bosses are stepping up their contingency plans to keep stores running if staff take sick leave or if a potential mass [...]
Coronavirus: Supermarkets urge customers to stop stockpiling March 15, 2020 UK supermarkets have called on the UK public to stop stockpiling in response to coronavirus as fears mount that some people could be left without essential products. In an open letter to customers, the country’s biggest food retailers, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco Asda and Morrisons, called on consumers to “be considerate in the way they shop” [...]
Coronavirus: Supermarkets rebound but leisure stocks suffer March 13, 2020 Supermarket stocks made gains this morning after being dragged down by a mass FTSE 100 sell off sparked by mounting coronavirus fears. Sainsbury’s share price jumped 8.02 per cent to 188.97p, Tesco was up 10.46 per cent at 233.3p and Morrisons climbed 7.98 per cent to 178p. Grocers are positioned well to ride out the [...]
Morrisons moves to support supply chain through coronavirus outbreak March 13, 2020 Morrisons will make immediate payments to smaller businesses and re-classify suppliers to help 1,000 more firms as it moves to protect its supply chain from the impact of coronavirus. The grocer will temporarily scrap its 14 day payment terms and pay small suppliers as soon as an invoice is received. Morrisons also said it will [...]