News

The latest industry news from the business journalists at Catering Today. We bring you the latest on what’s happening in the restaurants, bars and catering industry, with exclusive stories, analysis, best practice and industry comment.

Jun- 2020 -

18 June

Costa to reopen 1,100 sites by July

Costa Coffee has announced that at least 1,100 of its stores will reopen across the UK by the end of June. The group said the move marks a “huge milestone” in the brand’s reopening plans, with more locations becoming available for takeaway or drive-thrus. Heightened safety measures will be implemented…
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18 June

UK inflation hits four-year low

The UK’s inflation rate dropped to 0.5% in May, down from 0.8% in April, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). According to the ONS, falling prices for motor fuels and a variety of recreational and cultural goods resulted in the largest downward contributions to inflation…
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17 June

Supreme Court rules against Mastercard and Visa in interchange fees battle

Visa and Mastercard could be set to pay billions in compensation to some of the UK’s top retailers following a court ruling which found that the two payment companies had breached competition laws. The Supreme Court today (17 June) unanimously upheld the conclusion of the Court of Appeal that the…
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17 June

Spanish restaurant group Ultracomida invests in online ‘deli deliveries’

Spanish bar and restaurant group Ultracomida has announced plans to expand its ‘deli home delivery’ service, click and collect, and online tasting events, after a successful trial period. The independent boutique operators run two deli-restaurants in the coastal towns of Narberth and Aberystwyth, as well as Curado Bar and Vermut…
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17 June

AA launches ‘Covid Confident’ scheme to support hospitality sector

The AA has launched a new Covid Confident assessment scheme to support the hospitality industry in re-establishing and rebuilding consumer confidence as the UK prepares to come out of lockdown. The AA Covid Confident accreditation will indicate to customers that an establishment has in place the necessary risk assessments, safety…
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17 June

Domino’s braces for earnings impact

Domino’s has warned of an impact on earnings after it incurred “considerable” additional costs during the lockdown period. Newly-introduced measures, such as halting in-store collections and implementing social distancing schemes and contact-free delivery boxes, have “more than offset” the benefits from increased delivery sales, according to the group. It therefore…
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17 June

Beer and pub sector demands a ‘definitive date’ for reopening

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has demanded the UK government give a “clear date” for when pubs can reopen. The trade association said the UK government must give a “clear, definitive date” for when pubs can reopen to give the sector the confidence and certainty it needs to…
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16 June

The Seafood Pub Company collapses into administration

The Seafood Pub Company has collapsed into administration after it failed to secure funding to help support it through the ongoing pandemic. According to the Lancashire Telegraph, founder Joycelyn Neve reportedly informed staff of the administration in a letter that circulated last Friday (12 June). The letter read: “It is…
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16 June

UKH urges Government to confirm hospitality reopening date

UKHospitality has urged the Government to confirm a re-opening date for hospitality and tourism, to allow businesses to prepare for a return to trading. Following the Government’s announcement of a review of social distancing requirements, the trade body has written to Secretaries of State at BEIS and DCMS, to “reiterate…
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16 June

Deliveroo warns of ‘grave damage’ to hospitality sector without Government action

Deliveroo CEO and founder Will Shu, alongside 90 restaurant partners, including some of the UK’s leading restaurant brands, have today written to the prime minister to call for action to support the restaurant sector in the face of continuing challenges posed by Covid-19. The signatories, which collectively represent more than…
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