Coronavirus Australia: Retail giant calls for temperature checks at shopping centres

The boss of one of Australia’s biggest retail groups has called on shopping centre owners to take more responsibility for coronavirus safety by introducing temperature checks.

Premier Investments chairman Solomon Lew outlined his concerns about the Covid-19 threat to shoppers and workers on the same day Smiggle and Peter Alexander helped strong full-year earnings.

The retail kingpin believes customers should have their temperature checked upon arrival at shopping cente entrances rather than the burden falling to individual shops.

‘Who is paying the rent,’ Mr Lew said. 

‘Without the stores, the malls have got nothing.’

‘Mall owners have to take more responsibility. They are the ones letting people into the centres.’

He said each shop in a centre could not be expected to have staff dedicated to screening visitors.

Victoria recorded  766 new cases on Thursday, the highest number of daily infections the state has reported throughout the entire pandemic while NSW recorded 1,063 cases.

Premier had previously learned of coronavirus infections at shopping centres through health departments, rather than the centre owners, Mr Lew said.

Mr Lew has made life difficult for shopping centre owners during the pandemic. 

He was vocal in negotiating rent reductions after many shops were required to close temporarily due to the virus.

Premier Investments wants a bumper Christmas trade after sales in the first seven weeks of its financial year fell 9.5 per cent due to lockdowns.

It is building up stock in anticipation of a consumer buying spree once the economy opens up on the back of higher vaccination rates, expected later this year.

‘We have the appropriate supply chains to support this decision and ensure we are in stock of wanted product,’ Mr Lew said.

Premier had a pyjamas-led record full-year profit, after benefiting from the rent reductions.

The company generated a record bottom-line net profit of $271.8 million, up 97.3 per cent, for the year ended July 31.

Pre-tax underlying earnings were up 80 per cent to $351.9 million, on the back of a 15.9 per cent jump in global like-for-like sales, mostly led by online activity.

‘To have delivered these record results in a very difficult and volatile environment is a truly outstanding achievement,’ Mr Lew said.

Sleep and home wear outlet Peter Alexander was a stand out with sales rising by $100 million to a record $388 million.

Sales for school kids products retailer Smiggle also rose.

Premier also owns clothing brands Just Jeans, Dotti, Jacqui E, Portmans and Jay Jays.

Premier declared a final dividend for investors of 46 cents per share, taking the payout for the year to 80 cents.

Shares on the ASX were up 3.51 per cent to $27.75 at 1340 AEST.