A majority of retailers think Brexit will have no impact on their supply chains – but they’re considering overhauling them anyway to cope with the demand from online shopping.

A report into the retail supply chain in light of the referendum vote found 56% of retailers believe Brexit will not affect their supply chain strategy. This is despite 52% saying they are unprepared for pulling out of the EU.

However, the continued rise of online shopping and the challenge of meeting consumer expectations for faster delivery times is an issue for 78% of retailers.

As a result, the Barclays research found that the average number of delivery options is expected to increase from seven to 10 by 2019, with greatest demand from customers for faster delivery (59%), Sunday delivery (43%) and specific timeslots (37%).

Ian Gilmartin, head of retail at Barclays, said: “The boom in online retail puts huge pressure on supply chains. Unpredictable consumer demand, coupled with rising expectations around delivery options and speed of fulfilment mean that cost pressures are going to remain an issue.”

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