Super Retail Group plans to keep stock levels and liquidity high to deal with COVID-19 volatility, which chief executive Anthony Heraghty fears could last for years.

After a bumper year in fiscal 2021, when travel restrictions and border closures forced more Australians to holiday at home, get fit or spend more time tinkering with their cars, the retailer’s sales have fallen sharply in recent weeks after it was forced to close stores in several states.