In more ways than one, retail has been on the front line of the Covid-19 crisis. It has been among a handful of sectors that have led efforts to keep the country running, ensuring stores and supply chains of essential goods have remained open.

And yet, for all the reliance on retailers over the past four months – and the importance of the sector now to any economic and social recovery – our industry is also one of the most exposed to the economic impact of the disease.