NEWS SPECIAL
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NISA CHARITY SET FOR BUMPER DONATIONS
DEATH TOLL ‘TOPS 45,000’ The United Kingdom’s Covid19 death toll is already above 45,000, according to analysis by the Financial Times. If the analysis is accurate, that figure represents 21% of coronavirus deaths globally, even though the UK population is just 0.8% of the world population.
RETAILER ABUSE DOUBLES The average UK shopworker has been verbally abused,
BIG INCREASES IN SALES OF NISA AND CO-OP OWN LABEL PRODUCTS IN RECENT WEEKS ARE SET TO SEE HUGE INCREASES IN THE SYMBOL GROUP’S DONATIONS TO ITS CHARITY.
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threatened or assaulted every week during the coronavirus emergency, according to a survey by trade union Usdaw.
uge increases in sales of Co-op and Heritage own-label products across the UK in Nisa stores are set to significantly boost income for the symbol group’s Making a Difference Locally charity. Such was the increase in sales that the charity’s income saw an uplift of
30% in March versus the previous month, and a huge 87% increase when compared with March 2019, with retailer donations also up this month as a result. Since its formation in 2008, Making a Difference Locally has raised over £11.5m and supported charities and other good causes with over 12,000 donations.
A similar Usdaw poll for 2019 found the average was nearly once a fortnight, suggesting incidents have doubled in the last month.
TRDP PARTNERS WITH BASKET The Retail Data Partnership has partnered with shopping app Basket to offer retailers a minimum fuss and competitively priced Home Delivery/Click & Collect solution. Basket’s technology provides retailers with an online store.
8 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / WEDNESDAY 29TH APRIL 2020 / ISSUE 2
BESTWAY CALLS FOR ‘FAIR SHARE’ Bestway Wholesale boss Dawood Pervez has urged suppliers to reconsider their priorities as the wholesaler faces ongoing issues getting hold of retail stock during the coronavirus outbreak. Pervez thanked suppliers who have “wholeheartedly supported” Bestway but asked those who are still basing volumes on pre-coronavirus numbers to consider the massive change in shopping habits. “The role of the independent local community store has never been more important,” said Pervez. “We’ve
been working with our suppliers and campaigning on behalf of independent retail stores and community shops to stress the importance of supply through our sector, so that vital products can directly reach people’s homes whilst staying local in the face of social isolation.” To further help vulnerable shoppers, Bestway has fast-tracked enrolment of stores onto the Uber Eats convenience home delivery programme; over 2,000 orders have been placed in the last few weeks.
