All articles by James Halliwell – Page 9
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NewsSunak “deeply troubled” at OBR prediction
Rishi Sunak has said he is “deeply troubled” by a scenario run by the Office for Budget Responsibility which suggests the UK economy could slump by 35% as a result of the coronavirus. The OBR also suggested unemployment could rise by over two million. Speaking at the government’s daily press conference, Sunak said the “best way out of this for all of us is to just grow the economy, which is why trying to keep as much of it as intact as possible at this moment allows that bounce-back when we come out of it and allows us to hopefully snap back to normal as quickly as possible.”
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NewsAdmiral, Greene King and St Austell to offer click and collect grocery
Online wholesaler StarStock has teamed up with Brakes, Coca-Cola European Partners and Use Your Local to launch mypubshop.com, an e-commerce platform for pubs to offer essential groceries like bread, eggs and milk via click and collect. Admiral, Greene King and St Austell have all signed up. Admiral CEO Chris Jowsey said: “We are doing everything we can to support our pub operators through this extremely challenging period.
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NewsCarluccio’s enters administration
Carluccio’s has formally entered administration. Geoff Rowley and Phil Reynolds, partners at specialist business advisory firm FRP, have been appointed Joint Administrators of the 71-strong Italian restaurant and deli group. Its Ireland operation and its franchise business in the Middle East are unaffected by the administration.
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NewsTRG: no plans to put any more brands into administration
The Restaurant Group has no current plans to put any more of its brands into administration, MCA understands, including Frankie & Benny’s, Brunning & Price and Wagamama. Last week TRG filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator for Chiquito, which makes up part of its 350-strong leisure arm ...
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NewsDeliveroo speeds up cash flow to restaurants
Deliveroo has launched a new rapid payment system so restaurants can access cash made from deliveries inside 24 hours. The new service is completely free of charge and Deliveroo will cover any increase in banking charges. It will be available for at least the next three months. “We want to do everything possible to support our restaurant partners,” Will Shu, founder and CEO of Deliveroo, told MCA.
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NewsStonegate gives regulars a chance to bring the pub home
Stonegate has launched a ‘Pub In A Box’ competition to cheer up its locked down regulars. Supported by Diageo, anyone looking to enter can do so here. “In these tough times community spirit is everything and whilst our doors are closed, we will do all we can to support our customers and team,” said Alan Armstrong, head of marketing at Stonegate.
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NewsUK enters lockdown
The PM has put the UK on lockdown for a minimum of three weeks. “People will only be allowed to leave their home for shopping, for basic necessities as infrequently as possible, one form of exercise a day, any medical need, to provide care or help a vulnerable person, and travelling to and from work only where it’s absolutely necessary,” he said.
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NewsNWTC and Ping Pong to close
NWTC and Ping Pong have shuttered their restaurants as the coronavirus outbreak continues to decimate the hospitality industry. In a plaintive message to “all our dumpling fans and dim sum lovers” Ping Pong said “it is with a very heavy heart that we need to announce that all seven of our restaurants will be closed from 8pm tonight, Thursday 19th March, until further notice.
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NewsWait until tomorrow, says PM
There was little reassurance for the hospitality industry at this afternoon’s press conference, although the PM suggested there would be an update on employees by chancellor Rishi Sunak tomorrow. “I say to business, stand by your workers because we will stand by you,” said Boris Johnson. “And you will hear more about that in the course of the next day or so.”
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NewsJust Eat announces “emergency support package” for small independent restaurants
Just Eat has launched an emergency support package for small restaurants which will rebate 33% on commissions for the next 30 days. It’s also removing commissions on collections and will waive sign-up fees for new restaurants. “These are some of the most challenging times the restaurants we work with have ...
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NewsNow is the time to do whatever it takes - and save jobs
“Whatever it takes” is a phrase that will haunt Rishi Sunak if he doesn’t do exactly that to save the economy from meltdown. On Tuesday, a lifetime ago, he promised guaranteed loans for businesses to pay rent, suppliers, salaries or stock – which is something. But he made no specific provision for employees. He needs to do that today.
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NewsSunak announces £330bn plan for business
Rishi Sunak has repeatedly vowed to do “whatever it takes” to support the hospitality industry, 24 hours after the PM warned the UK to avoid socialising in pubs and restaurants. The chancellor announced a 12 month break in business rates for all, and announced an “unprecedented” package of £330bn in “guaranteed loans to get through this. Any business that needs access to cash to pay rent, suppliers, salaries or stock will be able to access loan or credit on attractive terms.
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NewsSunak needs to Super-Size it
The government has put the hospitality industry into limbo, and limbo is a terrible place to be. Yesterday, the PM warned the British public against visiting pubs, restaurants, theatres and bars across the country. For an industry already taking a battering by the coronavirus this was a staggering blow. Effectively the UK has been warned off visiting the likes of Costa, Greggs, McDonald’s, Wetherspoons and more.
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NewsTime Out closes five markets
Time Out has closed its food markets as a result of the coronavirus. In a statement, it said it has “until now not experienced any material impact on its trading related to the COVID‐19 outbreaks. It is only in very recent days that we have observed any change in footfall to the Time Out Markets and delays to advertising campaigns.
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NewsNYC and LA shut down bars and restaurants
Bars and restaurants have been limited to preparing deliveries or takeaway food in New York and LA in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus. Nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert venues will also close. “These places are part of the heart and soul of our city,” said NYC mayor Bill de Blasio. “But our city is facing an unprecedented threat, and we must respond with a wartime mentality.
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News“Drastic Impact” requires government intervention
Industry figures have called for a series of tax breaks and subsidies for hospitality over fears that hundreds of operators could go out of business thanks to the coronavirus. One CEO of a major casual dining operator told MCA the situation was having a “drastic impact” on trading and was “very worrying for all”. Wireless Social said when the weekend began, London was hit by a 30% reduction in footfall which was “entirely unprecedented”.
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NewsEditors Opinion: Handling the coronavirus chaos
Whenever I write about something it’s always helpful to understand it. Like all of you I’ve watched the coronavirus drama develop slowly and menacingly, but any detailed or real understanding of the scale of what it might evolve into is elusive to those with expertise in the area, let alone people like me. Fortunately Nigel Farage popped up on the BBC this week to give his verdict on the coronavirus crisis, and who better to opine on the issue than someone highly skilled at spreading virulent and insidious poison around the country?
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NewsChancellor freezes alcohol duties
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has frozen duties on alcohol as the hospitality industry navigates through the coronavirus. In his budget speech this afternoon he said that this year the “planned increase in spirits duty will be cancelled.” There was also positive news for pubs, with the chancellor describing them as the “centre of community life. But too many have closed over the past decade. We have already promised to introduce a business rates pub discount of £1,000 for small pubs, but I’ve heard calls from other MPs that we need to do more, especially given the possible impact of coronavirus. So today I can announce that exceptionally for this year the BR discount will be £5,000.”
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NewsDominos sees online sales help deliver “solid” results
Sales at Dominos rose 4.8% in 2019 but underlying pre-tax profits were down 1.2%, a performance the business described as “solid”. The business opened 32 stores during the year, including 29 franchised stores by 23 different franchisees. It said online sales continued to be a “driver” of growth, with online sales making up 91.1% of deliveries. “Our core UK & Ireland business continues to deliver a solid trading result, with UK like-for-like sales up 3.7%,” said Dominos CEO David Wild.
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NewsFuller’s, Stonegate, Punch and more triumph at Publican Awards
The best pub and bar operators were celebrating success with nearly 1,500 people from the sector at the Publican Awards 2020. The industry’s top companies attended the event at Evolution London for a night which looks to celebrate excellence across the pub and bar business, all mc’d by top comedian Rob Beckett. The evening saw a broad mix of pub companies take home titles with Stonegate (Best Pub Employer - 501+ Employees), Liberation Group (Best Food Offer) and the Inn Collection Group (Best Pub Employer - up to 500 Employees) celebrating success for the second year on the run across their categories.