Helen Dickinson news, features and comment – Page 19
-
NewsRetail industry leaders demand committee inquiry into violence against shopworkers
Industry bodies are calling for action to tackle the tens of thousands of acts of violence against shopworkers every year
-
NewsCity Snapshot: Shop prices continue to fall as food inflation eases
Shop prices fell by 1.6% in September as retailers cut prices to encourage spending and food price inflation continues to ease. Plus, trading at Compass Group improves as establishments reopen and all the rest of the latest news from the City.
-
NewsLandlords ‘exploiting loophole’ to recover rent arrears from retailers
Landlords have been using county court judgements to ’undermine the will of parliament’, the BRC’s CEO has claimed
-
NewsUK retail sales continue to recover but city centres remain ‘devastated’
Retail sales continued to recover in August, but remain well down on an annual basis as the country recovers from lockdown.
-
NewsCity snapshot: Fever-Tree sales and profits slump amid coronavirus lockdowns
Premium drinks mixer producer Fever-Tree saw a double-digit drop in sales and profitability as the shutdown of bars, pubs and restaurants hit first half trading. Plus, on a hectic morning, retail sales rebound in August, trading updates from Bakkavor, McBride, DS Smith and Applegreen joins US service station project
-
NewsCity Snapshot: Empty offices leave retail locations deserted
UK footfall remained 34.8% down year-on-year in August despite the reopening of shops and the ending of lockdown as empty offices mean footfall is not returning to towns and city centres.
-
NewsUnilever pledges to eliminate fossil fuels from household products
Unilever will invest €1bn in a drive to remove ingredients derived from fossil fuels from its cleaning and laundry products.
-
NewsCross-party MP group joins the BRC in demanding new laws to protect shopworkers
The 11 MPs have signed a new ‘Shopworkers’ Protection Pledge’ launched by the BRC
-
NewsRetail sales increase for second month in a row but food growth slows
Food and grocery sales have slowed down in July following exceptional growth at the height of the coronavirus outbreak as shopper behaviour returns to “normal”
-
Analysis & FeaturesThe shopworker abuse epidemic: what can be done to stop it?
Retail staff faced a huge rise in verbal and physical abuse at the start of the pandemic. New mask regulations could reignite the problem, or even make it worse
-
NewsCity snapshot: Footfall slowly returning to Britain’s shops and centres
Shoppers are slowly making their way back to the high street as pubs, cafes and restaurants reopen
-
NewsCity snapshot: Premier Foods sales surge 22.5% in first quarter
Premier Foods has posted a 22.5% surge in first quarter sales driven by consumers flocking to its brands during the coronavirus lockdown period. Plus, food inflation holds steady at 1.5% and all the rest of the latest news from the City.
-
NewsMost supermarkets will encourage staff to wear masks from Friday
While current government guidance does not make it mandatory for shopworkers to wear coverings, many retailers are actively encouraging their use
-
Comment & OpinionShopworkers are playing a key role in retailer loyalty during coronavirus
Perhaps it really is time for supermarkets to permanently reassess the wages they pay their shopworkers
-
NewsShoppers willing to switch supermarket over safety worries, survey finds
Two-thirds of shoppers admitted loyalty to their favourite supermarket would be tested if safety measures were deemed ineffective, found a survey
-
Comment & OpinionCompulsory masks are a burden on retailers – and it may push more shoppers online
Will retailers have to refuse service to those not wearing masks? And will those shoppers give up and go online?
-
NewsFace masks to be made mandatory in shops in England from 24 July
Failure to follow the new rules will lead to a fine of up to £100, which will reduce to £50 if paid promptly
-
NewsCity snapshot: Ocado first half retail sales top £1bn but pre-exceptional losses mount
Ocado has posted first half retail sales growth of 27.2% amid “unprecedented and sustained demand”, but its pre-exceptional losses rose by 64% to almost £80m amid mounting costs. Plus, Fever-Tree buys German distributor and updates on sales, McBride guides to better second half than expected and all the rest of the latest news from the City.
-
NewsUK footfall recovery remains sluggish despite lockdown easing
UK footfall recovered slightly in the third week of shops reopening in England and Northern Ireland, but were still down almost 50% year on year
-
NewsCity snapshot: Sainsbury’s sales jump but coronavirus profit hit to exceed £500m
Sainsbury’s has reported a double digit grocery sales increase in the first quarter of the year, but warned it expects a profit hit of more than £500m from the coronavirus crisis. Plus, SSP Group plans to cut 5,000 jobs, B&M continues strong COVID trading and all the rest of the latest news from the City.