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.
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Mar- 2020 -30 March
UK GDP expected to contract by 15% in Q2 2020
The UK economy is about to enter the deepest recession since the financial crisis, including the steepest quarter-on-quarter decline in economic activity since comparable records began, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). CEBR expects the economy to have contracted marginally in the first quarter of the…
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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…
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30 March
Restaurant and pub insolvencies rose before pandemic, says UHY Hacker Young
There were 1,452 restaurant and 526 UK pub insolvencies last year, according to UHY Hacker Young. The financial firm said that the industry was “stuck in a long-term slump” even before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some 1,452 UK restaurant businesses and 526 UK pub businesses entered insolvency in…
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30 March
Boxpark temporarily ceases trading amid Covid-19 pandemic
Pop-up mall company Boxpark has announced the temporary closure of all its sites, forcing any tenants still operating as a delivery service to cease trading. Boxpark which has three locations in London including Croydon, Shoreditch and Wembley, closed its doors in line with government orders. Initially, traders at the establishment…
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28 March
Carluccio’s poised to enter administration amid Covid-19 lockdown
Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s is reportedly set to file for administration, putting almost 2,000 jobs at risk. According to the Guardian, restructuring firm FRP Advisory confirmed it has been appointed to work with the chain. FRP told the Guardian: “FRP is working with the directors of Carluccio’s to consider all…
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27 March
Leon launches FeedNHS scheme
Leon has announced it is continuing its support of the NHS by launching a new scheme titled FeedNHS. The not-for-profit campaign will raise vital funds to allow the chain to deliver its food directly to key workers on the frontline in the NHS. The campaign has been launched with the…
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27 March
Gordon Ramsay Restaurant group lays off London restaurant staff
Celebrity chef Gordan Ramsay has terminated the contract of around 500 members of staff at his London restaurants as his business deals with the coronavirus outbreak. Staff were informed at a meeting earlier this week. The Gordon Ramsay Restaurant Group will reportedly pay the wages of staff for a further…
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27 March
Casual Dining Show 2020 cancelled
Event organisers Diversified Communications has announced it has taken the decision to cancel the Casual Dining Show 2020. The news, revealed in an email, comes after the scheduled event venue – London’s ExCeL – is to be converted into a makeshift hospital. NHS Nightingale as it will be called will…
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27 March
Covid-19: Chiquito to close 61 stores permanently
Mexican restaurant chain Chiquito is to close 61 stores across the UK permanently as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. According to the Guardian, the chain’s remaining 20 sites will reportedly reopen once the Coronavirus situation improves. The Restaurant Group, which owns Chiquito, said 11 Food and Fuel pubs in…
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27 March
What we know about furlough leave and the CJRS
HMRC published details of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) on 26.3.20 which are available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme Key points include: Employees that employers can claim CJRS for For the purposes of CJRS, the definition of employee would include workers and agency workers provided they are subject to PAYE i.e. this…
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