UK Retailers Reacts To Tsunami Appeal

With a high percentage of British retailers and brands relying on India for sourcing, manufacturing and production, a crisis could follow the tsunami catastrophe if manufacturers cannot produce the goods.

With the high number of casualties many suppliers are bound to be missing as companies such as Tesco do much sourcing in the affected areas. Generally speaking, textile factories are further from the coastline than other businesses and have remained intact. Rather, the rising death toll is what could shake-up the industry as the manufacturing workforce could be greatly depleted.

The UK is the second largest market for the Sri Lankan textiles after the US. It is estimated that 30 per cent of the UK high street retail products is manufactures in India.

UK retail businesses have been generous in their support to the disaster and aid and donations are still going out in high numbers. One of Britain's most altruistic businessmen, Tom Hunter, the former boss of the retailer Sports Division, is to give £1m to the tsunami appeal. Philip Green of Arcadia and BHS has pledged £1m worth of clothing in conjunction with the Daily Mail. London luxury retailer Harrods has donated £150,000 from its first day of sale and New Look is donating £200,000 in addition to customer contributions.