Britain’s leading supermarkets are pleading with customers to refrain from panic buying during the coronavirus crisis, with some already rationing items and turning new customers away to cope with demand (The Guardian). Retailers have urged shoppers to only buy what they need and not stockpile as more gaps appear on supermarket shelves across the country (The Telegraph). British supermarkets are urging the public to be considerate to others and stop panic buying as the number of UK coronavirus cases rises (Sky News). In a joint letter, UK retailers have reminded customers to be considerate in their shopping, so that others are not left without much-needed items (The BBC).

UK supermarkets are working on a new round of contingency measures to mitigate the demand spike caused by coronavirus after publicly urging shoppers to show restraint and refrain from panic buying. (The Financial Times £)

Shops have started to refuse cash in a bid to limit the spread of coronavirus while Sainsbury’s set limits on certain products with a desperate plea to shoppers to “think before you buy”. (The Telegraph)

While shoppers have flocked to supermarkets and pharmacies, they have deserted the rest of the high street, presenting a very different challenge to fashion retailers and department stores — most of which are already enfeebled after a torrid few years. (The Times £)

Morrisons has become the first major UK supermarket to agree to pay small suppliers immediately to ensure businesses do not collapse due to coronavirus. (The Daily Mail)

Wm Morrison’s bosses are expected to play on the benefits of its British supply chain during times of crisis as the grocer faces questions about sluggish sales. (The Times £)

A vital ingredient for hand gels and alcohol wipes is in short supply in Europe, with prices for the chemical jumping sharply on the back of a surge in demand because of the coronavirus pandemic. (The Financial Times £)

Louis Vuitton owner LVMH will use its perfume production lines to start making hand santiser to protect people against the coronavirus outbreak. (The BBC)

As hand sanitisers fly off the shelves amid the coronavirus pandemic, the sale of a company that makes it is proving far more complicated. French industrials group Air Liquide is selling its Schülke unit and is asking would-be buyers to offer a higher sum than it first envisaged when the sale process began last year, reflecting what one person called the “coronavirus effect”. (The Financial Times £)

Consumers have been stockpiling toilet rolls, sparking fears that supermarkets could soon be caught short. However, there might not be any need to panic. (The Telegraph)

Carluccio’s is in talks with landlords to negotiate a three-month hiatus on rent payments, as the restaurant chain seeks to cope with the drastic hit to business because of the coronavirus outbreak. (The Financial Times £)

The boss of Carluccio’s has called for more government help and asked the restaurant chain’s landlords for a rent holiday as the leisure industry fights a sharp downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic. (The Times £)

Amazon hopes to transform another sector of the British retail market by bringing a checkout-free food store to London. (The Guardian)

Amazon has hired a new UK finance chief after moving Jeff Stauber to its Seattle offices to help deliver its promise of one-day shipping worldwide (The Telegraph).

The price war sparked by Aldi and Lidl’s expansion was one of the drivers behind Tesco CEO Dave Lewis’s decision to row back on international expansion. Fierce competition at home and a high failure rate overseas may mean British retail’s days of empire building are ending. (The Times £)

Online grocery shopping hasn’t taken off. Will coronavirus change that? “Experts predict less than 10% of the UK grocery market will be online by 2024. That was before the coronavirus made us stay at home.” (The Guardian)

The Sunday Times tips WH Smith shares to rebound from current coronavirus-driven falls. “The economic shock waves from coronavirus look set to push struggling businesses over the edge — but WH Smith can ride out the storm.” (The Times £)

An American firm has developed an organic coating that extends the shelf-life of fruit and vegetables. Might it save the world, asks The Guardian? (The Guardian)

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