Leading names plan safeguard against disaster

Representatives of some of Britain's leading retailers are discussing how to create emergency warehousing for use in the event of disaster.

Just as big banks have set up so-called 'hot sites' - fully kitted-out for use in emergencies - retailers want to establish warehousing that will enable them to continue trading.

Special working group meetings are being co-ordinated by business group Survive, which claims more than 50 leading retailers as members.

Survive chief executive Rod Fountain said: 'The number of threats posed are growing all the time. Retailers as a group need to be alert to better protect themselves.'

The retailers on the working group did not want to be named, but they include well-known high street names.