Macro trends/Coronavirus (COVID-19)/Analyst opinion

COVID-19 analyst opinion

IGD’s team of analysts share their perspective on the key themes impacting the trading environment through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

05 May 2020
Over the last few weeks we have all seen a dramatic shift in our daily lives due to the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and here at IGD we have been busy tracking and reporting on the impact it’s having on shoppers. We have produced numerous pieces of content in the last few weeks and if you haven’t had a chance to read everything, we have summarised five  key areas that we have been hearing...
17 April 2020
On 23 March, we reported that all the UK’s largest food-to-go operators had closed their doors after the government announced restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and measures to support businesses during this time. Nearly four weeks later, the news that three of the UK’s most popular chains were re-opening selected stores will have delighted many of their fans (a...
17 April 2020
It is currently hard to know how long coronavirus will be impacting day to day business and shopping behaviour. When looking to plan trade promotions in the medium term we need to consider the volatility and unpredictability of the current climate. Three questions you should be asking are: 1. Why do you want to promote? With many categories and brands seeing record levels of sales duri...
15 April 2020
With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic requiring shoppers globally to remain at home, retailers exhausting online order capacity, and rationalising ranges, now is the time for businesses to use online to sell directly to consumers (D2C). Demand is so high for online ordering and home delivery, that the cost to acquire and retain shoppers, a key barrier to launching a D2C operation, is current...
09 April 2020
We recently wrote about some ways that supply chains have shown flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic .  Similarly, this article looks at supply chain flexibility but with a focus on resource optimisation. Human resource sharing arrangements While the use of automation in supply chains is becoming more widespread, supply chain operations remain largely dependent upon human labour. The C...
09 April 2020
As countries implement social distancing measures to slow down the spread of coronavirus, foodservice operators have been forced to close their doors. Whilst some have been able to use government support to effectively hibernate operations, others have reacted with agility to adapt to the situation and bring new purpose to their businesses. The changes they have made fall into three main areas...
09 April 2020
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 ...
03 April 2020
This article looks at three ways supply chains have been flexible in overcoming some of the challenges that COVID-19 has introduced. 1.    Relaxing of legislation and regulation We have seen governments around the world temporarily relax legislation to increase the velocity of essential supplies (food and health-related items) through the supply chain. One of the first areas of legislati...
02 April 2020
One of the key pivots that companies have had to make quickly in response to the Coronavirus pandemic is with their marketing messages. Several companies launched eye-catching campaigns to support social distancing measures in March, with many iconic brands re-working their logos as part of similar initiatives. The new reality Beyond this, we are starting to see companies adapt their communi...
01 April 2020
As the Coronavirus (COVD-19) affects more countries globally and impacts lives, there has been an increased focus on hygiene, as governments and health professional recommend regular hand washing.  In this article we look at three technologies already in existence that keep stores clean and could help reassure shoppers. Autonomous cleaning robots Walmart has the Auto-C – Autonomous Clean...