Julian Dunkerton, chief executive of Superdry, called the latest extension “an incredibly important move” as it buys more time for retailers that have been struggling to pay rents amid the coronavirus crisis. Fergus Patterson, managing director for Northern Europe at Gant, agreed: “We have now managed to reach an agreement with the majority of our landlords over taking joint pain for what has happened during coronavirus, but not all, so the extension is very gratefully received. "It gives us more time to discuss, negotiate and hopefully reach a mutual agreement [over rents].” Advertisement Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said the news came “in the nick of time for many retailers”.