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Amazon is due to suspend its third-party delivery service in the US, starting from 5 June, for an unspecified period. In direct competition with FedEX and UPS The delivery service, called Amazon Shipping, was available in a small number of US cities, including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, and consisted in drivers picking parcels up from third-party businesses and delivering them to co...

To help boost consumption and accelerate the economic recovery from the pandemic, China’s Suguo supermarket chain, owned by CR Vanguard, issued CNY100m (US$14m) worth of promotional coupons last week. Bringing tangible benefits to customers Between 25 and 29 March, customers who are Suguo members could receive a CNY100 (US$14) voucher for any amount they spent with the retailer. Non-Suguo...

We look at how needs are changing and how this has impacted on retailers’ assortments during the pandemic and how this could evolve in the future. We review the effects on local sourcing and private labels and other areas that should be considered when assessing product ranges. Evolving needs With lockdowns in place and closure of all non-essential businesses, people’s shopping habits have ...

In this article, updated daily, we summarise the latest responses to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK: Multiples update: Tesco releases annual results and updates on COVID-19: More normal shopping behaviour has resumed after a surge in demand for certain items in the first few weeks of the crisis caused sales uplifts of c.30%. Grocery home shopping capacity has been ...

SPAR stores in England are to be the first convenience retailers to partner with the Royal Voluntary Service on its NHS Volunteer Responders programme. This will enable volunteers to shop on behalf of vulnerable community members and make payments in store for them. Service accessible in over 700 stores The Volunteer Responders Programme has been put in place to support those referred to th...

Tesco has released robust full year results for the year to 29 February 2020, together with an update on how it is supporting customers and colleagues through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Headline results (actual exchange rates, 52 week change) Group sales: -0.7% to £56.5bn UK & Ireland sales: +0.1%, +0.2% LFL Tesco UK: -0.6%, -0.3% LFL Booker sales: +5.0%, +3.3% LFL Ce...

Alibaba’s Taobao Live is helping more industries in China digitise their operations. Live streaming in agricultural and retail sectors Alibaba is increasing Taobao Live’s reach and accessibility. Taobao Live announced that it would offer training to 200,000 farmers in ongoing efforts to increase business in rural areas across China. The livestreaming platform aims to generate CNY15bn (US...

Booths has launched a next day click & collect service at three of its stores. The retailer also recently launched a limited delivery service for those unable to get to one of its stores. Next day click & collect With its new click & collect service, Booths’s customers can order online from a range of more than 150 products, which can be collected from the retailer’s Garstang, Lytham or Kir...

Major UK convenience retailer, McColl’s is teaming up with restaurant delivery expert Deliveroo to offer home delivery. The service aims to help support vulnerable customers during their coronavirus isolation. Initial availability in 120 stores, to be rolled out to 300 Offering a range of food, grocery, cleaning and hygiene essentials, as well as news and magazines, shoppers will be able to...

Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, declared a month-long state of emergency on 7 April in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The government has also approved a record stimulus package worth JPY108 tn (US$990 bn) to support the economy State of emergency until 6 May Abe told a televised news conference, “We are not at a stage where rapid nationwide spread is being observed, b...