Business
Update on current trading and Coronavirus
Update on current trading and Coronavirus.
About this update from Dunelm Group Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \n \n RNS Number : 2989H\n Dunelm Group plc\n 24 March 2020\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 24 March 2020\n \n \n \n \n \n Dunelm Group plc\n \n \n Update on current trading and Coronavirus\n \n \n \n \n \n In light of the rapidly changing developments regarding COVID-19, Dunelm Group plc (\"Dunelm\" or \"the Group\") provides the following update (which will replace the scheduled third quarter trading statement).\n \n \n \n \n \n Protecting our colleagues, customers, suppliers and shareholders\n \n \n \n \n \n Dunelm is a successful business that has been built over 40 years on the foundations of strong values and close relationships with our colleagues, our customers, our suppliers and our shareholders. In these unprecedented times, our key business principles of 'do the right thing' and 'long-term decisions' are even more important to guide our decision making.\n \n \n \n \n \n We have been working closely with our colleagues to assess the risks that they and our customers were facing from the COVID-19 outbreak across our business and day to day operations. Yesterday, we had made the decision to close our stores to customers. At that point, we had intended that our stores would continue to offer services to their communities, both as contact-less collection points for Click & Collect orders, and to perform activities which supported local people, such as befriending services and local deliveries to the vulnerable. However, the announcement by the Prime Minister last night has led us to review our approach and we are intending to temporarily close down all of our customer facing operations today in order to understand and comply with the new restrictions and guidelines. \n \n \n \n \n \n We had already taken significant and decisive actions to support the most vulnerable and lowest paid colleagues in our business, and now we will go further to support the national effort to defeat this pandemic. \n \n \n \n \n \n At the same time, we have also taken actions to protect the cash resources of the business (which are detailed further below). This includes our decision to cancel the interim dividend, which was due to be paid in April. Our capital policy is unchanged and we remain committed to returning surplus cash to our shareholders. In ligh...