Robust demand in Woolworths’ food division helped offset Covid-19-related pressure in Australia and its fashion business in the last half of 2020, the retail group reports.

Competition Commission expresses concern over inflation of meat prices across the board

Food Lovers’s Market says its groceries and perishables were up 37 percent for the year and 44 percent for the past six months.

Retail group Woolworths says the changes to consumer behaviour due to Covid-19 remain in place, including fewer visits to larger malls and city centres, and a reduced demand for formalwear.

Retail group Spar says it has benefited from a Covid-19-induced trend where consumers opt for local and convenience stores rather than crowded malls, with revenue jumping double digits in its year to end-September.

Africa’s largest retailer Shoprite says lockdown restrictions on liquor trade cut sales growth in its core SA market by more than half in the three months to September, partially masking the effects of market share gains.

In the six months to 31 August 2020, Dis-Chem continued to report revenue growth of 8,1% to R12,8 billion and a 16,1% increase in headline earnings per share to 36 cents per share, despite a challenging trading and economic environment, reiterating the defensive nature of the business.

Clicks Group reported a 13.7 percent increase in annual earnings on Thursday, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, as the company continued to operate during the lockdown because it was categorised as an essential service.

Pick n Pay today (20/10/2020) published its interim results for the six months ended 30 August 2020.

Raymond Ackerman founded, Pick n Pay expects headline earnings to tank by as much as 60% when it reports its interim results later this month. The retailer is due to publish its interim financials for the 26 weeks ended 30 August 2020 on 20 October 2020.

The Spar Group in southern Africa felt the impact of the hard lockdowns and restrictions imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the region, with sales improving a mere 4.8 percent during the 48 weeks to end August from 12.4 percent the prior year.

Woolworths Foods stood out as the star performer for the struggling retailer, which reported a 54.5% drop in profits to R2.2 billion after changes in accounting standards for the 52 weeks to end June 18. Headline earnings per share (HEPS) fell 64.8% to 116.2 cents.