COVID-19 UPDATE

NEWS SPECIAL

NISA CHARITY SET FOR BUMPER DONATIONS

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.

Huge 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.

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.

DEATH TOLL ‘TOPS 45,000’

The United Kingdom’s Covid19death toll is already above45,000, according to analysisby the Financial Times.

If the analysis is accurate,that figure represents 21% ofcoronavirus deaths globally,even though the UK populationis just 0.8% of the worldpopulation.

RETAILER ABUSE DOUBLES

The average UK shopworkerhas been verbally abused,threatened or assaulted everyweek during the coronavirusemergency, according to asurvey by trade union Usdaw.A similar Usdaw poll for 2019found the average was nearlyonce a fortnight, suggestingincidents have doubled in thelast month.

TRDP PARTNERS WITH BASKET

The Retail Data Partnershiphas partnered with shoppingapp Basket to offer retailersa minimum fuss andcompetitively priced HomeDelivery/Click & Collectsolution. Basket’s technologyprovides retailers with anonline store.

STURGEON ADVISES CUSTOMERS TO COVER FACES WHEN SHOPPING

THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT HAS RECOMMENDED PEOPLE COVERTHEIR FACES IN ENCLOSED PUBLIC SPACES SUCH AS SHOPS.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stated earlier this week that there could be “some benefit” in covering their faces while shopping but she said it was “not a substitute” for existing lockdown restrictions.

UK ministers are considering the scientific evidence for proposing similar advice.

The guidance is not mandatory and will not be enforced. Sturgeon did emphasise that the advice related to cloth items such as a scarf rather than medical grade facemasks.

She admitted that evidence about the usefulness of face coverings was limited, but that there may be “some benefit if you enter an enclosed space where you will come into contract with multiple people and safe social distancing is difficult”.

The main benefit, she added, was in preventing people who have the virus but are unaware of it from spreading it unwittingly to others, including local retailers and their staff as well as other customers.

LOTTERY MAKES £600M AVAILABLE

Charities and organisations affected by the coronavirus outbreak in the UK are being given access to a £600m package by The National Lottery to help some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

The money has been “repurposed” to help fund good causes that combat loneliness and isolation, provide support for the elderly, or projects that support physical and mental health in the community.

The package will benefit the arts, community and charity, heritage, education, environment and sports sectors.

To find out more about the funding visit The National Lottery Good Causes website.

STAY SAFE GUARDS

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DISTANCING SOLUTIONS

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