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 -27 March
Hospitality sector suffers 76.6% slowdown due to coronavirus lockdown
The hospitality sector has experienced a 77% slowdown in the past month according to new analysis which lays bare the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to income streaming provider Wagestream. The analysis reveals how the industry has been forced into a “radical decline” since but is still “soldiering on”…
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27 March
Covid-19: Restaurant and pub sales fall 71% in last week of trading
Like-for-like sales in pubs, bars and restaurants nosedived 71% in the week that licensed premises were ordered to close amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Data from the CGA’s Coffer Peach Business Tracker revealed that like-for-like trading in restaurant chains was down 75% that week. Managed pub sales fell by 67%,…
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26 March
Self-employed to get 80% income grant
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the government will pay self-employed people a taxable grant based on their previous earnings over the last three years, worth up to 80% of earnings, and capped at £2,500 a month. Sunak said it will run for a minimum of three months, with scope for…
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26 March
Pizza Hut delivery remains open despite restaurant closures amid coronavirus crisis
Pizza Hut has announced the temporary closure of all its UK dine-in restaurants amid the Covid-19 virus outbreak. In an email to customers, Pizza Hut’s general manager Neil Manhas reassured customers Pizza Hut’s ‘delivery huts’ are still open despite closures in dine-in restaurants and stopping collection and takeaway options. Manhas…
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26 March
Wetherspoons’ boss was right to withhold wages
The media and the Twitterati have had a field day vilifying the founder and owner of pub chain Wetherspoons over his decision not to pay his staff in light of the coronavirus restrictions. Tim Martin had sent an email to his 43,000 staff saying he could not afford to pay…
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26 March
Shepherd Neame announces staffing changes
Shepherd Neame has announced a temporary change to its staffing structure and salary levels as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to unfold. In an aim to protect jobs for the long term, none of its staff are being made redundant, and all will remain employed “in the hope that the teams…
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26 March
Covid-19: Banks under fire over emergency loan scheme
Banks have come under fire over government-backed emergency loans which require business owners to sign for a personal guarantee, as the UK battles with the Covid-19 pandemic. The British Business Bank (BBB) opened applications for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) on Monday (23 March), and claimed the loan…
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26 March
JD Wetherspoon boss bows to pressure and agrees to pay staff
The boss of JD Wetherspoon has bowed to public pressure, including calls from over a 100 MPs, and has agreed to pay his staff before his company receives financial support from the government’s wage reimbursement scheme. Yesterday (25 March) the government urged JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin to support his…
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26 March
Giggling Squid halts takeaway service
Giggling Squid has announced the temporary closure of its takeaway and Deliveroo services in light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The Thai food chain had originally continued operating a takeaway service from all of its sites across the UK, but has made the decision to close all its sites entirely…
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25 March
Government urges JD Wetherspoon to support employees
The government has urged JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin to support his employees after reports he claimed they would face delays in payment and “should consider getting a job at Tesco instead”. Martin said the company would not cover wages from this week and employees would have to wait to…
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