Coronavirus

Apr- 2020 -

3 April

Chancellor unveils new measures to SME loan scheme

Chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak has unveiled a major overhaul to his previously announced SME loan scheme. Initially, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) was aimed at businesses unable to secure regular commercial financing as the virus took its toll on the UK’s economy. However, according to Sky…

3 April

Wahaca launches online platform

Wahaca has announced the launch of Wahaca At Home, a new online platform for families amid the ongoing coronavirus lockdown. Wahaca At Home will offer an “ongoing content series” of recipes, cocktail ideas, playlists, company news and activity ideas for families. In a statement, the Mexican food chain said: “In…

2 April

Shepherd Neame creates hand sanitiser for frontline workers

Shepherd Neame announced that it is partnering with Copper Rivet Distillery to create hand sanitiser for emergency services and frontline workers. The brewery and pub operator has begun brewing ‘clean beer’ for the initiative, which is around 10% ABV. No hops will be used to ensure it is aroma and…

1 April

A fifth of SMEs at risk of collapse, say experts

Almost a fifth of SMEs will not survive the coronavirus crisis, according to new findings from the Corporate Finance Network. The group predicted that the closures would take place within the next four weeks despite government support measures, as the pandemic continues to unfold and affect retail. The network, which…

1 April

Wi5 and Think Hospitality launch new online forum for hospitality leaders

A new online forum for leaders in the hospitality industry has been launched to help encourage collaboration and peer-to-peer support during the Coronavirus crisis. The forum, called Gather, has been created by mobile order and pay company Wi5, and is supported by Think Hospitality Group. Targeted at owners and senior…

1 April

Cookeze Ltd enters administration

Cookeze Limited, a Lancashire-based catering firm partly owned by chef Nigel Smith, has collapsed into administration amid the ongoing pandemic. The firm, which traded as Patisserie by Nigel Smith, was founded in 2010. Its clients included Manchester United, Liverpool FC, Jockey Club, Brasserie Blanc and Malmaison Hotels. Although turnover last…

Mar- 2020 -

31 March

One in ten use takeaway for the first time, says NPD group

One in ten people will use a delivery or takeaway service for the first time during the Covid-19 outbreak, the NPD Group has revealed. The findings came from the Covid-19 British Foodservice Sentiment Tracker, launched by the global information group in light of the ongoing pandemic. The survey was conducted…

30 March

The minimum wage increase is about to hit – and it beggars belief

As if to bang the final nail into the coffin himself, we can only assume the Treasury’s top man, chancellor Rishi Sunak, refuses to give ground on the next wave to crash over the retail and hospitality industries. I am talking of course about the increase in the National Minimum…

30 March

Carluccio’s enters administration

Geoff Rowley and Phil Reynolds, partners at specialist business advisory firm FRP, have been appointed joint administrators of Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s. The directors of the company said they made the decision to place the chain into administration after a “sustained period of challenging trading conditions”, which have been “exacerbated”…

30 March

Government relaxes insolvency rules

The government has announced a set of changes to help improve the insolvency system to enable companies undergoing restructuring to continue trading. The relaxed measures announced by business secretary Alok Sharma, will allow companies undergoing restructuring to continue to access supplies and raw materials. It has also temporarily suspended wrongful…