// Zalando warehouses to continue operating amid pandemic

// Zalando maintained its staff’s safety remains a priority

// The retailer blamed country lockdowns on fall in consumer demand

Zalando has reportedly said it will keep warehouses open to maintain “business continuity” despite a decline in consumer demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The online retailer will keep warehouses and distribution centres operating, but has put measures in place to protect its staff, Retail Week reported.

Zalando maintained that it is looking closely at the developing situation and is focused on ensuring employee safety.

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Zalando reported a drop in consumer demand for its products as the coronavirus outbreak continues to cause countries to go into lockdown.

It added that prior to the lockdown situation taking place in most countries, it had not seen a “major impact” on business.

Some of the measures it has taken include increased cleaning, separating groups and changes to “certain operational processes to reduce or even avoid contacts” between staff.

Since non-essential retailers have been allowed to continue operating online, warehouse staff’s safety has become a growing concern.

Retailers including Next, Schuh, TK Maxx and Net-a-Porter also closed warehouses in recent days, some after facing criticism from worker’s union GMB.

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