In our study, we examine the impact of pandemic COVID-19 on retail trade through three perspectives. Firstly, we assess the policy changes affecting retail caused by the pandemic, then we analyse the renewal of retail strategies, and finally we present some new retail innovations that have emerged and spread rapidly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of our analysis is to provide an overview of the irreversible developments in the retail sector during the COVID-19 period, with a particular focus on the regulatory environment, corporate strategies and retail innovation.